| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area
Engine (43%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (15%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)
Other (3%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 590 repairs.
2003 BMW 3-Series transmission repair cost distribution
$2500+ (6%)
$1000 - $2499 (19%)
$500 - $999 (15%)
$100 - $499 (37%)
< $100 (23%)
Chart based on 52 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 BMW 3-Series
Engine not specified
| Undiagnosed vibration |
| 55000 mi | CV joint in left front failed. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 140500 mi US $160 |
New AT cooler pipes. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 161000 mi US $400 |
Replaced front differential Replaced both front cv shafts |
| 58000 mi US $140 |
Broken clip in right inner CV Boot. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 59920 mi C $800 |
Front CV joints replaced |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual AWD
| 95000 mi US $900 |
Front right CV boot/axle was cracked and replaced. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 134700 mi US $1100 |
2) real differential axle seal replaced. 3) engine oil changed. |
| 187000 mi US $3300 |
Transmission died. Replaced transmission. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 61000 mi US $620 |
The CV boots were cracked on both front sides. |
| 174000 mi US $2200 |
Front differential shot |
| 120000 mi US $962 |
Replace the CV joint, U joint and boots on the front axle. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 27000 mi | 1 day in shop: - Knocking sound at idle in neutral (but not when clutch depressed). Bad throwout bearing, new clutch & bearing under warranty. (two dealers refused, third agreed) - New alcantara steering wheel. |
| 120399 mi US $900 |
Clutch throwout bearing was worn and hanging. ZF manual transmission detent pins became sticky, making 3rd gear difficult to locate, and shifting difficult. Removed transmisison to service all the shift pins and overhaul clutch. installed fresh clutch kit w/ TOB, new guide sleeve, pivot pin and clip, guibo, pilot bearing, 5x new shift detent pin kits, new reverse and 5th pins, delrin shift console bushings, new OE rear console bushings, new rod joint and clips, e60 545 shift lever, new cup bushing, new nuts with old guibo bolts, new e46 M3 trans mounts, new exh downpipe gaskets and copper nuts. Fresh Redline MTL (1qt) and D4ATF (remainder, 0.7qt), magnetic trans drain plug. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual AWD
| 110000 mi | Leaking Rear Differential Seals |
| 135700 mi US $250 |
Center Support Bearing failed and required replacement. |
| 102000 mi US $1700 |
New clutch and cv boot covers |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 131000 mi US $3000 |
Transmission rebuild |
| 31620 mi | delay from Reverse to Drive, took about 30 seconds for transmission to engage after selecting "D". |
| 39000 mi | Slipping transmission |
| 43000 mi | Slipping transmission on cold start; a commonly reported flaw on web; reflash seems to solve it; first reflash did not hold |
| 52000 mi US $320 |
Flushed transmission fluid |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 123000 mi US $1200 |
Both front drive axles. |
| 47000 mi US $499 |
Replaced cracked RF inner CV boot. |
| 61000 mi US $152 |
Replaced torn LF CV boot. |
| 76000 mi US $2000 |
- CV boots torn on both sides. Replaced entire axle assemblies. |
| 126000 mi US $125 |
CV boot was torn, replaced axle and seal Replaced right front axle due to a torn CV boot. |
| 140300 mi | Replaced left front axle fie to excessive vibration. |
| 151000 mi US $320 |
Replaced RF axle and seal due to leaking cv boot. |
| 157000 mi US $290 |
Had a noisy front axle, replaced it and the seal. The parts were warrantied so the only cost was only for return shipping. |
| 53200 mi US $540 |
Both front axle CV outer-boots need to be replaced. |
| 61000 mi US $240 |
Driver side CV boot was torn |
| 117100 mi US $450 |
CV boots replaced |
| 95000 mi US $450 |
Replaced cracked C-V boots on each front wheel |
| 106000 mi US $350 |
Rear differential seal leaking oil |
| 118000 mi US $1200 |
CV joint problem was found when brakes replaced |
| 128000 mi US $700 |
New Axle / CV Joint on Front Passenger Tire |
| 71000 mi US $45 |
Torn CV boot - the car's front vibrates when accelerating. Cornering while accelerating makes it worse. CV boot replaced but vibration didn't go away, it is less. |
| 76000 mi US $231 |
2 front axles went. Got the parts for $231 in a local shop, going to install soon. |
| 77000 mi | High vibration in front end at 2000 rpm and 40-60 mph. Over the past 1.5 years there have been multiple parts replaced. 3 of the 4 cv joint boots in 2 occurrences. Then both control arms. no help. both front end drive shafts replaced this time. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 79000 mi US $1200 |
Transmission seal failure. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
| 53320 mi | auto trans coolant thermostat |
| 46000 mi US $175 |
Rear axle seals need to be replaced. I am also getting ready to install a new power steering pump. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 80000 mi US $1400 |
The car would go in reverse but not move. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
333-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD
| 110000 mi | Reprogram car because it stalls under deceleration. Resulted from transmission swap from SMG to 6MT. Shop is still solving this issue. |
| 89000 mi US $40 |
Differential input leaking. Differential input seal replaced. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
333-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed automated manual RWD
| 74000 mi US $3500 |
Transmission SMG pump causing vehicle to go into neutral intermittently and had check transmission light. Replaced hydraulic pump. |
| 149000 mi US $200 |
Gear position sensor replaced. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 82000 mi US $1500 |
Needed my torque converter replaced |
2003 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 156000 mi US $450 |
Transmission fluid leaking. |
2003 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 146320 mi C $1800 |
Front wheel bearing |
| 95000 mi US $700 |
Guibo joint was disintegrating and made car nearly undrivable. |
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