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Chart based on 48 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
Dashboard instrument cluster squeaked over harsh pavement. Put pieces of business cards in between instrument cluster and dash - problem solved (per BIMMERFEST FORUM)
43000 mi
When car has been sitting in sub 40 degree temps, rattle comes from left defroster vent. There were a few other rattles from the blower motor, but they were more faint. Dealer replaced blower motor fixing this but could not repliate original rattle
49000 mi
Drivers seat leatherette was separating not on a seam, indicating a manufacturing defect. Gear shift knob peeling. Also, vinyl center console peeling by drivers seat. Dealer replaced center console, gear shift knob, and seat cover under warranty.
40000 mi
Door hinges work squeaky. Surprisingly they replaced the hinges. Maybe it is a warranty thing or a BMW thing.
4340 mi
Small piece of plastic flew off the windshield wiper on the highway. Replaced under warranty.
34000 mi
Replaced peeling portion of interior driver door handle.
12000 mi
Rattle from dash area behind instrument panel. At dealer for two days, rattle better but still present. Rattle disappeared two weeks later, but new one behind speaker in center of dash appeared.
Interior plastic trim items peeling in 3 locations.
33000 mi
Sunroof rattle -- they could not duplicate but interestingly enough I hear it every day I drive the car. Next time ...
41000 mi
Rattle in sunroof finally fixed -- entire headliner was removed, new sunroof rails installed. Problem solved, complaint number 3 to the dealership. Keep after em!
24000 mi
Replaced interior drivers door arm rest (coming apart).
17985 mi
Interior driver side door handle replaced. Replacement of interior driver side door handle due to excessive wear and tear.
22000 mi
Rattle where Transmission Tunnel trim meets trim piece from center console.
Dealer coded car after previous repair (passenger seat occupancy sensor) and failed to recalibrate sunroof as required, resulting in malfunction and minor damage to cassette. Assessed damage (inconsequential), recalibrated sunroof with INPA.
90000 mi
US $80
replace front windshield rubber trim
82000 mi
US $50
Replace broken cup holder
104000 mi
US $110
Upper windshield rubber was cracked and coming off. Shop replaced with new rubber.
81000 mi
Paint fading
47000 mi
Sunroof would not open completely.
91300 mi
US $150
The driver side window lift button broke, requiring the entire unit to be replaced
4340 mi
replaced 4 door handles (sticking)
35000 mi
Some interior trim replaced.
13000 mi
Outside driver side door molding
28000 mi
Peeling paint on both left and right roof molding trim strips. Both were replaced.
25000 mi
Paint peeling in door pull.
65000 mi
US $450
Water leak into footwell on passenger side due to clogged drain channels below rubber & plastic cowl at basiof windshield (which was replaced after we suspected it was bad). Cleaned drain channels and replaced cowl.
36400 mi
Interior door pull, driver's side replaced due to peeling. Warranty.
60355 mi
US $257
A trim piece on the left side of the car had either broken or degraded, I do not remember at this point. The strip was replaced.
69200 mi
US $100
Rear window glass rubber molding seal is broken in pieces, replaced the parts by owner. $50 parts + 1 hr labor to remove, clean and install. Done by owner.
50000 mi
Touch up on leather seats, due to wear, last of warranty repairs still 0 cost to me.
41000 mi
interior driver's door handle peeling: replaced under warranty; steering wheel bmw emblem needed replaced due to peeling - dealer refused stating that owner caused problem
On these cars, the winshield top trim crumbles and falls apart after a few years. It makes the car look terrible. This is the third replacement since owning the car. You pull up the old trim off the top of the winshield with a screwdriver and then pop in the new one. Ordered from rockauto. Doesn't take too long if you see a youtube video on how to pop it out. Roof rack trim paint has peeled off the car. You can buy replacement trim, but because it's black and wasn't rusty, only peeling, I pulled the trim, went in the back yard, and repainted it black, and then put it back on . Good as new until it peels again.
115000 mi
US $200
At the doorlocks on both sides of the car the clear has worn away and it peeling. I presume since it's a high touch item and it's plastic this is going to happen. I popped off the locks and cover and repainted them so it wouldn't look so bad. Purely cosmetic, but an indicator of the years. I suspect the paint on much of the trim like this will need work shortly. Trim on roof was already done as well and repainted.
33000 mi
I had an issue with the stereo where one of the speakers would buzz loudly if the volume was turned up beyond a certain level. I had gone to the dealer a few times over the years and they didn't track it down.
25000 mi
Rattle fixed by adjusting hood stop
17000 mi
Rattle in dash. It's real, but dealer couldn't replicate it.
28000 mi
Rattle in dash.
30000 mi
Delamination of both outside mirrors.
44400 mi
US $200
Paint flaked off roof drip rails. Repainted.
70000 mi
Replace BMW emblems that fell off
77040 mi
Bottom of both front doors rusted on the inside
28000 mi
Roundel on steering wheel was discoloring. This required replacement of the airbag.
Center dash above emergency flasher switch squeaky. Inner door handle peeling. Rain gutter clip broken.
40000 mi
Fixed center dash squeak again. Replaced inner door handle.
48000 mi
My center console has started peeling just like the door panels did. Dealer will not warranty. In contact with BMW NA now. My car is 06 but May/June 05 build.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2006 BMW 3-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
