2002 BMW 3 Series

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Cooling system failures All years

  What to check: Ask when the radiator, expansion tank, water pump, thermostat and fan were last renewed, look for coolant leaks, and watch the temperature gauge on a long drive. Plan to renew the lot if there is no record.

  Seven people in two owner forum threads, one American and one British, treat the cooling system as a part that wears out, and two of them say to replace all of it unless there is proof it was done. A British buying guide lists fans breaking, expansion tanks leaking, radiators failing and thermostats sticking. A 2001 recall replaced cooling fans that could stop, overheat the engine or catch fire.

  Sources ^14,15,16,17

• Failing window regulators All years

  What to check: Run every window up and down. Clicking, clacking or a slow window points to a regulator on its way out.

  Four people in two owner forum threads say the window regulators fail, one calling them junk. A British buying guide says a failing one can snap in cold weather.

  Sources ^14,15,16

• Cracks where the rear subframe meets the floor All years

  What to check: Look under the car at the floor around the rear subframe mounts for cracks or repair welds. One poster notes the only sure check is to drop the subframe.

  Three forum posters in two threads say the rear floor can crack or tear at the subframe mounts, one adding that weld-in plates fix it. Four others in the American thread call it overblown, or a problem mainly for the M3 and hard-driven cars. A British buying guide also tells buyers to check the floor there.

  Sources ^14,15,16

• Worn front suspension All years

  What to check: Listen for clonks from the front over bumps, and ask whether the control arm bushes and ball joints have been renewed.

  A British buying guide puts front clonks down to worn bushes or dampers, mostly on Sport models, and a British forum buying guide to ball joints or wishbone bushes.

  Sources ^16,15

• Automatic gearbox fluid never changed All years One source so far

  What to check: Ask whether the automatic's fluid has been changed.

  A British buying guide says the automatic needs a fluid change by 100,000 miles, although it was sold as filled for life and the change is not in BMW's schedule.

  Sources ¹⁶

• Convertible roof that will not open All years One source so far

  What to check: Open and close the roof a few times.

  A British buying guide says plastic teeth in the roof latch wear and split, which can leave the roof locked shut, and that a failed motor costs more.

  Sources ¹⁶

Recalls

• 11V438000 2002–2005

  Worn electrical contacts can make the tail, brake or turn signal lights fail now and then.^18,19

• 13V172000 2002–2003

  The front passenger airbag's inflator can rupture when it goes off. Widened by 14V428000.¹⁸

• 15V318000 2002–2006

  Moisture can get into the driver's airbag inflator, which can then rupture when it goes off.^18,19,20

• 14V428000 2000–2006

  The front passenger airbag can build too much pressure and burst its inflator when it goes off. BMW advises not driving the car until it is repaired. The date is when NHTSA last received a report on it.^21,18,19

• 20V018000 2000–2006

  Front passenger airbag inflators fitted as a stopgap repair can burst as their propellant ages. The passenger airbag is replaced.^21,18,19,20

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: The Performance Package (ZHP) All years One source so far

  BimmerFile calls the 330i's Performance Package much sought after, and notes the sedan had it for only three years, which makes one hard to find used.²²

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.