| Issue ID | 907912 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10448796 |
| Manufacurer | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| Brand | BMW |
| Model | 3 SERIES |
| Model Year | 2004 |
| File date | 17/02/12 |
| Component | EXTERIOR LIGHTING |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | My 2004 bmw 330 equipped with bi-xenon headlights is experiencing greatly reduced light output. Upon research on bmw forums, the problem is due to plastic reflectors in the light housing manufactured by zkw. This is a safety issue as the light output decreases slowly over time as the heat from the xenon bulb burns the coating off the reflector and leaves a burnt amber color as the plastic degrades. Bmw refuses to replace the defective part under goodwill or cpo warranty, and classifies it as a wear item, which is incorrect. Bulbs are wear items, not any non-moving part in the housing. This is a serious safety issue, especially for owners who are not aware due to the gradual degradation of lighting quality. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ |
| VIN pattern | WBAEV53424KXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 06/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | 6 |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |