This is an online automotive information provider of a detailed information on complaints, defects and recalls for BMW M3 2003 power train automatic transmission. Our users can find data on mass market car models from most popular brands. The service allows to compare and analyze statistics for reported problems, complaints, recalls for various manufacturers. We hope our site will help with selecting of a reliable and safe car. By using this tool, you will be able to get records with description of safety issues for vehicles, equipment, tires and child restraints. These issues include safety recalls for your BMW M3 2003 power train automatic transmission and complaints other owners have filed.

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2003 BMW M3 Power Train Automatic Transmission Problems, Complaints and Defects

Issue ID	863984
Internal NHTSA #	10407049
Manufacurer	BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Brand	BMW
Model	M3
Model Year	2003
File date	15/06/11
Component	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	1. I live in lancaster, ca and when the summer comes around it gets really hot really quick. My bmw m3 2003 which happens to be an smg keeps having problems with the transmission. It causes my transmission to function improperly by shifting to "neutral" automatically. Today, on my way back from work i almost got into an accident when my transmission change automatically from 3rd gear into neutral almost causing the vehicle behind me to crash onto my vehicle. 2. The smg light keeps turning on. I took it to the mechanic immediately and he told me it was the "hydraulic control unit (hcu) with pressure accumulator" which is causing this problem. I notice this problem happens usually during the hot weather since it also happened to me last year around the same time. My bmw mechanic told me this would cost me on or about $3,000 with parts and labor. I got online as soon as i got home to see if anyone else is having the same issues as i am, found out that there are many other bmw m3 smg e46 (2001-2006) owners that are going through the same problem. It's consequences are that since this is the only vehicle i have, i feel my life and the safety of others are at high risk if my transmission changes from any gear into neutral while operating the vehicle causing a major accident to occur. 3. Nothing has been done to correct this malfunction. From what i have read and discover online, bmw north america knows about this issue and wants all bmw m3 smg e46 owners to replace the entire hcu which as stated before cost on or about $3,000 with parts and labor. This will only fix the problem temporarily since the problem will persist as the weather continues being above 85-90 fahrenheit. I don't believe is fair for all bmw m3 smg e46 owners to pay such amount when clearly won't fix such problem. It would be fair if bmw took charge and recall this issue that is putting every citizen in danger due to their mistake in the hcu for all bmw m3 smg e46 vehicles.
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	65952
Number of Occurences	1
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	LANCASTER, CA
VIN pattern	WBSBL93483JXXXXXX
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	07/08/26
Was original owner?	N
Anti-lock brakes	N
Cruise control	N
Number of cylinders	6
Drive train type	RWD
Transmission type
Vehicle speed	35
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

What is Recall?
A recall is when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to the product because it is either defective or potentially harmful.
What is Failure?
Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Product failure ranges from failure to sell the product to fracture of the product, in the worst cases leading to personal injury, the province of forensic engineering.
What is Defect?
Non-conformance of a car component with the specified requirements, or non-fulfillment of user expectations, including the safety aspects.

Last decoded VIN:

WMX1903821A042524 5N1AR2M58GC649304 WDB9440322L284947 SJNTAAE12U1136300 MMFNU58050CY97609 WVWZZZ3CZFE406657 SJNFAAJ11U2311182 SA9FASSA8BE004103 UU1DJF00567244209 JN1CV6AP3CM629684 WVWZZZ6RZEY245737 AFAPXXMJ2PPE36825

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2003 BMW M3 Power Train Automatic Transmission Problems, Complaints and Defects, Recalls and Failures

2003 BMW M3 Power Train Automatic Transmission Problems, Complaints and Defects

What is Recall?

What is Failure?

What is Defect?