Most common 1999 BMW 3 Series problems
Share of the 6 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 3 Series complaints by model year
Best 3 Series years: 2011, 1999, 2001. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2000. Compare all years →
1999 BMW 3 Series recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1999 BMW 3 Series:
Inadvertent side air bag deployments
Alleged that the driver's or front passenger's side air bags May deploy without a vehicle crash
Inadvertent side-impact air bag deployme
The subject vehicle's air bag electronic control module contains programmable logic for deploying the side-impact air bags.BMW revised the module several times over the span of the model years 1999 through 2002 (identified as mrs2.ca, mrs2.bb, mrs3, mrs3+ and mrs4).although model year 1999.5 vehicles with version mrs2.bb had 6.5% of the subject population, it accounted for 29% of the total reports received.the…
What 1999 BMW 3 Series owners say
Air bags
Tl contact owns a 1999 BMW 3 Series. While driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer stated that a faulty seat belt clip caused the failure and they made the replacement. Approximately one year later, the air bag warning light illuminated again. The dealer replaced the seat belt clip once more. One year later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the wiring harness was defective. The dealer replaced the cable connector and strap, a shrink tube, and the lower belt. Four months later, the air bag warning illuminated for the fourth time. The dealer stated that the driver side door air bag had failed. They recommended that the driver side door air bag wiring harness be replaced. The replacement has not been made. The current mileage is 100,000 and failure mileage was 3,916 updated 0310/08. The consumer had a recall notice which addresses an air bag issue.
I brought the vehicle into brecht dealership in escondido to address seatbelt safety/airbag sensor light warning. The vehicle has been in for repair a total of eight (8) times for the same issue. Today the seatbelt airbag warning devise came on with the loaner provided bydealer with a screen statement: warning danger keep your seatbelt on and return to shop for repair. This is a 20014 vehicle. I believe this entire issue of seatbelt airbag safety is a manufacturer defect and warrants full investigation before a grandchild seated in the passenger seat is killed from an airbag improperly ejecting or even worse nothing no airbag or seat belt protection in an accident.
1999 BMW 3 Series engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 BMW 3 Series a good car?
Based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 3 Series rates better than average: 88% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 3 Series at the same age. It is one of the best 3 Series years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 BMW 3 Series?
The air bags — 3 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the body & structure (1) and electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 1999 BMW 3 Series have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 BMW 3 Series, the most recent from May 27, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 3 Series?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 1999 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2000. See the full BMW 3 Series years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 BMW 3 Series problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 150,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.