Most common 2003 BMW 325 problems
Share of the 9 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 325 complaints by model year
Best 325 years: 2000, 2003, 2006. Years to avoid: 1995, 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
What 2003 BMW 325 owners say
Air bags
I have had both air bags replaced ad the airbag man does not go off I was told that the mrs control unit needs to be replaced, because none of my airbags will work until the mrs control unit is replaced. I want to know is BMW going to replace the unit I was told that the air bag mishap caused the mrs control unit to go bad.
I am concerned I got a letter about the recall in July and it is now January and I am driving an unsafe car. I am afraid to drive it. Why has it taken more than 6 months to fix it. Nothing has happened but there is nothing I can do about it.
Electrical system
Dangerous death trap!!! I got stuck in my car because the door locks do not work. You are unable to get out of the car if the unlock mechanism fails. There are many compaints of the same for the e46 BMW models. We had to crawl of windows and luckily those worked. As designed, you cannot open the doors if ithe module fails and there is not mechanical override to unlock. There is not door key for passenger doors as well. This has happened multiple times, I am looking to get it fixed but it works sometimes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW 325. The contact stated that the vehicle's electrical system was malfunctioning. The contact stated that certain lights were illuminating on the dashboard while other lights were not. The vehicle also failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was awaiting diagnosis and repairs. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 158,000.
2003 BMW 325 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 BMW 325 a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 325 rates better than average: 87% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 325 at the same age. It is one of the best 325 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 2003 BMW 325?
The air bags — 4 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (3) and locks & latches (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 BMW 325 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 BMW 325. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 325?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 2003 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 2001 and 2002. See the full BMW 325 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 BMW 325 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 0% 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.