Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 BMW 325i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that while parked at a fueling station and when exiting the store noticed smoke exiting the trunk of the vehicle. The contact used the key fob to open the trunk of the vehicle and saw that trunk was engulfed in flames. The fire department and police department were called for assistance. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire and police report were filed. The fire department stated that the fire was not due to operator involvement and was caused by an electrical failure. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact received a letter from the manufacturer which stated that the failure was possibly due to rodent intrusion in the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. …
The ground wire on my break light has burned through the 8 pin connector not only is this limiting my ability to warn other drivers it is a major fire hazard this was discovered during a recall service at the local dealership I do not believe. The proper steps have been taken to remedy this problem and if this can not be resolved informally I would like to pursue formal litigation against all parties involved and for discovery purpose all related correspondence, video, and recorded evidence should be preserved. Currently the break light is not working and there are defective and hazardous airbags.
Car sitting in driveway of primary residence for several days after repeated heavy rains and hurricanes and spontaneously caught fire. Fire was self extinguished but started in dash on left side of steering wheel centered on the head-light control module.
Tl contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the faulty lamp warning indicator would intermittently illuminate on the instrument panel. The electrical harness that plugs into the rear of the lamp harness for the exterior lighting had a faulty ground in the connector. The dealer stated that the wires could not take the heat distribution, which caused the wires to fry inside the connector. The failure also caused the turn signals and rear lamps to not operate correctly. There were no recalls for the failures; however, the contact was able to locate technical service bulletins pertaining to the issues (NHTSA item numbers 10025585 and 10020856). The current and failure mileages were 85,000.
The vehicle had been parked approximately 15-20 minutes when we were alerted by the fire alarm in our condo building. Upon evacuating the building, we were told that our 2004 BMW 325i was on fire. We still have not been given any specific cause for the fire, except that it was probably electrical in nature. Special agents from our insurance company were also called in, who, in turn, called in two more experts. Evidence was bagged and the car was shrink wrapped to be taken to a lot with at least three other BMW's which had also caught fire while parked. This is one of the most frightening things to ever happen to us. We are posting this hoping it can help this from happening to anyone else.
The car seat warmer burned through leather and burned through my coat. I made compliant to BMW and spoke to michael pigoncelli. BMW refused to repair the defect or to compensate me for my coat. The car has been maintained. The seat warmer will severely injure anyone who uses it if a heavy coat is not worn. I was told by the BMW dealership that the seat warmer burning through the leather and peoples skin/coat is common. BMW (newmarket, ontario) took pictures of the damage to the seat and my coat.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the doors would not unlock. The contact attempted to unlock the doors manually and by using the key fob but failed to respond. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The failure could not be duplicated or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the turn signals and the headlights failed to activate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the light module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 202,000. Updated 4/7/15
All doors, with the exception of drivers door, are unable to open manually inside and outside. Cannot use alarm or unlock button to open either. This is of great concern considering I have two young children under my care.
I cannot use put my windows up/down, cannot open the trunk, cannot use interior lights, cannot unlock my gas lid. Due to a broke. Electronic part called the GM5
Electrical complaints in other 325i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2004 BMW 325i?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 BMW 325i, 14% of the model year's 147 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 BMW 325i electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2004 BMW 325i, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 BMW 325i electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.