Most common 1997 BMW 328i problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 328i complaints by model year
Best 328i years: 2006, 2001, 2016. Years to avoid: 2011, 2007, 2013, 2009, 2014. Compare all years →
What 1997 BMW 328i owners say
Electrical system
After seeing yet another rear end collision, I would like to make a suggestion I have had in mind for a long time. I believe we can reduce the incidence of such accidents, by flashing the stop signals whenever the brakes are on and the car is stopped ( requires a speed sensor, of course). Manual flashing electronics exists in every modern car, but is not normally used when stopped on the roadway.
Sudden failure of ignition coil resulting in a shaking/vibrating vehicle. While accellerting in city traffic the car can lunge and jerk while accellerating, resulting in unpredictable accelleration. In city traffic this is very dangerous. I have investigated the ignition coils for BMW 3 series cars and it appears they fail a lot, yet there is no recall campaign! After investigating further it appears BMW has some recall campaigns for some of the newer cars. They suggest replacing all ignition coils with a new Bosch model. My car has bremi model coils (part no. F3000-86682) and there is no Bosch substitute according to the BMW dealer (plaza motors in st. Louis, mo). …
Body & structure
While driver was sitting in vehicle, something unexpectedly activated the alarm system, doors would not unlock from the inside or the outside, horn also became inoperable.
Water leaks into the vehicle from all doors in rainy weather conditions, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Wheels & tires
It happened at 3:50 pm, pacific standard time, januray 26, 2001, freeway 91 heading east, passed freeyway 710, at the exit of atlantic. I was lucky to pull over and my colleague was followed me at the incident happened. She witnessed every thing. The metro (mta) tow truck passed by 15 minutes later and changed the spare tire for me. A piece of tire was flying away and caused the muffler and the left side rear bumper severe damage. I have taken a roll of pictures afterwards. I will send you a detailed tire's spec. Tomorrow.( dot number: )
Tire failed on freeway on hot day. Permeter and 2/3 of sidewall separated from beads. No evidence of puncture in tire fragments. Tires have utqgs of 400, tract. A, temp. A, but there is no record of of any tire of this make having ever been tested at NHTSA facilities.
1997 BMW 328i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 BMW 328i a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 328i rates better than average: 69% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 328i at the same age. 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 1997 BMW 328i?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the body & structure (4) and wheels & tires (4).
How many recalls does the 1997 BMW 328i have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 BMW 328i. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 328i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2001 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2007, 2013, 2009 and 2014. See the full BMW 328i years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 BMW 328i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 20% 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.