Most common 2006 BMW 330xi problems
Share of the 104 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 330xi complaints by model year
Best 330xi years: 2000, 2007, 2008. Years to avoid: 2006. Compare all years →
2006 BMW 330xi recalls (6)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system › Wiring
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant…
What 2006 BMW 330xi owners say
Air bags all 67 →
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated that the air bags warning and seat belts warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,100.
We took our recently purchased BMW 2006 330xi in for recalls and a few fixes. However, the BMW service center wasn't able to fix one of the issues through the recall process since it doesn't show up for our vehicle. However, everything that I read suggests that it was a recall for this make and model. We are not sure if it was supposedly addressed before we purchased the vehicle and it is now a reoccurring issue or it is a first-time issue. The airbag/seatbelt warning light is present for passenger seat occupancy detector faults. The BMW service center said it was the sensor in the front passenger seat and offered to fix it for $1000 plus. We opted to not fix it until we checked further into the situation. The light for the passenger airbag saying that it is off is currently lit, and the airbag/seatbelt light remains on at this time. Looking for more information on this issue.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. The contact noticed smoke under the hood, which entered the vehicle through the air vents. The contact also heard an abnormal noise coming from the motor months before the manufacturer sent notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V676000 (electrical system). In addition, the service engine warning indicator remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The dealer (newbold BMW, 1283 central park dr, o'fallon, il 62269, [phone]) replaced the wiring and diagnosed that the bearings needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. - (recall related incident) ts
Going through my newly purchased, used 2006 330xi, I found several warnings for front headlight malfunctions. Further investigation showed adaptive functions were disabled and the left low beam was stuck pointing left. While the bulbs themselves were still functioning, the light was pointed directly at oncoming traffic and did not illuminate the road in front of me. Opening the access panel at the rear of the headlight assembly showed multiple bare wires inside of the sealed housing, the insulation had simply started to flake off of the wires rendering all centering and leveling functions of the light inoperable. Research has shown this is a widespread problem with BMW headlights, for additional documented data and cases please reference the following forum thread : https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/
Seat belts
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. While driving various speeds, the air bag and seat belt warning indicators illuminated. The contact was concerned that the air bags might not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle was taken to BMW of richfield (746 danbury rd, ridgefield, ct 06877, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the seat occupancy needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags). The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V564000 (air bags) and 17V428000 (air bags). The contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
Recently the airbag and seat belt sensor indicated a failure. I can attribute such failure to a defective sensor (placed in the seat mat). When I contacted BMW USA, they refused to include my vehicle in the recall (campaign [redacted]). I would appreciate the NHTSA / dot to investigate expanding the recall to all e90 / 2006 BMW 330xi not just models produced after 12/ 2005. I took delivery of my vehicle in 11/2005. Thank you, [redacted]
2006 BMW 330xi engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 BMW 330xi a good car?
Based on 104 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 330xi rates avoid: 32.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the 330xi at the same age. It is one of the 330xi years we suggest avoiding. 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 2006 BMW 330xi?
The air bags — 67 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (18) and seat belts (14).
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW 330xi have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2006 BMW 330xi, the most recent from July 3, 2024 (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 330xi?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 2007 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006. See the full BMW 330xi years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW 330xi problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 5% 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.