[Dirty Elf]

signed up and reported my door actuator failure

[mkaresh]

We've updated our car reliability stats for the E46 3-Series to include owner experiences through September 30, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2006 2-door: 64, about average, small sample size

2005: 78, about average

2005 M3: 26, better than average, very small sample size

2004: 83, about average

2004 M3: 55, about average, small sample size

2003: 123, worse than average

2003 M3: 44, better than average, very small sample size,

2002: 98, worse than average on stricter, recalibrated scale

2002 M3: 102, worse than average, very small sample size

2001: 116, worse than average

2000: 130, worse than average

1999: 50, better than average, very small sample size

In general the M3s are driven about 70 percent as many miles per year as the regular 3s.

We'll have further updates in February and May. With more owners involved we could provide more precise results.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up:

BMW 3-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

[mkaresh]

We've updated our car reliability stats for the E46 3-Series and M3 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2006 2-door: 68, moderate, small sample size

2005: 59, moderate

2005 M3: 35, low, very small sample size

2004: 80, moderate

2004 M3: 77, moderate, small sample size

2003: 135, high

2003 M3: 37, low, very small sample size,

2002: 102, moderate (but close to "high")

2002 M3: 94, moderate, very small sample size

2001: 117, high

2000: 104, moderate

1999: 55, low, very small sample size

In general the M3s are driven about 70 percent as many miles per year as the regular 3s.

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more owners involved we could provide more precise results.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up:

BMW 3-Series reliability ratings and comparisons