-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M1IoQ5nuR4Kwu52AoLSxMdkvtKE2s/dZC6Zvs51lT9sM3Zl3PCnudbnauuy4kzh7
 BhWT+sh6EXzhPCP+84fTXA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908255-04-000011.txt : 20040205
<SEC-HEADER>0000908255-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040205133003
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908255-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BORGWARNER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000908255
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				133404508
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 S MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3123228500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60604

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BORG WARNER AUTOMOTIVE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930628

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MICHAS ALEXIS P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12162
		FILM NUMBER:		04569472

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 S MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3123228500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60604
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000908255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BORGWARNER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044005</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MICHAS ALEXIS P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>director phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>388.59</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>388.59</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2588.25</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock unts were accrued under the BorgWarner Inc. Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled 100% in cash according to the terms of the plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Laurene H. Horiszny as attorney-in-fact for Alexis P. Michas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----