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2005 Bmw X3 Engine Problems

7 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

7
Complaints
1
Fires
Mar 2011Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (7)

mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2019

Your check engine light came on in your 2005 BMW X3. A Porsche dealer diagnosed and repaired the issue, but the warning light came back on. The dealer suggested you take the car to a BMW dealer if it happens again. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the engine fault code and replacing or repairing the component that's triggering the warning.

NHTSA #: 11220637
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2015

MY CAR HAS HAD A ROUGH ILDE FOR A FEW MONTHS, OFF AND ON. I TOOK MY CAR, 78000 MILES, FOR A CV AXLE REPAIR. MY MECHANIC LET ME KNOW THAT I HAD MORE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS BEING BROKEN OFF. ITS BEEN MAKING A ROUGH NOISE ALSO AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60..I TRAVEL WITH MY CHILD IN THIS CAR.

NHTSA #: 10788528
mediumENGINE
Filed: May 2015

THE BOLT HOLDING THE TIMING CHAIN TOGETHER BROKE CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $8322. BMW WAS CONTACTED TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS BUT REFUSED TO HELP REPAIR THE DAMAGED ENGINE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER BMW ENGINES AND MINI COOPER ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY BMW WHICH ARE HAVING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE AND BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND DISCLOSE THE NUMBER OF ENGINE FAILURES RELATED TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA #: 10715063
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2014

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOLLOWING TWO NEED REPLACED 1) VALVE COVER GASKET TO FIX ENGINE OIL LEAK 2) DMTL PUMP I CANNOT COMPREHEND THESE FAILURES FROM A BRAND KNOWN FOR QUALITY AT SUCH LOW MILEGAE. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS MANY BMWS HAVE HAD THESE FAILURES BUT SURPRISINGLY THERE ARE NO RECALLS. *JS

NHTSA #: 10668992
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2011

ON DECEMBER 26TH, 2010 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 BMW X3 WHEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET ABOUT A BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND FOR A MOMENT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WE GOT IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS HYDRO-LOCKING. THEY CLEANED IT UP BUT DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED MOTORWERKS BMW IN MINNEAPOLIS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD I WILL GET A CALL BACK. I DIDN'T HEAR BACK AND CALLED AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. I WAS ASKED TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT WAS JANUARY 24TH, 2011. ON JANUARY 20, 2011, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK AT 11:30 PM WHEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY AND DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS -22F. SHE MUST HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 2 MILES WHEN SHE SAW A HUGE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. WE GOT IT TOWED TO THE SAME SERVICE STATION AS BEFORE AND CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT THE NEXT MORNING. THE AGENT DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND ADVISED US TO GET IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION IN MOORHEAD MN THAT WORKS MOSTLY ON IMPORTS. THIS SERVICE STATION KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AS THEY HAD FIXED FIVE TO SIX OTHERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEY GOT THE PARTS FROM THE MOTORWERKS BMW DEALERSHIP, FIXED THE PROBLEM AND I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK ON 1/27/2011. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT SOMEBODY HAD TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM EARLIER BUT DID NOT QUITE FINISH IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF IT AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IT TO MOTORWERKS BMW IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR ALL WORK. THE TOTAL WITHOUT THE TWO TOWING WAS $1028. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER BWM OWNERS LIVING IN COLD PLACES WITH HIGH HUMIDITY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM SCARED TO HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HAVE OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR

NHTSA #: 10389957
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Oct 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER HOSE THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSES BUT THEY CONTINUED TO BURST. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA #: 10362900
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Sep 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED; FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE RISK FOR FIRE AND VEHICLE CRASH WERE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER THE TECHNICIANS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 72 DAYS TO REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA #: 10285024

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