2008 Bmw X3 Engine Problems
39 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Engine Recalls (1)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Owner Complaints (39)
Your car won't start, and a BMW dealership diagnosed the problem as faulty VANOS bolts that are prone to snapping. You discovered that this engine has a recall for this exact issue, but your vehicle isn't included in the recall even though you believe it should be. The fix will likely involve replacing the VANOS bolts and potentially related engine components.
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Your car's engine overheated and began smoking when you turned on the heater while driving. After the engine cooled and you added water to the radiator, the vehicle restarted but then smoked again and stalled, refusing to restart. An independent mechanic determined the engine had failed and needed complete replacement. The issue may involve a coolant leak, failed water pump, or thermostat failure that caused the engine to overheat.
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Your engine is shutting off unexpectedly while driving, even at low speeds like 30 MPH, and warning lights are appearing on your dashboard. Your car has stalled in the middle of the road multiple times, making it difficult to pull over safely, though you've been able to restart it after several attempts. There's a recall (NHTSA Campaign 22V119000) for this issue, but the necessary parts aren't currently available from your dealer. The repair will likely involve replacing or servicing engine cooling system components once parts become available.
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While driving your 2008 BMW X3 at 40-45 mph, you noticed smoke coming from under the hood, followed by flames when you opened it. You were able to extinguish the fire with help from the fire department, and no one was injured. BMW issued a recall (Campaign 22V119000) for this issue, but the replacement part wasn't available for an extended period, leaving your vehicle at risk.
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While driving your 2008 BMW X3 at 20 MPH in cold weather, you noticed smoke coming from under the hood, but no warning lights appeared on your dashboard. You contacted BMW but didn't receive a response, and the vehicle was never diagnosed or repaired. This issue may be related to a known BMW recall (Campaign 22V119000) affecting the engine.
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Your heat system isn't working properly — it's either too hot or too cold with no middle ground. You're concerned the system could overheat, though no warning lights are showing. Your dealer is aware of a recall for this issue but says the necessary parts aren't available yet, so the vehicle hasn't been repaired.
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While driving at low speeds, you've noticed a burning smell and smoke coming from under the hood, though the vehicle continued to run after cooling down. This problem has happened repeatedly, but independent mechanics couldn't reproduce it when inspecting your car. A related recall was issued for your vehicle's engine cooling system, but the replacement part wasn't available at the time of your complaint, and the dealer hasn't been able to diagnose or repair the issue.
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After picking up your car from the dealer following a recall repair, your engine started overheating while driving at 40 mph. When you pulled over and tried to restart the vehicle, it wouldn't start. Both the dealer and manufacturer indicated the car needs diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.
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Your 2008 BMW X3 has a recall notice for an engine and cooling issue, but the replacement part wasn't available when you tried to get it fixed. While driving, you noticed smoke coming from under the hood and the exhaust pipe. The vehicle hasn't been officially diagnosed or repaired yet, and BMW hasn't been notified of the problem. The fix will likely involve replacing the unavailable engine or cooling component once BMW makes it available.
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Your car's engine is producing a burning smell while driving. After pulling over and letting the engine cool, the vehicle restarted normally. Your car was issued a recall notice for an engine cooling issue, but the required replacement parts weren't available at the time of the complaint. The burning smell suggests a potential engine or cooling system problem that should be inspected before the recall repair can be completed.
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You received a recall notice (Campaign 22V119000) for your 2008 BMW X3's engine and cooling system, but the dealership confirmed that the replacement parts needed to complete the repair aren't available yet. You feel the manufacturer has taken too long to make these parts available, even though you haven't experienced any actual failure yet. The repair will likely involve replacing engine or cooling system components once the parts become available.
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Your 2008 BMW X3 is subject to a recall (Campaign 22V119000) for an engine and cooling system issue, but the dealer has told you the replacement parts aren't available yet. You've been waiting longer than seems reasonable, and BMW has confirmed the parts are still unavailable. The repair may involve replacing engine or cooling system components once parts become available.
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You received a recall notice for your 2008 BMW X3 related to the engine and cooling system, but the dealership couldn't perform the repair because the required part hasn't been made available yet. You've been waiting longer than you consider reasonable for the manufacturer to supply the part needed to complete the recall. While you haven't experienced any actual failure yet, the delay in getting this recall completed is frustrating. The fix will require installing the recalled part once the manufacturer makes it available to dealers.
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The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3. The contact stated that while at a stop there was an abnormal plastic burning odor coming through the vent. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was called to her home for maintenance, and the mechanic made minor repairs and reset the computer; however, the failure returned soon after repair. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while picking up her grandson from school, she had attempted to accelerate after placing the vehicle into the park; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights were illuminated during the failure. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her home where it remained. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts are not available. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
SHEARED MOTOR MOUNT SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENGINE BOLT AT OR BEFORE 112K MILES. FOUND BOLT HEAD ON REINFORCEMENT PLATE UNDER SUPPORT BRACKET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF MONROVIA (1425 MOUNTAIN AVE, MONROVIA, CA 91016, (855) 627-5361) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY 2008 BMW 3 SERIES ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED 45 MPH. I RECEIVED NO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER A LANE AND GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE AN IMPACT FROM OTHER VEHICLES. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I RECEIVE NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENS AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ON HIGHWAYS, STREETS, ANYWHERE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING AND ANY OTHER MANEUVERS.
BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND PCV RECALL ISSUED NOV. 2017 REMEDY UNAVAILABLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V605000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. BMW OF FORT WAYNE (929 AVE OF AUTOS, FORT WAYNE, IN) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V605000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOTH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V605000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). *TT *TR
SHEARED ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS ON VEHICLE WITH NO ACCIDENTS, NO OFF ROAD USE AND ONLY 60K MILES. BMW DID HAVE A SERVICE NOTICE ON THIS, BUT WE ARE TOLD IT HAS EXPIRED. IT APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IN WHICH CASE BMW SHOULD FIX, BUT THEY SAY TOO LATE.
ENGINE BOLTS ARE LOOSE OR HAVE FALLEN OUT.
WHILE SLOWING DOWN MY CAR (BMW X3 YEAR 2008)ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I PULL OVER PUT IT IN PARK AND IT AND RE-START AUTO. THIS HAS HAPPEN A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS TODAY 10/08/2016 WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD SIGN. LUCKY FOR ME THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON A BUSY STREET, PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A BACKUP.
DRIVING ON A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND HEAR TWO MENTAL PING SOUNDS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I PULLED OUT AND WHEN I TURNED THERE WAS A LOUD VIBRATION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT FROM A STOP. WHEN FURTHER INSPECTED YOU COULD SEE THE MOTOR WAS HANGING AT AN ANGLE. THE FOUR BOLTS ON THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET HAD BROKEN OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HANG DOWN. AFTER INSPECTING THE PARTS YOU COULD SEE BY THE DISCOLORATION OF TWO BOLTS THAT THEY HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOMETIME . THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE FIRST ONE BROKE OR HOW LONG IT TOOK THE LAST TWO TO BREAK .THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH A BMW MECHANIC AND HE SAID THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME,ITS NOT UNUSUAL. ITS DEFIANTLY A SAFETY CONCERN .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3 SAV. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.
I EXPERIENCED A BREAK DOWN WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. MY CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND DEALER DISCOVERED WATER PUMP WAS BAD SO IT WAS THEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 3 YEARS LATER MY CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER AN AGAIN THE WATER PUMP WAS DETERMINED BAD AND REPLACED. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP CONSIDERING THE WATER PUMP HAS BROKEN TWICE BUT NO HELP FROM THEM.
MY BMW HAD BEEN HAVING A ROARING, VIBRATING NOISE IN IT. THEN IT STARTED RUNNING HOT. I PARKED IN MY GARAGE ONLY TO FIND WATER AND ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE GARAGE FLOOR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE MOUNTS UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WAS SITTING SIDEWAYS AND HAD DROPPED DOWN AND CRUSHED THE WATER PUMP AND COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE BOLTS ARE NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE. THEY ARE VERY LIGHTWEIGHT METAL (MAYBE ALUMINUM) AND JUST BROKE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE BOLTS BROKE, BUT IT COULD HAVE REALLY PUT MY FAMILY IN JEOPARDY. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THESE BOLTS, THEY ACTED LIKE I WAS CRAZY AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
DRIVING CAR AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, MAKE RUMBLING NOISE AND FEELS SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. DOESN'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE WITH SLUGGISH, ENGINE POWER INTERMITTENT. *TR
THREE BOLTS ON ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET SHEARED OFF AND ONE BOLT ON THE SAME ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET WAS MISSING. THE THREE BOLTS THAT SHEARED ARE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER BRINGING IN MY CAR TO THE PETER PAN BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED. *TR
I WAS INFORMED THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET WERE LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR. I PAID FOR A NEW VALVETRONIC MOTOR, ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR, VALVE COVER AND GASKETS, AND OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET, AND THE ASSOCIATED REPAIR. FAST FORWARD 3 MONTHS, I GO IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND AM TOLD THAT AGAIN I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET. *TR
NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION. WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE. POINTED OUT BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS. HIS COMMENT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE OVER THE YEARS. THE BOLTS ARE MADE FROM ALUMINUM -- THEY BREAK. SAID HE THIS WAS AN ONGOING AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW FROM THAT YEAR AND 2009. SAID BMW WOULD NOT COVER IT. HE ALSO STATED THE CAR HAD NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE, TO UNDERCARRIAGE THAT WOULD SUGGEST ANY DAMAGE. HE SAID IT JUST HAPPENS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO BMW, ALL TO NO AVAIL. INSTEAD OF BEAMERS... THEY SHOULD CALL THIS CAR A BUMMER. IT IS AN VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM, CREATED BY POOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING. ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING AN ENGINE. *TR
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE DMTL PUMP THAT SENSES AND GAS LEAKS. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE IT SINCE I LIVED IN PA IN AN AREA THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE IT TO WORK UNDER OUR STATE INSPECTIONS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BE ON AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IF SOMETHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. LATER I WAS TALKING TO SERVICE MANAGER AT LEXUS WHO WAS A FORMER BMW SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATED IT WAS COVERED UNDER PA EMISSION LAWS. I CONTACTED MANAGER AT BMW WHO INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT BMW. I REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH BMW WHO CAME BACK 3 WEEKS LATER DENYING ANY COVERAGE. WHEN ASKED WHY GENTLEMAN COULD NOT ANSWER STATING HE WAS NOT A TECHNICIAN. I REPEATEDLY STATED FROM MY RESEARCH THAT PA ADOPTED CALIFORNIA EMISSION LAW IN 1996 AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY BMW. ONCE AGAIN I WAS TOLD NO COVERAGE AND I ASKED IF HIS 3 WEEKS OF RESEARCH INVOLVED A CORPORATE ATTORNEY. HE WOULD NOT ANSWER.IT APPEARS THAT A BMW BUYER IS GIVEN 4 YEAR WARRANTY BECAUSE AFTER THAT EVERYTHING IS DENIED WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THIS DMTL PUMP IS A SENSOR FOR FUEL LEAKS AND COULD REALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF NOT REPLACED. I BELIEVE PA EMISSION LAWS UNDERSTAND THE HAZARD AND THAT IS WHY THEY STATE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM WITH BMW GOES BACK OVER 10 YEARS ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUMS.. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND MADE TO CORRECT THIS HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
I NOTICED WATER ON THE GARAGE FLOOR ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER EXPECTING A RADIATOR LEAK. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 ALUMINUM SUPPORT BOLTS HAD BEEN SHEARED AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS RESTING ON THE WATER PUMP CAUSING THE LEAK. THE SOLUTION, WHILE COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, IS STILL COSTING ME $50 DEDUCTIBLE AND ANOTHER $200 OR SO TO FLUSH AND REPLACE THE COOLANT (WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE WATER PUMP DAMAGE). IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE WARRANTY AND WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR, BOLTS, SUPPORT BRACKETS AND A WATER PUMP - I WOULD BE EVEN MORE IRATE THAT BMW HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 10 MIN THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING BEFORE IT RESTARTED. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. FINALLY WITHOUT A CHOICE AFTER AN HOUR I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME. *TR
WHEN TRAVELLING ON HARLEM RIVER DRIVE MIDDLE LANE, MY CAR ALL THE SUDDEN DISPLAYED AN ENGINE OVERHEAT LIGHT YELLOW THAT TURNED RED WITHIN 3 SECONDS AND STARTED LOSING POWER (FROM 50-60 MPH TO 1 MPH) WITHIN 5 SECONDS...THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH WARNING TIME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THIS IS A WATER PUMP FAILURE. I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON X5S BUT NOT ON MY CAR. MY FRIEND WHO OWNS THE SAME CAR AND YEAR HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM RESULTING IN THE SAME COST OF REPAIR ($1600). MY VEHICLE ALREADY HAS MANY RECALLS INCLUDING SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS, AND HIGH PRESSURED FUEL PUMPS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY BMW AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY (LESS THAN 60000 MILES). NOT EVEN 4 YEARS YET. I HAVE OWNED MANY BMWS AND OTHER CARS AND NEVER HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT CAUSED A DANGER OF THIS MAGNITUDE... I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS. *TR
MY 335I 2008 HAS HAD THREE RECALLS ALL RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. WITH 24,000 MILES IT NOW HAS ISSUES WITH STARTING.I RECENTLY HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO MY DEALER,LEFT IT FOR FOUR DAYS, PICKED IT UP WITH "CANNOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT". IN LESS THAN A WEEK THE START UP HAS GONE FROM THREE TO FIVE UN,UN,UN,UN,UNS TO CRANK. THE CAR IS ABOUT TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY AND I BELIEVE THAT BMW KNOWS THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IS REFUSING TO REPAIR UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GET REPAIRS INCOME. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED MY SPECIAL ORDER WHEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE DELIVERY THEY CALLED AND SAID MY CAR HAD ARRIVED IN US BUT WOULD NOT BE RELEASED DUE TO "ENGINE COMPRESSION PROBLEMS". ALL OTHER ISSUES I HAVE ASKED TO BE REPAIRED ARE NOT WITH DEALER NOTING "CANNOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT". AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED BMW AND DEALER NO ONE RESPONDED. AND LET'S NOT EVEN GET TO THE TIRES! *TR
2008 BMW 328I STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE STALLED UNDER POWER AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC - DEALER SAID NO CODE WAS THROWN SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADDRESS. THE OTHER STALLS HAVE NOT DURING SLOWDOWN PERIOD, NOT AS CRITICAL BUT THEY COME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER WHICH IS DANGEROUS! NO ACCIDENT FROM IT YET BUT I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE IN 2010, TWO MORE RECENTLY DEC 2010 & JAN 2011. *LN
ON THREE OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AND RPM'S SUDDENLY DROP. THE DATE REFERENCED BELOW WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ALL THREE TIMES. THEY CHANGED SOME PARTS, BUT THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. AT ONE TIME, I WAS TRY TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT WAS SCARY. ANOTHER TIME WAS CHANGING LANES ON A HIGHWAY. THIS SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: 1.) LONG(ER) CRANK 2.) ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER 3.) SERVICE ENGINE SOON 4.) HEAVY, ERRATIC SHAKING AND SHUDDERING 5.) ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE A UNION PACIFIC TRAIN WITH LOUD PUMPING SOUND 6.) BECAUSE OF 4 + 5, DECIDE TO TURN-OFF THE ENGINE OR SOMETIMES IT JUST STALLS BEFORE 7.) AFTER RESET, THE CAR BECOMES DRIVABLE BUT SYMPTOMS WILL REOCCUR. 8.) ABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM WHEN I MASH THE GAS AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON AN AUTO FORUM, I SUSPECTED THAT THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS TO RUN SOME TESTS AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEY REPLACE THE PART, THE CAR HAS NOT BROKEN DOWN AGAIN. HOWEVER, THEY INTRODUCE ANOTHER PROBLEMS. 1) THE CAR'S EXHAUST NOISE IS MUCH LOUDER NOW 2) THE CAR IS LESS FUEL EFFICIENT, LOWER MILES PER GALLON 3) THE CAR NOW HAS A TURBO LAG WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY NON-EXISTENT. THIS MEANS BMW IS FALSELY ADVERTISING THE 335I TWIN-TURBO HAS ZERO LAG. THIS WAS TRUE BEFORE THEY UPDATED THE CAR'S SOFTWARE BUT IS NOT LONGER TRUE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. *TR