KNOWN FAULTS · BMW
BMW Serie 1 (E81/E82/E87/E88) 118d / 120d (M47, hasta 2007) common problems.
2004–2011 · Diesel
Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.
2 known faults with sources
Intake swirl flaps (M47)Intake
- Engine / equipment
- M47TU 2.0 diesel with swirl flaps (318d/320d E46 from 2001, 118d/120d E87, 320d E90 and 520d E60 until 2007, X3 2.0d)
- Period mentioned
- 2001–2007
- Symptoms
- Loss of power, smoke or knocking, often with no prior warning: one of the flaps comes loose and drops into the cylinder.
- Possible cause described
- The small swirl flaps in the intake manifold work loose with vibration and can break off into the cylinder, damaging the piston, valves and turbo. BMW strengthened the flaps in 2006.
- Check for the garage
- Check whether they have already been removed or replaced with blanking plugs and inspect the intake manifold.
- Cost cited in the source
- €4,000–6,000 if the failure damages the engine; prevention costs far lessA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Wikipedia: BMW M47 and the swirl valvesCarchecker: BMW 320d E46BimmerOwnersClub: 320d owners and the swirl flaps
View full entryCorrupted FRM3 module (lights and windows)Electrical and electronic systems
- Engine / equipment
- FRM3 footwell module (lights, indicators and windows): 1 Series E81 to E88, 3 Series E90 to E93, X1 E84, Z4 E89, X5 E70, X6 E71 and E72 and MINI R55 to R61
- Period mentioned
- 2004–2015
- Symptoms
- After a flat battery, a battery change or disconnection, or a jump start: lights, indicators or windows stop working, side or dipped lights stay on and diagnostics cannot communicate with the module (for example code 00A3C1).
- Possible cause described
- The module's EEPROM gets corrupted by low or unstable voltage: a flat battery, jump starting, overcharging from a faulty alternator or loose terminals. It is a module software fault, not a wiring fault.
- Check for the garage
- Check the battery and charging and try communicating with ISTA. If the module does not respond, it can be repaired by rewriting its EEPROM (specialist services or programmers) instead of being replaced, then coded. Use a voltage maintainer when working on the car.
- Cost cited in the source
- Repair by a specialist service: from about €20–60 plus postage; new module with dealer coding: considerably moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Autobiz (trade magazine): the BMW FRM, a recurring faultABS Stuurapparaten: FRM3 repairECU Testing: BMW and MINI footwell module failureOBDII365: FRM3 repair with a programmer (archived copy)
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