Known faults for the BMW Serie 3 (F30/F31).

Engine / equipment

N43 four-cylinder petrol (116i, 118i, 120i E87 and 318i, 320i E90, 2007–2011) and N13 (114i, 116i, 118i F20 and 316i F30, 2011–2016)

Period mentioned

2007–2016

Symptoms

Chain rattle on cold starts, VANOS engine light, rising oil consumption and, in severe cases, the engine seizing with no prior warning.

Possible cause described

On the N43 the plastic chain guides break and their debris can block the oil pump strainer, starving the engine of oil. On the N13 the chain stretches and the tensioner fails (BMW improved it on later engines), and the turbo diverter valve, the valve cover ventilation membrane and the VANOS solenoids also fail.

Check for the garage

Listen to a cold start, check the oil filler cap for plastic debris and read VANOS codes.

Cost cited in the source

Chain kit: several hundred to over a thousand euros depending on the garage; a seized engine, far moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

ZF 8HP automatic gearbox in rear-wheel-drive BMWs from 2009 (1 to 8 Series and X: F20, F30, F10, G20, G30, X3, X5…)

Period mentioned

2009–2026

Symptoms

Harsh shifts (especially engaging D and 1st to 2nd), slipping or jerking; oil leaks from the pan, the mechatronic connector sleeve or the seals.

Possible cause described

BMW's diagnostic guide says an incorrect oil level is a frequent cause of shift complaints and asks for it to be checked every time, even with no visible leaks; the pan can be damaged by impacts. The sealing sleeve between gearbox and mechatronic lets oil through to the connector. The oil, sold as lifetime, degrades.

Check for the garage

Check the oil level with the official procedure (correct temperature and engine running), look for leaks at the pan, connector sleeve and seals, inspect the pan for impact damage and review adaptation values with ISTA.

Cost cited in the source

Oil change with pan and filter: maintenance; sleeve or seals: minor repair; mechatronic: expensive repairA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

N20 / N26 2.0 turbo petrol (118i–125i, 320i/328i, 520i/528i, X1/X3 20i-28i, Z4)

Period mentioned

Approx. 2012–2015

Symptoms

High-pitched whine from the engine that rises with revs, rattle on a cold start.

Possible cause described

The plastic chain guides become brittle and break. The chain goes slack and can jump, or the fragments block the oil pump.

Check for the garage

Check the guides through the oil filler opening and listen for the whine with the bonnet open.

Cost cited in the source

Approx. €1,700–3,300A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

N20 / N26 and other BMW engines with an aluminium oil filter housing

Period mentioned

2011–2017

Symptoms

Oil leak at the front of the engine, oil on the auxiliary belt (squeal or burning smell), sometimes oil and coolant mixing.

Possible cause described

The oil filter housing gasket hardens with heat cycles and cracks. Together with the valve cover gasket, it is the most common BMW oil leak.

Check for the garage

Visual inspection of the filter housing area, the belt and the bottom of the engine.

Cost cited in the source

€400–900A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 80,000–130,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

BMW petrol engines with an electric water pump: N52, N53, N54, N55, N20 and others from 2004–2016

Period mentioned

2004–2016

Symptoms

Temperature warning and limited power with no prior warning (water pump); burning oil smell or smoke from leaks onto the exhaust or belt; rough idle and VANOS codes (2A82, 2A87).

Possible cause described

The water pump is electric and its electronics fail, often without warning, between 95,000 and 160,000 km. The valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets harden and leak; the latter can drip onto the belt. The VANOS solenoids get dirty and fail.

Check for the garage

Check the water pump and thermostat history, look for leaks at the valve cover and oil filter housing, and read VANOS codes.

Cost cited in the source

Water pump: approx. €550–1,100 fitted; oil filter housing gasket: €275–550; valve cover: €370–740 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 95,000–160,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

N20 2.0 turbo petrol in the X1 (E84), Z4 (E89), 5 Series (F10), X3 (F25) and 3 Series (F30)

Period mentioned

Approx. 2012–2015

Symptoms

Repeated judder or surging when accelerating between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm in hot weather, with no engine light and no stored fault codes.

Possible cause described

The electropneumatic pressure converter (EPDW) that moves the turbo's wastegate valve binds internally. BMW describes it in its technical bulletin SI B11 10 12 of January 2013.

Check for the garage

Tell the garage it only happens in hot weather and between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm even with no codes; ask them to check the wastegate pressure converter (next to the oil filler cap) before replacing coils, injectors or the turbo.

Cost cited in the source

No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

B47 and B57 diesel and B48 and B58 petrol modular engines (BMW from 2014–2015 and MINI from 2014)

Period mentioned

2014–2026

Symptoms

Coolant loss with a low-level warning, coolant or oil residue at the rear of the engine; on diesels, internal coolant loss with no visible leak (EGR cooler).

Possible cause described

On the B48 and B58 the water pump leaks (from its weep hole) and the oil filter housing with heat exchanger can crack; on 2017–2021 B58s the crankcase ventilation valve also fails. On the diesels the EGR cooler can leak internally and mix coolant with soot: BMW issued a recall over the risk of the intake manifold catching fire.

Check for the garage

Check the coolant level, look for leaks under the water pump and at the oil filter housing, and on diesels confirm by VIN whether the EGR cooler campaign was done.

Cost cited in the source

Water pump: relatively cheap to replace; oil filter housing: more labour-intensive; EGR cooler: free if covered by the campaignA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 80,000–195,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

N47 2.0 diesel (116d–123d, 316d–325d, 520d, X1/X3 18d-20d)

Period mentioned

2007–2015 (improved from 2011)

Symptoms

Rattling from the rear of the engine (gearbox side) on a cold start, getting worse over time. In extreme cases the engine cuts out while driving.

Possible cause described

The timing chain sits at the rear of the engine; its guides are poorly lubricated and the chain stretches. If it jumps or snaps, the valves hit the pistons and the engine is destroyed.

Check for the garage

Listen with the engine fully cold, ideally with a mechanic's stethoscope on the rear of the block.

Cost cited in the source

Approx. €2,000–4,000 at an independent garage (engine must come out)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

N57 3.0 diesel (325d/330d/335d, 525d/530d/535d, 730d, X3/X5/X6 30d-40d)

Period mentioned

2008–2018 (most cases 2008–2011)

Symptoms

Chain rattle for the first 5–10 seconds after starting; on engines with low oil pressure, noises and oil pump damage.

Possible cause described

Rear-mounted single-row chain with plastic guides and a tensioner; it stretches, especially with long oil change intervals. Far more durable than the N47's, with most lasting beyond 200,000 km.

Check for the garage

Listen to a cold start and check the oil change history. The gearbox must come off to replace it.

Cost cited in the source

€2,500–4,500A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: from 200,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Sources from the original database

Engine / equipment

S55 3.0 twin-turbo (M3 F80, M4 F82/F83, M2 Competition and CS F87)

Period mentioned

2014–2021

Symptoms

Engine or drivetrain warning, rough running, or the engine cranks but won't start because the ECU blocks it after detecting timing deviation.

Possible cause described

The crank hub that drives the chain is held only by friction from one bolt, with no key. Under high load (aggressive high-rev downshifts or extra power from tuning) it can slip and throw the timing out, risking valve-to-piston contact. It is more common on modified cars.

Check for the garage

Read camshaft deviation with a diagnostic tool and check whether the hub has moved. The permanent fix is a pinned or keyed hub.

Cost cited in the source

Pinned hub: approx. €900–1,000 plus labour; repair after a slip: approx. €750–2,300 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database