BMW has held a respectable place in the automotive industry for years. While there are several luxury car manufacturers, few can match BMW’s safety ratings, spirited performance and exceptional driving experience. And as a luxury brand, the manufacturer promises a lot with each update. However, no car is perfect and some owners have reported some common BMW problems.
1. Water pump problems cause overheating and failure of the cooling system
No one wants to see their shiny car leaking coolant, especially a luxury BMW model. However, several BMW models are prone to serious problems with the water pump. CarComplaints reports that BMW faced a lawsuit in 2020 over a faulty water pump for several models, including the BMW N55, 325Ci, X1, X3 xDrive, Z4 sDrive and many more. The models run notoriously hot due to faulty water pumps and leaking coolant.
Owners report that their water pump fails at an average mileage of 56,000-155,000, although the manufacturer has not specified a recommended interval. A car with a problematic water pump easily cracks, leaking coolant into the thermometer or melting the electrical plug connected to the engine, causing engine failure.
According to RepairPal, faulty water pumps will almost always need replacement at some point in the life of the car. If the problem goes unchecked, owners must go through gallons and quarts of coolant to prevent overheating and replace a water pump or two. Depending on the BMW model, replacing the water pump costs between $570 and $607
2. Oil leakage in the engine area causes wear on the internal parts of the engine
According to RepairPal, another of the most common BMW problems is an oil leak in the engine area. 530i, X3, X5 and 325i owners complain of oil leaks or a burning smell in the lower engine area. Users say the problem often occurs after 60,000 miles of driving.
Continuous oil leakage causes a reduction in oil pressure and engine capacity. If left untreated, the leak can lower oil levels and cause premature wear of internal engine parts. The driver should replace the valve gasket to prevent further damage. The replacement cost varies by model, but on average, car owners can spend between $581 and $713.
Regardless of the model or year, BMW cars are known to leak engine oil several times for various reasons throughout the life of the car.
3. Engine failure causes transmission malfunction
2013 BMW X3 owners reported an engine failure to CarComplaints. The website’s severity rating listed the engine problem as its absolute worst score: a perfect 10. In addition to the X3, the BMW N20 and N26 engines are also problematic and subject to a lawsuit.
Drivers say their cars’ engines failed after reaching around 91,000 miles. The engine failure appears to be related to the oil leak problem. A New York driver complained that the problem started with low oil pressure when the BMW X3 reached 104,000 miles.
After 30 seconds, the car activated the transmission system malfunction warning. The vehicle started stalling while they were driving. The driver was able to safely swerve across two lanes of traffic to get off the road before the engine died.
Repairing an engine failure costs about $6,500. Repair requires rebuilding or replacing the entire engine.
BMW promises impressive performance with its line of cars. However, owners have reported the most common problems that potential buyers should be aware of, as they can add up to a huge expense soon after purchase.
