BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

sabrina14 · February 2012

How many o2 sensors does a 2002 325i have? and is it safe to drive the car if one fails? and for how long? Also how much would it cost to get one replaced? :confuse:

srs_49 · February 2012

I think your car has the OBD-2 diagnostic system. Therefore, I'm 99% sure there are at least 2 O2 sensors on your car's exhaust - one before the catalytic converter (cat), and one after it.

The one behind the cat is used to assess whether the cat is working correctly or not. If that one fails, then the CEL light should come on and the relevant OBD-2 code stored, but I don't think anything should be damaged.

If the one ahead of the cat fails, then it could, in the extreme, cause damage the catalytic converter, which is expensive to replace. If that one fails drivability could suffer also.

As to cost, I'm going to go way out on a limb here :P . Say the O2 sensor itself costs $100. Shouldn't take more than about an hour to replace either one, so my guess would be $200. Of course, your's is a BMW :shades: so that cost could easily be 2X higher.

roadburner · February 2012

A 2002 325i has two pre-cat 02 sensors and two after-cat 02 sensors.
OEM equivalents from Bosch will run @$95 for the pre-cat sensors and @$78 fpr the after-cat pieces.
In any case the fault codes need to be read in order to determine which sensor(s) is/are flakey.

2thelimit · February 2012

Steve,
Unfortunately I don't have the car as the engine service soon light went on again and I had to take it back to the Dealer again?!?! The Dealer said it was the catalytic converter that had been damaged by the gas flow when the High Pressure Fuel Pump went out. I don't know where to find the production date ? Is it on the inside of driver door stamp? It was not on the window sticker. I will check the driver door when I get the car back. I leased it in December of 2010 so I imagine the production is November of 2010 but I will confirm once you tell me where to look. The window sticker says Engine and transmission are from Germany and Final Assemble in Rosslyn South Africa. Thank you very much for any help

lehrer1 · April 2012

2006 BMWi with 6000 miles on it. My radio is kaputt . What a shame! The screen lights up but it is blank. What is the price to fix the radio?
Best regards, Lehrer

Mr_Shiftright · April 2012

Might be a good opportunity to upgrade rather than repair the old one. Probably you'll have to pay a good car audio shop a "bench fee" to pull it and test it, and then give you an estimate for repair versus replacement. If your old one doesn't have ipod and USB inputs, maybe it would be worth it for you?

steveybarn · April 2012

If you need a better visual, here is my mechanic's site and they have a video on a 3 series BMW Oil Change. They are super skilled and have a lot of great maintenance tips for European vehicles.

idoc2 · May 2012

My 2007 328xi with 111,000 miles is now consuming about a quart of oil every 4,000 miles. When new it consumed about a quart every 8,000 miles. I have always changed my own oil every 7,500-8,000 miles using BMW filters and BMW oil purchased from the dealer. Is this degree of oil consumption common for a car of this age? What are the future implications?

roadburner · May 2012

Relax; 4,000 miles per quart is nothing to worry about. My 1995 3er has consumed one quart every 2,500-3,000 miles since new. At 130,000 miles it runs strong and smooth. and used oil analysis backs up my subjective evaluation.
I suspect the transfer case will die long before the engine- especially if the TC oil has never been changed.

Mr_Shiftright · May 2012

Not a problem--perhaps even good for your engine.

idoc2 · May 2012

It seems to me that when oil is increasingly consumed or burned it implies piston ring or cylinder wall wear. Its hard to imagine how oil getting around the cylinder heads into the combustion chamber can be a good thing. With that said, my BMW dealer claims that unless a car is using more than a quart per 750 miles(yes one quart per two tanks of gas! - are we talking a two stroke or what?) it is within what BMW considers an acceptable limit. Sounds like CYA nonsense!

Mr_Shiftright · May 2012

A small amount of oil lubricating the valve head and stem (upper combustion area) can be a good thing, yes.

Oil loss isn't necessarily due to engine wear. You could have some problem with your "oil separator" (fancy name for a PCV valve, which under certain circumstances, and with certain cars, can allow oil to be sucked into the intake manifold. Porsche Boxsters are notorious for this failure.

However, given the tiny amount of oil you are consuming, I wouldn't give it a second thought. If you find, over time, that consumption keeps dropping and dropping, then you should pay more attention--but even then, unless your consumption is even a quart every 2500 miles--the engine will run forever like that.

One quart every 750 miles seems extreme. I wouldn't be happy with that, either.

But a little oil burning is more than okay. When you see a product called "upper cylinder lubricant", that's actually oil that you add to the gas tank---for upper cylinder lubrication.

Modern engines don't really need it, but it can't hurt in those miniscule amounts IMO.

roadburner · May 2012

However, given the tiny amount of oil you are consuming, I wouldn't give it a second thought. If you find, over time, that consumption keeps dropping and dropping, then you should pay more attention--but even then, unless your consumption is even a quart every 2500 miles--the engine will run forever like that.

Precisely. That engine will outlive 2 or 3 slushboxes and 1 or 2 transfer cases...

adamjohnson · May 2012

I agree that you should purchase a brand new one, no point in going or a repair at this stage.

busiris · May 2012

The quart per 750 miles or more seems to have become an industry standard. Chrysler also goes by that standard.

I have 2 late model BMW's (2007, 2010) and neither use any oil between 5k mile oil changes. My wife owns a 2095 Mini and it doesn't use any oil either, and it has roughly 70k miles.

I would suspect you have a leaking valve guide/seal(s), but that's just a guess. Pull your spark plugs and look to see if any particular one looks like its accumulated oil. If they all look the same, then I wouldn't worry too much.

Some engines are just a bit "looser" than others, but still within manufacturing tolerances and standards.

david3series · June 2012

Hi there, I'm having exactly the same problem with my 2006 3-series!! Can you please tell me if this got resolved with your car? If so, how?? Could use the help, thanks!

memphis10 · July 2012

I have a BMW 325i, 2003 with 70,000 miles. Car wouldnt start and got it towed to an independent mechanic in Dallas that I found through bimmershops.com. Here are some quotes I got.
1. Bad Fuel Pump - $800
2. Bad power steering - Whole unit needs to be replaced - $3300
3. Gasket leak - $350
TOTAL - $4500
Are these prices ok? Is it worth spending $4500 for a car that is almost 10 years old but doesnt have too many miles on it. Please suggest other mechanics. I took it to Autoscope.
Thanks

Mr_Shiftright · July 2012

I presume you have the M54 engine and not the M56.

So the pump is about $360 list and the labor is about 2.2 hours. Soooo, based solely on what you're telling me, the price seems high for that.

I'm not sure what you mean by the 'whole unit" but I presume you mean the steering gear and not the pump. The gear is $1280 complete plus about 1.6 hours labor. So that seems high as well unless he's replacing the pump, too. Can it ALL be bad?

Can't say about the gasket leak because I don't know which gasket.

I would suggest you tow it somewhere else for a second opinion and estimate.

I'm basing my comments on some guesses as to what's being done here.

roadburner · July 2012

I think that memphis10 is almost certainly getting hosed. If he was a BMW CCA member he could check with his local chapter to find an honest and competent shop. In almost 17 years of ownership the largest check that I've ever written for non-scheduled maintenance on my 133,000 mile 1995 3 Series track rat was $230- for a new heater flange coupling. At my BMW dealer.
I sincerely hope that shop quote includes a kiss and fresh flowers delivered the next morning...

valueseeker627 · July 2012

Hi All,

I am purchasing a BMW 330i with about 85k miles. I want to make sure the car is in good condition and have it inspected by the BMW dealer in town. My concerns are:

What types of repairs are expected at this mileage level?
Can the person selling the car tamper with the check engine light by cancelling the message on the onboard computer? I have heard of some people doing this and selling used cars. Once the new owner buys the car and drives for a few hundred miles, the light comes back and they are stuck with more serious issues that seemed not to exist.

Also, if I take it to the BMW dealer, will they be able to conduct an inspection and tell me what's wrong with the car even if there has been potential tampering with engine lights, etc?

Thanks for your help. Buying my first BMW and have been cautioned by many that repairs can be expensive, so I'd really like to be cautious and could use advice!!

pt838 · July 2012

Hi, I recently sold my 2006 330Xi and moved up to a 2011 335Xi. Fortunately, I did not have much mechanical repairs while I owned the 2006, but you should be cautioned that the suspension for that model year is very rough. I do not know what part of the country you are located in, but I am from the New York area and had much problems with cracked alloy wheels due to the tight suspension and the city roads in New York. All potential owners of that model year should know this. Good luck with your purchase, if you live in an area with good road surfaces, you will enjoy your ride!!!

roadburner · July 2012

Also, if I take it to the BMW dealer, will they be able to conduct an inspection and tell me what's wrong with the car even if there has been potential tampering with engine lights, etc?

You can clear a code from an OBDII equipped car, but if there is an actual fault the CEL will eventually return. That said, a good dealer should be able to detect actual tampering.

dan12 · October 2012

I have a 2007 335i. Over the last 6 months, I have had to add 1 qt of oil every 2k miles which means about every 2 months. This just started. In the past I had to add oil maybe once or twice a year. The BMW dealer says this is normal. But if it was normal, why was it not happening when the engine was new?

I called another BMW service shop and the guy there told me that from what he has seen the 335 and 535 turbo engines don't last. This oil burning eventually leads to very expensive work and I should think about selling the car. I really like my 335i but don't want to keep it and get stuck with a $$$ repair bill.

Thoughts?

roadburner · October 2012

The rate of oil consumption you are experiencing is considered to be "acceptable" by BMW. That said, what worries me is the fact it began rather abruptly.
I haven't heard of any long term durability issues with the N54/N55 engine, but I tend to focus on NA and M motors.

dan12 · October 2012

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the BMW dealer said that they consider it to be normal and that they will put it in writing for me. Maybe I should take them up on that. In the meantime I guess I will wait a few more months and see if the problem continues. I have an extended warranty so that makes me more comfortable with waiting..

Mr_Shiftright · October 2012

I wonder if he has some PCV problem going on here?

roadburner · October 2012

That's a possibility; I know that other BMW sixes -particularly the M54- can have issues with the oil separator.

55396 · October 2012

I never have to bother to check oil in our 03 Toyota Avalon w/112k. Even on a 6k oil change. Same for my 96 Z3 1.9 w/113k. There is no excuse for oil usage in a quality today. Especially in the BMW class.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2012

Nothing wrong with a "little" oil consumption--possibly even good for the upper cylinder area lubrication. Race cars use oil.

roadburner · October 2012

Nothing wrong with a "little" oil consumption--possibly even good for the upper cylinder area lubrication. Race cars use oil.

Two of my BMWs use virtually no oil, while two do. No big deal either way. The M42 in my E36/5 has used a quart every 2500 miles or so since I bought it new in 1995. What's odd is that it uses oil in suburban driving conditions, but hardly consumes a drop on the track or when cruising at 80 mph(4000 rpm)- go figure.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2012

Could have to do with engine "load"--it would be interested to hook up a vacuum gauge under both conditions.

There is only one down-side to having an engine that consumes a bit of oil---you do have to check it between those 7500 mile oil changes. But it doesn't harm the engine to burn a bit of oil, it doesn't affect emissions, and it doesn't affect longevity.

mylesr · January 2013

I received a estimate of $1500 to replace transmission fluid/filter and replace spark plugs/coils...does this cost seem reasonable?

srs_49 · January 2013

Seems excessive to me, though I don't know how much the coils go for on that car.

Mr_Shiftright · January 2013

They (the coils) are about $60 bucks a pop retail plus .5 of one hour to replace...so in my neck of the woods, that'd be about $425 + tax. Then spark plugs are about $45 for a 6 pack...let's round it at $50, plus 1.3 hours labor, so for the spark plugs we're looking at about $230 plus tax.

So for coils and plugs we're at roughly $650, which leaves $850 to change the transmission fluid.

Ah.....no. Must either be more to this service or someone is being very nasty to you.

roadburner · January 2013

The filter/gasket /bolt kit(Munich wants you to use new pan bolts) runs around $106. Depending on the transmission the magic ATF can run up to $30/liter.(!). The bill still looks to be heavily padded; I know of one dealer that wanted $900 to replace a battery that had an MSRP of @$270.

mylesr · January 2013

Here are the costs I received from Ferman BMW in Palm Harbor FL: Plugs $419/Trans Fluid/filter: between $852-1003 depending on which fluid is specified (need to bring in to varify), and Inspection I $500...I am now working w/an independant shop on this.

mylesr · January 2013

Lost this part when the car was towed to dealer to replace fuel pump. Is there a site I can get this part number from so I can try to get one from a junk yard? Also access to touch up paint for my Orient Blue?

busiris · January 2013

realoem.com should give you what you're searching for.

dudebloke · February 2013

Hello All,

Thought Id seek some wisdom here. Recently my 06 330xi was shaking profusely while driving, so I took it to the dealer.

They said it was the iginition coil that needs replacing and $450 later, it is not shaking so much anymore.

The problem is that the shaking hasnt gone away completely.

The dealer also mentioned when I picked up the car, that the belt tensioner needs replacing as well and that would set me back by another $450 or thereabouts.

I have two questions:

1. Is the still slight shaking related to the belt tensioner?
2. What is the risk of not replacing the belt tensioner?

I have about 35k on the 06, and I dont drive more than a few miles each week on average. No daily driving at all.

Thanks in advance!

dudebloke · February 2013

Hello,

Just wanted to check if I should buy maintnenace either from BMW or any third parties, for my 06 330xi. I only have about 35k miles on it and some maintenance items are creeping up.

Any trusted maintenance companies out there?

I was getting mailers from some company in Missouri in official government looking letters and I reported them to the BBB. They look fraudulent, so I want to me careful.

Thanks!

skinhealer · February 2013

Have a 328xi 2008 with 67000 without a problem so far.

Did all the regular maintenance in the car. Yesterday saw the service light go on.

Can someone tell me what are the most common reasons for this light to go on?

Will be going to get it checked out. BMW dealership stated that it will be $140 to diagnose the problem. The gas cap is perfectly fitted on...

55396 · February 2013

An autozone type store will generally read the code for free and possibly point to a part. Will also give you part price. They may even know of a good shop.

55396 · February 2013

Well, a belt tensioner is usually just a pulley with a bearing(s) in it and can be manually adjusted or spring loaded. At some point, the bearings dry up and the pulley can become loose on the shaft. Sometimes they get noisy first, sometimes not. One can usually check by loosening the tension and checking the bearing by turning, feeling for roughness or wobbling on the shaft. Of course most won't do this, so another method is to take a long shafted screw driver or similar item, touch it against engine metal on the front of the engine while running, then place ear to shaft and listen for roughness, grinding or squealing. Be very careful of moving parts. Auto parts stores and Harbor Freight may sell stethescopes for this purpose for 10 bucks or so. Again, most BMW owners won't do this, but you could ask the dealer or shop to demonstrate why they think it's bad. I hate to say it, but some lie, then amazingly find other 'problems' in the process. As a check and balance, ask for your old part. I mark my part to make sure they don't pull another one from the scrap bin. OK, I don't readily trust. Read these forums to see why.

dudebloke · February 2013

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I dont hear any sounds, just a mild shaking since the iginition coil was replaced. Prior to that the shaking was pretty bad.

Im taking it back to the dealer. See what they say.

Thanks again!

96_318i · March 2013

Hello,

This is my situation, i was driving with A/C Heater working perfectly fine, then all of a sudden i started to smell something that smelt like burning rubber, and the A/C heater stopped working once i shut off the car and turned it back on. Since then i have switched out the blower motor, the resistor, and the fuzes. But with no luck i still cannot seem to find out the reason. The animatronix panel still works but there is no blowing air out of any vents at all. What could my problem be?

yourmechanic · March 2013

It could be your car has bad relay or the wiring could be burnt somewhere. It can also be both.

rhmass · March 2013

Our '02 E46 has problem keeping freon in after recharging. The technician checked it out and told me the leak was at the inside part of the AC unit, so would entail taking the whole unit out to repair. He thought it would cost close to $1,000 or more because of the labor involved. He siad had the leak was nearing the front side of the unit, it would take less money without having taking the unit out. I don't quite get it. Just based on the problem presented (inability for the AC unit to hold the freon), anyone can hazard a guess? What could be the ball park cost for replacing the AC unit. We love the car and really want to keep it. It has just reached 70,000 miles with everythingelse opreating perfectly. TIA for suggestions.

runningdoc · March 2013

A quick question... Any idea what the spark plug change interval is on a 2009 335i? I read through the manual which states 45K, and that it is not in the CMS (Computer Maintenance Service), but the dealer keeps claiming it is, and that 45 K is not applicable. Has anyone else run into this issue, and if so, how did you handle it? Many thanks!

roadburner · March 2013

It is definitely 45K, per BMW SI B00 01 07; if the dealer still plays dumb then escalate the issue to the regional manager.

runningdoc · March 2013

Any idea how to get to the regional manager? I tried to call BMW customer service, who says BMW's factory rep still insists it is on the key and they don't use 45K, despite the manual, and the TSB on the subject?

BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

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