2018 BMW 230I Owner Complaints

oil filter/coolant housing fail at 69,00 miles. Dumped coolant and got quoted for an expensive mechanic fix $4000

NHTSA ID

11738103

Incident

May 15, 2026

The coolant pipe from the engine cylinder head to the coolant reservoir broke unexpectedly which left us stranded on a narrow shoulder on the side of a busy highway with cars streaming by at high speed. A warning lamp directed us not to drive. Our safety was absolutely put at risk obviously. We had it towed to the closest shop doing BMWs. We had it fixed at significant expense. 5 months later, received a letter from BMW (see attached) wrote us admitting they had found this defect and were offering to replace the defective equipment at their cost if we brought it to the dealer. I called their customer service line who directed me to visit their nearest dealership an hour away and if the work we paid for was done correctly they would reimburse us. We drove and had the Dealer's mechanics verified that the work was done correctly. They referred to it as a RECALL on the verification paperwork.(see attached) I submitted the paperwork to BMW verifying the work was done and the invoice we paid. They responded a few days later, rejecting our request for reimbursement. They wouldn't even give us the amount it would have cost them to fix it. They called it a "SERVICE ACTION" not a "RECALL" and therefore not eligible for reimbursement. SO MY FAMILY IS PUT AT SIGNIFICANT RISK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART, AND THEY GET OFF WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME.

NHTSA ID

11519883

Incident

Oct 17, 2022

I HAVE A 2018 2 SERIES XDRIVE CONVERTIBLE WITH 18' PIRELLI RUN FLAT TIRES. THIS IS MY SECOND 2 SERIES. I HAVE HAD 6 OF THESE TIRES BLOW DUE TO POTHOLES OVER THE TWO CARS I HAVE HAD OVER 4 YEARS. THE LAST ONE THAT BLEW WAS ON FRIDAY ON I65 JUST SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE. I HAD TO WAIT 4 HOURS FOR TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO BMW OF LOUISVILLE. I PROCEEDED ONTO NASHVILLE. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THE TIRES ARE 18' PIRELLI CINTURATO P7 A S RFT RUN FLAT. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MY BMW SERVICE PERSON SAYS THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN WITH THESE CARS. THIS BLOWOUT PATTERN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I NEED NOT TO BE TO BE WORRIED ALL THE TIME THAT A TIRE IS GOING TO BLOW WHEN A POTHOLE IS HIT. ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I MUST GET THEM CHANGED. I THINK THIS COULD BE A DEADLY PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

11383876

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

12,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH, CAR ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. NO POWER STEERING, NO WAY TO GET OVER. CAR DISPLAY SAYS DRIVE TRAIN ERROR. CAR GOT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, DEALER "FIXES" ISSUE. 2 DAYS LATER, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. STILL THERE, NO FIX YET. HOWEVER, HOW IS MY WIFE SUPPOSED TO FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR NOW. IT CAN DIE ON THE FREEWAY AT ANYTIME AND YOU HAVE NO POWER AND TRAFFIC IS ZOOMING BY.

NHTSA ID

11103839

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

3,500 mi