RoadVitals

2006 BMW 330XI Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Dec 14, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 104 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 BMW 330XI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11497465
Incident
Mar 2, 2022
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms remedy not yet available.

NHTSA ID
11472320
Incident
Jun 6, 2019
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2022

The contact's brother owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while his mother was driving approximately 30-40 MPH, she smelled a burning plastic odor and the vehicle started to overheat. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11467167
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat. The check engine warning light, the coolant temperature warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and waited. The contact then continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving and smoke would come out from underneath the hood and through the vent inside of the vehicle while driving, and the vehicle would occasionally stall. Additionally, the contact also stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to restart twice. The vehicle was then towed twice to the contact's residence. The contact's father, who is an independent mechanic, could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained at the residence undrivable. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11463487
Incident
Jan 5, 2021
Mileage
300,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2020

I DIDN'T GET ANY PICTURES. MY SISTER HAS A 330 XI DRIVE TO DENVER AT ONE POINT OF THE DRIVE HURDLE A POP IN THE CAR. WHERE DRIVING FAST NO POT HOLES HIT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE. WE GOT UNDER THE CAR THE CAR AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL WAS RESTING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE WHERE 3 MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKETS AN 1 LAYING ON THE SCID PLATE UNDER THE CAR. I HAVE READ SOME OTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A DEFINITE PROBLEM SO I HOPE YOU LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11378421
Incident
Nov 30, 2020
Engine
Filed Oct 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED BEFORE EVENTUALLY TURNING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
11144143
Incident
Oct 25, 2018
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 28, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR MONTHS BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER SENT NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER (NEWBOLD BMW, 1283 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 628-7300) REPLACED THE WIRING AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID
11075453
Incident
Aug 17, 2017
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BLOOMFIELD (425 BLOOMFIELD AVE, BLOOMFIELD, NJ 07003) AND REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COOLANT AND EXPANSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED BMW OF BLOOMFIELD AT (973) 233-5147 WHERE THE DEALER HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

NHTSA ID
11072362
Incident
Feb 9, 2018
Mileage
195,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2014

COOLANT LEAKING FROM RESERVOIR TANK. A COMMON ISSUE AMONG BMWS- AND IS CURRENTLY EFFECTING MY 330XI 2006. THE EXPANSION TANK IS FAULTY AND WONDERING IF THE TANK AND HOSES ARE TESTED TO EVEN WITHSTAND THE "BMW BRAND" NAME COOLANT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659119
Incident
Oct 2, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .