2006 BMW X3 Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE COOLANT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11174232

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING MAT. PROBLEM WITH DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF ERRORS POSTED ON THE PHOTO

NHTSA ID

11153582

Incident

Nov 20, 2018

Mileage

99,000 mi

AS I DROVE HOME FROM A LONG FLIGHT HOME AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A FROZEN CRANK CASE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED OIL TO SPRAY OUT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OVER WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW OUT THE FIRE. TEMPERATURES WERE 5 DEGREES F THAT NIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A "MORE ROBUST CRANK CASE VENTILATION SYSTEM" THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL AT MY COST. AFTER THE WEEK LONG REPAIR, THE DEALER BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE FRONT AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATERS. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE NOTING A PINCHING/PAINFUL SENSATION ON MY LEFT UPPER THIGH. I PULLED OVER TO FIND A BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT AND A BURN ON MY LEFT UPPER THIGH. IT APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SEAT HEATER.

NHTSA ID

10948378

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

122,000 mi

ON 8/4/2016 AROUND 7:20AM. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WORK. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND WAS A COMPLETE STOP. SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE CAR EXCELERATED THROWING ME BACK INTO MY SEAT. I KEPT PUSHING THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE CAR WENT AIRBORNE AND EXCELERATED A SECOND TIME. I HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AND LANDED IN THE STREET. I WAS THEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE DISTANCE FROM THE PARKING STOP TO THE ROAD WAS ABOUT 20 FEET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALER. BMW HAD MY CAR FOR 8 WEEKS. THEY HAD 2 DIFFERENT TECHS COME IN TO LOOK AT THE CAR. THE OUT COME WAS THAT THE BRAKES ARE FINE AND IT DID NOT HAVE ANY CODES. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T WANT THE CAR BACK. SINCE THEY DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE I TOLD THEM I WOULD TRADE IT IN AND THEY COULD BE LIABLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE GETTING HURT. FUNNY HOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY TOTALED OUT THE CAR. I ENDED UP GETTING A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH AND WILL BE DOCTORING FOR A WHILE. THE PERSON AT BMW THAT WAS TAKING CARE OF THIS IS MICHAEL AND HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 201-571-5820. WE WERE TOLD BY AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE PERSON THAT GOING AFTER BMW TO GET THE REPORTS FROM THE TECHS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE REPORTS SAY. I FEEL LIKE WE WERE GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I WANT BMW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH SUDDEN EXCELERATION. I AM VERY ANGRY ON HOW I WAS TREATED. THEY GAVE US NO INFORMATION AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR 7 WEEKS. THE LAST WEEK THEY FINALLY GAVE US A RENTAL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

10914959

Incident

Aug 4, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY BMW X3 HAS HAD ITS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE HAVING BEEN HIT BY ANY OBJECTS. THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS IN THE LOW 90,000 MILE RANGE. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM HAPPENING TO MANY BMW X3'S, AT LOW MILEAGE. THEY ALSO CLAIM THAT THE BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS, COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE BMW SERVICE MANAGER, I TALKED TO, INDICATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS SIMILAR ISSUES, BUT WAS NOT AWARE HOW WIDE SPREAD THE PROBLEM IS. HIS GUESS OF WHY THIS MAY BE HAPPENING IS DUE TO DIFFERENT THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE 3 DIFFERENT METALS INVOLVED IN THE MOUNTING SYSTEM. THE WAY I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ENGINE OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS MISALIGNED WITH A PROTECTIVE SHROUD. I HAVE BEEN OCCASIONALLY NOTICING A THUMP COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD MY BALL JOINTS AND FRONT-END CHECKED OUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. I SUSPECT NOW, THAT THE THUMP SOUND IS DUE TO THE SHEARED ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS. IF THAT'S INDEED THE CASE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VECHILE WITH THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF FOR ABOUT 1-1/2 YEARS, UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE NOT EASILY INSPECTABLE, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE MECHANIC THAT CHECKED OUT MY FRONT END SUSPENSION DIDN'T CHECK THE ENGINE MOUNTS AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ID

10894166

Incident

Aug 8, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED CAUSING THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10683248

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

97,000 mi

JAN 16 - CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON - CAR RUNNING SLUGGISH. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - THEY DETECTED OIL SEPARATOR FAILING. CAR STARTED SMOKING AT DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE OIL SEPARATOR AND SEVERAL PARTS DUE TO DAMAGE - COSTS $2400. MARCH 22ND - SAME SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON - TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP - THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND STILL HAVE NOT TOLD ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT OTHER THAN THERE IS OIL EVERYWHERE AND I MAY HAVE HEAD GASKET OR ENGINE DAMAGE. POSSIBLY LOOKING AT ANOTHER $1K TO $5K. THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THIS PART CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS IS WIDELY KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW AND CONSUMERS SHOULD BE GIVEN RELIEF ON THE COSTS. BMW SHOULD SUPPORT THE CORRECTION OF THIS DEFECT AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. DEALER (CHATTANOOGA BMW) SHOULD HAVE ALSO INFORMED ME ABOUT THE BROADER ISSUE VERSUS ME FINDING OUT ON MY OWN RESEARCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505025

Incident

Jan 16, 2013

Mileage

94,095 mi

THE INTAKE BOOT BETWEEN THE MASS AIR SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY CRACKS OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ITEM, AND THE CAR IS WITHIN THE CPO WARRANTY PERIOD, BMW DOES NOT COVER ANY HOSES OR TUBES, AS THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE "WEAR" ITEMS. SINCE IT IS NOT COVERED ITS A $175 DOLLAR DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND $38.54 FOR THE PART VS $50 DEDUCTIBLE. YOU DO NOT KNOW IF YOUR REPAIR IS COVERED UNTIL THE DIAGNOSTIC, SO SHORT OF HAVING TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED YOU COULD BE PENALIZED $125 FOR WANTING YOU CAR REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH YOU PAID EXTRA FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438764

Incident

Dec 3, 2011

Mileage

67,000 mi

I STARTED MY 06 BMW X3 IN MY DRIVEWAY TO WARM IT UP PRIOR TO DRIVING. IT APPEARED TO BE FINE, I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED IT WAS SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST. I DROVE ABOUT 100FT TO THE END OF MY STREET AND THE SMOKING WORSENED SO I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME. I TURNED ONTO THE MAIN STREET AND DROVE AT MOST 20MPH FOR A FEW BLOCKS TO GET BACK HOME. THE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SO BADLY THAT I COULDN'T SEE OUT MY BACK WINDOW. IT WAS BLUE/GREY COLORED. THE CAR WAS PUTTING AND CHUGGING. I DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. EVENTUALLY THE CAR CHUGGED A FEW TIMES AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHTS ALL LIT UP AND I LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING. IT WAS STRANDED ACROSS A DRIVEWAY AND WOULD NOT START. I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, DRIVE LOCALLY AND USE PREMIUM GAS. THERE WAS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION TO THIS FAILURE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE "OIL SEPARATOR" THAT FAILED. MY INVOICE STATES THAT IT WAS AN "ENGINE HYDRAULIC LOCK". THE FAILURE OF THE "OIL SEPARATOR", WHICH IS CALLED A CYCLONE SEPARATOR ON MY INVOICE, CAUSED THE CAR TO FLOOD WITH OIL. THE CYCLONE SEPARATOR AND CRANKCASE VENT HOSES WERE REPLACED. RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH BMW, MOSTLY THE X5 MODELS. BMW N.A. REFUSED TO ASSIST ME, MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 3 MONTHS PRIOR DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE CAR, BUT HAD NOT MET THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE REPAIR COST $1100 AND I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. I ALSO HAD TO PAY $70 FOR A TOW AS BMW WOULD NOT HONOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379172

Incident

Jan 16, 2011

Mileage

40,881 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN DECELERATING FOR TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND THEN SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE STALLING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,352.

NHTSA ID

10238010

Incident

Apr 4, 2008

Mileage

16,352 mi