Recalls: BMW F30 3-Series sedan
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: BMW F30 3-Series Sedan
2012-13 BMW F30 3-Series Sedan: loss of power braking assistance
In October 2013, a recall was issued for BMW F30 3-Series vehicles that were available for sale from 1 November 2012 to 31 July 2013. In these vehicles, the vacuum pump may fail due to a lack of lubrication. As a result, the power brake boost unit would not be supplied with sufficient vacuum force, reducing the effectiveness of the brake assistance function. In turn, reduced braking effectiveness posed a hazard to the driver and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, see PRA 2013/13801.
2011-12 BMW F30 3-Series with I6 engine: VANOS oil leak and ‘limp home’ mode
In June 2014, a recall was issued for BMW F30 335i Sedans that had N55 six-cylinder petrol engines and were available for sale prior to 30 April 2012. In these vehicles, the bolted connection on the housing of the variable valve timing unit (VANOS) adjustment units could become loose. If this occurred, the units may develop an internal oil leak and then no longer adjust quickly enough due to the reduced oil pressure. The vehicle’s emergency engine mode would then be activated and the engine warning light would illuminate to warn the driver. If the vehicle was being driven and slowed down or stopped unexpectedly, it would pose an accident hazard to the driver and other road users (PRA 2014/14160).
2012-17 BMW F30 3-Series Sedan: Takata airbag recall
In December 2018, a staged recall campaign was initiated for BMW ‘F Series’ models – this included 2012-17 BMW F30 3-Series Sedan vehicles. These vehicles had Takata driver’s airbags and the propellant wafers in these airbags could absorb moisture over time. In the event of airbag deployment, excessive internal pressure could cause the metal inflator housing to rupture and metallic fragments could be projected through the airbag cushion towards vehicle occupants – these fragments posed a risk of serious injury and fatality. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17191.
2012 BMW F30 3-Series Sedan: camshaft timing unit bolts could break
In November 2023, recall campaign 0011520700 was issued for 2012 BMW F30 3-Series Sedans. In these vehicles, the bolts connecting the variable camshaft timing unit (BMW’s ‘VANOS’) to the engine may break. If this occurred, the vehicle’s ‘limp home’ safety mode may be activated, the engine warning light may illuminate and the vehicle may lose motive power. A loss of motive power while driving could increase the risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005810.
Problems and faults: BMW F30 3-Series Sedan
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2012-14 BMW F30 320i, 328i and 335i: ‘Service Engine Soon’, ‘Drivetrain Malfunction’ and VANOS faults
In September 2014, BMW North America issued Service Bulletin SI B12 26 14 for BMW F30 320i, 328i and 335i Sedans that were manufactured prior to July 2014. These vehicles may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Illumination of the ‘Service Engine Soon’ warning (Malfunction Indicator Light);
- The engine may enter a reduced power mode with the ‘Drivetrain Malfunction’ message displayed; and,
- One or more VANOS faults may be stored in the DME, even though the engine is mechanically sound and no unusual noises can be heard from the VANOS area. These VANOS faults related to implausible camshaft position (intake or exhaust), the camshaft stuck situation, or the camshaft angle offset relative to the crankshaft being outside the tolerance range.
According to the service bulletin, these symptoms could be due to unfavourable Engine Position Management (EPM) parameters in the DME software. The service bulletin recommended test plans be performed using BMW’s ISTA/D diagnostics system and any VANOS hardware issues were to be corrected. After performing repairs, or if the ISTA test plan was inconclusive, the vehicle’s DME software was to be re-programmed with the latest version of ISTA/P. If further VANOS control faults occurred after the DME software was updated, further diagnosis would be required to identify its cause.
BMW F30 335i: Stop/Start software update
For BMW F30 335i vehicles produced from 11/2/2011 to 2/29/2012, a technical service bulletin (TSB) was issued due to problems with the stop/start function. While the engine would correctly shut down and re-start, the engine would unexpectedly shut down again after the re-start. The MSA system would then display a message to the driver that the stop/start function had been disabled and the automatic transmission would automatically be put into neutral. The engine could be manually restarted by the driver using the start button. To fix, the DME software had to be updated.
