2011 Bmw M3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw M3 has 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: ticking noise in the engine gradually got louder. oil warning that it was low on oil. added oil, still said it was low, then said it was too much. then said it was low (particles from bearings were clogged in oil sensor giving false reading). finally parked car when noise was so great that i tho. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

16 complaints

39%

• TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE GRADUALLY GOT LOUDER. OIL WARNING THAT IT WAS LOW ON OIL. ADDED OIL, STILL SAID IT WAS LOW, THEN SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH. THEN SAID IT WAS LOW (PARTICLES FROM BEARINGS WERE CLOGGED IN OIL SENSOR GIVING FALSE READING). FINALLY PARKED CAR WHEN NOISE WAS SO GREAT THAT I THO
• I WAS DRIVING IN QUEENS MID TOWN TUNNEL, SUDDENLY MY ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS A TWO LANE TUNNEL, MY CAR WAS BLOCKING ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC. CALLED NYPD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAFE LOCATION. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER OF PARK AVE BMW. THEY THINK ITS A ENGINE FAILURE.
• 2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE GRADUALLY GOT LOUDER. OIL WARNING THAT IT WAS LOW ON OIL. ADDED OIL, STILL SAID IT WAS LOW, THEN SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH. THEN SAID IT WAS LOW (PARTICLES FROM BEARINGS WERE CLOGGED IN OIL SENSOR GIVING FALSE READING). FINALLY PARKED CAR WHEN NOISE WAS SO GREAT THAT I THO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

7 complaints

17%

• 2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AN
• THE CAR WAS PARKED AT A FLAT SPACE PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE USING A FOB KEY, THE ALARM STARTED TO GO OFF. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN USING A KEY BLADE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY, HOWEVER ALL SYSTEM WAS DEAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE FOB KEY BATTERY, CHECKED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC ENTERED THE CABIN. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSES TO THE AIR CONDITIONER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. REEVES IMPORT MOTORCARS DEALER LOCATED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WAS MADE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPE
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

10%

• CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP IN COOLER TEMPERATURES. *TR
• THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS
• 2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP IN COOLER TEMPERATURES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE WAIT FOR PARTS MIGHT BE LONGER THAN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 41 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE GRADUALLY GOT LOUDER. OIL WARNING THAT IT WAS LOW ON OIL. ADDED OIL, STILL SAID IT WAS LOW, THEN SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH. THEN SAID IT WAS LOW (PARTICLES FROM BEARINGS WERE CLOGGED IN OIL SENSOR GIVING FALSE READING). FINALLY PARKED CAR WHEN NOISE WAS SO GREAT THAT I THO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP IN COOLER TEMPERATURES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)