2011 BMW M3

31 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Sep 5, 2023Failure Jul 18, 2023The Woodlands, TXEngine

   Starting from a traffic light at Woodlands Parkway and Gosling Road in the Woodlands, TX - Vehicle accelerated normally during shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd - Engine RPM went to ZERO and vehicle suddenly lost all power and died. There was a large Ford F150 behind the car. Thankfully, I was watching the tachometer and coasted to the shoulder before attempting to shift back to 2 and try a rolling start at which point vehicle came to an abrupt and sudden stop. Car was towed to an approved mechanic and was diagnosed as "another seized S65" engine. OPINION of Expert engine builders and bearing manufacturers is that the original BMW S65 bearing dimensions result in inadequate journal clearance and has been thoroughly documented. This, coupled with any potential "tolerance stacking" (- clearance) can result in a final bearing clearance which is significantly tighter than ideal and is the reason why we have seen engines fail after only a few thousand miles. This was half a second or less from being a fatal accident.

   NHTSA complaint 11542797
2. Filed Oct 13, 2022Failure Oct 13, 2022East Brunswick, NJElectrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes

   When I put the battery terminals after swapping a new battery, my FRM got damaged. No brake or head lights are working, no turn signals, no windows moving etc. It's a safety issue on the road

   NHTSA complaint 11489153
3. Filed Jan 29, 2021Failure Jan 14, 202152,000 milesGlendale, CAElectrical system, Engine, Power train

   I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ACCELERATING WHEN I HIT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH MY CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD REVVING SOUND AND METAL CLANKING SOUND IN MIDDLE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE VERY THICK WHITE SMOKE ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON THE DASH ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENTS WHILE CARS AVOID HITTING! MY CAR WASN'T GOING OVER 5 10 MPH THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE WAS GETTING WORRIED,SOME HOW I MANAGED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND PARKED I WAS TOLD MY ENGLISH WAS BLOWN! MAINTENANCE WAS UP-TO-DATE ONLY DROVE IT ON THE WEEKENDS ONLY HAD 52,000 MILES NIGHTMARE 2011 BMW M3

   NHTSA complaint 11390611
4. Filed Sep 15, 2020Failure Nov 8, 201665,699 milesIndian Rocks Beach, FLAir bags

   BETWEEN 11/04/16 AND 11/08/16 I LEFT MY VEHICLE WITH REEVES BMW DEALERSHIP IN TAMPA, FL FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL WHICH THEY TOLD ME THEY COMPLETED. I CONTINUED TO GET WARNING LETTERS FROM THE NHTSA FOR THIS RECALL AND RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH TOLD ME THE REEVES BMW DEALERSHIP REPORTED THEY COMPLETED THE WORK AND MY AIRBAG COULD NOT BE CHANGED UNDER THE RECALL. I TOOK MY AIRBAG OFF THE STEERING COLUMN AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE LABEL ON THE BACK WHICH SHOWS THE AIRBAG INSTALLED IN MY CAR WAS PRODUCED IN MAY 2010 WHICH IS PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL BATCH AND WAS PRIOR TO THE ASSEMBLY OF MY CAR AT THE FACTORY. I AM VERY ANGRY THIS RECALL WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED BY REEVES BMW DEALERSHIP AS I WAS TOLD AND THAT I HAVE BEEN PLACED AT UNNECESSARY RISK FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THIS TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL COMPLETED SO THAT I AM NO LONGER AT RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY AS BMW APPARENTLY HAS MY VEHICLE INCORRECTLY MARKED OFF AS RECALL COMPLETED AND WILL NOT COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK. I'VE ATTACHED AN IMAGE OF THE LABEL ON THE AIRBAG IN MY CAR AND THE PAPERWORK FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WAS NOT DONE. THANK YOU FOR THE HELP.

   NHTSA complaint 11355276
5. Filed Apr 29, 2020Failure Apr 24, 202073,800 milesAPO, AEEngine, Service brakes, Steering

   WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, AND PULLED TO A STOP SIGN. I GAVE MY CAR A FEW REVS JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO CHECK OUT, SO I CONTINUE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH AND STRAIGHT, THE CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN, AND THIS TIME I HAVE A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. THANKFULLY I MANAGE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BY USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE SLOWLY. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN BACK ON. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT'S BECOME APPARENT THIS VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY KNOWN TO DO THIS. ROD BEARINGS AND MAIN BEARINGS HAVE CAUSED THESE MOTORS TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING, AND BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE FROM THIS ISSUE, BUT IT'S SAD ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS DOLLARS AND CENTS.

   NHTSA complaint 11322610
6. Filed Oct 20, 2019Failure Oct 20, 2019Oxnard, CAElectrical system

   I DID SOME RESEARCH IT LOOKS MY CAR HAS THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE RECALL NOT DONE IT'S MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!! UP ON FURTHER INFORMATION CARS BUILD FROM DATE 2008-2012 MY VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS FROM SEPTEMBER 2010. I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY RECALL LATER PLEASE SOLVE ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THANKS.

   NHTSA complaint 11269801
7. Filed Oct 20, 2019Failure Jul 10, 2019107,000 milesDIX Hills, NYEngine

   I WAS DRIVING CASUALLY WHEN THE MOTOR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. NO NOISE INDICATING ENGINE FAILURE EVER HAPPENED. I COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART. NOTHING BUT A CLICK. EVENTUALLY TRIED REPLACING STARTER MOTOR BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES EVER POPPED UP. TURNS OUT ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO FAILED ROD BEARINGS.

   NHTSA complaint 11269732
8. Filed Jul 26, 2019Failure Jul 13, 201980,000 milesSanta Barbara, CAEngine

   TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY, IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND COULD NO LONGER START. WHEN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS TOOK THE ENGINE APART, THEY FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND ROD BEARING BUSH WERE OVER-WORN AND BURNT OUT. THE ENGINEER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL I USED WAS TOO STICKY TO LUBRICATE THE ROD BEARING. I CHANGED THE ENGINE OIL 8,000 MILES AGO, USING THE 10W-60 OIL SUPPLIED BY BMW.

   NHTSA complaint 11235191
9. Filed Jun 8, 2019Failure May 28, 201943,300 milesCrestwood, KYEngine

   WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, MY ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK, CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED, HAS 43,300 ORIGINAL MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER.

   NHTSA complaint 11218617
10. Filed Dec 4, 2018Failure Nov 1, 2017Hopewell Junction, NYElectrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (BMW OF HUDSON VALLEY, 2068 SOUTH RD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2019. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 11155842
11. Filed Jun 6, 2018Failure Jun 2, 201860,000 milesDesplaines, ILEngine

    O2 SENSORS CONSTANTLY GO OUT REPLACED 3 TIMES, THROTTLE BODY ACUTATORS CONSTANTLY GO BAD PUTTING CAR IN LIMP MODE VERY DANGEROUS MY CAR CUT OFF AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS WITH MY FAMILY!!! SOMETHING BAD COULD OF HAPPENED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BMW M3 2008-2013 PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. ROD BEARINGS GO BAD ASWELL

    NHTSA complaint 11100142
12. Filed Feb 20, 2018Failure Feb 16, 201838,000 milesTampa, FLElectrical system, VisibilityFire

    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 AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. *TT *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11073899
13. Filed Feb 8, 2018Failure Jan 4, 201842,000 milesCincinnati, OHEngine

    WHILE DRIVING MY LOW MILAGE 2011 BMW M3 (42K MILES) ON THE HIGHWAY, OUT OF NO WHERE, I NOTICED THE CAR DRIVING A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY AND SLIGHTLY SHAKING. THIS HAPPENED MOMENTS BEFORE I REACHED MY EXIT. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION RIGHT OFF THE EXIT AND OPENED THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A TINGING/SCRAPING NOISE WITH EACH REVOLUTION. I CLOSED IT UP, AND DROVE TO MY HOME WHICH WAS A COUPLE MINUTES AWAY. WHILE DRIVING, THE NOISE WAS HAPPENING MORE IN LOWER GEARS. WHEN I GOT HOME, I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW IT WAS LEAKING OIL, AND STILL MAKING THE NOISE. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THE ROD BEARINGS IN THE ENGINE HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW STORE AT 38K MILES IN MAY OF 2017, I ALWAYS SERVICED IT AT MY LOCAL BMW STORE - THIS OCCURRED FEBRUARY 3RD, 2018. AFTER READING UP, I AM LEARNING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE S65 ENGINES THAT ARE IN THIS MODEL OF M3'S. BMW HAS YET TO MAKE A RECALL, BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ENGINE (IT COSTS 30 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH IS ALMOST AS MUCH AS I PAID FOR THE CAR), AND THE ENGINE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I FEEL WRONGED BY BMW, AND ADVISE THE NHTSA TO URGE BMW TO RECALL THIS ENGINE TO SAVE FUTURE CUSTOMERS FROM CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.

    NHTSA complaint 11071817
14. Filed Dec 5, 2017Failure Dec 5, 2017Palo Alto, CAAir bags

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V071000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE STEVENS CREEKS BMW (4343 STEVENS CREEK BLVD ST CLARA CA 95051 800-298-1501) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 11052621
15. Filed Nov 21, 2017Failure Oct 4, 201763,850 milesLyndeborough, NHEngine

    AT 63,860 MILE THE S65 ENGINE IN MY 2011 BMW M3 FAILED. DEALER DIAGNOSED ENGINE BEARING FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING.

    NHTSA complaint 11047832
16. Filed Nov 17, 2017Failure Oct 1, 201746,000 milesWilton, CTEngine

    ENGINE KNOCKING. CONNECTING ROD BEARING AND MAIN BEARING FAILURE RESULTING IN REQUIRED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ENGINE NOT ABLE TO BE REBUILT DUE TO CRACKED MAIN BEARING SADDLES.

    NHTSA complaint 11047061
17. Filed May 10, 2017Failure May 10, 2017Houston, TXAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL - THIS RECALL HAS BEEN ACTIVE NOW FOR OVER A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS WITH NO REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE TRIED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND NEITHER OF THEM HAVE A PART AVAILABLE TO FIX. WHAT IS THE HOLDUP?

    NHTSA complaint 10984727
18. Filed Apr 19, 2017Failure Apr 19, 2017Edmond, OKEngine

    ROD BEARING FAILURE.

    NHTSA complaint 10979247
19. Filed Feb 17, 2017Failure Feb 8, 201769,000 milesAnaheim, CAElectrical system

    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 THE BATTERY STATUS, AND RAN THE ERROR CODE SYSTEM, BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SIMILAR MODELS (BMW 3 SERIES) FOR A FUSE BOX - BATTERY CONNECTION ISSUE. AND GIVING A GOOD PRESS TOWARDS THE FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE GLOVE-BOX DID FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, HOWEVER THE ISSUE HAS KEPT HAPPENING SINCE THEN. 3 SERIES MANUFACTURED MARCH 2007 THROUGH JULY 2011 HAVE BEEN RECALLED DURING THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V044000. MY MODEL, M3, USES THE SAME DESIGN AND SAME PARTS AS 328I AND 335I FOR THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY CONNECTION, AND THE SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES NOT JUST TO ME BUT TO OTHER M3 MODELS, BUT THIS MODEL FOR SOME REASON HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED THE PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN.

    NHTSA complaint 10955248
20. Filed Dec 5, 2016Failure Dec 5, 2016Houston, TXAir bags

    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 EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 10929859