2007 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 1,040 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 29 involved a crash and 61 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
66 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 18, 2010
FIRST NOTICED A BURNING SMELL -- THOUGHT IT MAY BE PLASTIC OR RUBBER. PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY NEAR TAMPA TO A LOCAL GAS STATION. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, NOTICED NOTHING. THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE SPACE WHERE THE REAR WINDOW ROLLS UP, ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC. CALLED BMW ASSIST, WAS TOLD TO GET A TOW TO THE NEAREST DEALER. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, CALLED TO BMW TO TALK WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN -- DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE TECHNICIAN AND ASKED IF I COULD DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT GIVEN THE SMOKE, WOULD ADVISE AGAINST DRIVING THE CAR. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND INSPECTED BY DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE "DASH REFLECTED MESSAGE OF PINCH PROTECTION MALFUNCTION. JBE MODULE CAUSED FAILURE OF BOTH REAR WINDOW MOTORS, INTERROGATE FAULT MEMORY. FOUND FAULTS IN JBE, A6D9, A6DA, A6D8, A6DB. COMPLETED TEST PLAN FOR THESE FAULTS. PER TEST PLAN REPLACE JBE. SWAPPED IN JBE FROM KNOWN GOOD VEHICLE." ESSENTIALLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXISTING SOFTWARE IN THE CAR WITH THE SOFTWARE FROM A CAR KNOWN TO HAVE GOOD SOFTWARE. DEALER FOUND BOTH WINDOW MOTORS "BURNED" AND REPLACED BOTH WINDOW ROLL-UP MOTORS. DEALER COMPLETED VEHICLE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING "CAS". COMPLETE CAR ENCODING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 27, 2009
CONSTANT FAILURE IN MY 2007 BMW 335I SEDAN. RANDOM LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP THE PATH OF DRIVING VERY WELL. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN AT LEAST 6-7 TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I WOULD HOPE BMW WOULD RECALL SUCH A DEFECT. PER BMW RECOMMENDATION I HAD THE ENGINE DECARBONIZED AS THEY SAID THIS WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE RUN TO SPEC. THE FUEL PUMP WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AS IT WAS FAULTY AND A NEW SPARK PLUG PUT IN PLACE. THE CAR NOW RUNS ROUGH AND THE ENGINE IS LOUD. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO BMW THEY SAY ITS RUNNING FINE. I WILL BRING MY VEHICLE IN ONCE AGAIN TOMORROW TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 24, 2009
MY AMERICAN SPECS BMW 3.35XI LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON THE AUTOBAHN (A6) NEAR BAD DURKHEIM, GERMANY WHILE TRAVELING AT 100 MPH UP A HILL PASSING A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT (BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING AT ESTIMATED 130 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE. I AM A MILITARY OFFICER STATIONED OVERSEAS AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT THAT NEARLY KILLED ME. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 31, 2009, crash
WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A SHARP U TURN ON A HILLSIDE STREET, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND STOPPED WITH ITS BELLY STUCK ON THE CURB AND THE REAR WHEELS IN THE AIR AFTER HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ACROSS THE STREET. IT WAS SO SUDDEN, AND THE CAR JUMPED ABOUT 12 FEET INSTANTLY, AND HIT THE RAIL. SINCE THE STREET IS SLOPING DOWN, I NEVER ACCELERATE WHEN I COME DOWN THE HILL. THIS MODEL HAS A TURBO PROBLEM, AND THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED ON THE TURBO PART UP TO 10 YEARS. THIS CAR HAD A SEVERAL STARTING PROBLEMS BEFORE, AND DISPLAYED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. THEN IT IS RESET BY ITSELF. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED, THEY DENIED THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION LOOKS LIKE A DEADLY FAILURE. IF IT HAPPENS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, IT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN FATAL CRASHES OR DEATHS OF PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 12, 2009
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM FLORIDA TO NEW MEXICO AS PART OF A MILITARY CHANGE OF STATION. I WAS ON MY SECOND DAY OF THE TRIP, FROM FORT WORTH, TX TO PORTALS, NM, WHEN I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER 5 TIMES IN A 200 MILE DISTANCE (NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH). TWICE, THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF SUDDENLY, DISABLING THE POWER STEERING, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. ONCE WAS AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE; THE OTHER WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL TOWN. THANKFULLY IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EITHER TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THESE INCIDENTS. IT IS A 90 MINUTE DRIVE ON VERY DESOLATE ROADS TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK, TX, SO I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AS IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. I AM AWAITING A RESOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Jul 2, 2009
2007 335I COUPE - CAR EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. CAR OMITS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS CAR HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN NOW AT LEAST 3 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS TWO TIMES BMW DEALER FOUND FAULTY FUEL PUMPS AND REPLACED. NOW, BMW DEALER CLAIMS THE CAR NEEDS NEW CAM SHAFTS IN THE CAR, MEANWHILE ENGINE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY TO ATTEMPT THE REPAIR. IT SEEMS LIKE BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CAR HAS MAJOR ISSUES.*TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 20, 2009
MY VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUTS DOWN WHEN IM STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT IT ON IN THE MORNING, THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN FIVE OR SIX TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THEY REFRESH A COMPUTER THEY SAY. ALSO THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009
PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE. HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4875087&POSTED=1#POST4875087 BMW HAS A TICKING PROBLEM WITH ALL 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES. BMW HAS A TSB TO "BLEED" THE VEHICLE. BMW IS AWARE THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BMW NEEDS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD TO FIX THE DEFECT. BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE 2009 CYLINDER HEAD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BMW IS PUTTING ITS CONSUMERS THROUGH A FRAUDULENT SCHEME TO ATTEMPT FRIVOLOUS REPAIRS WHILE KNOWING A FULL CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, I ASK THAT THIS GOVERNMENT SERVICE DEMAND BMW ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT TO ITS 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES VEHICLES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 5, 2009
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP TO RESET THE COMPUTER PROGRAM, REPLACE A PURGE VALVE, AND EVENTUALLY HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS HAS RESULTED IN 5 VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 20, 2009
2006, 2007, AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES HAVE A METALLIC TICKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 4, 2008
MY 2007 BMW 335 SEDAN WAS RECENTLY UPDATED WITH A NEW ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE (REFERRED TO AS PROGMAN 29.2) AND SINCE THEN THE RESPONSE HAS BECOME UNPREDICTABLE. PARTICULARLY THE CAR HAD NO TURBO LAG EARLIER AND AFTER THE UPDATE THE TURBO LAG HAS BECOME VERY PERCEPTIBLE. THIS HAS MADE HIGHWAY PASSING UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT BEHAVE CONSISTENTLY AND SOMETIMES WILL HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SURGE VERY QUICKLY AND AT OTHER TIMES DRIVE NORMALLY. THE UNPREDICTABILITY AND TURBO LAG MAKES HIGHWAY PASSING QUITE UNSAFE ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE IN THE CAR (SURGES ARE TOUGH TO ANTICIPATE). BMW DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT EVEN DO ANY TESTS ON THE CAR. THEY HAVE BEEN SENDING ME IN CIRCLES BETWEEN THEIR NA OFFICE AND LOCAL DEALER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 16, 2008
MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH "ENGINE MALFUNCTION. REDUCED POWER" AKA LIMP MODE. ON MY 2007 BMW 335I SEDAN. BMW REPLACED FUEL PUMP ONCE, BUT NOW SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS REPEATING ITSELF. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 9, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAMATICALLY DECELERATE AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLUCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE JERKED EXCESSIVELY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,995.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 16, 2007
ON 12/15/07 I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE DIRT MEDIAN. THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A VIRTUAL STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC QUICKLY APPROACHING. I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT NO POWER WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE WHEELS AND ENGINE RPM DID NOT INCREASE. THIS LASTED FOR MANY SECONDS. I HAD TIME TO CONFIRM I WAS STILL IN FIRST GEAR. I THEN DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, REVVED THE ENGINE TO HIGH RPM AND TOOK OFF IN SECOND GEAR. MY WIFE AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE VEHICLE VIRTUALLY AT A STANDSTILL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 4, 2007
4 DAYS AFTER CAR WAS LEASE BRAND NEW 2007 BMW 328I FAILED ON THE ROAD WHERE IT COMPLETELY HALTED WITH NO WARNING SYSTEM. IT WAS ON SURFACE STREETS LUCKILY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. AFTER 3 DAYS STILL NOT DIAGNOSTIC RESULT! BRAND NEW! NOT USED. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 29, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE WOULD NOT OPEN THE VEHICLE'S DOOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY WITH THE KEY, BUT IT BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE 30G RELAY WAS REPLACED. ON JUNE 24, 2007, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE KEY SLIDE AND THE RIBBON CABLE WERE REPLACED. ON JUNE 27, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER WHERE IT IS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,299 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.