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: fuel system
123 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Other, Aug 5, 2008
I DRIVE A 2007 BMW XI AND IT IS LESS THAN 1.5 YEARS. THIS IS ALL ABOUT A WEEK APART FROM EACH INCIDENT. THE HAD BEEN ACTING FUNNY FOR A WEEK OR SO AND I BROUGHT IT INTO BMW AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY GAVE ME BACK THE CAR AND A WEEK LATER, THE CAR STALLED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PICKED UP MY LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IT STALLED AGAIN! MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 27, 2008
2008 BMW 335I. JAN BUILD PICKED UP AT THE BMW WELT IN FEB OF 08. @9,500 MILES. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD. THANKFULLY I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS A REASONABLE DISTANCE AWAY. ALSO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS COME ON. CAR HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND IS BARELY DRIVABLE ON PUBLIC ROADS. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jul 25, 2008
I HAVE HAD TWO FUEL PUMPS REPLACED FOR MY BMW 335I AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WERE VERY LONG CRANKS WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND ONE TIME MY CAR EVEN ALMOST BROKE DOWN AND WOULDN'T START ON ME... BMW REPLACED BOTH THE FUEL PUMPS THAT WENT DEAD AND FOR ONE OF THEM I HAD TO WAIT THREE WEEKS TO GET IT... =/ VERY MAD!! *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Tires, Jul 25, 2008
ROUGH IDLE WITH FLUCTUATING RPM, LONG CRANK BEFORE ENGINE TURNS OVER ON IGNITION. AT FIRST IT WAS ONCE A MONTH OCCURRENCE, SOON IT TURNED INTO ONCE A WEEK AND BECAME ALMOST A SURE-THING. TOOK IT TO A BMW DEAL WHO REPLACED A FUEL PUMP. NOW LONG CRANK AND FLUCTUATING RPM AT IDLE IS MOSTLY GONE BUT RARELY HAPPENS AGAIN. ALSO, SIDEWALL OF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUN-FLAT TIRE (RFT) HAS A BUBBLE EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE HASN'T EXPERIENCE ANY SHOCK (FROM POTHOLES, ETC). *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 23, 2008
2008 BMW 335I (E93) HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN LONG STARTS AND SOMETIMES REDUCED POWER OR ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. BMW REPLACE HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) WITH REBUILT UNIT AT 2,200 MILES. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 15, 2008
MY 8 MONTH OLD BMW 335 FAILS ON ME WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON AT 1130PM. ENGINE MALFUNCTION. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER -IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THEY APPARENTLY REPLACED IT ..THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT BACK LATE AFTERNOON. DRIVING IT BACK HOME AFTER 60 MILES. IT DID IT AGAIN. APPARENTLY IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO' S HAVING PROBLEM..THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ..IT JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A VEHICLE THAT'S ONLY 8 MONTH OLD....HOPE YOU WILL ADDRESS THIS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 24, 2008
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 10, 2008
I DRIVE A BMW 335I AND THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. INDICATIONS WERE LONG CRANK TIMES, ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, AND SHUTTERING WHILE DRIVING. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER BMW'S WITH THE TWIN TURBO ENGINE THAT HAVE/HAD THIS PROBLEM. BMW NEEDS TO COMPLETELY REDESIGN THE FUEL PUMP SO SERIOUS INCIDENTS DO NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 7, 2008
INITIALLY, CAR WAS SLOW TO START AFTER PRESSING START BUTTON. IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER. CAR WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AT ALL WHENEVER I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. EXHAUST NOTE BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MUFFLER. AFTER 1 OR 2 DAYS, A YELLOW SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED IN DASHBOARD DISPLAY. AFTERWARDS CAR FELT LIKE IT WOULD STALL OUT UNLESS I DEPRESSED PEDAL TO KEEP RPMS UP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM FAILURE. ON MY WAY HOME AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT MY CAR WAS NOT FIXED AND THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME CAR SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR IS TILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AS THE PART HAS NOT ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP YET. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 5, 2008
DROVE CAR NORMALLY - NO EXTRAORDINARY EVENT LEADING UP TO ISSUE. CAR THREW ENGINE ERROR AND RAN UNDER FORCED 'LIMP' MODE. TOOK TO DEALER - THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 3, 2008
FUEL PUMP COMPLETELY FAILED; CAR UNDRIVABLE, WOULD START AND THEN STALL 5-10 SECONDS LATER. INITIAL STALL OCCURRED PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A HIGHWAY. BMW TOWED THE CAR TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP & DIAGNOSED AS HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. PUMP REPLACED, CAR OUT OF SERVICE FOR ~5 DAYS DURING REPAIR. OCCURRED WITH ~18K MILES ON VEHICLE. MULTIPLE ONLINE REPORTS OF OTHER 335I VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS - THIS REQUIRES A SAFETY RECALL. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 30, 2008
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 29, 2008
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Tires, May 29, 2008
1. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ISSUE ON MAY 21ST LED TO THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING. ALSO PUT THE CAR IN "LIMP MODE" (REDUCED POWER). ALSO, RUN-FLAT TIRES ON THE CAR HAVE ALL BUBBLED/POPPED- HAVE HAD CAR ONLY FOR 5 MONTHS WITH 6800 MILES. 2. CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD STALL ALMOST EVERY TIME WHEN CAR WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR STALLED AT LEAST 5 TIMES- BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP YESTERDAY. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 22, 2008
MY CARS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED (2 SEPARATE TIMES) IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. CAR IS A BMW 335I 2007. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Equipment, May 22, 2008
2007 BMW 335I COUPE : FAULTY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THEY CHANGED MY FUEL PUMP TO REMANUFACTURED FUEL PUMP. THEY SHOULD CHANGE THIS TO NEW ONE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 20, 2008
2007 335I WENT SUDDENLY INTO A LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME DUE TO THE SUDDEN SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND DRIVE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THEY HAVE PROMISED TO GET IT REPAIRED IN COUPLE OF DAYS. MY CAR JUST HAD 6000 MILES AND IT IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD. I SAW ON THE INTERNET THAT LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE WAY BACK FROM 2006. IF BMW WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, WHY DID THEY NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SELLING THE CAR? *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 18, 2008
I PURCHASED MY BMW 335I FROM A COSTA MESA USED CAR DEALER. THE PROBLEM WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS DISCLOSED TO ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS AT ONE TIME IN ITS LIFE, AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OTHER 335I OWNERS ARE FACING. WHILE I DIDN'T PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER, THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN SEPTEMBER 2006. THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A CA BMW DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS ULTIMATELY BOUGHT BACK BY THE DEALERSHIP, REPAIRED, SENT TO AN AUCTION, WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE USED CAR DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM IN APRIL 2008. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD 4000 MILES, SO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED RATHER QUICKLY. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 18, 2008
APRIL 2007 BUILD BMW 335I COUPE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AFTER TAKING IT TO A BMW DEALER, IT WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SOLVED IN MY CAR. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS RELATIVELY COMMON AMONG 335I OWNERS AND IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM IS PRONE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND THAT COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. IN MY CASE, BMW WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT REPLACING THE PART. BUT I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY MAY NOT KNOW THAT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM IS LURKING IN THEIR CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS ON THE BMW ENTHUSIAST FORUMS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 16, 2008
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HESITATION OCCURRED OUT OF NOWHERE, CAR STARTED IDLING POORLY AND ENGINE REDUCED POWER CAME ON DASHBOARD, LIMP MODE, CAR SHUT OFF, TRIED TO RESTART AND IT RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR IDLED REALLY BAD WANTING TO SHUT OFF AT EVERY STOP, TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AT DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OLD WITH ONLY 2,300 MILES ON IT. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 16, 2008
THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON MY '08 BMW 335I FAILED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURES OF THE FUEL PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT IF THE PUMP HAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 15, 2008
SLOW STARTING STARVING FOR GAS ALWAYS HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR OVERNIGHT. THIS LEADS TO THE CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE THAT IS DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. A COMMON ISSUE WITH DBW NEW 335 ENGINES, FUEL PUMPS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MANY CARS EITHER NOT STARTING OR GOING INTO LIMP MODE. REPLACED WITH THE SAME PUMP THAT HAS FAILED IN MANY CARS FROM 2007 TO NOW 2008 MODELS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 13, 2008
--1. CAR STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH WHEN STARTED FROM COLD. CAR WOULD SHAKE AT TRAFFIC STOPS AND OFTEN FEEL SLUGGISH DURING ACCELERATION. --2. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. LIMP MODE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK AS CAR SHUTS DOWN AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. --3. AFTER WAITING 32 DAYS, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. BMW NORTH AMERICA CLAIMED NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THE PART. BMW KEPT THE FAILED FUEL PUMP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Equipment, May 13, 2008
2007 BMW E92 335I HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE. CAR HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. DRIVING ON SIX-LANE HIGHWAY 101 NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO, CROWDED HIGHWAY, THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND STALLED IN THE FAST LANE. TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND CAR ALMOST REAR-ENDED CAR THREE-TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO FRANTICALLY PULL TO A SAFETY LANE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE KILLED IN THIS SITUATION AND NEVER IN MY DRIVING CAREER WAS AS FRIGHTENED AS I WAS WHEN MY CAR PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR