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
1,040 reports, newest first.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 14, 2007
MY NEW BMW 335I SEDAN STARTED LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY VIBRATED TO A HALT. FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DEALER HAD MEMO ON DCS BUT FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SO. *JB
Tires, Aug 6, 2007
I OWN A 2007 BMW 335I COUPE. AT 9,000 MILES I STARTED NOTICING A STRANGE SOUND COMING FORM THE TIRE AREA. IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. AT 10,000 MILES I NOTICED PHYSICAL SIGNS OF "SCALLOPING" AND ACTUAL UNEVEN (QUITE DRAMATICALLY UNEVEN) WEAR. IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE LEADING EDGES OF SOME, JUST SOME, TREADS WERE ACTUALLY AS MUCH OF A QUARTER IN LOWER THAN THE BACK SIDE OF THE SAME TREAD AND OF COURSE THE BACK SIDE OF THE TREAD IT WAS ADJACENT TO. IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE RUBBER HAS LITERALLY BEEN THROWN OFF THE TIRE. THAT'S HOW BIG THE DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHTS IS OF THE RANDOM TREADS. THIS WAS TRUE ON BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER EDGES OF THE TIRES AND EVEN THE MIDDLE. THIS WOULD EXPLAIN THE THRUMMING NOISE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT INTO THE DEALER AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE TIRES THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID, "BRIDGESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES UP TO 20,000 MILES AND PAY HALF THE COST". I SAID THAT THESE TIRES WEREN'T WORN OUT, THEY WERE WEARING EXTREMELY UNEVENLY. CUPPING AND SCALLOPING LIKE I HAVE NEVER SEEN. HE SAID IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE CARS, THAT BMW MAKES THEM VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO HANDLE THE WAY THEY DO AND ANY TIRE WOULD DO THAT. I ASKED IF I COULD GET THEM REPLACED WITH CONTINENTALS SINCE I HAVE HEARD THEY HAD LESS PROBLEMS WITH THOSE. HE SAID NO, ONLY WHAT WAS ON THERE AS BMW WASN'T WARRANTING THE TIRES, BRIDGESTONE WAS. THEY DIDN'T OFFER TO ROTATE THEM, LOOK AT THE ALIGNMENT, NOTHING, JUST REPLACE AT HALF COST. SO 9 MONTHS AND NOW 11,000 MILES INTO A $50K CAR I AM FORCED TO PAY ABOUT $5-600 DOLLARS JUST SO I CAN TALK TO MY PASSENGERS AND BE HEARD OVER THE TIRE NOISE. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS ONLY PART OF THE TIRE IS IN CONTACT WITH ROAD AT ANY TIME. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 28, 2007
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN BMW 335I COUPE. 4 WEEKS TO REPLACE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 26, 2007
EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2007 BMW 335I AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS DRIVING BEHIND ME ON MY WAY TO WORK. STARTED EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AS RECENTLY AS A MONTH AGO, SUCH AS LONG ENGINE CRANK TIMES, VERY ROUGH IDLING UPON STARTUP, AND OCCASIONAL "LIMP MODE" PERFORMANCE. IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WORK ON MY CAR UNTIL I EXPERIENCED A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" (SES) WARNING LIGHT. THE FUEL PUMP PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SHUDDER WHEN REVVING OVER 2000RPMS, AND THE CAR PERPETUALLY REMAINED IN LIMP MODE WHERE IT IS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE ENOUGH MANNER TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR WHEN THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AT 7/25/07 ON MY 02/07 PRODUCTION VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS OVER A ONE MONTH WAIT FOR A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. *JB
Visibility, Jul 25, 2007
A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD DURING DRIVING, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THIS WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO CHIPPING AND CRACKING WHEN HIT BY RELATIVELY SMALL ROAD DEBRIS. *TR
Structure, Jul 24, 2007
WHEN TRYING TO USE THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF- IT TRIES TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WHEN THE TRUNK IS CLOSED. ROOF GETS STUCK 1/2 WAY OPEN AND CLOSED. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. THE ROOF STILL CONTINUES TO TRY TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WITH THE TRUNK CLOSED. ROOF HAS BENT ITSELF TRYING TO PUT ITSELF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. ROOF HAS BROKEN PARTS AS A RESULT OF ITS ATTEMPT TO PUT CONVERTIBLE ROOF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. CAR IS INOPERABLE IN THIS CONDITION AS THE ROOF IS NOT SECURE. ANY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR MIGHT CAUSE THE ROOF TO BOUNCE AROUND AS IT IS NOT CONNECTED AND LOCKED! *TR
Visibility, Jul 23, 2007
WINDSHIELD IS VERY SOFT AND ROCK CHIPS AND CRACKS VERY EASY. *JB
Visibility, Jul 22, 2007
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A ROCK FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I GOT HOME, MY DAD NOTICED A CHIP IN THE CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CHIP FORMED INTO A CRACK OVER A FOOT LONG. I HAD TO GET MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH MY NEW WINDSHIELD AND THE OTHER DAY I WAS HIT BY A ROCK AGAIN, CREATING ANOTHER CHIP. SO FAR, THERE IS NO CRACK. AND I FOUND FORUMS THAT PEOPLE ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Fuel system, Other, Jul 22, 2007
BMW 335 COUPE HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR DIRECT INJECTION) FAILED BEFORE 4,000 MILES. NO SIGNS OF FAILURE, CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE, AND THEN WOULD NOT RESTART WITHOUT DYING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I HAD TO WAIT 7+ WEEKS WITH THE CAR IN SERVICE BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON INTERNATIONAL BACKORDER WITH 400+ UNITS ON BACKORDER! PUMP WAS REPLACED AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP FOR 7+ WEEKS, AND CAR IS RUNNING GOOD AGAIN.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 22, 2007
HIGH RATE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES FOR THE 335I BMW, IF OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jul 13, 2007
2007 BMW 335I HAS KNOWN WIDESPREAD FUEL PUMP PROBLEM WITH HIGH RATE OF FAILURE LEADING TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS. I HAVE NEW CAR WITH 1200 MI, WITH NO WARNING FROM DEALER ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEM, I EXPERIENCED NEAR COMPLETE POWER LOSS ON BUSY FREEWAY LEADING TO NEAR COLLISION. THIS CAR SHOULD BE CATEGORICALLY RECALLED UNTIL ALL FUEL PUMPS ARE REPLACED. MFR IS CONTINUING TO SELL THIS CAR WITH KNOWN DEFECT WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER. WHEN PRESENTED WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT IS COMMON FOR A 2-3 MONTH BACKORDER ON REPLACEMENT PUMP WHICH ALSO HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. OVERALL, BMW'S POOR DESIGN, LACK OF THOROUGH TESTING BEFORE RELEASE OF NEW ENGINE, AND FAILURE TO WARN CUSTOMERS IS CREATING THIS UNACCEPTABLE HAZARD.
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.
Steering, Jun 25, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT CRASHING. THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE ABS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,183.
Fuel system, Other, Jun 22, 2007
ON COLD STARTS WITH MY 335I SEDAN, CAR WOULD TAKE 5-6 SECONDS TO START. HAPPENED AFTER 1,950 MILES, CONSECUTIVE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP. THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND DISCOVERED A FAILED FUEL PUMP. PART IS ON BACK ORDER, STILL NOT ETA ON ARRIVAL AND CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 3 WEEKS NOW. *TR
Steering, Mar 20, 2007
I LEASED A BMW 328I 4 DOOR, AND THE DEALER DELIVERED THE NEW CAR FROM SPRING VALLEY , NY TO LAWRENCE, NY ON MARCH 1 2007. ON MARCH 13 2007, 12 DAYS LATER & 200 MILES ON THE CAR WHICH THE DEALER DROVE AT LEAST 100 OR MORE OF THE MILES, AND WHILE DRIVING INTO A GAS STATION FOR FIRST GAS FILLUP THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CRACKED OFF THE TIE ROD, JUST CRACKED MY PICTURES , WHICH WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER BY BMW. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I HIT SOMETHING A FEW DAYS AGO, AND BMW WAS NOT RESPOSIBLE FOR THIS. I SHOULD CALL MY INSURANCE OMPANY. I WAS APPALED BY THE RESPONSE, SO I STARTED WRITING & CALLING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I WAS ASSURED BY CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT THEY WERE SENDING ENGINEERS TO SEE THE CAR IN SPRING VALLEY ,NY, AND RESPONDED TO THIS MATTER IN A TIMELY FASHION.*AK