2008 BMW 3 Series Technical Service Bulletins

92 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2008 BMW 3 Series. TSBs are notes manufacturers send to dealers about repair procedures for issues seen in the field. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault.

• 10037487Nov 1, 2010Seat belts. Bmw: on some e92 models the safety belt extender is not extending the belt or is noisy. This can be a fault of the extender or the belt is contorted.
• 10035247Oct 1, 2010Seat belts. Bmw vehicle: front safety belt does not retract smoothly or jams. The upper part of the driver's or passenger's front safety belt does not roll up fully or rolls up slowly. The adjustment of the inertia reel is incorrect at the fastening point. The belt is touching the guide funnel. Models e90, e91 and e92. No model years listed.
• 10035224Oct 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw vehicle: rear bulb failure. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster. Diagnosis shows a fault for the rear lamp. The bulb out can be displayed for 2 possible causes: poor fit between the bulb and bulb holder; bulb failure caused by vibration.
• 10035010Oct 1, 2010Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw vehicle: transmission warning light is illuminated and the transmission enters failsafe mode. Fault code 4f81 (ratio monitoring, clutch a), in some cases combined with the subsequent faults 507b/507c (parking gear sensor implausible signal) or 507d (parking gear incorrectly disengaged), are stored in the egs control module. E60, e51, e65, e66, e70, e90, e91, e92, e93. No model years listed.
• 10030611Oct 1, 2010Equipment, Electrical system. Bmw: rear bulb failure. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster. Diagnosis shows a fault for the rear lamp. The bulb out can be displayed for 2 possible causes-poor fit between the bulb and bulb holder; (new) bulb failure caused by vibrations. Model e92 (3 series coup). No model years listed. *pe updated 6/23/10. *pe updated 2/7/11.
• 10037078Sep 1, 2010Electrical system, Air bags. Bmw: the airbag warning lamp is illuminated due to a software error.
• 10037076Sep 1, 2010Fuel system, Engine cooling. Bmw: there is an extraction and refilling process for the desiel exhaust fluid. E70 and e90 models.
• 10037072Sep 1, 2010Equipment, Engine cooling. Bmw: there can be vibration in the engine while driving at various speeds due to engine mount bracket bolts.
• 10037068Sep 1, 2010Body and structure. Bmw: on e91 models the instructions for repairing/removing the tailgate hinge has been revised.
• 10037067Sep 1, 2010Body and structure. Bmw: the tailgate opens slower in low temperatures and doesnt fully open.
• 10041280Aug 1, 2010Brakes, Exterior lighting. Bmw: the rear led lights are inoperative. There is connection corrosion in the tail lamp.
• 10041276Aug 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: service engine soon light is on with a fault code stored. Internal dmtl pump failure.
• 10037025Aug 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
• 10034186Aug 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw: leds in rear lamp inoperative. The leds (light emitting diodes) in the outer left or outer right rear lamp are inoperative. Affected are the leds for the parking lamp/tail lamp or the turn signals. No check control message is displayed. Corrosion of an internal connection with the tail lamp is caused. *pe updated 9/26/11.
• 10037010Jul 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: six different models equipped with the m54 engine could have valve covers break in cold weather and ruin the engine. This is due to moisture accumulation.
• 10036985Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling, Electrical system. Bmw: a service engine soon light comes on. The engine will only operate to 1500 rpms and lacks power. There is a software application error.
• 10036984Jun 1, 2010Fuel system. Bmw: it is now possible to perform a fuel quality detection test on vehicles with an n54 engine.
• 10036983Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: service engine soon light is on with diesel engines.
• 10036982Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: there is a rough engine idle and "service engine soon light" when driving downhill in high altitudes during cold weather. There may be six different fault codes.
• 10036981Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling, Fuel system. Bmw: warning message on about low diesel exhaust fuel level and that the engine will not restart within 999 miles. The light comes on a few thousand miles earlier than a recommended oil change.
• 10036980Jun 1, 2010Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: a new technical process is being used on many models to determine the root cause of double-clutch transmission problems.
• 10036979Jun 1, 2010Steering. Bmw: a new technical process has been created for bmw to identify causes of steering complaints with a wide range of models.
• 10034189May 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: program control units. Vehicles with m57y diesel engine. Service engine soon lamp (mil) is illuminated erroneously. Dde software error.
• 10029404Apr 1, 2010Fuel system. Bmw: special limited high pressure pump (hdp) emissions warranty of 10 years/120,000 miles. A potential problem that could affect the durability of the high pressure fuel pump (hdp) of certain vehicles. Models 335i/xi; 535i/xi and 135is; model years 2007-2008. *pe updated 4/23/10. *pe updated 11/1/10. *pe updated 11/17/10.
• 10033130Dec 1, 2009Fuel system. Bmw vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs. Where it is necessary to replace the right or the left side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing or delivery unit (suction jet assembly) do not need to be replaced as well. In some cases, epc does not show that the repair kit is available separately in the illustration, but it is available in the parts description. All models. No model years listed.
• 10030626Oct 2, 2009Latches, locks and linkages, Electrical system, Body and structure. Bmw vehicles: doors will not unlock using the key fob or central locking button. *pe updated1/4/10. *pe updated 5/24/10.
• 10033135Oct 1, 2009Suspension, Body and structure. Bmw vehicles: rear axle carrier (sub frame) support proposed class action settlement. Under certain circumstances, a fracture in the steel body structure could form in the area around one of the rear axle carrier mounting points. As a result, a distinct clicking noise can be heard from the area of the rear axle carrier during certain driving conditions. Model e46 (3series). No model years listed.
• 10033131Oct 1, 2009Fuel system. Bmw vehicles: engine cranks but does not start; fuel level gauge displays a sufficient amount of fuel, although the fuel tank is empty; fault code 2a1c (fuel level plausibility) is stored in msv80. Right side fuel sending unit is dislodged from its bracket due to incorrect assembly. No model years listed. *pe updated 4/29/11.
• 10031644Sep 1, 2009Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: complaint that the n (neutral) symbol is being displayed in the kombi and the message transmission in n, shift to p when engine is turned off is displayed in the cc when the vehicle decelerates to a stop. In realty, the transmission stays engaged in a first or second gear and does not shifts to neutral, as indicated by the instrument cluster display. No model years listed. E90, e92, e93 (3 series) 2002-2009.
• 10031584Sep 1, 2009Electrical system, Equipment. Bmw: various electrical problems or intermittently. Symptoms typically include various warning lamps in the instrument cluster and starting problems. Affected may be the ekp (electronically controlled fuel pump), and control modules on the pt can or connected to the 15wup (wake up) line. Fuse f70 may be blown. No model years listed. E93 (3 series convertible).
• 10031544Sep 1, 2009Equipment. Bmw: water leaks into either the driver's side or passenger's side footwell during fast cornering. Insufficient sealing at the point of contact between the air conditioning system and the condensation drain hose.
• 10031364Sep 1, 2009Engine cooling, Fuel system. Bmw: voluntary emissions recall 903-a02: check and replace diesel particulate filter (dpf). Nitrogen oxide (ox) levels may exceed legal limits. Faulty diesel particulate filter may have been installed. Models 3 series 2008-2009. *pe updated 4/14/10.
• 10030612May 1, 2009Engine cooling, Fuel system. Bmw vehicles: service engine soon lamp or check gas cap warning illuminated while driving. Software error in the dme for the tank leak diagnostic system. Models e60, e61 (5 series); e70 (x5); e71 (x6); e82, e88 (1 series); e83 (x3); e90, e91, e92, e93 (3 series).
• 10030610May 1, 2009Exterior lighting. Bmw vehicles: front led turn signal not working or malfunctioning. Two situations are possible-the front left and/or front right led (light emitting diode) turn signals do not work, either intermittently or permanently. The led turn signals on the vehicle side in question flash at a higher frequency, either intermittently or permanently. In the case of such a fault, the check control message "turn indicator…
• 10027625Jul 1, 2008Electrical system. Bmw: the engine oil level displayed in the instrument cluster may be too high or too low. Oil level could be lower than what is displayed and the low oil level warning is not promptly shown. E60, e61, e82, e90, e92 & e93 models.
• 10025983Jun 1, 2008Exterior lighting. Bmw: headlamp moisture: fault diagnostics. Water or condensation in one or both headlamps. Models 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, x5, x6, 1 series, and 3 series. Model years 2000-20008.
• 10026205Apr 1, 2008Equipment. Bmw: replace the chain tensioning rail bearing bolt that could come loose and cause damage to the engine. Models e60 (5 series), e70 (x5 series), e83 (x3 series), e9x (3 series).
• 10032989Dec 1, 2007Fuel system, Other or unknown. Bmw: fuel level sensor repair procedure. The case where it is necessary to replace the right side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing does not need to be replaced. No model years listed.
• 10032988Dec 1, 2007Tires. Bmw: tire warning light illuminated due to low ambient temperature. Model e90, e91(3 series);e92, e92 (3 series); e60 (5 series); e60 (m5); e63, e64 (6 series); e63, e64 (m6); e65, e66 (7 series); e70 (x5); e83 (x3); and e85, e86 (z4).
• 10032827Nov 1, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw vehicles: dsc disabling function. Dsc off function has been implemented in m5 and m6 vehicles equipped with the optional 6 speed manual transmissions. No model years listed.
• 10032809Nov 1, 2007Engine cooling. Bmw vehicle: n54 turbocharger waste gate control noises and operation. After turning off engine, a slight rattle noise is heard from the engine compartment. This noise is similar to a mechanical typewriter. In addition, the complaints of a slight reduction of power similar to an increased turbo lag. The vacuum supply to the waste gates may be restricted or blocked. No model years listed.
• 10029107Nov 1, 2003Electrical system. Bmw:various electrical system failures which occurred while driving: a/c stopped working; fuel gauge display is implausible (shows empty); rear windows one touch function is inoperative; windshield wipers are working with being switched on; and various warning lights are illuminated on the instrument panel. Model years unknown.

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