2009 BMW M3 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 9%of 45 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,864miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2009 BMW M3, 9% of the 45 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,864 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recall driving my car for about 30 minutes on the local street and stopped at a red light, light turns green, I try to accelerate and engine felt sluggish and shuts off. Towed the car to mrf engineering and car needed an engine replacement as my rod bearings caused the engine to fail. Costed roughly around $19,000 in parts and labor.”
NHTSA complaint #11002983, filed 2017-07, 67,000 miles“Vehicle lost power while taking a turn. I was able to restart it and drive to a nearby parking lot. I drove around slowly to test and noticed knocking noise from the engine. I also noticed engine temperature was above normal, not quite to the next marker, but close. At that point, I had the car towed to a Bmw service shop. Their diagnosis was rod bearing failure which LED to crankshaft damage, resulting in an engine, with only 57k mi, that is no longer reusable. I am now facing engine replacement costs of $15-25k.”
NHTSA complaint #10765229, filed 2015-09, 56,729 miles“S65 v8 engine in a Bmw M3 e90/92/93 and m5's with a v10 has two throttle valve actuators that fail prematurely at 40-80k miles. Both the internal nylon gears and electronics will fail, affecting accelerator pedal response and causing hesitation, especially with the dct transmission. These parts are not a maintenance item. When failed, the engine malfunction, excess emissions, skid control, and ABS braking warning lights are triggered. Engine goes into limp mode. This is dangerous when it happens while driving in rainy, snowy, and icy road conditions. …”
NHTSA complaint #10825875, filed 2016-02, 140,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10170574Dec 1, 2019SERVICE ACTION: N54T ENGINE - INSPECT AND REPLACE INJECTOR(S). The piezo-type fuel injectors may cause a rough running at start-up or rough running while at idle.
- 10146535Feb 1, 2017"? NO REGENERATION OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B18 03 10 dated November 2010. . The Service Engine Soon lamp is…
- 10146534Feb 1, 2017"? DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) CLEANING . The following performance issues may be noticed by the customer: CC-Message ""Drive faulty"" Engine jerking or a lack of power over…
- 10151170Mar 1, 2016N51 Engine: Service Engine Soon Lamp Illuminated - Loss of Power and Various Faults Stored in the DME. The customer complains that the Service Engine Soon lamp is illuminated…
- 10151068Feb 1, 2016This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B07 03 14 dated October 2015. Diagnosing Stored Fault Codes to Help Avoid Repeat Repair Visits. Fault codes stored in vehicles…
- 10147595Jan 1, 2015SUBJECT DME Internal and Valvetronic Faults Set at Cold Ambient Temperatures. The Service Engine Soon light (MIL) can be illuminated with the erroneous internal and Valvetronic…
- 10149282Oct 1, 2014Engine Damage Due to Debris in Oil Passages. After performing extensive engine repairs (e.g., cylinder head removal), the engine begins to knock and may lose power. Debris has…
- 10150065Jun 1, 2013"BMW NA has agreed to extend the emissions warranties of the turbocharger's wastegate to: ??8 years or 82,000 miles, whichever occurs first, as determined from the vehicle's…
- 10149589May 1, 2013"N54 Engine: Diagnosis of Cold Start Rough Running with Misfire Faults. The customer may complain that during the cold start in the morning, the engine runs very roughly and the…
- 10150096Mar 1, 2013N55 Engine Failsafe - FC 120308 Boost Pressure Control, Plausibility: Pressure Too Low Stored in DME Fault Memory. INFORMATION The customer complains the SES is illuminated and…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 22% |
| 2016 | 3 | 60% |
| 2013 | 4 | 31% |
| 2012 | 2 | 33% |
| 2011 | 16 | 52% |
| 2010 | 4 | 27% |
| 2009 | 4 | 9% |
| 2008 | 20 | 24% |
| 2004 | 2 | 6% |
| 2003 | 3 | 6% |
| 2002 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2009 BMW M3
24 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 BMW M3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology