2.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,180 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 BMW M3 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 BMW M3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 BMW M3 Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 142021

M3

  • 52,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the freeway accelerating when I hit approximately 75 mph my car was making a loud revving sound and metal clanking sound in middle and smoke was coming from the front and back of the vehicle very thick white smoke all of a sudden my car slowed down and all the lights were blinking on the dash almost got into accidents while cars avoid hitting! my car wasn't going over 5 10 mph there was so much smoke was getting worried, some how I managed to exit the freeway and parked I was told my english was blown! maintenance was up-to-date only drove it on the weekends only had 52,000 miles nightmare 2011 BMW

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #14

Apr 242020

M3

  • 73,800 miles
While driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly shut off, and the transmission went into neutral. I immediately turned the car back on, and pulled to a stop sign. I gave my car a few revs just to make sure everything was fine. Everything seemed to check out, so I continue driving. While driving about 40mph and straight, the car shuts off again, and this time I have a complete loss of steering and brakes. Thankfully I manage to avoid hitting the car in front of me by using my emergency brake slowly. This time the vehicle did not turn back on. After researching this issue it's become apparent this vehicle is actually known to do this. Rod bearings and main bearings have caused these motors to seize while driving, and BMW refuses to acknowledge this issue. I could have killed someone from this issue, but it's sad all they care about is dollars and cents.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #13

Jul 102019

M3

  • 107,000 miles
I was driving casually when the motor suddenly shut off. No noise indicating engine failure ever happened. I coasted off the road and tried to restart. Nothing but a click. Eventually tried replacing starter motor but that didn't work. No engine lights or codes ever popped up. Turns out engine seized due to failed rod bearings.

- Dix Hills, NY, USA

problem #12

Jul 132019

M3

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Two weeks ago, when the car was driving normally, it suddenly shut down and could no longer start. When automotive engineers took the engine apart, they found that the crankshaft and rod bearing bush were over-worn and burnt out. The engineer told me that the oil I used was too sticky to lubricate the rod bearing. I changed the engine oil 8,000 miles ago, using the 10W-60 oil supplied by BMW.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #11

May 282019

M3

  • 43,300 miles
While shifting into 3rd gear, my engine threw a rod through the block, car has not been modified, has 43,300 original miles, original owner.

- Crestwood, KY, USA

problem #10

Jun 022018

M3

  • 60,000 miles
O2 sensors constantly go out replaced 3 times, throttle body acutators constantly go bad putting car in limp mode very dangerous my car cut off at 65mph on the freeway. I was with my family!!! something bad could of happened. Please look into this BMW M3 2008-2013 please look into this. Rod bearings go bad aswell

- Desplaines, IL, USA

problem #9

Jan 042018

M3

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my low milage 2011 BMW M3 (42K miles) on the highway, out of no where, I noticed the car driving a little differently and slightly shaking. This happened moments before I reached my exit. I pulled over at a gas station right off the exit and opened the hood, the engine was making a tinging/scraping noise with each revolution. I closed it up, and drove to my home which was a couple minutes away. While driving, the noise was happening more in lower gears. When I got home, I looked under the car and saw it was leaking oil, and still making the noise. After some investigation, I learned the rod bearings in the engine had failed, resulting in complete engine failure. I purchased the car from an authorized BMW store at 38K miles in may of 2017, I always serviced it at my local BMW store - this occurred February 3rd, 2018. After reading up, I am learning that this is an issue with the S65 engines that are in this model of M3's. BMW has yet to make a recall, but they are aware of the issue. No action has been taken, but something needs to be done. I can't afford a new engine (it costs 30 something thousand dollars, which is almost as much as I paid for the car), and the engine cannot be repaired. I feel wronged by BMW, and advise the NHTSA to urge BMW to recall this engine to save future customers from catastrophic engine failure.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #8

Oct 042017

M3

  • 63,850 miles
At 63,860 mile the S65 engine in my 2011 BMW M3 failed. Dealer diagnosed engine bearing failure. Failure occurred while driving.

- Lyndeborough, NH, USA

problem #7

Oct 012017

M3

  • 46,000 miles
Engine knocking. Connecting rod bearing and main bearing failure resulting in required engine replacement. Engine not able to be rebuilt due to cracked main bearing saddles.

- Wilton, CT, USA

problem #6

Apr 192017

M3

  • miles
Rod bearing failure.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #5

Jul 142016

M3

  • 40,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my car on the road my engine automatically placed itself on neutral, the steering froze, and the engine turned off. After turning the system off, I turned it back on and drove away normally. Once I approached the a stop light the car did the same thing again but this time it had a cracking-rattling noise coming from the engine. Without any warnings or check engine light, oil light, my car suffered from broken main and rod bearings as stated by the BMW dealer. This has caused a lot of metallic debris throughout the engine causing engine failure.

- Highland, IN, USA

problem #4

Dec 112014

M3

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW M3. The contact stated that the engine air intake became filled with water, clogging the hydro lock to the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a clogged hydro lock. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,000.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 302014

M3 8-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
2011 BMW dct M3 engine turns off by it self while driving through intersection. Transmission goes into neutral. "N" pops up on the center cockpit. Steering wheel lock. Brakes work. Had to maintain foot on brakes. Have to push "engine start" button. Car starts up again. Engine stalling and shutting off is a safety hazard, especially if the car is in motion. Could cause death to end users or other people. Can cause property damages as well. This has happen twice within a 8 week period. Most recently on Nov 26,2014 approximately 430pm BMW "auto start stop function" ruled out because the led light above the button is lit, function is disable.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #2

Aug 162014

M3 8-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
I was driving in queens mid town tunnel, suddenly my engine stalled and the car would not start again. It was a two lane tunnel, my car was blocking one lane of traffic. Called nypd to have the car towed to a safe location. According to the dealer of park ave BMW. They think its a engine failure.

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #1

Aug 102014

M3 8-cyl

  • 35,150 miles
Ticking noise in the engine gradually got louder. Oil warning that it was low on oil. Added oil, still said it was low, then said it was too much. Then said it was low (particles from bearings were clogged in oil sensor giving false reading). Finally parked car when noise was so great that I thought it was going to blow up. Rod bears disintegrated on cylinders 2 and 5. had to replace the engine.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

Not what you are looking for?