2011 BMW M3: engine failure

8 of the 31 complaints about the 2011 BMW M3 describe engine failure.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 26%
typical mileage: 42,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 8 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine failure by model year

2018
1
2016
1
2015
1
2013
2
2012
2
2011
8
2009
2
2008
8
2004
1
2002
6
2001
1

What owners say

Filed Sep 5, 2023 · Engine · TX

Starting from a traffic light at Woodlands Parkway and Gosling Road in the Woodlands, TX - Vehicle accelerated normally during shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd - Engine RPM went to ZERO and vehicle suddenly lost all power and died. There was a large Ford F150 behind the car. Thankfully, I was watching the tachometer and coasted to the shoulder before attempting to shift back to 2 and try a rolling start at which point vehicle came to an abrupt and sudden stop. Car was towed to an approved mechanic and was diagnosed as "another seized S65" engine. OPINION of Expert engine builders and bearing manufacturers is that the original BMW S65 bearing dimensions result in inadequate journal clearance and has been thoroughly documented. This, coupled with any potential "tolerance stacking" (- clearance) can result in a final bearing clearance which is significantly tighter than ideal and is the reason why we have seen engines fail after only a few thousand miles. This was half a second or less from being a fatal accident.

Filed Oct 20, 2019 · Engine · 107,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jun 8, 2019 · Engine · 43,300 miles · KY

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.

Filed Feb 8, 2018 · Engine · 42,000 miles · OH

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 federal safety agency to urge bmw to recall this engine to save future customers from catastrophic engine failure.

Filed Nov 17, 2017 · Engine · 46,000 miles · CT

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.

Filed Aug 6, 2016 · Engine · 40,600 miles · IN

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.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Engine · 35,150 miles · PA

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.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Engine · 36,000 miles · VA

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.