2011 BMW M3: engine knocking or ticking

9 of the 31 complaints about the 2011 BMW M3 describe engine knocking or ticking.

owner complaints: 9
of this car's complaints: 29%
typical mileage: 60,000
recalls: 0

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

Engine knocking or ticking by model year

2016
2
2013
1
2012
1
2011
9
2010
4
2009
2
2008
14
2004
1
2002
1

What owners say

Filed Apr 29, 2020 · Brakes, Engine · 73,800 miles · AE

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.

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 Jul 26, 2019 · Engine · 80,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jun 6, 2018 · Engine · 60,000 miles · IL

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

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 Apr 19, 2017 · Engine · OK

Rod bearing failure.

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.