BMW X3 Common Problems: What Goes Wrong and When
Photo by Александр Бендус on Unsplash The BMW X3 is one of the more dependable BMWs in the current used market, but that doesn't mean it's problem-free. The three generations covered here (F25, G01, and the older E83, where relevant) each have their own set of faults. Most are well-documented, most have predictable mileage triggers, and most are fixable without paying dealer prices if you know where to source the right BMW X3 parts . F25 BMW X3 (2011–2017) — Common Problems N47 diesel timing chain — the main risk The 2.0d variants of the F25 up to around 2015 use the N47 diesel engine, which has a rear-mounted timing chain with a documented failure concern at higher mileages. It is the same issue as in the F30 3 Series. A cold-start rattle from the rear of the engine is the warning sign. If the chain hasn't been replaced and the car has more than 80,000 miles, treat this as a known cost. From approximately 2015, the N47 was replaced by the B47, a revised engine with a fro...
