2012 BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2012

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2012 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (38%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (9%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (12%)

Other (5%)

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Chart based on 171 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 BMW 3-Series.

2012 BMW 3-Series electrical repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (7%)

$500 - $999 (9%)

$100 - $499 (13%)

< $100 (69%)

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Chart based on 45 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2012 BMW 3-Series

Engine not specified

3000 mi Distortion from speaker -replaced 
7900 mi "No Signal" on information display 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

1800 mi Noisy heater fan. Replaced. 
8500 mi dead battery 
34000 mi

US $525
Driver door lock actuator failed 
36000 mi

US $1300
Dealer failed to register battery when they changed it several years ago resulting in the battery exploding due to overcharging and depletion of fluid. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 8-speed shiftable automatic RWD

13000 mi The parking sensor would activate even when nothing would be near. Bumper proximity warning malfunctioned. Showing very close to an object that was not there. 
21000 mi Parking sensors not working properly 
81000 mi

US $1900
MOST Bus failure and battery replacement 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

10000 mi Window memory needed to be reset because the windows in the front would open after being closed. 
11000 mi Radio was rebooting while driving and sometimes not playing audio. 
23000 mi The horn stopped working 
42400 mi USB port stopped working for audio. Dealer had to replace module. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 240hp 2.0L I4 8-speed shiftable automatic RWD

83600 mi

US $515
Brake light repaired. 
61380 mi

C $300
Passenger led mirror light not functioning 
7600 mi BLUETOOTH WAS NOT CONNECTING THE IPHONE 
12000 mi

US $700
Battery replacement 
55000 mi

US $1200
Air Condenser had a leak and wAs replaced. Price was $1200 but I had CarMax Maxcare 
57000 mi

US $950
Burnt and fused light wiring in left rear light assembly. Right assembly also showed signs of heat damage. Both wiring systems repaired out of the extended warranty. 
98000 mi

US $200
Brake light wiring replaced 
55000 mi

US $20
Key fob battery 
37200 mi left window wont come down sometimes. 
53100 mi

US $200
Headlight bulb replacement 
16300 mi Noise from fan blower. 
24000 mi Passenger-side mirror signal light stopped working. Not a light bulb issue. Repaired by dealer. Driver-side horn stopped working resulting in a high-pitched sound. Bluetooth stops playing requiring a reboot of the iDrive system. The shop upgraded the Bluetooth firmware. Problem persisted but could not be recreated in the shop. 
36000 mi

US $100
Wiper fluid level sensor broke. Constant low fluid alarm. Wiper fluid reservoir assembly replaced. 
29720 mi Car had hard start in the morning. Noisy during starting 
6000 mi Bluetooth sync was intermittent and after they tried to sell me on the phone as the problem, I proved them wrong and they replaced it. 
18000 mi Bluetooth again, they replaced the CPU, and it was fine. Still have problems with moisture entering the electrical system and preventing the car from going into ECO mode on rare occasions. 
15480 mi The coolant level sensor conector was a litle bit corroded, giving some false low level messages, cleaned, aded some terminal protector and the problem was solved. This car model have a known isue with the coolant level sensor. 
17500 mi Air bag module 
25000 mi Blower motor was making a noise. Cleaned it out and changed the screen 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 240hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual RWD

29487 mi Battery throwing warnings, accessory power shut off. Recharged battery on trickle charger. 
45000 mi CPO car: Had the following replaced: CIC computer, all key fobs, doors seals, windshield, gas door, full service performed 
58300 mi 3rd time that the airbag system failed. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 181hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 8-speed shiftable automatic RWD

159960 mi

R 3500
The driver side door lock was replaced. The car was unable to lock even when the alarm was activated. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

turbocharged 320hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD

3000 mi replace batery 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

37000 mi TPMS went screwy, fixed 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

24300 mi

US $160
Car would not start. Interior lights and other electrical items would work intermittently. Car was towed to dealership. Dealer claimed that one of the battery cables was loose. 
5000 mi I purchased an iPhone 4S cradle to use my phone's apps through the iDrive system. When it was installed, it worked intermittently. 
43800 mi I had my electrical system randomly go haywire while driving. Gauges droppe to zero and then back up to speed (care performance was not affected). Then passive restraint error was displayed. Replaced CANBUS. 
48000 mi The was a light thumping noise when the engine was idle, as if there was an issue with the serpentine belt. The dealer did a software update and replaced the HVAC blower motor.. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 320hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD

43000 mi battery was sub performing and so was replaced. 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD

81000 mi

US $50
Takata airbag recall work 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD

59219 mi

US $175
Recharged refrigerant 

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2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD

19000 mi Front USB 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Wagons.
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.

2012 BMW 3-Series Electrical Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2012 BMW 3-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.