2008 BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2008

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2008 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (49%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (7%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (4%)

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Chart based on 908 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2008 BMW 3-Series.

2008 BMW 3-Series suspension repair cost distribution

$2500+ (14%)

$1000 - $2499 (18%)

$500 - $999 (19%)

$100 - $499 (12%)

< $100 (37%)

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Chart based on 57 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon

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

36000 mi

US $2400
Replaced both rear shocks and mounting hardware 
83000 mi

US $500
right rear wheel started making an audible "worbling" noise that increased with speed past 30 miles an hour, it steadily got worse over a few days. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD

104500 mi

US $400
replaced sway bar end links, tension strut, and lower control arm in effort to eliminate vibration at freeway speed. Old tension strut bearings did have some excess play in them. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

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

67000 mi Front struts needed to be replaced due to tire scalloping. Upgraded to BC Racing coilovers at all 4 corners. 
92300 mi

US $5354
Repaired both leaking front struts. 
100600 mi

US $2900
Front thrust arm bushings were leaking. Removed and replaced both thrust arm bushings. Parts replaced: control arm bushings. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

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

36000 mi

US $350
Right rear wheel broke, not abuse or pothole. BMW tech said probably a flaw in the wheel and probably cracked long before it broke. 
132000 mi

US $500
Replace the rear struts and strut mounts 
129000 mi

US $300
front control arm bushings worn 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

97400 mi

US $1634
Both front struts were leaking fluid and car's handling had degraded. Independent BMW shop installed two Bilstein B4 front struts (model 22-135032 & 22-135049) plus two front strut mounts and two front support arm bushings. Problem resolved. 
67000 mi

US $50
bearing was replaced 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD

60960 mi

C $700
Steering was binding on some turns. Replaced steering column lower joint assembly. 
76260 mi replaced tie rods, ball joints, bushings, control arms (everything, both sides); 4-wheel alignment 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 174hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

99200 mi

€2750
Power Steering motor failed. Private garage could not repair, because computer codes are only available to BMW dealer 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD

68200 mi Wheel bearing. 
80000 mi

US $7200
Wheel bearing 
24800 mi Rack and pinion unit replaced. 
29760 mi

C $60
Left front suspension metallic noise over low speed bumps. Problem replicated with mechanic, no source of problem detected. 
35960 mi Both front bearings needed replacement. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

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

122000 mi Control arms. 
83900 mi

US $4250
rattle 
44000 mi Steering vector electronic device went bad. They replaced the device under warranty. 
81000 mi

US $650
Front control arm bushings were bad. Replaced them. Now car rides like new again. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

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

57000 mi

US $670
Had an alignment performed. 
3100 mi Problem originally occurred 3 mos. after possession but gradually getting worse, albeit very slowly. Very slight steering wheel play and a mild noticeable "thud" felt on the steering wheel when turning. 
3100 mi Same problem last month - Problem originally occurred 3 mos. after possession but gradually getting worse, albeit very slowly. Very slight steering wheel play and a mild noticeable "thud" felt on the steering wheel when turning. 
4960 mi - annual maintenance - steering "knock"; could not replicate; no repair done 
9300 mi same minor issue with steering. feels like something is loose when turning the wheel esp. on cold starts. dealer says within tolerance. 
35000 mi Creak from front of car in cold weather when driving over speed bump. Dealer diagnosed as failing control arm bushing and replaced. 
42000 mi

US $180
Steering wheel feels loose and sometimes creaks when cold in the morning. Took car in for wheel alignment, deal inspected and did not find any issues. Will continue to monitor. 
61300 mi

US $1200
All inner and outer tie rods replaced as they were seized. Alignment performed. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

53500 mi shock absorber spacers left in and damage to the dust boots resulted. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD

135160 mi

C $800
Left rear wheel bearing 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan

95000 mi

£330
Three of the original wheels had cracks in, one wheel had two cracks in. Had to replace all four wheels. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

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

35700 mi Replacement of steering rack on car. 
60660 mi

US $1200
Thrust bushings. It was a shop recommendation after regular, scheduled annual service. After replacement I noticed that there was not as much suspension noise when driving with the top down as I had heard before. No other noticeable changes. 
57000 mi

US $3000
Replaced Tie Rods 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

68000 mi

US $1500
Replace worn out shock supports, alignment, and oil change. 
90000 mi Rear passenger side bearing and hub went bad 
91760 mi

C $3500
Wheel bushings were leaking. Replaced. Required to get wheel alignment correct. Wheel Bearing noisy. 
93560 mi

C $1200
Wheel bearing was replaced. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

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

55100 mi

US $300
Front control arm bushings. I replaced both front control arms. The control arm had both the bushing and ball joint. Problem was detected prior to wheel alignment after purchase and mounting of new tires. 
66000 mi

US $1280
Replaced leaking front thrust bushings and replaced rear shocks because the driver side shock was leaking. 
48000 mi front control arms replaced, $875 billed to BMW 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

69741 mi

C $1000
4 shocks/strut replacement 2 front strut mounts 2 rear shock mount 2 front springs 2 front top plate 
20000 mi

£308
Rear wheel bearing failed 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

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

62000 mi

US $4500
Bushing change and shock leak 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

44000 mi Failed Bushings 
27000 mi Front control arm bushings started making a clunking noise. They were replaced, noise still there. 
28500 mi Car made same clunking groaning noise from front suspension. Dealer found it came from grime on bushing where springs rest. Cleaned and problem went away. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD

59000 mi

US $50
Repeated clunking noise from the steering at low speeds. Drained power steering fluid and replaced with new fluid. BMW claims this is not required, but the old fluid was very dark, and the change fixed hte issue. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

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

55000 mi

US $700
Power steering pump replaced 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD

20460 mi

$500
the steering column had to be changed. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

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

78500 mi

US $500
Fronst suspension components worn. 
102000 mi

US $600
Bushings. Front left 
45000 mi

US $1000
Front Control Arms and Ball joint assembly were replaced. Both ball joints were loose and out of tolerance. Had to be replaced as whole units - Full suspension alignment required after repair. 

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2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe

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

63000 mi

US $1500
don't know 
51000 mi hum coming from driver side front wheel 
83000 mi

US $524
Lower control arm bushing leaking on Driver's side. Found during an oil change. Changed both control arms and got alignment ... car feels like it did when new! 

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2008 BMW 3-Series Suspension 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 2008 BMW 3-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.