| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
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%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 908 repairs.
2008 BMW 3-Series transmission repair cost distribution
$2500+ (11%)
$1000 - $2499 (15%)
$500 - $999 (17%)
$100 - $499 (13%)
< $100 (45%)
Chart based on 47 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
Engine not specified
| 120000 mi US $950 |
false readings causing shift into "reduced power/take to dealer" mode. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 53000 mi US $600 |
Noticed a small/slow oil leak from front end of car. Front differential seal was leaking and was fixed. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 50000 mi | Failed front axle - replaced under warranty after negotiation with BMW. Warranty had ended 200 miles earlier. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 65000 mi US $1200 |
gasket leaking |
| 45200 mi US $1560 |
Unspecified failure, needs new transmission. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 55000 mi | warning lights and message, transfer case failure |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 52700 mi C $565 |
CV boot was cracked & had to be replaced |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 81840 mi $7000 |
Unable to use DS or manual gear shift. Changed gear shift |
| 81220 mi R 110 |
Drivetrain clicking on load reversal. Found to be worn splines. Decided to live with clicking as informed that it will not fail in the short term. Remedy, replace driveshaft and C.V. joint. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD
| 21700 mi | Rear axle differential fluid changed to one with less viscosity - groaning noise from rear at low speed while turning. |
| 30000 mi | Differential made grinding noise when making slow speed turns after the dealer replaced the differential fluid as part of regular maintenance. Problem solved when dealer changed differential fluid again. |
| 47000 mi | grinding noise from differential when making turns at slow speed |
| 80000 mi US $7200 |
Leaking differential seal |
| 8777 mi | Warranty Repair - Replace Differential seals, fluid |
| 130000 mi US $1800 |
Drive shaft vibration. Drive shaft replaced |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 40500 mi US $50 |
Car failed to shift to sport mode. Shift assembly and wire harness replaced. |
| 60000 mi US $2000 |
Automatic chuffed assembly needed to be replaced |
| 1000 mi | Delay in throttle response when accelerating from a complete stop; while driving under 30 mph, stepped on the gas but the car didn't accelerate even though the engine revved all the way up. Warning light came on; happened twice within 20 minutes. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 123000 mi US $250 |
Transfer Case has a leak |
2008 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 140120 mi C $500 |
Transfer case actuator motor replaced |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 16000 mi | Transmission software update for cold engine "jerk" and engine software update to fix problem with accelerator tip-in lag. |
| 90000 mi US $1020 |
Replaced transmission fluid, 90K service. |
| 25000 mi | Squeak on when turning. CV Joint issue |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 44000 mi £2500 |
Clutch slippage worn bushes |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 56300 mi US $50 |
Transmission would not go into Sport mode. Shifter is electronically connected to the transmission. Dealer replaced shifter. I researched the problem on BMW forums and found the issue was related with wiring to the shifter. No warning light. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 55000 mi £500 |
leaking gaskets. replaced |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 74900 mi US $50 |
Transmission mechatronic/valve body sleeves failed, causing leak. Repaired under warranty. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 69440 mi A $7900 |
Rebuild ZF transmission due to wear on 3-4 selector. now completely rebuilt with new software and torque converter. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD
| 124500 mi US $3100 |
Large amounts of oil began leaking from the engine. This was caused by the clutch wearing out and damaging the flywheel. Clutch, flywheel, and flywheel gasket were replaced. |
| 127000 mi US $500 |
Clutch cable broke. Fixed by mechanic |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 75000 mi US $50 |
Clutch pedal became very loose and mushy. Turned out to be a broken structure in the pedal assembly itself. Difficult to access area where pedals meet firewall. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 6000 mi | Service light came on, computer calls for brake flush.Brought up trans issue of locking out 2nd, 4th, and 6th gear on 3 occasions.New service adviser & mechanic took car out for 'extensive test drive'& cause other damages...4 days later.. |
| 8000 mi | Trans shifted into natural,wouldn't shift into driving gear,brought car into dealership,was told they have adjusted the clutch pressure.Day after I got the car,it lost power pulling into parking lot,warning lites turned on,took car back... Same problem as last couple of times! |
| 53000 mi US $100 |
Lost use of 1st & 3rd gears. Shop reset computer controlled shift points. |
| 67000 mi US $348 |
differential making noise. Mechanic changed the differential fluids. |
| 4000 mi | Car report transmission not shifting into park when car turned off. Automatic trans. dual clutch. |
| 5000 mi | Warning stated car was not shifting into park when engine turned off. Fix by ordering new shifter from Germany. |
| 33000 mi US $50 |
The Dual Clutch Trans has a very very slow leak. The BMW Corp Eng Team had my BMW technician replace the O Ring for the Trans Connector. He told me he didn't think that would fix the problem. I was told to drive the car & recheck in a bit. |
| 34000 mi US $229 |
The DCT Trans had to be replaced with a rebuilt unit. My part was $50. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD
| 24800 mi | -small leak in differential -some emissions warning came on in computer (covered under warranty) |
| 29140 mi | Transmission replaced because of poor shifting 1st to 2nd gear. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 29000 mi | Flange in rear differential replaced. Drive shaft adjustment. (Repaired per BMW issued SIB.) |
| 50000 mi US $1200 |
Pinion bearing (joining driveshaft to differential) failure. |
| 64000 mi US $300 |
Rear driveshaft joint at differential: Required lubrication and new bracket to repair looseness/movement and metal-on-metal contact. Mechanic discovered this is a known issue, and BMW issued service bulletin. Car out of warranty, so I paid. |
| 69700 mi US $1100 |
Driveshaft and fitting/joints on both ends replaced. Shaft was likely defective for quite some time.rnPrior more minor repairs did not resolve recurring issues. |
2008 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 89500 mi US $570 |
Leaking axle seal replaced ($300). This is a common problem with xi models and the leak was small at this time. |
| 19300 mi US $700 |
automatic junction slipping, not shifting smoothy |
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