| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
1997 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area
Engine (47%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (3%)
Brakes and Traction Control (8%)
Suspension and Steering (22%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (8%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)
Other (8%)
Chart based on 36 repairs.
1997 BMW 3-Series repair cost distribution
$2500+ (3%)
$1000 - $2499 (18%)
$500 - $999 (15%)
$100 - $499 (53%)
< $100 (12%)
Chart based on 34 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
1997 BMW 3-Series
Engine not specified
| BMW in Texas, United States Feb 2010 - May 2011 | |||
| Mar 2010108000 miUS $500 | Took for the oil change and discovered that all the oil had leaked. changed seal but still leaks little bit at pulley. | ||
| May 2011129000 miUS $1800 | The coolant leaked, car overheated and blew the head gasket and jammed the piston. Repair was too expensive. Had to sell really cheap for parts to the mechanic | ||
| BMW in Oregon, United States Dec 2012 - Dec 2013 | |||
| Aug 2013109000 miUS $1000 | left front bilstein sport shock froze; replaced both. | ||
| Nov 2013109000 miUS $1800 | Supercharger failed | ||
| BMW in Ontario, Canada May 2012 - Jun 2012 | |||
| Jun 2012186620 miC $180 | replace the drivers side seat belt retainer for the second time | ||
| BMW in British Columbia, Canada Nov 2011 - Jan 2018 | |||
| Aug 2012137640 miC $450 | Fan in dash failed | ||
| BMW in New York, United States Feb 2013 - Mar 2013 | |||
| Mar 2013127000 miUS $1590 | Needed new clutch, second new clutch in history of car. | ||
| BMW in Tennessee, United States Apr 2010 - May 2010 | |||
| May 201090000 miUS $300 | Replaced pads and rebuilt caliper | ||
| BMW in Tennessee, United States Sep 2009 - Apr 2012 | |||
| Oct 2009160000 miUS $3000 | Leaking head gasket. Took the opportunity to change out all related tensioners, hoses, etc | ||
| May 2010163000 miUS $350 | rear shocks replaced | ||
| Dec 2010168000 miUS $350 | Shocks and struts replaced | ||
| Feb 2011170000 miUS $20 | Driver side window misaligned. Needed to realign the track and reattach modulator. | ||
| Jul 2011172000 miUS $430 | Rear RH axle boot | ||
| BMW in South Africa Mar 2012 - Jun 2012 | |||
| May 2012163260 miR 200 | Car had bad idle, fuel consumption was up. Replaced crankcase case pressure valve | ||
1997 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| BMW in Missouri, United States Dec 2012 - Feb 2014 | |||
| Jan 2013US $200 | Leaky steering rack | ||
| BMW in Pennsylvania, United States Mar 2011 - Jun 2012 | |||
| May 2011158000 miUS $150 | Replacement of oxygen sensors and rebuilding of secondary air pump to pass emissions. | ||
1997 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| BMW in Wisconsin, United States Oct 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Mar 2010142000 miUS $700 | check engine light going for camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensors. Sensors replaced. Still light. Also car stalling. | ||
1997 BMW 3-Series 2-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| BMW in Michigan, United States Jun 2017 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Jan 2018192000 miUS $150 | Blower motor controller | ||
| BMW in Indiana, United States Jun 2017 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Jan 2018151000 miUS $100 | Thermostat housing was leaking, so replaced thermostat, thermostat housing, and radiator hoses. Engine fan threw 2 blades off the base. Missed belts, hoses, and radiator, but left the small dent in hood. Replaced Fan and fan clutch. Did nothing about hood as was barely noticeable. | ||
| BMW in Nevada, United States Jun 2011 - Apr 2012 | |||
| Aug 2011205200 miUS $680 | front wheel bearings, OLF, Trans fluid, brakes/pads/rotors, brake fluid bleed, M50 manifold | ||
| BMW in New Jersey, United States Oct 2009 - Jul 2018 | |||
| May 2010155000 miUS $300 | A/C selector valve seized up and only heat was available. Replacement of valve resolved the problem and A/C is working again. | ||
| Sep 2010155000 miUS $750 | Check engine light came on. Fault code indicated reduced catalytic converter efficiency. Tried replacing 02 sensors first but fault code returned. Replaced cayalytic converter and fault did not return. | ||
| Nov 2011163000 miUS $85 | Wandering rear end on crowned roads and clicking noise when going around turns that progressed into a loud clunk when accelerating and turning. Right rear trailing arm bushing had failed. Left also failing. Replaced on both sides with Rogue Engg parts. | ||
| Dec 2011164000 miUS $25 | Brake switch on brake pedal assembly failed. Replaced switch with new one and problem was resolved. | ||
| Jul 2012167300 miUS $250 | Rear subframe that attaches differential and suspension to the car chassis has 4 large rubber bushings that failed due to age. Symptom was loose feeling in rear end and noticeable clicking sound going around low speed turns. | ||
| Jul 2018192000 miUS $250 | Check engine light came on. Poor idle when cold. Upstream O2 sensors were bad and had to be replaced. | ||
| BMW in Iowa, United States May 2010 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Jun 201079000 mi | Side skirt came loose. Had to realign clips and reinstall. | ||
| BMW in Kansas, United States Sep 2009 - Feb 2010 | |||
| Jan 2010126000 miUS $280 | Front driver-side caliper locked up. | ||
1997 BMW 3-Series 2-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| BMW in Washington, United States Jan 2010 - Jun 2012 | |||
| Apr 2011130000 miUS $419 | A bad wheel bearing was replaced, as well as replacing a radiator fan which had a cracked blade. | ||
| Jun 2011134000 miUS $458 | Radiator neck cracked and broke off.. major coolant loss. New radiator installed. | ||
| Jul 2011135000 miUS $1020 | Cracked, original overflow coolant tank started leaking severely. Tank was replaced and all is fine. | ||
| Oct 2011138000 miUS $400 | Broken accelerator cable replaced | ||
| Apr 2012145300 miUS $550 | Multiple vacuum leaks tracked down and repaired; leaking valve cover gasket also repaired. Car would stall and not run until vacuum leaks fixed. | ||
1997 BMW 3-Series 2-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| BMW in California, United States Jun 2015 - Jul 2018 | |||
| May 2016154600 miUS $300 | Driver side window regulator had bent, window went off the track | ||
| BMW in Louisiana, United States Sep 2009 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Oct 2009142000 miUS $1100 | Overheating because of failure of auxilliary fan. | ||
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.
