| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2011 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 (23%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)
Other (5%)
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 688 repairs.
2011 BMW 3-Series transmission repair cost distribution
$2500+ (6%)
$1000 - $2499 (10%)
$500 - $999 (3%)
$100 - $499 (3%)
< $100 (77%)
Chart based on 31 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 10000 mi | Auto trans would not shift correctly about 25 percent of time but only when in manual mode and only when upshifting 2nd to 3rd. Entire transmission replaced. |
| 10000 mi | Entire transmission (auto) replaced. Problem only occurred when in manual mode and only during upshift from 2nd to 3rd gear. Transmission would momentarily (1 to 2 seconds)shift into neutral between 2 to 3 upshift. Fault code found. |
| 79000 mi US $1000 |
The entire PRND shifter module needed to be replaced. Was not always possible to put shifter into D position-needed to wiggle it around until it indicated D on dash display. Instead would go into M1 and would not shift out of M1 - car would reached rev limit and cut fuel. |
| 46000 mi | Automatic transmission would not shift between gears properly |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 77000 mi | Shop told that the Mechatronics unit is not working properly and should be replaced. Part costs $3500 with labor it is about $4000. It causes jerky shifts especially between first and second gear and flare shifts where transmission slams into gears very hard. |
| 54000 mi US $1100 |
Transmission seal |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD
| 53000 mi | My CPO warranty ran out Nov 2016. In March 2017, the 6-speed manual shifter LOUDLY popped out of 1st gear. So loudly that I thought I'd ran over something! I thought it was a fluke from not properly engaging the clutch, but it kept reoccurring. Called the local BMW dealer about diagnosing it but he said they didn't fix transmissions, only replaced them. Took it to an independent mechanic specializing only in European cars - he drove it and re-created the problem. $5K parts/labor for used transmission and $7K for new! On a car with barely 50K miles?? I decided to skip the repair and shift out of first as soon as the car starts rolling. Not ideal for enjoying the "ultimate driving machine" but it beats driving in fear of losing power in the middle of an intersection. Now I understand why people lease BMW's or sell them as soon as the warranty runs out. Buyer beware!! |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 47000 mi | Dual mass flywheel has hot spots. Didnt notice tgis in the test drive since it surfaces only on hot days and if I have been driving around quite a bit |
| 50000 mi | Clutch shuddering |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 265hp 3.0L I6 Diesel 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 86000 mi US $3200 |
Maintenance, intake carbon cleaning, diagnose multiple SAS codes |
| 93000 mi US $5200 |
Transmission failure. It was randomly downshifting to second gear from 6th during highway passing maneuvers. Turns out that the tranny is spec'd to last only 200k km so mine was still a bit premature. |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 70000 mi US $3600 |
Transmission fluid leak repair |
| 23700 mi | Grinding noise while turning. Needed to replace fluid |
| 8000 mi | grinding noise with low speed turns. resolved with changing the differential fluid. Dealer resolved problem quickly. |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 19000 mi | RPM would dip low (near stall, but no stall) at idle occassionaly. Also car would occasionally tug at brakes while idle. The RPM issue has not reappeared. The problem was an internal BMW TSB of known software glitch. |
| 31700 mi | Had a metallic rubbing noise at 30mph or higher. similar to the noise you get with bad engine mounts. Replace differential. |
| 44000 mi | Car would not shift out of first gear. Dealer tried to duplicate but could not do so. |
| 51000 mi | Torque converter failed |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 37000 mi | Replace front input shaft seal (leaking) and replace fluid. |
| 62000 mi | vibration |
| 62000 mi | Vibration at speed |
| 26040 mi | Transmission shifting was hesitating and so they upgraded the software. |
| 62000 mi US $50 |
Leaking o ring in the transfer case adjuster. |
2011 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 42700 mi US $175 |
Leaking rear transmission seal |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 320hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 58000 mi US $800 |
Replaced the transmission pan due to a leak |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 38000 mi | flex plate replaced under recall, no cost to me |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 106000 mi | DCT Transmission overheated, had to be replaced |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 44000 mi | felt like the transmission was slipping...dealer said probably torque converter. They wanted to put an additive in the transmission for $550 and if that didn't work replace torque converter for $4000 |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 320hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 32000 mi US $50 |
Check engine light came on. Dealer read code as transmission problem but then said resulted from being too low on fuel |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 17000 mi | leak at transmission output yoke |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 15000 mi | breakdown of slip differential fluid causing grinding sound on hard turns |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 75000 mi US $1500 |
Differential seal was leaking and needed replacement. Also replaced bushings. |
2011 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 7000 mi | Leaky transmission. Replaced seal. |
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