| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
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%)
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 172 repairs.
2012 BMW 3-Series electrical repair cost distribution
$2500+ (2%)
$1000 - $2499 (7%)
$500 - $999 (9%)
$100 - $499 (15%)
< $100 (67%)
Chart based on 46 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 |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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. |
2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 320hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 3000 mi | replace batery |
2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Hardtop conv.
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 37000 mi | TPMS went screwy, fixed |
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. |
| 43000 mi US $180 |
Replaced battery |
| 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.. |
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. |
2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| 81000 mi US $50 |
Takata airbag recall work |
2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD
| 59219 mi US $175 |
Recharged refrigerant |
2012 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD
| 19000 mi | Front USB |
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.
