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If you have a passion for luxury cars, there’s no doubt that you’ve owned, currently own, or have considered purchasing a BMW. The BMW auto group was founded in 1916 originally as a manufacturer of aircraft engines before moving onto automobiles and motorcycles. This German manufacturer makes vehicles that are modern, alluring, and reputable. That being said, just like most car manufacturers, some problems seem to run in the BMW family. As a BMW owner (or future owner), knowing about these problems is essential. If you recognize the warning signs, you can schedule BMW auto repair before they progress into expensive catastrophes. To help you out, we’ve outlined and explained the seven most common repair problems you should know about.

PROBLEM ONE: ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Unfortunately, BMW owners seem to often find themselves dealing with electronic problems. This complaint seems to be consistent across all years and models of BMW vehicles. Cars have electronic fuse boxes just like our homes, and the ones in a BMW seem to have problems frequently. Often the wiring system in BMWs develop faults that cause issues such as:

  • Windshield wipers not working properly
  • Window regulators (windows not lowering and closing)
  • CCC iDrive
  • Air conditioning system not turning on

These issues should not be ignored. In 2018 in the UK, BMW was found to be responsible for the death of a man after failing to recall vehicles with a prominent electronic issue.

As electronic work in BMWs is quite complex, this isn’t an issue that can be taken to a standard mechanic shop. You need to take this issue to a store specializing in BMW auto repair.

PROBLEM TWO: DOOR LOCKS

BMW owners have reported this problem continuously. When you try to lock your doors remotely, one or more of the doors simply won’t lock. If you notice this happening, you should schedule a BMW auto repair appointment right away. Otherwise, you may be risking your car getting broken into or stolen.

PROBLEM THREE: ENGINE MANAGEMENT

BMW owners seem to report disproportionately higher cases of engine management issues. These problems can stem from improper injectors, terrible fuel pumps, a damaged clutch, or the ignition module. Whatever the cause, engine management issues are serious and prevent your vehicle from operating correctly. Once engine management problems arise, you need to schedule BMW auto repair that will likely result in replacing parts.

PROBLEM FOUR: TIRE PUNCTURES AND LEAKS

BMW vehicles are susceptible to corroded or cracked alloy wheels, which can result in a slow tire leak or a tire puncture. Tire leaks are dangerous and can cause accidents, so this problem needs to be addressed as soon as it occurs. Cracked alloy wheels are most common with 19-inch run-flats.

Regular wheel maintenance is essential to reduce the risk of a cracked or corroded alloy wheel. Make sure to rotate and replace your tires following the owner’s manual recommendations.

PROBLEM FIVE: FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEMS

Your car’s coolant system provides an essential function, keeping the engine cool and preventing your vehicle from overheating. For some reason, the cooling system in a BMW is likely to fail between 80,000 and 120,000 miles.

A car’s heater core and cooling system are closely intertwined So, there should be no surprise that when we say the BMW has cooling issues, it also means it often has heater core problems. If an unfamiliar sweet aroma is coming from your heating system, this is coolant, which has likely leaked and found its way into the heater core.

One of the only preventative measures for this problem is regular BMW auto repairs and maintenance. The mechanic will check in on the coolant system and treat issues as they arise.

Pro Tip: Watch out for a coolant leak, which is often the result of a broken or loose radiator cap. You will know you have a leak when white smoke comes out from the exhaust, or there is a visible leak outside the vehicle.

PROBLEM SIX: LEAKING OIL FILTER GASKET

Your vehicle has a gasket that connects the BMW engine and the oil filter. The gasket is the connection that helps oil move to the engine. Unfortunately, BMW cars often develop a leak in this particular gasket. If a leak springs, the engine doesn’t receive the amount of oil it needs. This results in wear and tear in the engine and often leads to other mechanical issues if it’s not caught early on. If you find the problem at the start, it will be an easy and cheap fix. However, if enough time passes, the gasket can become brittle and cost hundreds of dollars to fix the problem and any associated issues.

Regular maintenance and BMW auto repair will ensure any oil filter gasket leaks are caught sooner rather than later.

PROBLEM SEVEN: MALFUNCTIONING DOOR HANDLES

Complaints of malfunctioning door handles are common across many BMW models but are particularly high with the BMW X5 Luxury SUV. Owners report that the handles (both for the driver and the passenger) will lift, but the door itself won’t open. Unfortunately, the only solution is to replace the entire door opening and locking mechanism. This mechanism is located in the door itself, so it requires specialty BMW auto repair work. This is not a job you want to take to someone who isn’t experienced in dealing with BMW doors.

As soon as your door handles start glitching, schedule an appointment for maintenance work.

BMW AUTO REPAIR AT IMPORT CAR CENTER

Flower Mound, TX, has been turning to Import Car Center for its BMW auto repair for years. And, with good reason. Import Car Center has the most experience in European import auto repair in all of Flower Mound, TX. We specialize in European cars and offer services for car inspection, alignment, brake service, clutch service, electrical system work, engine service & repair, exhaust system work, tire service, and transmission service. Book your appointment with one of our BMW experts today for the quality service your car deserves.

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