iFixit - Answers With Device "2005-2013 BMW 3 Series"

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Brake Pedal becomes rock hard sometimes.

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:22:24 -0700

2010 BMW 320i

Following recent replacement of Rocker Cover and Gasket by BMW, the Brake Pedal sometimes becomes rock hard after the engine is not working for a number of hours. What is the problem?

⟐ Answered November 29, 2023 at 14:22 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: My car doesn't want to start.

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:53:57 -0700

Every time I start my car it goes brr brr brum brruum instead of bruum bruuum. What should I do?

Please help me, because car = my life.

Best Regards,

Pametna Muha

⟐ Answered February 13, 2025 at 19:53 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: 10 BMW 328i, AWD 4X4 light on, sounds like I have a flat driving?

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 06:09:17 -0700

I purchased a 2010 BMW 328i from a dealership for 5k and about 1k in taxes, and the parts that I bought and replaced, all together it was a little over 6 grand and the person selling it said that he read the codes and it needed a transmission filter an fluid change and rear breaks. Driving it home it sounded like I had a flat tire coming from the rear, and I was under the impression that it was the breaks, and lights came on saying ABS 4x4 I ordered the parts and about 2 weeks later they came in an I installed everything, and when i start the car and start to drive the still ABS 4x4 light comes on, and it sounds like i have a flat coming from the back of the car, any ideas or suggestions on what it could be? I replaced the rear break pads, and brake sensor wire, and that didn't help with anything. Note when I bought the car and drove it home it was making this noise, but I was thinking after I fix the rear breaks it would go away, but it didn't. I greatly appreciate any tips, thank you very much, an I already know I am a dumbass for this purchase, but I bought this for my wife, just celebrated 25 years, 19married, she never had a nice car and she fell in love with this, but now its been in the driveway sitting for 3 months and she never got to drive it once, it still has the same mileage from when we bought it . Anyway long story short, I'm out of money and just want to fix the car for her. I currently drive a 2004 Ford Explorer with 292475 miles, so this was kinda of a big deal for her and us, we were supper exitcted to have a really nice car complety paid off, and as you can see, that blew up in my face. Again sorry so long, and thank you very much for any information or advice to get this car on the road again First pictures are normal scan

second set of pics is the full system scan

⟐ Commented August 23, 2022 at 6:09 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Headlight replacement for bmw 328i

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 00:44:03 -0700

How to replace headllight

⟐ Answer edited December 05, 2018 at 0:44 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Why can’t I open my trunk on my 2011 bmw e90 320d?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:31:39 -0700

When I click on the button under the trunk thing I hear it click but when I pull it up it doesn’t open I think that the thing that holds it is broken and how can I open it in another way?

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: My 2012 BMW F30 (320d) Display on Instrument Cluster is not working!

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 10:33:27 -0700

On my 2012 BMW 3' F30 (320d) [India] the small unit square display (which shows the miles/KM & fuel range, etc) has gone completely blank on the Instrument Cluster. Everything else such as, fuel, temp gauge and speedometer are working fine/smooth as needed. Even all the safety and electronic icons in red and green do light up on the Instrument Cluster as shown in the attached image. (BMW i-drive is working fine but not receiving any input from instrument cluster, so no service or journey info is showing up, I can also see the fuel range and fuel consumption in the i-drive settings tab/menu). Please help/suggest/recommend, what I shall do? (My car is not under any warranty now)

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Why is my brake pedal solid with the vehicle is stationery

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:36:13 -0700

Have a strange brake pedal problem.

Good pedal when at standstill but with engine running pedal is to the floor and wont pump up. All fluid levels good and have bled the brakes with no bubbles. Vehicle is un-driveable. Can you help?

⟐ Answered February 19, 2025 at 18:36 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Trouble after replacing valve cover gasket

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 12:52:26 -0700

2006 BMW 325i N52 Engine

147XXX miles

Parts used:

1. NGK (1208) ILZFR6D11 Laser Iridium Spark Plugs

2. MAHLE VS50533 valve cover gasket

3. Victor Reinz Valve Cover Screw Set

Repairs done:

Replaced spark plugs

Replaced valve cover gasket

Backstory:

The car started to idle roughly and hesitate while driving. Eventually I got a misfire in two cylinders.

When I went to replace the spark plugs I noticed cyl 1/3 had oil in the cylinder well. So, I changed the

valve cover gasket. However, I forgot to tighten the 3 middle 10mm bolts (22 bolts total) that held on the valve cover.

All bolts are 10Nm + 90deg

I tried to start the car before I realized the the bolts were loose. It would not crank. NOOOO!

After tightening the 3 bolts I left loose, I tried to crank again. No luck

I checked the spark plug cylinder wells and the valve cover to oil leaks - there was none.

I pulled out the spark plugs, and every one of them had what looked like oil/black residue on the electrodes, not the threads.

I cleaned all of them off, and tried to crank again - no luck

I pulled out the spark plugs again, and all of them had the same oil/black residue on them?

I'm assuming the problem cranking the car has to do with the spark plug electrodes having oil/residue on them - at least

that's my first guess.

Any help would be awesome!

⟐ Answer deleted February 14, 2022 at 12:52 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Camshaft position codes P0012 and P0015

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:04:00 -0700

I replaced both camshaft position solenoids on my 328i. The oil level is good, with clean oil. The P0012 and P0015 codes did not clear and car will not start. There are two pending trouble codes P0010 and P0013. Where do I go from here?

⟐ Commented March 15, 2021 at 7:04 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Where can I get a wire diagram of fuse # 17 on 2011 328I Bmw

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 18:51:50 -0700

the fuse keeps blowing and I need to trace the wiring on fuse 17 to ecm exhaust flap and fuel leak monitor any one have a diagram

⟐ Answer accepted March 08, 2020 at 18:51 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: My left wheel is making a noise when I drive more than 20mph

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 08:53:53 -0700

I ran over a speed bump and my left wheel is making a noise like it's rubbing against something when I drive more than 20mph

⟐ Answered February 16, 2018 at 8:53 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Bmw E90 can I remove thermostat and still use car

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:08:28 -0700

Or will it stop the electric water pump from working

⟐ Answered September 23, 2025 at 4:08 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: P0013 code what is causing this?

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:59:37 -0700

Car is in reduced power and only throwing the p0013 code. What could be causing this?

⟐ Answered August 04, 2025 at 18:59 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Car stiring oil gets whitish whitish like clay

Wed, 22 May 2024 07:58:32 -0700

What can be the reason plz.

⟐ Answered May 22, 2024 at 7:58 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: I can’t use the push to start because the brake won’t press

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:08:58 -0700

My 2013 BMW 3 series cannot be started because you need to press the brake whilst starting and the brakes locked. The break lights still work so i don’t believe it’s the brake vacuum but i’m not sure.

⟐ Answered July 25, 2023 at 15:08 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: My car overheats and one of the hoses behind the radio deck blows air?

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 06:30:46 -0700

In my 2008 bmw 335xi My car overheats and one of the hoses behind the radio deck blows air?

⟐ Answer accepted August 24, 2022 at 6:30 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: How much does it cost to replace timing chain on my 323i 2011

Thu, 13 May 2021 09:55:32 -0700

The car showed engine sign second time in the last couple of days. I went to my mechanic and he said the problem is in exhaust VANOS and the filters needs to be changed he said he will clean it if he could to save me some money he cleaned it and switched the filters, he put the exhaust one in the intake and the intake one in the exhaust. And then the check engine sign came back on and I went to him again he said the code is from the exhaust VANOS again the problem might be in the timing chain

⟐ Answered May 13, 2021 at 9:55 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Fault code 2A99, crankshaft -exhaust camshaft correlation

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 13:20:38 -0700

I have swapped and cleaned the vanos solenoids, cleaned the filters for the vanos solenoids still getting the fault code and it didn’t swap to the intake cam when I swapped the solenoids

⟐ Answered November 26, 2020 at 13:20 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Any guidance for DIY repair of corroded positive battery cables?

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:31:33 -0700

BMW 335i convertible has corroded positive battery cables due to water in battery compartment and I would prefer to repair them rather than replace. Instructions from anyone with experience performing this procedure appreciated. Thank you.

⟐ Answered October 24, 2020 at 8:31 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: BMW 328 I black smoke

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 06:05:05 -0700

While driving black smoke is coming from exhaust and the car shuts off and my power steering goes out. Also my speedometer stops working? What could be the issue

⟐ Answered July 20, 2020 at 6:05 MST