2008 Bmw M3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
15,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 82 complaints (34.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 30 | 36.6% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 14.6% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 14.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 28 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 28; Engine: 20; Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 27 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 7; 2009: 27; 2010: 8; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 7; 2016: 7; 2017: 11; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10257488 · 2009-02-04 (February 4, 2009)
DURING A ROLLING STOP SITUATION WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY ANY ACCELERATION (SUCH AS A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN), THERE IS A THROTTLE DELAY AND THE VEHICLE HAS THE FEELING OF AN "ENGINE STALL" AND LOSSES ALL POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS WHILE IT SEARCHES FOR A GEAR. THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND CAN BE RECREATED AT ANYTIME. THE PROBLEM PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING VEHICLES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS ON THE INTERNET AND CONFIRMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257659 · 2009-02-05 (February 5, 2009)
I HAVE A BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. SINCE GETTING A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX ANOTHER NHTSA ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, MY CAR WILL HAVE NO POWER AT ALL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 10MPH, AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CARS ARE COMING AT ME AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THIS OCCURS MAINLY WHEN THE DCT IS SET TO THE AUTOMATIC MODE. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS OCCURS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 10-15MPH FROM 40MPH OR MORE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258247 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
I HAVE NOTICED SINCE THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE M-DCT GEARBOX: THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG OR HESITATION OF AT LEAST 2 SECOND BETWEEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGING AND GIVING ACCELERATION TO THE WHEELS. THIS RESULTS IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUST "COAST". THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN FROM A STAND-STILL, BUT OCCURS PRIMARILY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT VIRTUALLY ALL RANGES OF SPEED, FROM ROLLING STOP THROUGH STANDARD ROAD SPEEDS OF ANY DEGREE . THE PROBLEM IS ACUTE IN "D" MODE, BUT OCCURS IN "S" MODE …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258255 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE M-DCT AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THE E92 BMW M3. IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, SAY WHEN COASTING AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN IT'S D MODE (AUTOMATIC LIKE MODE), WHEN YOU QUICKLY TRANSITION FROM LIGHT BRAKING TO MEDIUM THROTTLE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE BECOMES COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDAL INPUT AND OFFERS NO ACCELERATION. AFTER A DELAY OF A SECOND OR SO THE CAR WILL REV A BIT, SLIP THE CLUTCH AND ACCELERATE STRONGLY. THIS OCCURRENCE IS NOT UNIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263966 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)
2008 BMW M3 W/DCT - I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND HAD SLOWED TO MAYBE 5MPH WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE OTHER SIDE HAD OPENED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN, I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR DID NOTHING BUT CONTINUE TO ROLL AT ABOUT 5MPH TOWARDS THE DRIVEWAY IN THE ON-COMING LANES, WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE QUICKLY APPROACHING. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS OF HESITATION THE GEAR ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NARROWLY AVOID BEING BROADSIDED BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC. HAD THE HESITATION BEEN FOR ANY LONGER, TRAFFIC BEEN MOVING ANY FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229257 · 2008-05-29 (May 29, 2008)
CAR HAD LONGER AND LONGER CRANK TIMES AT STARTUP. OVER THE SPAN OF A WEEK THE STARTUP TIME BEFORE IGNITION TOOK UP TO 5 SECONDS. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN, AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. REPLACED BY DEALER FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231557 · 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)
FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER 188 MILES. CAR ALREADY SHOWED SYMPTOM 1 DAY AFTER DELIVERY. HESITATED TO START. DEALER DIAGNOSED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT. IMPORTANT NOTE TO CAR. IT IS A 335I, MODEL TYPE E93. YOUR SYSTEM DOESN'T LIST IT, SO I USED M3. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 188 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559626 · 2014-01-13 (January 13, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND WAS IN WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 3/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098485 · 2018-05-29 (May 29, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BASNEY BMW MAZDA, 52203 IN-933, SOUTH BEND, IN 46637, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11098485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637297 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)
INCIDENT 1 I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AFTER THE SIGNAL AND ENTERING INTO THE FREEWAY AT 25 MPH, AND DURING THE TURN, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINATION IN THE ROAD LIKE A BUMP AND THE CAR LANDED ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND HAD DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND BRAKE WARNING AND I WAS THIS CLOSE TO GETTING RAMMED BY A TRUCK FROM BEHIND AND I HURT MY HAND DURING THIS EVENT BECAUSE I COULD HARDLY STEER MY CAR AND BARELY PULLED ON TO THE CURB OF THE FREEWAY. HOW CAN A BMW BE SO DELICATE, IT CANT HANDLE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992606 · 2017-06-01 (June 1, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT BOUT 1AM ON A CLEAR 45 DEGREE MORNING. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 54 MPH ON A FREEWAY. I HEARD A NOISE COME FROM MY ENGINE, IT SOUND LIKE METAL BEING GRIND. MY VEHICLE THEN SHUT OFF I LOST POWER STEERING CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO A DITCH. WHEN I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RE START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK MOVED MY CAR I NOTICED A LOT OF ENGINE OIL UNDER THE CAR. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A BMW MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME " ONE OF YOUR ROD BEARINGS BROKE SENDING A ROD THROUGH YOUR OIL PA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10992606 at NHTSA ↗