2011 BMW 328I Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2011 BMW 328I, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 116,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine cooling contacted” (17% of reports).
- 175engine and engine cooling complaints
- 116,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cooling contacted: mentioned in 30 of 175 complaints (17%)
- Vanos bolts: mentioned in 13 of 175 complaints (7%)
- Failed restart: mentioned in 13 of 175 complaints (7%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 12 of 175 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 103 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 175 complaints, 6 a fire, 1 an injury.
BMW 328I engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 328I | 13 | 23% | 115,000 |
| 2015 328I | 42 | 34% | 100,000 |
| 2014 328I | 29 | 19% | 93,000 |
| 2013 328I | 44 | 17% | 106,000 |
| 2012 328I | 16 | 12% | 123,500 |
| 2011 328I | 175 | 30% | 116,000 |
| 2010 328I | 40 | 26% | 111,000 |
| 2009 328I | 21 | 11% | 103,000 |
| 2008 328I | 33 | 14% | 100,000 |
| 2007 328I | 35 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2001 328I | 2 | 50% | — |
| 2000 328I | 5 | 4% | 73,500 |
| 1999 328I | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1998 328I | 2 | 8% | 54,500 |
| 1997 328I | 3 | 12% | 69,042 |
| 1996 328I | 6 | 19% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the VANOS bolts had failed and needed to be…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was restarted several times but continually stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The contact…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal dinging sound coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a detached VANOS bolt. The contact was informed that the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 BMW 328Is have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 175 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2011 BMW 328I (30% of the 577 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 BMW 328I engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 116,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2011 BMW 328I?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling contacted”, in 30 of 175 complaints, followed by “vanos bolts” (13).
Other 2011 BMW 328I problems
- Engine problems (194)
- Electrical System problems (129)
- Air Bags problems (91)
See all 2011 BMW 328I problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all 328I years.