E89 Comprehensive problem list

[FabZ4]

1. E89 3.0si auto
2. 2009 (owned since 2012)
3. Black metallic
4. Red
5a plastic hinge in boot for roof tray (2015)
5b Resolved
5c part laid by dealer since I argued that I shouldn’t have to pay the full cost since BMW changed the design to included the net
5d no problem since
6a Car wouldn’t hold manual when selected in the manual mode reverting to drive. I drive the car always in manual via the paddles (2019). Needed a new shift lever handle.
6b Resolved
6c Cost £695 inc the £120 fault diagnosis
6d back to perfect

 

[klwilker]

1. E89 Model - 35is
2. Year / Reg - 2011 original owner/still have her (58k miles)
3. Colour exterior - Black Sapphire
4. Colour interior - Coral Red

5. Cracked Rims (many)
5a. Issue description - Cracked Wheels
5b. Current status - Resolved (for now)
5c. Warranty Claim? - Never covered; range of new rim from $700 (noob) to $500 for new; also was able to salvage one at $200.
5d. Have had this happen 6 or 7 times. I am in Houston and streets are very bad. Taking the RFT's off helped a bit but not much.

6. Top not working pt.1 2018
6a. Hall sensor went bad
6b. Resolved
6c. Out of warranty; $1100 at dealer
6d. I didn't trust an indy with fixing the top so I paid the dealer.

7. Top not working pt 2 2019
7a. Water ingress from filters at the back bumper. Hydraulic pump went out and harness corroded
7b. Still working on this
7c. Not in warranty; looks like this is going to cost a cool $4k to fix
7d. Car was left out at the body shop during tropical storm Imelda and water came into the boot destroying the pump. ALWAYS check the boot for water! Check those filters in the bumper.

8. Suspension problem 2017-2019
8a. Struts leaking @ 35k miles, bushings bad
8b. Current status - Resolved (for now)
8c. Warranty Claim? - Out of warranty; Struts/top mounts ~ $2200, replace upper/lower arms and bushings with M3 components ~$700
8d. Struts started leaking at 35k but I was out of warranty. Replaced with OEM parts at an Indy.

I really cannot think of any issues I've had which were covered under the 4 year warranty period. The car has been super reliable for the first 7 years but this last year I feel like I am dumping money into it.

 

[Deferd]

Hi, an update on my Z4 2.0 Msport
Manufactured Feb 2016.

Had it’s first MOT April 2019 no problems.FAB.

In July 2019 I noticed the roof making a louder clunk when closing and attaching to the front windscreen.
I had mentioned this at the MOT in April but the BMW mechanic tested it and said there was nothing wrong then proceeded to open up the roof and then close it and low and behold nothing, not a squeak , I said to him so what did you do ? He said nothing there is no issue.
Ah well , that’s just the Z4 isn’t it, noises appear to come and go.

Any way as I was saying the louder clunk appeared in July 2019 and I said to myself you were right at MOT time there is an issue.
I decided to drop a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil into the two areas where the roof attaches to the front windscreen and perfect the clunk was gone.

My Z4 is still running like a dream but I have to say it’s only done 26k miles since new .
I’ve replaced the two rear tyres but the two front ones are the originals from production.

I love this car especially with the top down , I live in Scotland , chilly , but top down for me except when it’s raining.
I love driving with the top down at night as well.Great feeling.

 

[Busterboo]

I decided to drop a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil into the two areas where the roof attaches to the front windscreen and perfect the clunk was gone.

Now there's something worth trying. Thank you.

 

[jonas123]

1. E89 20i auto
2. 2014
3. Black
4. Black

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Engine overheating light came on after engine warmed up - car drops into limp mode
5b. Resolved
5c. No warranty, ran out 2 months ago and chose not to renew...total cost to replace was £950 although that included 4 wheel alignment and initial diagnostic. Water pump and thermostat replaced.
5d. The problem identified was a failing water pump, but the pump and thermostat were replaced.

 

[Busterboo]

1. E89 Model 35iS
2. Year 2010
3. Colour exterior Melbourne Red
4. Colour interior Ivory White

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Issue description - NSR 'barrel' spring - snapped 1.5 coils from bottom
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - No
5d. Comments? - Total £172 inc VAT.

 

[ronk]

5a. Issue description - NSR 'barrel' spring - snapped 1.5 coils from bottom

Just curiosity here, why Barrel spring? Isn't it just a helical spring?

 

[Busterboo]

5a. Issue description - NSR 'barrel' spring - snapped 1.5 coils from bottom

Just curiosity here, why Barrel spring? Isn't it just a helical spring?

It was the term the mechanic used and the spring is barrel shaped - fat in the middle and narrower at bottom and top.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-60670-33507836827-genuine-bmw-part/

 

[tintoverano]

ok not e89, I was wondering where

 

[Busterboo]

ok not e89, I was wondering where

My car is an e89. I just grabbed an image off t'interweb to show the barrel shape. (It looks as if both 85 and 89 have rear barrel springs.)

 

[FabZ4]

1. E89 3.0si auto
2. 2009 (owned since 2012)
3. Black metallic
4. Red
5a plastic hinge in boot for roof tray (2015)
5b Resolved
5c part laid by dealer since I argued that I shouldn’t have to pay the full cost since BMW changed the design to included the net
5d no problem since
6a Car wouldn’t hold manual when selected in the manual mode reverting to drive. I drive the car always in manual via the paddles (2019). Needed a new shift lever handle.
6b Resolved
6c Cost £695 inc the £120 fault diagnosis
6d back to perfect

New issues:
7a) Boot light became intermittent one the winter and on hot days post lockdown the "soft close" on the boot did not operate meaning the the roof could not be folded down (the only reasons for having the car!)
7b) Resolved finaly! Its taken Lloyd BMW in Newcastle 1 month to resolve the issue. They replaced a junction box then couldn't programme the car so replaced a fuse box.That still didnt work so I think they have fitted a new motor to the soft close lock and replaced the wiring. (To note I am aware that there is an issue with the boot closing due to short wiring but BMW confirmed that this wasn't the issue here).
7c) They quoted £750 which included 2 hours of investigation time and to be fair to them they stood by that quote and someone (BMW or Lloyd) has paid the extra parts and labour.
8a) Control rod snapped on the self levelling headlights
8b) Resolved
8c) Cost £55 (I has it done when Lloyd fixed the boot lock since my local guys couldn't source the part during lockdown.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you got the Friday afternoon special.. :thumbsdown:

 

[scootr]

Didn't buy mine new. Got her with 60k miles on her. I'm just here to report I love my E89. The N52 is a nearly perfect engine. No failures just a bit of routine maintenance.
Sorry to disappoint oke:

 

[Busterboo]

1. E89 Model 35iS
2. Year 2010
3. Colour exterior Melbourne Red
4. Colour interior Ivory White

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Issue description - "Very slight" leak from nsf adaptive shock absorber, "slight" leak from rocker cover gasket & leak from DCT sump plate
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - BMW Insured Warranty. £250 excess.

18 December 2020

5a. Issue description - "edc control fault" & leak from DCT sump plate (the latter again)
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - Extended warranty. £250 excess. (Edc unit was £659 & sump plate was £337.)

13 January 2021

5a. Item description - "Dynamic Damper Control Failure" and "Cylinders 4 & 5 failure to fire"
5b. Current status - Resolved. (Rear adaptive shock absorbers replaced. All fuel injectors replaced.)
5c. Warranty Claim? - Costs covered completely under warranty.
5d. Comments - BMW Insured (and now renewed) Warranty. £250 excess. (Total bill was £3,319.45)

 

[Argyll Andy]

1. E89 Model 35iS
2. Year 2010
3. Colour exterior Melbourne Red
4. Colour interior Ivory White

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Issue description - "Very slight" leak from nsf adaptive shock absorber, "slight" leak from rocker cover gasket & leak from DCT sump plate
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - BMW Insured Warranty. £250 excess.

18 December 2020

5a. Issue description - "edc control fault" & leak from DCT sump plate (the latter again)
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - Extended warranty. £250 excess. (Edc unit was £659 & sump plate was £337.)

13 January 2021

5a. Item description - "Dynamic Damper Control Failure" and "Cylinders 4 & 5 failure to fire"
5b. Current status - Resolved. (Rear adaptive shock absorbers replaced. All fuel injectors replaced.)
5c. Warranty Claim? - Costs covered completely under warranty.
5d. Comments - BMW Insured (and now renewed) Warranty. £250 excess. (Total bill was £3,319.45)

And this is exactly why I’ll keep my BMW warranty going

 

[ronk]

1. E89 Model 35iS
2. Year 2010
3. Colour exterior Melbourne Red
4. Colour interior Ivory White

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Issue description - "Very slight" leak from nsf adaptive shock absorber, "slight" leak from rocker cover gasket & leak from DCT sump plate
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - BMW Insured Warranty. £250 excess.

18 December 2020

5a. Issue description - "edc control fault" & leak from DCT sump plate (the latter again)
5b. Current status - Resolved
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost covered completely under warranty
5d. Comments? - Extended warranty. £250 excess. (Edc unit was £659 & sump plate was £337.)

13 January 2021

5a. Item description - "Dynamic Damper Control Failure" and "Cylinders 4 & 5 failure to fire"
5b. Current status - Resolved. (Rear adaptive shock absorbers replaced. All fuel injectors replaced.)
5c. Warranty Claim? - Costs covered completely under warranty.
5d. Comments - BMW Insured (and now renewed) Warranty. £250 excess. (Total bill was £3,319.45)

And this is exactly why I’ll keep my BMW warranty going

Ditto!

Like all insurance it’s expensive until it’s needed.

 

[Busterboo]

1. E89 Model 35iS
2. Year 2010
3. Colour exterior Melbourne Red
4. Colour interior Ivory White

5. Issues experienced, notes & status e.g.

5a. Issue description - "Leak from nsf adaptive shock absorber. Rocker cover leaking. Leak from gearbox area."
5b. Current status - Resolved. (Both front adaptive shock absorbers replaced at insurer's suggestion. Gearbox oil pan replaced.)
5c. Warranty Claim? - Cost (£2,679.28) covered under warranty
5d. Comments? - BMW extended warranty. £250 excess.

12 May 2021.

 

[warmasice]

Blimey, these 35is' issues can get mightily expensive without a warranty.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Blimey, these 35is' issues can get mightily expensive without a warranty.

I wouldn’t own one without a warranty

 

[Anonymous]

So BMW E89 2012 MY 20i Auto MSPORT 50k miles

Misfire when accelerating very hard from low rpm circa 1500 ish.

Misfire appeared after winter / covid layover..only appers when accelerating hard from low rpm, does not appear (apparently) when starting from 2,500 rpm / 3,500 rpm.

Engine has been re-mapped and larger flow Hitachi turbo..

Dyno run shows bhp/torque down from 305/460 to 280/420 plus 'glitches' in curves.

Tuners diagnosed 'could be plugs, coils, injectors, HPFP'..

No fault codes..

Research shows first generation fuel pump 13517584461(03/01/2011 — 07/23/2014) was superseded by
13518604229 From03/17/2014 onwards

Internet reports show other N20 engines will similar misfire profile, more so when tuned especially with big turbo kits.

Issue is that cam driven fuel pump at low rpm not generating enough flow/pressure as it ages..

So new fuel pump and new plugs and injectors to be fitted and re-checked on dyno (plugs n coils are only 5k miles old)

Will report when new parts fitted.

Shopping around reveals big price differneces for identical parts.. my price from Autodoc and Schiedman to be £144 for fuel pump and £226 for injectors, adapter cable for pump and seals and gaskets.

BMW prices £929 for pump and £870 for the injectors!