Tailgate, bonnet and bodywork parts BMW: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the BMW models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X6 G06Upper rear spoiler badly made or badly fixed, with a risk of coming offBMW has recalled the X6 twice over the upper spoiler on the tailgate: on cars from November 2019 to January 2020 the spoiler may have been badly made, and on others from June and July 2020 it may have been badly fixed. In both cases it can come off while driving and put the cars behind at risk.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW iX I20Tailgate may not stay open due to insufficient holding forceIn December 2021 BMW recalled iX cars built between February and October 2021 in the UK because the tailgate's holding force could be insufficient to keep it open. The software of the tailgate control unit is updated and, if necessary, the MPAD control unit is replaced.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Z4 E85/E86Electric hood motor and mechanism failureAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the electric hood on the Z4 E85 is the most frequently cited fault outside the engine: 13 of 78 reports mention a failed motor, jamming or water drainage problems, between 100,000 and 220,000 km.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW i8 I12Failure of the i8's gas struts on the butterfly doorsAutocar warns that the struts (gas springs) on the i8's butterfly doors have been known to fail, and that repairing them is costly, so it advises checking them carefully when buying. It is a press mention without frequency or cost figures.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 6 F12/F13Convertible soft-top faults (F12)On the 6 Series convertible (F12) the roof may stop opening or closing, or show that it is open; Breakerlink attributes this to position sensors or electrical faults.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW X5 F15Panoramic roof water leaks and power tailgate failure on the X5 F15According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (56 for the 2013-2018 X5), water can get in through the panoramic roof because of blocked drains and damage the wiring, and faults with the power tailgate and the soft-close latch are cited (50d, 90,000 km).
- Low severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 2 Gran Tourer F46Electric tailgate failure: spontaneous opening or erratic operationAccording to the fiches-auto.fr owner reports, the electric tailgate of the 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer can open by itself or work unpredictably on 2015-2016 cars.

By BMW model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Frequently asked questions

What faults with the tailgate, bonnet and bodywork do BMW cars have?

In 7 models from BMW there are 7 documented faults with the tailgate, bonnet and bodywork. The most important: upper rear spoiler badly made or badly fixed, with a risk of coming off, tailgate may not stay open due to insufficient holding force and electric hood motor and mechanism failure. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which BMW models have the most problems with the tailgate, bonnet and bodywork?

BMW Z4 E85/E86 (1 fault), BMW Serie 6 F12/F13 (1 fault), BMW X5 F15 (1 fault) and BMW i8 I12 (1 fault).