BMW Serie 3 E90 (2005–2012)Faults with a fire risk

Fire risk of the BMW Serie 3 E90: problems and faults

Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire · BMW N57 engine
High severity: Campaign over fire risk from the heater fan connector · rest of the car

Most serious fault: Critical severity

Reviewed on 27 September 20263 sources How we work

Problems with a fire risk on the the BMW N57

From most to least important. Check the affected years and versions on each page.

- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentEmissions controlEGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fireYes: like the N47 and B47, the N57 is covered by BMW's service campaign for EGR cooler leaks, which can mix coolant with soot and oil to combustion temperatures. BMW checks free of charge the 6-cylinder engines built between July 2012 and June 2015 because of the fire risk.

Faults on the rest of the car

Documented on this model, from most to least important.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalClimate controlCampaign over fire risk from the heater fan connectorYes: in January 2021 BMW recalled around 430,000 3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93 cars in Germany (more than half a million worldwide) because the wiring connector of the heater fan regulator can corrode, cause a short circuit and set the vehicle on fire, even when parked. An earlier campaign, in autumn 2017, had already covered a first batch of cars in the United States.Repair: €0

Symptoms these faults cause

Frequently asked questions

What faults with a fire risk does the BMW Serie 3 E90 have?

In the BMW Serie 3 E90 there are 2 documented faults with a fire risk: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire (BMW N57 engine) and campaign over fire risk from the heater fan connector (rest of the car). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and how to check for it.

Which engines of the BMW Serie 3 E90 have faults with a fire risk?

The documented faults affect the BMW N57, and 1 fault is to the rest of the car. Check the years and versions on each page: they do not always affect every unit.

Have you had a fault with a fire risk on your BMW Serie 3 E90? Tell us at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW E90Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW 3er E90/E91/E92/E93: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German