Engine warning light on BMW: causes by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

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

- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 1 F20, Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 E60 and Serie 5 F10 and 3 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW M47Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps)Yes: the common rail versions of the M47 (built since 2001) have flaps in the intake manifold that, with diesel soot and heat cycles, can break and be sucked into the cylinder, with a risk of serious damage to the piston, cylinder head and valves.
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 3 E46, Serie 3 E90, Serie 5 E60 and X3 E83
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N47Broken intake manifold swirl flapsYes: the N47's intake manifold has plastic swirl flaps that, with diesel soot and the passing years, can crack, come loose and be sucked into the cylinder, with a risk of seriously damaging the piston, cylinder head and valves.
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 1 F20, Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 E60 and Serie 5 F10 and 3 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N20Timing chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015)Yes: on BMW N20s built mainly between 2011 and 2015, the timing chain guides and tensioner wear out early; if the chain jumps teeth it can put pistons and valves out of sync and cause catastrophic damage. BMW revised the design in 2015, without a formal recall.Appears at around 129,000 km
In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 3 F30, Serie 4 F32, Serie 5 F10 and X1 E84 and 2 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N13Timing chain and tensioner wearYes: in 2013 BMW issued a technical bulletin on timing chain and tensioner wear on the N13, an engine related to PSA's 1.6 THP. The chain proved more durable than on the N43 it replaces, but the German workshops we consulted still point to it as a weak point.
In Serie 1 F20 and Serie 3 F30
- High severityFrequency: CommonBMW N57Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuatorOn the twin-turbo versions (335d, 535d, xDrive35d/40d) it is common to lose thrust at low revs because of a degraded vacuum circuit or dirt in the actuator that synchronises the turbos, not because of a mechanical turbo failure. The variable-geometry turbo is also cited, more generically.
In Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 F10, X3 F25, X4 F26, X5 E70 and X5 F15 and 2 more models
- High severityFrequency: CommonBMW N52 / N53N53 piezoelectric injector failureThe N53's piezoelectric direct injectors fail frequently and cause misfires, rough idle and limp mode; replacing them is expensive and they must be coded.
In Serie 3 E90, Serie 5 E60 and Serie 5 F10
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N47Clogged or seized EGR valveYes, as on most diesels of its generation: the N47's EGR valve seizes or clogs with carbon, especially on cars used in town, causing an unstable idle, jerking and loss of power; it is not usually a serious fault if it is cleaned or replaced in time.Repair (garage): €400–€1,500
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 1 F20, Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 E60 and Serie 5 F10 and 3 more models
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N54/N55N54 piezoelectric injector failureThe N54's piezoelectric injectors can clog or leak and cause intermittent misfires. The N55 has solenoid injectors, so it does not share this weak point.
In Serie 3 E90, Serie 5 E60, X6 E71 and Z4 E89
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43)On the direct-injection BMW N43, failures of the injectors, ignition coils (mainly in 2007-2008 units, now rare after a BMW service action) and the NOx sensor of its lean-burn combustion have been documented. The indirect-injection N46 does not have that sensor and does not suffer these failures.
In Serie 1 E87 and Serie 3 E90
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N20High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failureThe high-pressure pump that feeds the N20's direct injection (High Precision Injection) can fail, especially on high-mileage units, leaving the car with hard starting, jerking or, in the worst case, unable to start.
In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 3 F30, Serie 4 F32, Serie 5 F10 and X1 E84 and 2 more models
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N13High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failureThe high-pressure pump that feeds the N13's direct injection can fail. English Wikipedia generically documents several cases of extended-warranty replacement within the Prince family, with no specific figures or N13-specific recall.
In Serie 1 F20 and Serie 3 F30

By BMW model

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

Engines and gearboxes involved

Frequently asked questions

Engine warning light in a BMW: what could it be?

In 18 models from BMW there are 12 documented faults that cause this symptom (engine warning light). The most important: rear timing chain stretch and breakage, intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps) and broken intake manifold swirl flaps. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the cause and how to check for it.

Which BMW models have the most faults with this symptom?

BMW Serie 3 F30 (8 faults), BMW Serie 3 E90 (7 faults), BMW Serie 5 F10 (7 faults) and BMW Serie 1 F20 (7 faults).

Which BMW engines cause it?

BMW N47 (3 faults), BMW N13 (2 faults), BMW N20 (2 faults), BMW M47 (1 fault) and BMW N43/N46 (1 fault).