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BMW 3 Series 316i Essence common faults.

2001–2005, saloon, petrol, 115 HP.

The fault list covers: N42B18, N46B18 engine.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

3 fault write-ups. All are important. 11 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

3 important faults

In these engines the water pump is not belt driven but has its own electric motor. It gains on fuel consumption, but it opens a new failure path: the pump or its electronics often simply stops with no warning. Measured in the official complaints, the typical mileage is 161,000 km (a tenth of the complaints already at 81,000, a tenth only above 257,000 km). So the common wisdom of "around 100,000 km" is early: most of the failures happen between 130,000 and 250,000 km.

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With a belt driven pump the flow weakens gradually, here the circulation stops in an instant. In urban traffic the temperature crosses the limit within minutes, the cylinder head distorts, and the repair is an engine rebuild.

Replacing a still good pump at around 120,000 to 150,000 km costs less than repairing an overheated engine. If the replacement is already in the service book, the pump has already been changed.

between 81,000 and 257,000 km

What to check

  • Watch the coolant temperature gauge after startup: it should settle evenly, not jump around
  • Standing still with a warm engine, listen for whether the cooling fan and the pump are working
  • Ask for a fault code read: codes pointing at coolant flow belong here
2 more steps in the write-up

The E46 cooling system uses many plastic parts, and they age from heat and pressure cycling. Two parts fail often.

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The expansion tank cracks and breaks: often with no warning, while driving, and the coolant is gone within minutes.

The impeller of the water pump on the six cylinder engines is plastic, and it often breaks between 100,000 and 160,000 km. The circulation then stops, and the broken pieces scatter through the system: the repair does not end with replacing the pump.

This is not a factory defect but the nature of the design: on the E46 the cooling system is a wear item. If the service book shows no replacement, count on changing the plastic tank and the water pump. Repairing the cylinder head of an overheated six cylinder costs a lot, and it can cost more than the car.

between 100,000 and 160,000 km

What to check

  • Open the bonnet and look at the expansion tank: hairline cracks, whitish discolouration, traces of a leak
  • Check the level and colour of the coolant: brownish, cloudy fluid is a bad sign
  • After a cold start listen around the water pump: a metallic whirring or squealing is suspect
2 more steps in the write-up

A known structural fault of the E46 is the rear subframe mounting. The sheet metal of the rear axle carrier cannot take the twisting load of the subframe and the differential: the floorpan cracks around the mounting points, and in extreme cases the mount tears out of the body.

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The phenomenon affects the entire 1999 to 2006 series, and it does not depend on mileage: it occurs on low and high mileage cars, and on standard and modified ones alike.

The inspection is hard. The crack is often only visible once the subframe is removed, It is easy to get a "no crack" result if they do not look where the metal cracks. The maker's foam filled repair was short lived; the durable fix is welding in reinforcement plates.

What to check

  • On a lift or over a pit, inspect all four mounting points of the rear subframe, all around, on the floorpan
  • Look for hairline cracks, creasing and cracked paint in the sheet metal around the bolts
  • On an uneven road listen for knocking and squeaking from the rear
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

BMW 3 Series 316i Essence

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall11 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 23 May 2022

A12/01882/23Safety recallInjuries23 May 2022 · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 23/05/2022

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/01400/21Safety recallInjuries20 May 2021 · EU Safety Gate

The NADI (non-azide driver inflator) type airbag may have improper sealing that could allow moisture to enter into the propellant. If the propellant afterwards dries out, it could lead to decreased density resulting in a too high burn rate. Consequently the airbag may not deploy as designed and provide less protection, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not meet the requirements set out in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 20/05/2021

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/02024/23Safety recallInjuries7 May 2013 · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 07/05/2013

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00017/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The gas generator on the driver side airbag could burst in the event of airbag activation if it had been exposed to high air humidity, high temperatures and considerable temperature fluctuations over several years. This could result in metal parts being discharged, increasing the risk of injury of the vehicle occupants. No information

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00390/21Safety recallFire, Injuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The vehicles may be affected by frictional corrosion on the connector from the wiring harness to the blower control unit. Over time, this may cause damage to the insulation of the wiring harness, which could trigger a short circuit. This could cause a vehicle fire, even when the engine is switched off.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00637/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The driver's airbag inflator propellant may deteriorate over time. If activated during an accident, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to burst, and metal fragments could pass through the cushion material causing injury to occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/00852/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The vehicles affected may have been fitted with Takata non-azide driver inflator (NADI) gas generators in which inadequate sealing on the gas generator could allow the ingress of moisture and thus result in the degradation of the propellant. If the airbag deploys, this could cause the gas generator to underinflate or to burst. In the case of under inflation the protective effect is not given. In case of overpressure deployment metal parts can enter the vehicle interior, this could cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/02573/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/0266/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

If the driver's airbag is deployed, the inflator might burst if it was subject to high air humidity, high temperatures and substantial temperature fluctuations over a number of years. This may result in the ejection of metal parts, which could cause injury or death to the driver and the passengers.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

A12/03030/23Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The propellant within the integrated inflator of driver airbags can deteriorate during time. If the airbag deploys, it could result in fragments from the inflator casing injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

SR/00583/26Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The driver airbag inflator may malfunction due to long-term degradation. In this case, if the airbag is deployed in an accident, the internal pressure in the inflator may be too high. The inflator could burst. Metal fragments may cause injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

2 engines · 0 transmissions

N42B18

85 kW (116 HP) · petrol

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one engine code is possible. The fault list shows the faults of each.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
316i Essence
Body
saloon
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1796 cc
Power
85 kW (116 HP)
Drive
RWD
Production
2001–2005

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years
  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years
  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)
  • Engine oil and oil filter (BMW condition-based service)

    • LongLife25,000 km or 2 years
  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms