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BMW X4 X4 M40d common faults.

2018–2021, SUV, diesel, 340 HP.

The fault list covers: B57D30T2 engine, ZF8HP70 transmission.

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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

critical1

B47 / B57 diesel: particulate filter and turbo on short trips

critical

The B47 replaced the N47, and the maker fixed the timing chain problem. The two remaining risks on this modern diesel depend on how the car was used.

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The first is the particulate filter. On short urban trips the regeneration cannot finish, and the filter clogs. The second is the turbo. With extended oil change intervals its bearings wear.

On this engine the service history and the type of use tell you more than the odometer. On a 200,000 km car driven on motorways and serviced often, the filter and the turbo can be in better shape than on a 90,000 km city-only car.

Where turbo wear leads in the worst case: a runaway engine. If the turbo shaft seal fails, engine oil enters the intake on the compressor side. A diesel burns that too, and this is different from a petrol engine: a diesel controls torque with the quantity of fuel injected, and it has no throttle. Once the engine runs on its own oil, cutting the injection and switching off the ignition will not stop it. The revs climb on their own until the engine destroys itself for lack of lubrication.

If this happens while driving, turning the key does not help. The only thing that works is cutting off the air: cover or plug the intake, or discharge a dry powder extinguisher into the intake tract. On a manual car you can also stall it: hold the parking brake and the brake pedal, select a high gear, and release the clutch quickly so the drivetrain chokes the engine.

This is not common, and it can happen on any turbo diesel, not only on this engine. On this engine the turbo bearing and seal wear. The warning signs are blue smoke under acceleration, an unexplained drop in oil level, and an oily charge air pipe.

What to check

  • Ask how the car was used: short daily trips or longer runs?
  • Read the fault codes for particulate filter regeneration and differential pressure
  • On a longer test drive watch the power delivery and the smoke under load
5 more steps in the write-up

expensive2

XDrive transfer case (ATC): binding in corners, plastic actuator gear

expensive

The heart of the four wheel drive in the longitudinal engine BMW X models (X3, X5 and the X1 E84) is the ATC transfer case. It has two faults, and you can feel both while driving.

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The first is wear of the clutch pack and the fluid: in a slow, tight corner (a car park, a roundabout) the car jerks and "hops", as if the drive grabbed and let go. You can also get a jerk when pulling away on a slope. The second is the plastic actuator gear: the position signal is lost, the brake, ABS and 4x4/DSC lights come on together on the dash, and a clicking is audible from the transfer case when you switch the ignition off.

Workshops often propose a full transfer case replacement straight away. But the plastic gear can be replaced on its own, and the wrong tyre size or a mixed set of tyres also imitates the jerking, because the transfer case then slips continuously. So clear up the tyres and the fault code first, before you pay for a transfer case replacement.

between 72,000 and 175,000 km

What to check

  • In a slow, tight corner (a car park) watch for jerking, binding and a "skipping" feel
  • When pulling away on light throttle, can you feel the drivetrain jerk
  • Watch the dash: 4x4, ABS, DSC and brake lights together point at the actuator
4 more steps in the write-up

ZF 8HP automatic: mechatronics unit and connector sleeve leak

expensive

The ZF eight speed automatic (BMW Steptronic 8HP family) has two faults, and you can feel both.

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The first is the mechatronics unit: the valve body and the control electronics in one. If the solenoids or the pressure regulation weaken, the gearbox jerks, the D/R engagement is delayed, it logs a gear ratio fault code, and finally drops into limp mode (often staying in 2nd or 3rd).

The second, and often misdiagnosed, is the connector sleeve of the mechatronics unit: the O-ring of the plastic sleeve ages, and ATF leaks from the side of the housing, exactly where the wiring harness enters. This is easy to mistake for a rear crankshaft seal. The trail starts from the driver's side of the housing, not from the clutch side.

On cars built in 2023 there was also a separate safety recall for a welding fault in the mechatronics unit. That is not the same as the wear related sleeve and the valves.

Check the fluid level, the area around the sleeve and the fault codes first; do not accept a "full gearbox replacement" quote straight away.

above 120,000 km

What to check

  • On the test drive watch for delayed D/R engagement, a jerk when shifting, and limp mode (a stuck gear)
  • Look at the driver's side of the gearbox housing where the wiring harness enters: an ATF trail from the sleeve is suspect
  • Do not confuse it with a rear crankshaft seal leak: the direction of the trail decides
3 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

BMW X4 X4 M40d

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

Faults of this model

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: 8 July 2021

21V521000AIR BAGS:FRONTALAIR BAGS:FRONTAL8 July 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant classification system may have been improperly assembled, which could result in the misclassification of the seat as unoccupied, and deactivate the front air bag.

Risk: A deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat foam, which includes the occupant classification system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The authority's notice

20V152000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL18 March 2020 · NHTSA (USA)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The authority's notice

19V563000SEATSSEATS31 July 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, xDrive30i and M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i and M40i vehicles. The front seatback frames may have been improperly welded, allowing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward.

Risk: In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the seatback folds forward or rearward.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seats, free of charge. The recall began September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service 1-800-525-7417.

The authority's notice

19V291000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE10 April 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, possibly affecting the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag.

Risk: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The authority's notice

18V453000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER6 July 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and certain 2019 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the rear brake circuit, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The authority's notice

A12/00608/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The screw connection from the passenger's airbag to the instrument panel may not have been manufactured according to specifications. As a result, if the airbag is activated, the panel cover may break into pieces, which will be propelled against the passenger increasing the risk of injury.

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

The authority's notice

A12/00636/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle might be too short. Consequently, the sensor might detach from the buckle, causing a faulty seatbelt lock recognition, impairing the functioning of the restraint system and the deployment of the airbag, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

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

The authority's notice

A12/00988/23Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The driver's and/or passenger's seat could break the frame rail that connects the seat to the guide rails on the vehicle floor. The stability of the seats may be affected, increasing the risk of injury in case of an accident. 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

The authority's notice

A12/1159/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The airbag cover on the instrument panel may not have been manufactured according to specifications. As a result, in the event of an accident, the airbag may not deploy as designed, increasing the risk of an injury.

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

The authority's notice

A12/1370/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The front seatbacks may not have been welded according to specifications. As a result, they could fold forward or rearward, increasing the risk of an injury to the occupants.

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

The authority's notice

A12/1687/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The swivel bearings on the front axle may not have been manufactured according to specification and could break. This can result in loss of control over the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident.

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

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

B57D30T2

250 kW (340 HP) · diesel

ZF8HP70 · 8-speed automatic, longitudinal (ZF 8HP70)

automatic · 8 speed

Torque limit700 Nm
MakerZF

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
X4 M40d
Body
SUV
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
2993 cc
Power
250 kW (340 HP)
Drive
AWD
Production
2018–2021

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

  • Fuel filter, diesel

    • 60,000 km or 2 years
All G02 versions

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