Carsieve

BMW X3 F25 (2010-2017): known problems and buying guide

Built
2010–2014
Median price
€10,500
Listings
983
Running cost per month
€505–€627
Power
184–313 PS (135–230 kW)
Reliability
2/5
DIY
2/5

A risky used SUV, because the N20 timing chain and xDrive transfer case can cost more than the car is worth. Buy only with full records.

All versions

VariantRunning cost per monthMedian priceListingsFuelEngine codesGearboxProduction years
xDrive20d, 184 PS, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€505€10,500432Diesel N47D20CAutomatic (8)2010–2014
xDrive30d, 258 PS, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€599€10,950176Diesel N57D30AAutomatic (8)2011–2014
xDrive20d, 184 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research€506€9,200167Diesel N47D20CManual (6)2010–2014
xDrive35d, 313 PS, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€627€12,49053Diesel N57D30BAutomatic (8)2011–2014

At a glance

  • Years: 2010 to 2017. The June 2014 facelift brought Euro 6 diesels and the B47 engine.
  • Reliability: 2/5. The N20 chain, xDrive transfer case and steering wear lower the score.
  • DIY: 2/5. Chain, transfer and steering jobs need a workshop; some checks need a BMW scanner.
  • Prefer: a 2014 or later B47 diesel with the EGR recall done, or an N20 with chain paperwork.
  • Avoid: early N20 cars with no chain record, and xDrive cars with jerking or mismatched tyres.

Engines and gearboxes

  • 2.0 N20 petrol (N20B20A, 20i and 28i): chain and oil pump drive are below. German sources date the risk from March 2012 and about 2011-2015.
  • 3.0 N52 petrol (N52B30A, 28i to 2012): VANOS faults cause a rough idle and power loss. No separate guide.
  • 2.0 N47 diesel (N47D20C, 18d and 20d to 2014): chain and EGR cooler are weak spots in its guide; the KBA emissions recall 14099R is below. See the BMW N47 diesel.
  • 2.0 B47 diesel (B47D20A, 20d from 2014): preferred diesel. EGR valve and turbo faults are in its guide; check the EGR recall. See the BMW B47 diesel.
  • 3.0 N57 diesel (N57D30A, N57D30B, 30d and 35d): damper, bearings, chain and EGR cooler are in its guide. See the BMW N57 diesel.
  • ZF 8HP automatic: its guide covers the main faults; two Russian sites report planetary-carrier wear from 70,000-120,000 km. See the ZF 8HP automatic.

Known issues

Issue Affects Typical km Repair cost
N20 timing chain and oil pump drive 20i and 28i (N20B20A), 2011 or 2012 to 2015 70,000-150,000 km No confirmed price
xDrive transfer case and front driveshaft xDrive cars 30,000-150,000 km No confirmed price
Steering rack knocks All cars 100,000-200,000 km No confirmed price
Front suspension wear All cars 60,000-150,000 km No confirmed price
N20 oil leaks at the valve cover and filter housing N20 petrol engines Not stated No confirmed price

Before you buy

  1. Start cold and listen for a first-second rattle. Read codes P0016 and P0017 with a scanner. Bad result: a rattle, the codes, or no chain paperwork.
  2. Drive slow full circles and accelerate. Feel for jerking, listen for a whine, read code 5F00 with a scanner. Ask for transfer oil changes every 60,000-80,000 km and matching tyres. Bad result: jerking, a whine, that code, mismatched tyres, or no oil record.
  3. Listen for a front-right knock and check the steering for play. Bad result: a knock, play, or stiff steering with the wheel off centre.
  4. Lift the car and check front links, shocks, ball joints and bushings. Bad result: play, leaking shocks or knocks over bumps.
  5. After the drive, look for oil at the valve cover and filter housing. Bad result: fresh oil, burning smell, or drips on the exhaust.

Running costs

Operational€220
Workshop€137
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)€181
Total per month€538
New-car depreciation (not included)€100

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings
983
25th percentile
€8,900
Median price
€10,500
75th percentile
€12,799
Median mileage
195,000 km
Median first registration
2012
Dealer share
53.9%
Price at 100,000 km
€14,175

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

N20 timing chain and oil pump drive

The chain guides wear and the chain stretches. A cold start brings a rattle; the idle can turn rough; codes P0016 or P0017 may be stored. The oil-pump chain can break at about 70,000 km, and low oil pressure can damage the crankshaft. German sources date it from March 2012 and about 2011 to 2015.

Replace both chains with guides and tensioner; no part numbers given.

Cost: no confirmed price.

Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, KFZ Dietrich, Za Rulem

xDrive transfer case and front driveshaft

An all-wheel-drive fault, a whine and jerking in tight turns point to the transfer case. A German garage reads code 5F00 for the servo actuator beyond 120,000 km; Russian sources report trouble from 30,000-50,000 km and clutch wear at 150,000 km. Mismatched tyres or old oil are causes. The garage names ATC 35L and ATC 13-1, parts listings ATC45L; check it against the VIN.

Driveshaft splines wear beyond 200,000 km; a 7-10 mm spacer fixes it. Change the transfer oil every 60,000-80,000 km.

Cost: no confirmed price.

Sources: KFZ Dietrich, Kolesa, RAC

Steering rack knocks

The rack can knock from the front right and feel loose. One RAC owner needed four racks. Russian sources report knocks from 100,000 km, closer to 200,000 km, and early rack bushings. A German guide reports rare electric steering failure with stiff steering and an off-centre wheel. At the second German TÜV inspection, tie rod ends fail eight times as often as the average car (dpa).

The fix is a replacement rack; tie rods and bushings wear too.

Cost: no confirmed price.

Sources: RAC, Kolesa, WEB.DE (dpa)

Front suspension wear

Stabiliser links knock from 60,000-80,000 km. Shocks, bushings, ball joints and hub bearings wear at 120,000-150,000 km; rear bushings last at least 150,000 km. German TÜV reports name springs and shock absorbers.

Cost: no confirmed price.

Sources: Auto.ru, Kolesa, Gebrauchtwagenberater

N20 oil leaks at the valve cover and filter housing

Oil seeps from the valve cover and filter housing as seals harden. Oil smell and drips on the exhaust are first signs. The filter housing and its heat exchanger can crack. Fit new gaskets and, if cracked, a new housing; no part numbers.

Cost: no confirmed price.

Sources: KFZ Dietrich, Auto.ru

Recalls

Country Code Years What is done
Germany (KBA, via press) 14099R 2010-2014 Emissions recall for the N47 diesel (18d and 20d): EGR cooler with valve and air-mass sensor replaced, software updated.
Germany (press) not given 2012-2013 Petrol 2.0i and 2.8i: oil starvation can make the brake booster lose assist.
Germany, UK (press) not given 2010-2016 Loose ISOFIX child-seat mounts.
Germany (press) not given 4-cyl to March 2017; 6-cyl to January 2017 EGR module can leak and start a fire; faulty parts replaced.

Check open campaigns by VIN at a BMW dealer or the KBA.

Maintenance

  • Transfer case oil: every 60,000-80,000 km.
  • Engine oil: every 10,000 km, not the 20,000-30,000 km BMW interval, especially on short-trip diesels.
  • ZF 8HP oil: every 60,000-80,000 km.

Sources

English

German

Russian