Service bulletin BMWAUG0516

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10147047
Published by NHTSA	2018-11-05
Manufacturer's number	BMWAUG0516
Manufacturer's date	2016-08-01
NHTSA component	POWER TRAIN; SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

NHTSA's summary

The delivery stop has been lifted for certain affected M vehicles produced from May 12, 2016 through July 4, 2016. While the delivery stop has been lifted, customers must sign a disclosure prior to delivery acknowledging the premature wearing of the rear axle differential. A copy of the disclosure form is attached and must be maintained in the customer?s deal jacket. Body of Disclosure:In the course of ongoing quality analysis, BMW has discovered that the disc in the rear-axle differential in the vehicle reference above wears out prematurely, causing loud noises. The remedy parts for the repair are not yet available. BMW of North America (?BMW NA?) will notify you when parts are available and advise you to schedule an appointment with your local BMW dealer to have the repair performed free of charge to you. To ensure that we have your most up-to-date contact information, please complete the information below. If you change your address before you receive the notice from BMW NA, please register your vehicle and update your contact information at http://www.bmwusa.com/myBMW.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Suspension, Transmission and driveline

Vehicles listed
BMW M2	2016, 2017
BMW M3	2015, 2016, 2017
BMW M4	2015, 2016, 2017
BMW M5	2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
BMW M6	2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
18V713000	2018-10-11. POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
16V540000	2016-07-19. POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
15V782000	2015-11-23. POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
B310124	2024-02-01. Service bulletin. With the vehicle is on a lift and the front struts are in the extended position, there may be a cracking and orclicking type noise when turning the steering wheel left/right. See attached video V31 01 24. The sound can reoccur when the vehicle is lowered, and the wheels are once again under load. The noise might also be heard for a short time while driving.
B340921	2021-11-08. Service bulletin. A turbine-like noise can be heard from the rear axle while deceleration during the first 300 miles of operationwhen braking from low speed.
B340515	2020-12-21. Service bulletin. TICKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT AXLE WHEN CORNERING: The customer may complain of a metallic ticking noise from the front axle, when cornering, maneuvering, parking or pulling away from a parking space.
B310112	2020-09-14. Service bulletin. CRACKING NOISES FROM THE FRONTAXLE AREA WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS, WHEN STATION: Cracking noises are heard from the front axle area while maneuvering at low speeds (e.g., parking lot maneuvers) or when turning the steering wheel while stationary.
B340517	2020-04-20. Service bulletin. TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B34 05 17 dated September 2017. Ticking noise coming from front wheel while cornering without brakes applied noticeable at low speeds. The vehicle must be moving. See attached video V34 01 20 Note: For a similar noise heard when parking with the brakes applied refer to SIB 31 01 12. Microscopic movement of the contact interface between the inner brake disc and the wheel bearing flange on vehicles equipped with lightweight brake discs.
B310514	2019-10-21. Service bulletin. Front Suspension Ride Height Has Dropped: The front suspension ride height has dropped on one or both sides due to overload. This is caused by driving over obstacles (e.g. potholes) or an impact severe enough for the front spring strut damper to slip through the clamp of the steering knuckle.
B330318	2019-02-25. Service bulletin. KNOCKING NOISE OR VIBRATION/DRONING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE. A hard knocking noise is heard from the rear axle area during load reversals. The tuning of the rear suspension mount for the differential.
B330119	2019-02-25. Service bulletin. DRONING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE. A humming/droning noise is heard with vibration during partial to full engine load in higher gears. The tuning of the rear suspension mount for the differential.
B330318	2019-01-07. Service bulletin. KNOCKING NOISE OR VIBRATION/DRONING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE. 1 A hard knocking noise is heard from the rear axle area during load reversals. 2 A humming/droning noise is heard with vibration during partial to full engine load in higher gears. The tuning of the rear suspension mount for the differential.
B270315	2018-12-10. Service bulletin. Vibration or Shudder from Driveline when Accelerating from a Stop. Chassis stabilization warning is displayed. Vehicle may exhibit a shudder or vibration when taking off from a stop. One or more of the following fault codes may be stored: LMV ? 440101 - Transfer box (VTG): End of transmission service life reached ? 440105 - Transfer box (VTG ) Calibration Faulty ? 440115 - Transfer box (VTG): Calibration angle deviation outside tolerance? 44011B - Set torque outside of the torque characteristic curve EGS ? 420611 - DSC interface (wheel speed): non-permitted deviation of wheel speed (actual speed of wheel RL/FL/RR/FR, 0x254) from output speed and turbine speed DSC ? 48097D - Transfer box: Fault, clutch position known, only rear-wheel drive These symptoms or faults would be stored on a vehicle with low mileage (< 12,500 miles). CAUSE A front or rear differential with the incorrect gear ratio was installed in the car. The front and rear differentials need to be geared exactly the same for the xDrive to function properly.