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Service bulletins for the 2016 BMW X3

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.

243 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

By type

By component

Bulletins, newest first
B6212152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. Instrument Cluster Outside Temperature Display Implausible. INFORMATION This service information bulletin provides technical, diagnostic and/or repair-related information. Eligible and Covered Work/Repairs To submit a claim for the repair of a verified defect in materials or workmanship, please following the established and applicable warranty policy and procedures together with the using corresponding defect code and labor operations provided in the KSD2.
B1233142018-11-13. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Fault Code 1D2008 Stored in DME. The Service Engine Soon light is on. Fault Code 1D2008: Map thermostat: jammed open is stored in the DME. There may also be a complaint of low heat output with lower outside temperatures. CAUSE During the engine warm-up, the engine coolant does not reach operating temperature within the DME's allowable time limits. This is caused by either a faulty thermostat inside the transmission oil heat exchanger or a faulty engine characteristic map thermostat.
B6509152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. HU-H: Headunit Resets Intermittently or Permanently. The HU-H (Headunit-High) resets intermittently or permanently. ? The display is inoperative and there is no audio output ? Automatic system start-up after a couple of seconds CAUSE Software error in the HU-H
B6210152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. "Instrument Cluster display inoperative FC B7F689. The Instrument Cluster (Kombi) is intermittently inoperative with fault code B7F689 ""display backlighting and graphics PCB switched off"" stored. Kombi software."
B6207152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. "Instrument Cluster display is partially blank. INFORMATION Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks or the BMW Certified Pre-Owned Program. If you are using a Main labor code for another repair, use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556 instead. Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowances. Vehicle Programming and Encoding If a control module was working properly and it fails to program correctly or requires initialization, please claim this additional work with the applicable KSD2 labor operations under the defect code listed above. The diagnosis and repair of vehicles ""arriving"" with failed control modules or stored faults which will cause them to fail during programming cannot be claimed under the defect code listed in this bulletin. Other Repairs If other eligible and covered work is performed ""prior"" to programming and coding the vehicle, claim this work with the applicable defect code and labor operations listed in KSD2. "
B6207152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. Instrument Cluster display is partially blank. The Instrument Cluster (Kombi) lower display may be intermittently blank. The Board Computer, Ambient Temperature and Check Control Messages will not display. Instrument Cluster software error.
B8405142018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. One or both of the situations listed below may be encountered: ? Android device connection stability (dropped calls) ? Third-Party App Metadata: The album art and song title do not update when streaming audio from Pandora or Spotify, etc. New KISU (Customer Initiated Software Update) software is available on the TIS website. This software improves the Bluetooth functionality in our vehicles, and it helps to keep us up-to-date with technology innovation.
B6403142018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. Heating and Air Conditioning March 2015 Technical Service This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B64 03 14 dated March 2015. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT A/C Operation: Reduced or No Airflow After Long Drive. The customer complains of reduced air-conditioning air flow when driving for a long period, usually greater than 30 minutes. This time varies based on outside temperature and humidity. The A/C low-pressure lines and evaporator are starting to freeze up.
B1233142018-11-13. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Fault Code 1D2008 Stored in DME. The Service Engine Soon light is on. Fault Code 1D2008: Map thermostat: jammed open is stored in the DME. There may also be a complaint of low heat output with lower outside temperatures. CAUSE During the engine warm-up, the engine coolant does not reach operating temperature within the DME's allowable time limits. This is caused by either a faulty thermostat inside the transmission oil heat exchanger or a faulty engine characteristic map thermostat.
B1103152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ENGINE. N20 and N26 Engine: Oil Leaks from Cylinder Head Cover. There is an engine oil leakage under the vehicle, or the vehicle smells of engine oil. The cylinder head cover gasket is leaking engine oil due to loose retaining bolt(s).
6524132018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B65 24 13 dated January 2014. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT Headunit-High: INITIAL Enabling Code Is Not Accepted Via I-Drive. INFORMATION Do not replace parts and do not program the vehicle for this issue. First-time activation of the navigation system should always be performed during the Quality Certification 1 (QC1) Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), with the vehicle connected to the ISTA diagnosis system. Refer to SI B65 22 14. WARRANTY INFORMATION Not applicable since the first time activation of the navigation system is part of the QC1 process and cannot be claimed separately. [ Copyright (c)2015 BMW of North America, Inc. ] https://www.bmwtis.net/tiscode/cgi-bin/bulletin.aspx?sie_path=/tsb/bulletins/htm_store/20588.1.B652413....3/2/2015
6513122018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B65 13 12 dated September 2012. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT Headunit High: Navigation System Road Map Usage. INFORMATION The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609. This change will affect the navigation system road map data support process and the warranty spare parts processes for the HU-H. For the US market, all vehicles will come pre-loaded from the factory with the latest navigation system road map database version that was available at the time of vehicle production. Therefore, there will be no physical copy of the navigation system road map data media DVD set or USB stick placed in these vehicles at the Vehicle Distribution Center (VDC). NOTE: Additionally, all replacement HU-H parts come with a pre-loaded version of the current available navigation system road map database installed. A set of DVD copies of the navigation system road map database, HU-H NAVI Road Map North America NEXT, is shipped to all BMW centers through the automatic tool shipment program with each release of a navigation system road map database. IMPORTANT: Additional copies or earlier NAV road map database versions cannot be ordered individually! Therefore, please take special care to archive the HU-H NAV road map DVD sets! The NAV road map data on the DVD set can also be installed into the Network Attached Storage (NAS). From there it then can be installed onto the HU-H in the vehicle, using the Integrated Service Technical Application for Programming (ISTA/P). For installation of the navigation system road map data media DVD set onto the Network Attached Storage (NAS), please contact your ISPI NEXT Administrator. In addition to this procedure, it is also possible to download the NAV road map data on the DVD set directly to the hard disc drive (HDD) integrated in the HU-H by inserting the DVDs one by one into the HU-H internal DVD
6510092018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B65 10 09 dated March 2013. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT CIC head unit: Vehicle Position Is Missing or Incorrect on Navigation Map. The vehicle position is missing or incorrect on the navigation map. The navigation system integrated in the Car Information Computer (CIC) is not calibrated correctly.
6505092018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B65 05 09 dated July 2009. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT CIC Headunit: Navigation System Road Map Usage. INFORMATION The Car Information Computer (CIC) began replacing the Car Communication Computer (CCC) on vehicles with option 609 in September of 2008. This change affected the navigation system road map data support process and the warranty spare parts processes for the CIC. For the US market, all vehicles come pre-loaded from the factory with the latest navigation system road map database version that was available at the time of vehicle production. Therefore, no physical copy of the navigation system road map data media DVD set or USB stick is placed in these vehicles at the Vehicle Distribution Center (VDC). NOTE: Additionally, all replacement CIC parts come with a pre-loaded version of the current available navigation system road map database installed. A set of DVD copies of the navigation system road map database, CIC NAVI Road Map North America PREMIUM, is shipped to all BMW centers through the automatic tool shipment program with each release of a navigation system road map database. IMPORTANT: Additional copies or earlier NAV road map database versions cannot be ordered individually! Therefore, please take special care to archive the CIC NAV road map DVD sets! The NAV road map data on the DVD set can also be installed into the Network Attached Storage (NAS). From there, it can then be installed onto the CIC in the vehicle, using the Integrated Service Technical Application for Programming (ISTA/P). For installation of the navigation system road map data media DVD set onto the Network Attached Storage (NAS), please contact your ISPI Next Administrator. In addition to this procedure, it is also possible to download the NAV road map data on the DVD set directly to the hard disc drive (HDD) integrated in the CIC by inserting the DVDs one by one into the CIC internal DVD drive. It will take approxim
1616142018-11-13. Service bulletin. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. SI B16 16 14January 2015 Fuel SystemsTechnical Service This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B16 16 14 dated December 2014. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT Service Engine Soon Light (MIL) Is On with SCR Faults Stored. The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following fault stored in the Selective Catalyst Reduction module (SCR). z 805220 - Delivery module, system pressure, pressure build-up is too low. This fault is very likely to be stored at temperatures below 32°F / 0°C if the vehicle is programmed using ISTA/P 3.54.1 or 3.54.2. F25 (X3) only: z 8051B0 - Metering line heating, power too high SCR module software error
1238142018-11-13. Service bulletin. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM; ENGINE. SUBJECT N20, N26, and N55 Engines with Injector Electrical Faults. Any of the following symptoms could occur simultaneously with injector electrical faults stored in the DME: z After the engine is turned off for a short time, it can no longer be started; however, the starter motor turns. z The engine starts but immediately cuts off. z The engine runs erratically or lacks power. z The Service Engine Soon light (MIL) may be on with several poetential faults stored. The DME has malfunctioned due to an internal fault.
1209152018-11-13. Service bulletin. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL. "SUBJECT N55: Slight Surging at Constant Speeds when Accelerating Very Lightly. The vehicle shudders or surges slightly while driving at constant speeds and applying the accelerator very lightly. This symptom is most easily reproduced under light loads when the current fuel consumption is approximately 3448 miles per gallon. The current fuel consumption can selected and monitored in the instrument cluster while driving (the ""fuel consumption, current"" option is set to active in the settings menu). No relevant fault will be stored in the DME memory. DME software; the fuel injection rate under these conditions is too close to the minimum calculated threshold."
1204152018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. SUBJECT DME Internal and Valvetronic Faults Set at Cold Ambient Temperatures. The Service Engine Soon light (MIL) can be illuminated with the erroneous internal and Valvetronic faults stored in the DME. The MIL will only come on if the fault has been detected on two (or more) consecutive drive cycles. The following fault codes may be stored in the DME: E Seriesz 36AE - DME, internal fault, Valvetronic: Current implausible One or more of the following secondary faults may also be stored: z 2DE2 - Valvetronic, actuation, voltage phase: Line disconnection z 2DE3 - Valvetronic, actuation, volt phase: Line disconnection z 2DE4 - Valvetronic, actuation, volt phase: Line disconnection F Seriesz 1F0905 - DME, internal fault, Valvetronic: Current implausible One or more of the following secondary faults may also be stored: z 135B10 - Valvetronic, actuation, voltage phase: Line disconnection z 135B11 - Valvetronic, actuation, volt phase: Line disconnection z 135B12 - Valvetronic, actuation, volt phase: Line disconnection Engine performance and driving characteristics are not affected. DME software diagnostic sensitivity.
1201152018-11-13. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. SUBJECT N20 and N26 Differential Pressure Sensor Fault 195002 Stored in DME. The Service Engine Soon (MIL) light is on with the following differential pressure sensor fault stored: z 195002 - Differential pressure sensor, tank vent valve, electrical: Short circuit to ground During engine operation, vibration and movement of the sensor can damage the pin contacts of the harness connector, or cause a break in the wiring.
B6118142018-11-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Various Electrical Faults Caused by Shorted K-CAN2 This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B61 18 14 dated July 2014. One or more of the following situations can occur when the K-CAN2 wiring in the vehicles is shorted. There is no communication with any K-CAN2 control modules during an ISTA vehicle test. The following control modules are on the K-CAN2: ZGM - Central Gateway Module FRM - Footwell Module CAS - Car Access System Headunit - Radio/Navigation ComBox/TCB - Telematic Control Module FZD - Roof Function Center Module JBE - Junction Box Electronics The transmission will not engage a gear when with the engine running. The vehicle sporadically does not start. In rare cases, the vehicle may stop running while driving. When the K-CAN2 is shorted, the vehicle will store many line and communication faults for the KCAN2, including the following: JBE - C9140D No message, receiver JBE, transmitter CAS JBE - C90468 K-CAN2; Communication fault ZGM - CD0468 K-CAN2: Communication fault ZGM - CD1400 Message incorrect, receiver ZGM, transmitter JBE CAS -D9045F K-CAN2: Line fault CAS - D90468 K-CAN2: Communication fault FZD - DE8468 K-CAN2: Communication fault TCB - E14468 K-CAN2: Communication fault TCB - E1445F K-CAN2: Line fault NBT - E1C468 K-CAN2: Communication fault FRM - E5845F K-CAN2: Line fault FRM - E58468 K-CAN2: Communication fault The wiring harness gets pinched between the instrument panel and the locating tab on the passenger side of the instrument panel. Connector X18*2b not fully connected (located above rear distribution box in trunk) K-CAN2 High - GE/RT (Yellow/Red) K-CAN2 Low - GE/BR (Yellow/Brown).
B1209162018-11-13. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. N20 - The Service Engine Soon Light is On with DME Fault 118602 Stored. The Service Engine Soon light is on (MIL) with only the following oxygen sensor fault stored. 118602 - Oxygen sensor before catalytic converter, fine mixture control: exhaust gas after catalytic converter too lean CAUSE An actual engine related problem and/or DME software diagnostic.
B8403152018-11-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. "HU-B: Bluetooth Connection Fails Sporadically. The Bluetooth system works intermittently. One or more of the following scenarios may occur: Bluetooth pairing is not possible - display shows ""Please wait"" Unable to select the check box to activate Bluetooth Device does not reconnect to the vehicle after a key cycle Audio interference noise is heard listening to iPod etc. When trying to access the user manual, the display shows ""Please wait"" Incorrect software installed in the HU-B (Headunit Basic)."
B6408152018-11-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT. "The AUC (Automatic Recirculation Sensor) is installed pointing upwards instead of downwards. The AUC becomes contaminated. AFFECTED VEHICLES This Service Action involves F25 (X3) and F26 (X4) vehicles produced from July 31, 2015 to August 25, 2015. ONLY 41 vehicles are involved. Vehicles which require this Service Action to be completed will show it as ""Open"" when checked either in the ""Service Menu"" of DCSnet (Dealer Communication System) or with the Key Reader."
B6119152018-11-05. Service bulletin. STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR; STEERING:COLUMN; STEERING. Grating or Scraping Noise When Turning Steering Wheel. There is a grating or scraping noise when the steering wheel is turned. The noise comes from the steering column switch cluster (SZL), coil spring or steering wheel. CAUSE When the steering wheel is turned, the connection between the steering wheel and the steering column switch cluster causes torsional stress, which creates a noise in the coil spring cassette.
B5129152018-11-05. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT. "This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B51 29 15 dated August 2015.. Both rear side ""fixed"" windows need to be replaced due to incorrect glue application, this may cause a water leak. AFFECTED VEHICLES This Service Action involves F25 (X3) and F26 (X4) produced from July 13, 2015 to July 14, 2015. Vehicles which require this Service Action to be completed will show it as ""Open"" when checked either in the ""Service Menu"" of DCSnet (Dealer Communication System) or with the Key Reader."

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.