Reliability of 328d?

[Mrbhutch]

Considering picking up a 328d wagon (they’re so cheap right now!). I’ve never owned a BMW though - anyone have input in reliability of these? Any known issues or things to look out for?

[floydr]

Considering picking up a 328d wagon (they’re so cheap right now!). I’ve never owned a BMW though - anyone have input in reliability of these? Any known issues or things to look out for?

The driveline is almost dead reliable (there have been some reported problems with the transfer case, and evidently some HPFP batches were bad.) The electronic systems in the car are as unreliable as the 328i and 335i. Which is to say: you're going to have problems (my wife's 2014 328xd currently has a mostly in-operable backup camera - $1500 to fix. Seems to be a common problem.)

Note that all wagons (328i or 328d) are xDrive.

Best to look at diesel subforums on f30post and bimmerfest.

[328 Power 04]

They are solid in my opinion.

Regarding transfer case, the diesel engine vibrations while sitting at a light idling will wear out the output flange for rear driveshaft and eventually shear off. It's a questionable design for that by ATC, the supplier of these transfer cases. I have put a thread on f30 post regarding prevention methods for the output flange, but it's for the dedicated owner.

The diesel engine destroys the output flange faster, followed by the gas 4-cyl, and then very few reported 6cyl because they are naturally balanced.
It has nothing to do with the power or torque, but rather vibration. A small quantity of Loctite on the output flange splines takes care of that.
If you want completely trouble free, I'd get a rwd sedan.


The HPFP failures were because of low quality fuel, just as it was for VWs, Dodge Cummins, Ford trucks, and many others. Use a quality fuel station and add lubricant such as Diesel Kleen to prevent wear from the low sulfur diesel. Yes Bosch should have designed one for North American fuel from the beginning, but it took them a while to improve the pumps. BMW was nice enough to provide 10 year 120,000mile warranty on it (and very often downstream components).


I have to disagree on the electronics. They're tons better than e90 era. Obviously there are going to be incidents here and there, but I haven't seen as many of these failing. Also, I do electronic repairs and retrofits for BMWs as a side hobby.

*Owner of a 93,000 mile 328d wagon with 250hp and over 400ft-lbs of torque.