Home › Service bulletins › SIB 11 03 15

SIB 11 03 15: Valve cover leak

Valve cover leak on N20 engines (2009–2016); BMW explains the cause and the approved repair.

BMW service bulletin · NHTSA ID 10147652 · Mar 2015 · also written SI B11 03 15, B110315

What it covers

A service bulletin tells BMW technicians how to diagnose or fix a known issue. It is not a recall: a repair under a bulletin is normally paid by the owner unless the car is still under warranty or a warranty extension applies.

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).

NHTSA's summary of this communication (excerpt)

Official document on NHTSA (PDF) →

Details

Bulletin numberSIB 11 03 15
Also written: SI B11 03 15, B110315, 11 03 15, SIB-11-03-15, SI B110315
NHTSA ID10147652
Document IDs filedB110315
TypeService bulletin
Date
Models228i, 320i, 328d, 328i, 330e, 335i, 340i, 428i, 435i, 528i, 535d, 535i, 550i, ActiveHybrid 3, ActiveHybrid 5, M235i, M5, X1 SAV, X3, Z4
Model years2009–2016
ChassisE60, E84, E89, E90, E92, E93, F07, F10, F22, F23, F25, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F36
EnginesN20
Component (NHTSA)Engine

Model, year and engine coverage comes from NHTSA's records. Not every car in this range is affected; the official document lists the exact production dates and conditions.

Related bulletins

  • SIB 01 02 24 EVAP system warranty extension EVAP system warranty extension on BMW G11/G12/G20/F22 and other models (2016–2024); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jun 2026
  • SIB 01 03 24 EVAP system warranty extension EVAP system warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G05/G06 and other models (2017–2025); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jun 2026
  • SIB 01 01 22 Oil consumption class-action settlement Oil consumption class-action settlement on BMW E60/F01/F02/F06 and other models (2009–2019); covers eligible repairs and reimbursement under the court settlement. Service bulletin · Jan 2026
  • SIB 11 03 17 Timing chain warranty extension Timing chain warranty extension on BMW E84/E89/E92/E93 and other models (2011–2018); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Oct 2021
  • SIB 11 01 20 Oil filter housing cracking Oil filter housing cracking on BMW G01/G02/G05/G07 and other models (2012–2021); BMW explains the cause and the approved repair. Service bulletin · Jun 2021
  • SIB 01 10 14 VANOS warranty extension VANOS warranty extension on BMW E60/E70/E82/E88 and other models (2009–2013); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Feb 2018

Before you pay: check your VIN for recalls

Some failures are covered by a safety recall or a warranty extension. Our free recall check lists NHTSA recalls for your car's model and year.

Check recalls by VIN →

Source: NHTSA Manufacturer Communications (public data). BimmerBench is not affiliated with BMW or NHTSA. The title and description above are our own plain-English summary; the full bulletin is BMW's document, linked above.

Want a heads-up when prices or bulletins change for your E60/E84/E89 or other listed model?

About one short email a week, with BMW news. Unsubscribe anytime.