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BMW F97 X3 M buyer's guide
2020–2024 · X3 M / Competition (S58)
Last updated
Engines by year Model-year changes Known problems Warranty extensions Recalls Inspection checklist Red flags Specs Paint codes Coding Ownership costs Sources
Models and engines by year
| Model | US model years | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| X3 M / Competition | 2020–2024 | S58 |
US-market models. Chassis codes: F97. Not sure which one you have? The VIN check decodes year, model and engine.
Model-year changes
| Model year | What changed |
|---|---|
| Launch | Introduced in 2019 as the first full M version of the X3, with the S58 (473 hp; 503 hp Competition).6 |
| 2020 | US lineup in the EPA listings: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo: X3 M, X3 M Competition.7 |
US model years unless noted. "LCI" (Life Cycle Impulse) is BMW's name for a mid-cycle facelift.
Known problems and when they show up
Mileages are what the cited shops, specialists and owner forums report. They are typical ranges, not predictions for any one car.
S58 engine
X3 M / Competition (2020–2024) · S58 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main bearing shells (2021 service action) | any; cars built July to September 2021 | BMW stopped delivery of 2022 M3, M4, X3 M and X4 M built between July 13 and September 23, 2021 because of a manufacturing defect in the crankshaft main bearings; the sliding layer can peel and damage the engine. Dealers inspect and replace the shells free. BMW was still sending reminders in 2026, so check by VIN that it is closed.1,2 | No price yet |
| Connecting rod bearings on early X3 M and X4 M (2020 delivery stop) | any; a small number of 2020-2021 cars | A November 2020 BMW delivery stop covered X3 M built May 15 to November 23, 2019 and X4 M built August 13 to October 22, 2019. Confirm the repair was done.3 | No price yet |
| No chronic engine fault reported so far | n/a | Specialists see the S58 (forged internals, closed-deck block) as robust in stock form, with no crank-hub-style weak point. Long-term high-mileage data is still limited.4,5 | No price yet |
| Usual BMW wear items | as mileage builds | Expect the common BMW items: high-pressure fuel pump, oil filter housing and valve cover gaskets, water pump, and intake-valve carbon from direct injection. Tuned and tracked cars wear faster.4,5 | No price yet |
Warranty extensions and service campaigns 17
Warranty extensions (11)
- SIB 01 09 21 Fuel tank leak check warranty extension Fuel tank leak check warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G30/F97 and other models (2006–2023); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Aug 2026
- SIB 01 15 24 Fuel tank leak check warranty extension Fuel tank leak check warranty extension on BMW G05/G06/G07/G11 and other models (2017–2020); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jul 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 14 25 EVAP system warranty extension EVAP system warranty extension on BMW G01/G05/F97/G30 models (2018–2022); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · May 2026
- SIB 72 04 17 Seat warranty extension Seat warranty extension on BMW F90/G01/G02/G05 and other models (2016–2022); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jun 2025
- SIB 65 01 22 Air bags warranty extension Air bags warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/F26/F97 and other models (2006–2023); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jan 2025
- SIB 01 08 21 Fuel tank leak check warranty extension Fuel tank leak check warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G05/G06 and other models (2020); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Dec 2024
- SIB 31 01 24 Strut warranty extension Strut warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G80/G81 and other models (2015–2024); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jan 2024
- SIB 01 12 19 Radiator warranty extension Radiator warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G11/G12 and other models (2006–2023); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jun 2023
- SIB 54 03 20 Sunroof warranty extension Sunroof warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G05/G06 and other models (2018–2021); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Mar 2021
- SIB 32 05 20 Steering warranty extension Steering warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/F97/F98 models (2018–2021); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Oct 2020
Service campaigns (6)
- SIB 84 02 26 Telematics unit failure Telematics unit failure on BMW G01/G02/G05/G06 and other models (2020); BMW repairs affected cars free under a service campaign. Service campaign · Jul 2026
- SIB 31 05 24 Front control arm new-car delivery hold Front control arm new-car delivery hold on BMW G01/G02/F97/F98 models (2024); unsold cars were held for inspection and repair before delivery. Service campaign · Nov 2024
- SIB 64 10 24 Coolant line new-car delivery hold Coolant line new-car delivery hold on BMW G01/F97 models (2024); unsold cars were held for inspection and repair before delivery. Service campaign · Nov 2024
- SIB 51 28 24 Unknown or other new-car delivery hold Unknown or other new-car delivery hold on BMW G01/F97 models (2018–2022); unsold cars were held for inspection and repair before delivery. Service campaign · Oct 2024
- SIB 31 06 24 Front control arm new-car delivery hold Front control arm new-car delivery hold on BMW G01/G02/F97/F98 models (2024); unsold cars were held for inspection and repair before delivery. Service campaign · Jul 2024
- SIB 54 01 24 Sunroof service campaign Sunroof service campaign on BMW G01/F97 models (2024); BMW repairs affected cars free under a service campaign. Service campaign · Jul 2024
Filed by BMW with NHTSA. Extensions usually follow the car to later owners and can reimburse earlier repairs; a BMW dealer can confirm by VIN.
NHTSA safety recalls 24
- Recall 26V524: steering spindle X3, 2024–2026. The steering spindle may have been incorrectly attached to the steering column.
- Recall 26V056: engine starter 230I, 330I, 430I, 530I, X3, X4, Z4, 2021–2024. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models.
- Recall 25V636: engine starter 230I, 330I, 430I, 430I CONVERTIBLE, 530I, X3, X4, Z4, 2019–2022. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.
- Recall 25V106: second row seat side door locking modules X3, 2022–2024. The second-row seat side door locking modules may not function properly and allow the doors to be unlocked with a single motion.
- Recall 24V764: rear cargo rail bolt X3, 2018–2022. The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- Recall 24V534: rear cargo rails X3, 2018–2023. The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- Recall 23V821: integrated transmission control unit 4 SERIES, 8 SERIES, X3, X4, X5, X6, Z4, 2023. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit.
- Recall 23V770: steering gear 230I, 330I, X3, X4, 2024. The steering gear may not have been tightened properly, which can allow it to loosen.
- Recall 23V211: front seat frame 330I, M340I, X3, X4, 2019–2021. The seat frame may not have been welded properly to the seat rails.
- Recall 22V513: high-pressure fuel rail 228I, X1, X3, 2022. The high-pressure fuel rail may crack and result in a fuel leak within the engine compartment.
- Recall 22V070: transmission mechatronics unit 330I, 530I, X3, X4, 2022. The mechatronics unit inside the transmission may not have been assembled properly, which could result in an internal leak.
- Recall 21V598: engine management software 540I, 745LE, M340I, X3, X4, Z4, 2019–2021. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist.
Showing the 12 newest of 24.
Matched from NHTSA's public recall file by model and model year. A recall may cover only some cars from a year, and it may already have been done on yours. Check by VIN →
Test drive and inspection checklist
- Run the VIN for open recalls. Open safety recalls are free at any BMW dealer. Check on NHTSA's site or our recall page before you buy.8
- Scan for stored fault codes with a BMW-capable tool. A generic OBD reader misses most BMW modules. Specialist guides recommend a BMW-level scan (ISTA or similar) to catch faults that have been cleared from the dash but still stored.9,10
- Start it from cold. Ask the seller not to warm the car up first. Chain rattle, VANOS rattle, lifter tick and rough idle show most clearly in the first seconds after a cold start.9,11,12
- Ask a BMW dealer about warranty extensions and campaigns. Several BMW warranty extensions follow the car, not the owner, and some reimburse earlier repairs. A dealer can check the VIN. The list for this chassis is below.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a BMW specialist. A few hundred dollars for an independent BMW specialist is the usual advice, especially for M cars and high-mileage turbo engines.13,9
Engine items to listen and look for are in the known problems section.
Service-history red flags
- Oil changes only at the long computer interval. Several guides advise changing oil more often than the onboard service indicator (CBS) suggests, especially with lots of city driving.12,14
- Gaps in the records around known failure mileages. If the engine section below lists a job that usually comes due at the car's mileage, ask for the invoice. A missing record isn't proof it wasn't done, but it is a negotiating point.
- Tuned or "deleted" cars. Tunes, emissions deletes and removed parts complicate warranty claims and inspections and raise wear on turbo cars. Ask, and look for aftermarket intakes, downpipes and charge pipes.
- S58: ask for records of Main bearing shells (2021 service action); Connecting rod bearings on early X3 M and X4 M (2020 delivery stop); Usual BMW wear items.
F97 specs
BMW's US figures we have on file run from 473 hp (X3 M) to 503 hp (X3 M Competition), with 0-60 mph as quick as 4.0 s.
No manual gearbox appears in the EPA listings for this chassis. Full F97 specs: every US engine, transmission and drive by year →
Factory paint and option codes
Paint colors BMW of North America listed for the F97 in the ordering and pricing guides we read:
| Code | Color | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | Alpine White | 2021 |
| 475 | Black Sapphire Metallic | 2021 |
| A90 | Dark Graphite Metallic | 2021 |
| C1M | Phytonic Blue Metallic | 2021 |
| C1N | Sunstone metallic | 2021 |
| C28 | Donington Grey Metallic | 2021 |
| C3G | Toronto Red Metallic | 2021 |
74 option codes are listed for the F97 in the same guides. Search them.
Only model years covered by the guides we could obtain are shown.
Coding
The coding apps' own lists show 134 settings that owners can change on the F97 with a phone and an OBD adapter, in areas such as Seat heating/cooling, Display options instrument cluster, Convenient opening/closing, Display options iDrive system, Audio, Doors/windows. 134 come from BimmerCode's list.
Ownership costs
Routine maintenance: oil service prices by engine size, published BMW Value Service prices (brakes, spark plugs) from 16 US dealers, and the F97 maintenance schedule.
By model year
| Year | Models and engines | NHTSA recalls | Warranty extensions | Repairs we price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | X3 M / Competition S58 | 16 | 11 | — |
| 2021 | X3 M / Competition S58 | 11 | 9 | — |
| 2022 | X3 M / Competition S58 | 7 | 7 | — |
| 2023 | X3 M / Competition S58 | 4 | 5 | — |
| 2024 | X3 M / Competition S58 | 4 | 2 | — |
Recalls and warranty extensions are counted when their published model-year range includes that year. Each one may cover only some cars, so check by VIN. Repairs counted are the ones whose engine was offered that year.
Sources
- BMW SIB 11 07 21 delivery stop: main bearing shell (via NHTSA)
- BMW in-app service action notice: main bearing shell (via NHTSA, March 2026)
- BMW SIB 11 04 20 delivery stop: connecting rod bearing (via NHTSA)
- BMWTuning: S55 vs S58 reliability
- 3 Series Guy: G80 M3 common problems
- Wikipedia: BMW X3
- EPA/DOE fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov)
- NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
- The Stable: E92 M3 buyer's guide
- Euro Premium Parts: E60 M5 reliability guide
- carsales: buying a used F30 3 Series (2015–20)
- carsales: buying a used E90 3 Series
- Road & Track: E46 M3 buyer's guide
- Drive-My: E60 5 Series buying guide (six-cylinder petrol)
Retrieved 2026-10-18. Bulletins and recalls come from NHTSA filings; owner prices come from the public posts linked on each job page.