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BMW guides
Buyer's guides by chassis, tire guides, and answers to the questions owners ask most, built from the prices, bulletins and recalls on this site.
Buyer's guides
Used BMW buyer's guides by chassis: engines by year, known problems, warranty extensions, recalls, inspection checklists and repair prices. All buyer's guides →
E82 F22 F87 F44 G42 G87 E46 E90 E9x M3 F30 F34 F80 G20 G80 F32 F82 G22 G82 E60 F10 F07 F90 G30 G60 G90 E63 F12 G32 E65 F01 G11 G70 G14 F91 E84 F48 U11 F39 U10 E83 F25 G01 F97 G45 F26 G02 F98 E53 E70 F15 F85 G05 F95 E71 F16 F86 G06 F96 G07 G09 E85 E89 G29 I01 I12 G26 I20
Tires
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| BMW tire replacement cost by model | Regular vs run-flat tire prices for common factory sizes, and tire shop vs BMW dealer prices for mounting, alignment and TPMS sensors. |
| BMW run-flat, staggered and star-marked tires | What run-flat, staggered and star (*) markings mean, BMW-approved tire brands, switching to regular tires, and factory sizes by model. |
| BMW tire sizes by year, model and trim | Factory front and rear tire sizes for every BMW generation on this site, 2006 to now, by trim and wheel package, with staggered fitments and per-tire prices. |
| BMW tire pressure warning and TPMS reset | What the tire pressure messages mean, RPA vs RDC reset steps, a reset stuck partway, and TPMS sensor cost. |
Owner guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| BMW coolant leak causes by engine | Where N52, N54, N55, N20, B46/B48, B58, N63 and diesel engines lose coolant, the symptoms, BMW bulletins and recalls, and what each fix costs. |
| BMW dealer vs independent shop prices | Every job we price, dealer and independent side by side, plus when each makes sense and what to ask before approving a repair. |
| BMW best and worst years: 3 Series, 5 Series, X3, X5 | Model years with the most and fewest NHTSA owner complaints, with recalls, warranty extensions and engines for each year, and the limits of the data. |
| BMW engine reliability ranking | Engines ordered by the warranty extensions, class actions and emissions recalls BMW has filed for each, every one listed and linked. |
| BMW oil leak causes by engine | Where N52, N54, N55, N20, B46/B48, B58, N63/S63, N62 and diesel engines leak oil, how to tell a real leak from sweating, BMW bulletins, and what each fix costs. |
| BMW tuning platforms compared: bootmod3, MHD, JB4, Dinan | Flash vs piggyback, supported engines, official prices, flex fuel kits, CARB executive orders, EPA tampering rules and what tuning does to your BMW warranty. |
| BMW coding and programming tools: BimmerCode, BimmerLink, Carly, ISTA, E-Sys | What each app and dealer tool does, official prices, which OBD adapters work, and why programming needs a stable power supply. |
| BMW key programming cost: dealer vs locksmith vs DIY | Published price ranges for a spare key and for all keys lost, by key system (CAS, FEM, BDC), and what DIY can and cannot do. |
| BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program explained | Eligibility, the 1-year unlimited-mile protection plan, roadside assistance, the free oil change, transfer rules and what is not covered, from BMW USA. |