TSB: BMW M3 (1994–2005)

Bulletin SI-B11-07-09 — August 1, 2009

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDSI-B11-07-09
ManufacturerBMW
ModelsM3
Model Years1994–2005
Date IssuedAugust 1, 2009
Date Added to NHTSADecember 9, 2009
ComponentENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Vehicles Affected26 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

BMW: THERMOSTAT HOUSING INSPECTION. THE RETAINING SPRINGS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING QUICK RELEASE COUPLINGS FOR THE COOLANT HOSES MAY NOT BE LOCKED CORRECTLY. THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN A COOLANT LEAK. MODELS AFFECTED ARE M3 SEDAN (E

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
BMW M3 2005 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2005 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 2004 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2004 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 2003 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2003 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 2002 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2002 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 2001 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2001 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 2000 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 2000 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1999 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1999 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1998 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1998 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1997 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1997 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1996 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1996 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1995 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 1995 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1994 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 1994 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW M3 062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW M3 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized BMW dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (SI-B11-07-09) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.