TSB: BMW X3, X4 (2011–2017)

Bulletin B641019 — November 1, 2019

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDB641019
ManufacturerBMW
ModelsX3, X4
Model Years2011–2017
Date IssuedNovember 1, 2019
Date Added to NHTSADecember 16, 2019
ComponentENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Vehicles Affected20 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

SERVICE ACTION: OPTIMIZING THE WATER DRAIN. The water drain in the engine compartment's passenger side cowl near the firewall may be inadequate during exceptionally high water volumes. Water can accumulate and not drain out quickly enough.

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
BMW X3 2017 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2017 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X4 2017 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X4 2017 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2016 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2016 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X4 2016 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X4 2016 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2015 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2015 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X4 2015 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X4 2015 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2014 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2014 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2013 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2013 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2012 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2012 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2011 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW X3 2011 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Related BMW Recalls

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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 (B641019) 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.