The 2019 BMW 840i with the B58 3.0L turbo I6 is generally reliable by BMW standards, but serious engine bearing failures and transmission cooling issues have emerged as the fleet ages, along with typical BMW electronic quirks that can be expensive to diagnose.
Symptoms: metallic knocking or rattling at idle that worsens with RPM, low oil pressure warning, metal shavings visible in oil during changes, sudden loss of power or complete engine seizure
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement required. 25-35 labor hours for engine removal, disassembly, bearing replacement, and reassembly. Some engines have defective bearing material from factory. Oil analysis every 5k miles can catch early.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission overheating warnings on iDrive, limp mode activation during highway driving or towing, burnt ATF smell, harsh shifting when transmission is hot
Fix: ZF 8HP transmission cooler fails internally or lines crack. Requires cooler replacement and complete ATF flush. 4-6 labor hours. Critical to address before ATF overheats and damages clutch packs.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
High-Pressure Fuel Pump and Fuel Filter Clogging
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: rough idle and hesitation under acceleration, long crank times when starting, fuel system fault codes (P0087, P0093), reduced power in sport mode
Fix: Direct injection fuel filter clogs with deposits; HPFP can fail on B58 engines. Fuel filter is non-serviceable in tank on some models, requiring pump module replacement. HPFP alone is 3-4 hours; full system service 6-8 hours.
Estimated cost: $1,200-3,500
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive, vibration through cabin at idle in gear, excessive drivetrain movement during hard acceleration
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails, allowing excessive movement. 2-3 labor hours on lift. Use OEM or equivalent quality; cheap mounts fail within 20k miles.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Backup Camera System Intermittent Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: backup camera shows black screen or 'camera unavailable' message, intermittent operation, works when cold but fails when hot, distorted or frozen image
Fix: Camera module or wiring harness corrosion in trunk lid. NHTSA recalls address some units. Diagnosis 1 hour, camera replacement 2 hours including trunk trim removal and calibration.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Coolant System Leaks and Expansion Tank Cracks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: low coolant warning, visible coolant under engine bay, sweet smell from vents, overheating in extreme conditions
Fix: Plastic expansion tank and various hose connections develop leaks. Tank replacement is preventive maintenance item. 2-3 hours labor for tank and hoses. Check water pump at same time (common failure on B58 but less so on 2019+ units).
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Owner tips
Send oil samples to Blackstone Labs every 5,000 miles to catch bearing wear before catastrophic failure—critical on this platform
Use BMW LL-01FE 0W-20 oil only and change every 7,500 miles maximum despite 10k service intervals; bearing issues correlate with extended changes
Replace transmission fluid at 50k miles even though BMW says 'lifetime'—cooler failures destroy ATF quickly
Pre-purchase inspection MUST include oil analysis, compression test, and transmission fluid condition check—engine failures often happen without warning
Buy only with comprehensive service records and oil analysis showing clean bearings; the engine grenading risk makes cheap examples a gamble, but well-maintained ones are excellent highway cruisers.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required; located in trunk; BMW intelligent battery sensor equipped; battery registration required after replacement
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Every control module on the 2019-2020 BMW 840i — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 21V096000
2021-02-19
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles.
When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 19V684000
2019-09-27
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles.
The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Performance
Horsepower
335hp
Torque
368lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.6sec
Quarter mile
13.1sec
Top speed
155mph
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,478lb
Wiper blades
G15 generation coupe, no rear wiper. Modern BMW push-button attachment
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2019 BMW 840i 3.0L Turbo I6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.