The G82 M4 with S58 engine is largely solid but shares critical powertrain concerns with its predecessors—mainly catastrophic bearing failures and cooling system weaknesses that can grenade the engine if ignored.
Rod Bearing Failure (S58 Engine)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking at idle that worsens with RPM, Low oil pressure warning on cold starts, Metal debris in oil during analysis, Sudden catastrophic failure with no warning in worst cases
Fix: Engine-out job requiring full bearing replacement, crank polishing/replacement if scored, and thorough inspection of block. 25-35 labor hours if caught early; full short block if spun bearing damaged crank or block.
Estimated cost: $8,000-18,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under vehicle, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Transmission overheating warnings on track or spirited driving, Low fluid level on dipstick check
Fix: Replace cooler lines and top off fluid. Common failure point is crimped fittings at cooler. 2-3 labor hours plus fluid/lines.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi
Symptoms: Long crank or no-start condition, Limp mode and reduced power warnings, Rough idle and misfires under load, P0087 fuel rail pressure too low code
Fix: Replace HPFP and fuel filter. Pump is engine-mounted, requires partial intake removal. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 15,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise at idle or light throttle, disappears under boost, Most noticeable when engine is warm, No performance loss or codes in most cases, Sound comes from engine bay, driver's side predominantly
Fix: Wastegate actuator arm has excessive play. BMW issued updated actuators. If under warranty, they replace turbos; out of warranty, some techs shim the arm. 8-12 hours per turbo for replacement.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 35,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking on hard acceleration or deceleration, Excessive drivetrain movement felt through chassis, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible tearing or separation of rubber mount
Fix: Replace transmission mount. Requires supporting transmission and some exhaust work for access. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Cooling System Hose and Connector Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 25,000-55,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant smell in cabin or under hood, Visible coolant drips, often from plastic quick-connects, Low coolant warning with no obvious external leak, Overheating if leak progresses unchecked
Fix: Plastic coolant hose connectors and turbo coolant lines crack or weep. Replace affected hoses and top off coolant. 1-3 hours depending on location.
Estimated cost: $400-1,000
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and hesitation on cold start, Reduced throttle response and power, Misfires under load, typically P030X codes, Failed emissions testing in some states
Fix: Direct injection engines accumulate carbon on valves. Walnut blasting required, intake manifold removal. 6-8 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Owner tips
Send oil samples to Blackstone Labs every 5,000 miles to catch bearing wear early—cheap insurance on the S58
Use quality full-synthetic oil and change every 5,000-6,000 miles max, regardless of what the computer says
Avoid extended track sessions without upgraded oil cooler and transmission cooler—these run hot under sustained load
Budget $2,000/year for surprise repairs outside routine maintenance if buying used
Buy with eyes open—fantastic driving experience, but the S58 still carries bearing failure risk and cooling weaknesses that can cost five figures if ignored; CPO warranty is almost mandatory.
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; high-performance M vehicle with increased electrical demands
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Every control module on the 2018-2021 BMW M4 — 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.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · 21V062000
2021-02-10
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
Consequence: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 2021 BMW M4 3.0L Twin-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 Mechanic · 20+ years.