BMW models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Series | 1977-present | 2006-2011 non-turbo six-cylinder 3 Series cars are in PCV valve heater fire recalls 17V683000 and 19V273000. |
| 5 Series | 1975-present | 2006-2011 525i, 528i and 530i are in the PCV heater recalls; 2010-2013 V8 sedans were in the N63 oil consumption settlement. |
| X5 | 2000-present | 2007-2010 X5s ever registered in Illinois are in Takata recall 18V030000; 2010-2013 V8 X5s were in the N63 settlement. |
| X3 | 2004-present | 2007-2010 X3 3.0si and xDrive30i models are in PCV valve heater fire recall 17V683000. |
| X6 | 2008-present | 2009-2014 X6 V8 models were in the N63 oil consumption and battery drain settlement. |
| 7 Series | 1978-present | 2009-2012 V8 7 Series sedans were among the N63 settlement vehicles. |
| 1 Series | 2008-2013 | 2008-2011 128i coupes and convertibles are in PCV valve heater recall 17V683000. |
| Z4 | 2003-2016, 2019-present | 2007-2011 six-cylinder Z4s are covered by PCV valve heater recall 17V683000. |
Known BMW problems that end up at the scrapyard
PCV valve heater that can short and start a fire, even parked
Recall 17V683000 covers about 740,000 2008-2011 128i, 2007-2011 328i, 525i, 528i and 530i, X3, X5 xDrive30i and Z4 models, and 19V273000 added 2006 3 and 5 Series cars and Z4s. Moisture near the PCV valve heater can cause a short that melts parts and can start a fire even when the car is off. Don't store an unrepaired one in an attached garage. source
N63 V8 oil consumption and battery drain
A class settlement covered N63-powered 2009-2012 7 Series, 2010-2013 5 Series sedans, 2010-2012 5 Series Gran Turismos, 2011-2012 6 Series, 2010-2013 X5s and 2009-2014 X6s over oil consumption and drained batteries. Owners described adding oil between changes. On a high-mileage N63 that still burns oil, the engine work often costs more than the car is worth. source
Takata inflators in the 2007-2013 X5 and 2009-2013 X6
Recall 18V030000 covers X5 and X6 models in two zones. In the Zone B states, which include Illinois, it applies to 2007-2010 X5s and X6s. The Takata passenger inflator can rupture and throw metal fragments. The repair is free, so check the VIN before anyone drives an older X5 that has been sitting. source
The usual way a BMW ends its Chicago life
BMWs tend to leave the road through the repair shop. An old 3 Series or X5 rarely dies all at once; it collects estimates. Oil leaks, aging cooling-system parts, worn suspension bushings, a check-engine light from the crankcase ventilation system, and then a big one: a transmission, a turbo on an N63 V8, or an engine that drinks oil. When the total passes the car’s value, selling it as a junk car is the honest answer.
Recalls are part of that picture. Several hundred thousand BMWs from 2006-2011 are in PCV valve heater fire recalls, and that fire risk exists even when the car is off. Older X5s and X6s are in Takata inflator recalls, with Illinois in the zone that covers 2007-2010 models. Check both by VIN before you spend anything, and if the PCV recall is open, keep the car outside until it’s fixed or gone.
What we look at on a junk BMW
We price the car you have, not a list. These are the things that move it:
- Engine type and whether it runs. A healthy inline-six is useful; a seized N63 is mostly weight.
- xDrive or rear-wheel drive, and whether the transmission still shifts.
- Completeness: wheels, headlamps, catalytic converters, iDrive screen, seats.
- Damage and rust: Chicago salt hits subframes, brake lines and rocker panels.
Our guide on what decides a junk car’s price gives the full breakdown.
Before pickup
Reset iDrive and remove the car from My BMW. Leave every key; BMW keys are programmed to the car. Take your I-PASS off the windshield and clear out the trunk and spare well. Tell us which papers you have: Illinois rules decide which work for a scrap sale, and we confirm on the call. Our makes we buy page lists other brands.
Selling a junk BMW: questions
Is my BMW with a PCV heater recall safe to keep in the garage until pickup?
BMW warned that the short can cause a fire even when the car isn't in use. If the recall hasn't been done, park it outside, away from the house, until it's repaired or picked up. Tell us when you call so we can plan the pickup from the driveway or street.
How do I remove a BMW from the My BMW app?
In the My BMW app, remove the vehicle from your account and end any ConnectedDrive subscriptions. Then, in iDrive, reset the car to factory settings to erase phones, contacts, addresses and driver profiles, and clear the garage door buttons.