Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 X3.
The 2021 BMW X3 utilizes an Automatic (S8) transmission and requires 5.5 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 14 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. Owner-reported data for the model year records 102 total complaints, with the electrical system identified as the primary issue area, alongside ten recalls. Against the X3’s broader 2004–2026 production span, this complaint volume registers significantly below the 2007 high of 373 yet remains above the 2023 low of ten, indicating moderate reliability that trails the most recent iterations.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 800 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11429886567. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11429886567 alt 11428583896 |
| Engine air filter | 13729502014 alt 13718577171 |
| Spark plug | 12125A4EF60 alt 12122455258 |
| Battery | 61217604802 alt 61219364597 |
| Front wiper blades | 61617469820 |
| Thermostat | 11539468022 alt 11539468021 |
| Cabin air filter | 64119382886 alt 64119382885 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Overall length | 185.4 in |
| Overall width | 74.4 in |
| Overall height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.6 in |
| Curb weight | 4228 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 63.8 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 50/50 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 14 / 19 / 16 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the X3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | xDrive30e PHEV (M Sport) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 12-kWh | 6.40 sec | 14.90 sec | 288 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | M Competition 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.30 sec | 11.60 sec | 503 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | M Competition 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.00 sec | 12.30 sec | 503 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | M Competition 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.00 sec | 12.30 sec | 503 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | xDrive30e PHEV (xLine) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 12-kWh | 5.40 sec | 14.50 sec | 288 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | M40i (M Sport Shadowline) 3.0L Turbo I-6 | 4.10 sec | 12.80 sec | 382 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | M40i (M Sport Shadowline) 3.0L Turbo I-6 | 4.20 sec | 12.80 sec | 382 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | xDrive30i (M Sport) 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.40 sec | 15.00 sec | 248 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.5 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to Use a new seal: 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF3 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 9.8 qt |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF3 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 9.9 qt |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF3 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 9.8 qt |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 14.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Head Instructions | Only use new bolts. |
| Cylinder Head Instructions | Only use new bolts. |
| Cylinder Head Instructions | Only use new bolts. |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | Use new bolts only. 88.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | Use a new seal: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | Use a new seal: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | Use a new seal: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | Final Drive: Use new plug: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | Front: 44.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential drain Plug | Front: 44.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | Final Drive: Use new plug: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 103 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | Use a new plug: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | Use a new plug: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46YF |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 800 cca |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Use new bolts. 81.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | 6.6 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: NS, Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Use new bolts. 81.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | 6.6 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 15.55; Rear: 14.57 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 12.99; Rear: 12.99 |
| 1 | Bolts 1-10 | 22 ft. lbs |
| 1 | Bolts 1-14 | 22 ft. lbs |
| 1 | Bolts 1-14 | 37 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 1,200 mi.
| At 1,200 mi | Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2021 BMW X3 sits in the mature middle of the current generation (2016–2026), and the federal data shows it landing on the descending side of a clear complaint-and-recall arc. Complaints peaked at 164 in 2019 and recalls crested at 16 in 2020; by 2021, complaints had moderated to 102 and recalls dropped to 10, suggesting BMW was working through the generation's early teething problems—particularly the electrical-system issues that remain the top complaint category at 17 reports. The year still carries meaningful risk, with 2 fire complaints and 3 crash complaints on file, and the "Unknown or Other" bucket (14 complaints) indicates a portion of problems that owners or NHTSA have not yet fully categorized. Compared to 2022, which saw complaints fall to 68 and recalls to 7, the 2021 is slightly noisier but not dramatically so, and it benefits from a substantial 193 technical service bulletins—down from 2020's 280 but still a deep pool of dealer-level repair guidance. The data does not specify root causes for the electrical or engine complaints, so buyers should treat those categories as flags rather than confirmed defects. On balance, 2021 is a reasonable—but not standout—year to buy: it is past the generation's worst recall surge, yet not as clean as 2022 or 2023, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on electrical and engine systems is warranted.
All 102 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW…
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… 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…
Showing 5 of 193 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010324 | 2026-05-06 | Engine | The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or… |
| B661719 | 2025-04-30 | Service Brakes | The vehicle applies the brakes on its own when reversing onto an inclined roadway or… |
| B650122 | 2025-01-06 | Air Bags | The limited warranty for the Knee Air Bag wire harness repair cable procedure for defects… |
| B512824 | 2024-10-10 | Unknown Or Other | DELIVERY STOP: REAR CARGO RAILS |
| B410722 | 2024-04-04 | Structure | While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5.5 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.