2006 BMW X3 Service and Repair Manual

Engine choice on the 2006 BMW X3 comes down to displacement rather than architecture: this factory service and repair manual covers a naturally aspirated 2.5L inline-six of 152 cubic inches and a naturally aspirated 3.0L inline-six, both double-overhead-cam gasoline units, in one four-door sport utility body sold as 2.5i or 3.0i. Shared design means shared procedures for most engine work, with the manual calling out the clearances, torque values and diagnostic figures that do change between the two.

Engines covered

• 2.5L inline-six (152 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.0L inline-six — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sport utility

Trims covered

• 2.5i
• 3.0i

Known issues on the 2006 X3. Both recalls on the federal record for this year concern the same part of the restraint system: the occupant detection mat in the front passenger seat. In one, the mat fatigues and develops cracks until the system fails; in the other, cracking traced to how often the passenger gets in and out produces the same result. Either way the passenger frontal air bag is deactivated and will not deploy in a crash. Air bags account for 173 of the 345 complaints, ahead of 35 each on the electrical system and the seats — all systems this manual diagnoses and specifies.