At a glance

Reported mileage97,475 mi

LocationCa, USA

ColorWhite

Last listed price$12,750

Open recalls3

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

BMW

Model

X3

Year

2008

Trim

3.0si

Body style

Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

3.0L 6-cyl 255 hp

Cylinders

6

Fuel type

Gasoline

Doors

4

Assembly plant

GRAZ, AUSTRIA

Manufacturer

BMW AG

What's a 2008 BMW X3 worth?

What comparable 2008 BMW X3 vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$7,500

Typical price

$10,769

High

$13,700

Most 2008 BMW X3 listings fall between $7,500 and $13,700, from 140 comparable cars.

Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.

See this car's exact value →

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN WBXPC93478WJ18938

⚠️ 3 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN WBXPC93478WJ18938

Safety recalls 3

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 3…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA Campaign #20V017000 · 15/01/2020

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8

NHTSA Campaign #17V605000 · 28/09/2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA Campaign #17V683000 · 30/10/2017

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW X3, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

🔥 1 involved a fire

Engine And Engine Cooling 7 reports

🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Electrical System 3 reports

🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Engine 2 reports

🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Air Bags 2 reports

🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Tires 1 report

🔍 Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

Steering 1 report

🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 190

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 2008 BMW X3.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

I am reporting a vehicle fire involving my 2008 BMW X3, which had an active safety recall for the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve heater (Recall Campaign No. 22V-119). This recall identifies a risk of short circuiting, overheating, and potential fire. On February 27, 2026, I contacted BMW after discovering multiple active recalls on my vehicle. I…

Fire · NHTSA ODI #11725396

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH with the front driver's seat heater activated, the contact felt a sharp pain on the buttock and immediately leaned forward. The contact stated that upon touching the seat, the contact noticed that the seat heater had burned the seat through the seat leather cover. There was…

NHTSA ODI #11632382

TIRES

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 equipped with Arroyo Tires, Tire Line: Grand Sport A/S, Tire Size: 254/40/R19, DOT Number: 1TBY3KB5C. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the tread of the tires became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle became difficult to control. The contact parked the vehicle and in…

NHTSA ODI #11622272

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front passenger’s side seat occupant detection mat. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure t…

NHTSA ODI #11605090

ENGINE

The car no longer starts. When towing it to a BMW dealership, they informed me that there is a problem with the VANOS bolts and that "they snap easily"; however after some research into it I realized that these engines have a recall for this specific issue only that my vehicle isn't listed under the recall. I believe this is a mistake and that it should be.

NHTSA ODI #11576993

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH in cold weather, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted; however, the contact received no response. The contact sta…

NHTSA ODI #11574752

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The wiring insulation inside of the headlight on my vehicle deteriorated, causing the wires to be exposed. The headlight stopped working because of the wires touching, and a defective lamp dash light came on. Exposed wires touching has the potential to start fires. I have completely re wrapped all of the wiring inside of the headlights with heat shrink so I …

NHTSA ODI #11551278

STEERING,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES

The steering angle sensor has faulted, at around 60,000 miles. This fault results in possible airbag failure, in conjunction with inability to perform safety breaking mechanisms, as well as disabling the cars 4x4 stability control features. BMW as well as other BMW third-party mechanics have told me this is a reoccurring problem and could pose a serious dang…

NHTSA ODI #11534841

+ 182 more complaints on record.