Known APK problem

BMW 3-serie F31: springs and shock absorbers

On the BMW 3-serie F31 the APK inspector finds springs and shock absorbers problems 50% more often than on cars of the same age: at 13–15 years 2.2%, against about 1.5% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Broken springs or leaking shock absorbers.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Ask the seller: Have the shock absorbers or springs ever been replaced?

By age

Share of inspected BMW 3-serie F31s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	3-serie F31	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	B	0.2%	0.1 – 0.5%	0.1%	1.5×	2,266
7 – 8 years	C	0.8%	0.5 – 1.3%	0.5%	1.7×	2,266
9 – 10 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	0.3%	1.4×	3,097
9 – 10 years	C	1.0%	0.7 – 1.4%	0.8%	1.3×	3,097
11 – 12 years	A	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	1.3%	0.3×	3,135
11 – 12 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.7%	0.5%	0.8×	3,135
11 – 12 years	C	1.2%	0.9 – 1.6%	1.1%	1.1×	3,135
13 – 15 years	A	1.6%	1.2 – 2.1%	2.3%	0.7×	3,508
13 – 15 years	B	0.8%	0.5 – 1.1%	1.0%	0.8×	3,508
13 – 15 years	C	2.2%	1.7 – 2.7%	1.5%	1.5×	3,508

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 13–15 years

Model	Springs and shock absorbers	Vs. national
BMW 3-serie F31	2.2%	1.5×
Opel Insignia A	4.7%	2.1×
Toyota Avensis III	1.0%	0.4×
Audi A4 (B8)	1.0%	0.4×
Audi A6 (C7)	1.2%	0.5×
Volvo V60 I / S60 II	0.5%	0.2×

Looking at a BMW 3-serie F31? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other BMW 3-serie F31s of the same age.

All weak spots of the BMW 3-serie F31 · Springs and shock absorbers: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the BMW 3-serie F31 often have springs and shock absorbers problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 13–15 years the inspector found a springs and shock absorbers defect on 2.2% of inspected BMW 3-serie F31s, against about 1.5% of all cars of the same age (1.5×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the springs and shock absorbers on a used BMW 3-serie F31?

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know