Known APK problem

BMW 4-serie F32/F36: springs and shock absorbers

On the BMW 4-serie F32/F36 the APK inspector finds springs and shock absorbers problems 80% more often than on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 1.9%, against about 1.1% 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 4-serie F32/F36s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	4-serie F32/F36	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	C	0.2%	0.1 – 0.5%	0.5%	0.4×	2,380
9 – 10 years	B	0.2%	0.1 – 0.5%	0.3%	0.7×	2,601
9 – 10 years	C	0.5%	0.3 – 0.8%	0.8%	0.6×	2,601
11 – 12 years	B	0.6%	0.4 – 1.1%	0.4%	1.4×	2,005
11 – 12 years	C	1.9%	1.4 – 2.6%	1.1%	1.8×	2,005

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 11–12 years

Model	Springs and shock absorbers	Vs. national
BMW 4-serie F32/F36	1.9%	1.8×
Volvo V60 I Plug-in Hybrid	0.6%	0.5×

Looking at a BMW 4-serie F32/F36? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other BMW 4-serie F32/F36s of the same age.

All weak spots of the BMW 4-serie F32/F36 · Springs and shock absorbers: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the BMW 4-serie F32/F36 often have springs and shock absorbers problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a springs and shock absorbers defect on 1.9% of inspected BMW 4-serie F32/F36s, against about 1.1% of all cars of the same age (1.8×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the springs and shock absorbers on a used BMW 4-serie F32/F36?

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