CCWA 3.0 TDI
V6 diesel with the timing chains at the back of the engine. Fast, quiet and expensive to fix. A chain job means the engine comes out.
| Configuration | V6, turbocharged | Displacement | 2967 cc |
| Fuel | diesel | Injection | common rail |
| Shared components | DPF · EGR cooler | ||
Cars using this engine
Engine and component issues
Rattle on start-up that settles, chain noise from the bulkhead end, timing correlation codes. The V6 diesel runs its chains at the back of the engine. The chains and guides wear, and access requires the engine out.
Check: Cold start only, listening at the bulkhead. On a car this age treat any sustained rattle as the chain and price accordingly.
Warning light, limp mode, oil level rising above the maximum mark from fuel dilution. The filter needs sustained hot running to regenerate. A car used for short urban trips never completes a regeneration cycle.
Check: Read the DPF soot load and the distance since the last regeneration on a scan tool, and check the engine oil level and smell it for diesel. Ask what the car was used for. A short-trip city diesel is the wrong car regardless of mileage.
Coolant loss with no visible external leak, white smoke, sweet smell. The EGR cooler cracks internally and leaks coolant into the intake. BMW recalled affected diesels over a fire risk from glycol deposits igniting.
Check: Check coolant level and look for unexplained top-ups in the service history. Verify the recall was carried out. It's free and searchable by VIN.
Chassis, gearbox and body issues aren't listed here. They depend on which car the engine is fitted to. Open a variant page for the merged list.