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2008 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 BMW 3 Series do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 17 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

13 reports
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75,000 miles · Mar 26, 2014
Engine

NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION. WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE. POINTED OUT BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS. HIS COMMENT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE OVER THE YEARS. THE BOLTS ARE MADE FROM ALUMINUM -- THEY BREAK. SAID HE THIS WAS AN ONGOING AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW FROM THAT YEAR AND 2009. SAID BMW WOULD NO…

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NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION. WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE. POINTED OUT BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS. HIS COMMENT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE OVER THE YEARS. THE BOLTS ARE MADE FROM ALUMINUM -- THEY BREAK. SAID HE THIS WAS AN ONGOING AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW FROM THAT YEAR AND 2009. SAID BMW WOULD NOT COVER IT. HE ALSO STATED THE CAR HAD NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE, TO UNDERCARRIAGE THAT WOULD SUGGEST ANY DAMAGE. HE SAID IT JUST HAPPENS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO BMW, ALL TO NO AVAIL. INSTEAD OF BEAMERS... THEY SHOULD CALL THIS CAR A BUMMER. IT IS AN VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM, CREATED BY POOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING. ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING AN ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574906

38,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE ONTO A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION THE CAR HESITATES/LAGS/DELAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE CATCHES, THEN IT TAKES OFF LIKE A RABBIT WHEN YOU DON'T EXPECT IT. THIS VEHICLE BEHAVIOR HAS CAUSED NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS MORE THAN ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT'S NOT A DELAY WHICH DECREASES …

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AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE ONTO A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION THE CAR HESITATES/LAGS/DELAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE CATCHES, THEN IT TAKES OFF LIKE A RABBIT WHEN YOU DON'T EXPECT IT. THIS VEHICLE BEHAVIOR HAS CAUSED NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS MORE THAN ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT'S NOT A DELAY WHICH DECREASES A TRANSIENT SURGE. IT INCREASES THE TRANSIENT SURGE AS THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE FOR A HALF SECOND THEN BOLTS FORWARD WITH AN AWKWARD LURCH AND A SLAM. IT'S MUCH ROUGHER THAN A NORMAL TAKEOFF WOULD BE. IT'S NOT AT ALL SMOOTH. SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS BEING REAR-ENDED. THE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2010 MANY BMW OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BMW AS I HAVE. THE ANSWER I GOT AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS FROM BMW WAS, "IT'S NORMAL". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550802

40,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 10 MIN THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO KEEP …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 10 MIN THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING BEFORE IT RESTARTED. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. FINALLY WITHOUT A CHOICE AFTER AN HOUR I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499301

Official recalls

2

22V119000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Mar 2, 2022

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

09V257000 · Air Bags:frontal; Seat Belts:front

Jul 8, 2009

BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:front

BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.

Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags:frontal

BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.

Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.