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2008 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

67 reports with mileage · 7 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.

  • Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 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

27 reports
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138,000 miles · Nov 4, 2020
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, WHEN WARNING MESSAGE OF "ENGINE HOT AND DRIVE MODERATELY" WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN SAW SMOKE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, WHEN WARNING MESSAGE OF "ENGINE HOT AND DRIVE MODERATELY" WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN SAW SMOKE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER SHE HAD IN HAND. NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS CURRENTLY WAITING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI #11373061

145,000 miles · Mar 18, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I WAS DRIVING HOME STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT , THEN TURNED GREEN WENT TO ACCELERATE CAR TOOK OFF AND LOST ALL POWER WOULD NOT MOVE PRESSING ACCELERATOR AND 2 SEMI TRUCKS COMING REAL FAST FROM CROSS TRAFFIC ALMOST KILLED ME LIGHT TURNED RED FOR ME AND GREEN FOR SEMI TRAILERS WITH NO TIME TO EXIT CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11318544

200,000 miles · Mar 6, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 5351. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A MISFIRE CYLINDER # 2. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 5351. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A MISFIRE CYLINDER # 2. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11316566

131,000 miles · Oct 20, 2018
Engine

DRIVING IF FREEWAY 65 MPH, ALL THE SUDDEN CAR STALLED LOST POWER I DROVE IT OFF THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, TRY TO STARTUP THE CAR DID NOT START CALLED AAA FOR TOW TRUCK AFTER 15 MIN I START THE CAR, START FINED AND NO PROBLEM, TO BMW USA MADE APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER 4 DAYS LATER WAS AVAILABLE FOR S…

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DRIVING IF FREEWAY 65 MPH, ALL THE SUDDEN CAR STALLED LOST POWER I DROVE IT OFF THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, TRY TO STARTUP THE CAR DID NOT START CALLED AAA FOR TOW TRUCK AFTER 15 MIN I START THE CAR, START FINED AND NO PROBLEM, TO BMW USA MADE APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER 4 DAYS LATER WAS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE, THE DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT, AFTER DROPPED MY DAUGHTER THE CAR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET CAUSE BAD TRAFFIC CALLED TOW TRUCK AGAIN WAITED AFTER 15 MIN STARTED EVERYTHING WAS FINED BUT I TOW IT TO BMW DEALER TO CHECK IT. IDRIVE SHOULD FUEL PUMP ONCE FLASHED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS .

NHTSA ODI #11141611

92,330 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Engine

THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FAILED. THE SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW ANY VISIBLE WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD AT TIME OF FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE ECU REGISTERED A FAILURE CODE INTERNALLY WHEN IT DETECTED THAT THE PUMP HAD STOPPED WORKING (AS COMPARED TO MILEAGE/TIMESTAMPS FROM DIAGNOSTIC CODES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE). SOME TIME LATER SUDDENLY THE…

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THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FAILED. THE SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW ANY VISIBLE WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD AT TIME OF FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE ECU REGISTERED A FAILURE CODE INTERNALLY WHEN IT DETECTED THAT THE PUMP HAD STOPPED WORKING (AS COMPARED TO MILEAGE/TIMESTAMPS FROM DIAGNOSTIC CODES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE). SOME TIME LATER SUDDENLY THE SYSTEM DISPLAYED AN ENGINE OVERHEAT WARNING AND LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11129973

4 miles · Aug 18, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH A WASTEGATE RATTLE ON TURBOS. ROUGH ENGINE IDLE. HAVING MULTIPLE MISFIRES, AND STUCK OPEN FUEL INJECTORS. CAUSING TAILPIPES TO EXCESSIVELY SMOKE (WHITE COLOR) WHILE GOING INTO LIMP MODE COULD NOT GO PAST 20MPH AND SURGING. ISSUES HAPPEN WHEN STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED HOME…

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CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH A WASTEGATE RATTLE ON TURBOS. ROUGH ENGINE IDLE. HAVING MULTIPLE MISFIRES, AND STUCK OPEN FUEL INJECTORS. CAUSING TAILPIPES TO EXCESSIVELY SMOKE (WHITE COLOR) WHILE GOING INTO LIMP MODE COULD NOT GO PAST 20MPH AND SURGING. ISSUES HAPPEN WHEN STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED HOME. 'FUEL INJECTOR RECALL 16E-A01 'HPFP RECALL- COULD NOT FIND NUMBER 'TURBO RECALL- COULD NOT FIND NUMBER

NHTSA ODI #11120793

103,207 miles · Feb 10, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion System

BMW CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND WHEN THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED IT STATES THAT A EMBLEM TO MARK COMPLETED IS PLACED UNDER THE HOOD. ALTHOUGH, THIS IS NOT ON MY VEHICLE NOR DOES IT SHOW BEING COMPLETED ON ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION. BMW IS VERY SECRETIVE ABOUT ALL ISSU…

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BMW CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND WHEN THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED IT STATES THAT A EMBLEM TO MARK COMPLETED IS PLACED UNDER THE HOOD. ALTHOUGH, THIS IS NOT ON MY VEHICLE NOR DOES IT SHOW BEING COMPLETED ON ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION. BMW IS VERY SECRETIVE ABOUT ALL ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES THAT THEY MANUFACTURER. IN FACT, MOST ALL BMW DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DO THEIR VERY BEST TOO MAKE YOU PAY FOR NON ISSUES AND WILL NOT REPAIR WHAT IS REALLY FOUND TO BE THE ISSUE. IF NEEDED, I CAN GIVE YOU AT LEAST TWO THAT I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ABOUT THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11072127

1 miles · Jan 10, 2018
EngineStructureUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME UP ON. THE FAN ON THE ENGINE ALSO CAME ON VERY LOUD AND THERE WAS LOTS OF EXHAUSTED COMING OUT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SHOP. ONCE AT THE SHOP THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND SAID IT WAS A…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME UP ON. THE FAN ON THE ENGINE ALSO CAME ON VERY LOUD AND THERE WAS LOTS OF EXHAUSTED COMING OUT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SHOP. ONCE AT THE SHOP THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND SAID IT WAS A SHIFT MODULE THAT NEEDED REPLACED, I HAD IT REPLACED AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY THEN SAID IT NEEDED A RESET THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP. BMW PERFORMED THE RESET AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BMW DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS OUT AND A $9K TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUES TO NOT BE DRIVABLE, NOT STAY IN GEAR. IT HAS ALSO STARTED SPITTING OUT MILKY SUBSTANCE FROM THE EXHAUST LIKE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE. IN ADDITION THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF THE CAR HAS BECOME DULL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, LIKE IT HAS REACTED TO A HIGH AMOUNT OF HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. A CAR WITH ONLY 132,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE WEARING LIKE IT IS. THERE WAS COOLANT RECALL ON ALL MODELS EXCEPT THE 535I, THIS COOLANT PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN WHAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT VERY PREMATURELY. THE CAR IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE, WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT IS DUE TO A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR ITSELF AND NOT WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11061640

160,123 miles · Dec 21, 2016
Engine

ENGINE MALFUNCTION-DRIVING WITH REDUCED POWER NOTICE. HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOLD THAT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT AND SHAKING AND STALLING DURING ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO IGNITION COILS. I HAVE HAD THOSE REPLACED AND AFTER REPLACING THOSE THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON INTERSTATE....VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 70 M…

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ENGINE MALFUNCTION-DRIVING WITH REDUCED POWER NOTICE. HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOLD THAT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT AND SHAKING AND STALLING DURING ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO IGNITION COILS. I HAVE HAD THOSE REPLACED AND AFTER REPLACING THOSE THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON INTERSTATE....VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SAFETY. NOW ENGINE MALFUNCTION. FROM LOOKING AT RECALL INFORMATION IT APPEARS THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TO ISSUES WITH WATER PUMP AND REPLACEMENT BUT WAS NEVER CONTACTED. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO CUSTOMER WHO PAID FOR SERVICE THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE REAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936686

118,455 miles · Dec 10, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

MY CAR IS STALLING WHILE I'M DRIVING. " ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCE POWER " THE CODE IS ( P 3090 ) .. IT'S VERY UNSAFE . I DON'T HAVE POWER TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY.. I DRIVE MAINLY INTERSTATES I 75 AND I475 TO MACON GEORGIA.

NHTSA ODI #10934350

Official recalls

1

13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Sep 11, 2013

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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.