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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

13 reports
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97,000 miles · Feb 24, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

HPFP IS GOING BAD ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON LONG CRANK START

NHTSA ODI #11397808

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

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

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

60,000 miles · Oct 28, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMPS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURER'S PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 6/28/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10919911

91,800 miles · Aug 15, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT HAPPENED AS SOON AS I TOOK A CORNER AND HIT THE GAS AND LASTED UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF. VERY ROUGH IDLE.

NHTSA ODI #10895956

46,489 miles · Jul 1, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I NOTICED ON COMPUTER SCREEN ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER. SO, I MANUVERED TO GET TO OUTSIDE SHOULDER LANE, AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE.IT WAS SPUTTERING AT THE TIME, AND I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN …

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WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I NOTICED ON COMPUTER SCREEN ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER. SO, I MANUVERED TO GET TO OUTSIDE SHOULDER LANE, AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE.IT WAS SPUTTERING AT THE TIME, AND I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM HAD CLEARED ITSELF, SO I PROCEEDED TO MY HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHECKED ON THE COMPUTER FOR ONLINE INFORMATION, AND SAW A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, SAFETY HAZZARD. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED LAST YEAR FROM A DEALER WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT, AND AT THAT TIME THE DEALER SAID, "THE OLD OWNER TRADED IT IN ON A NEW VEHICLE." SO, I HAVE NO RECORD IF THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED THROUGH THIS 1ST OWNER OR NOT? IT ACTED EXACTLY AS THE SAFETY COMPLAINT EXPLAINED, THE LOSS OF POWER WITH ENGINE MALFUNCTION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP, WITH LACK OF POWER. IT WAS STRANGE TO SAY THE LEAST, AND THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 45,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.(I LOOKED UP ON THE SITE FOR RECALLS AND PUT IN THE VIN NUMBER, AND THE INDICATION CAME BACK, NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. IT IS IRONIC THAT THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS, ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ABC SAFETY RECALL SPECIAL, AND I EXPERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF EVENT THAT MANY OTHERS HAD. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY NEXT PROCEDURE TO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS AGAIN. TROUBLED DRIVER 7/1/2016

NHTSA ODI #10882111

74,500 miles · Jan 30, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I DROVE TO WORK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON THAT MORNING. THE CAR DROVE AS NORMAL. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 P.M ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER. IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND LOSE POWER. I HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SH…

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I DROVE TO WORK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON THAT MORNING. THE CAR DROVE AS NORMAL. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 P.M ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER. IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND LOSE POWER. I HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER. AFTER TURNING ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME. AFTER A FEW DAYS, WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP (NOT BMW) AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT SENSORS WERE BAD. REPLACED THEM AND A FEW DAYS LATER, THE SAME ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BAD INJECTORS AND THAT THE FUEL IS BURNING TO RICH. BMW HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 2 OF THE INJECTORS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 35K MILES AT THAT TIME AND NEEDED INJECTORS REPLACED. WHY THEY ONLY REPLACED 2, IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE. THANKFULLY, THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME, UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW I HAVE TO FOOT THE $2K BILL TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS OWNERS AND REPLACE THESE INJECTORS SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY REPORTED PROBLEMS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE INJECTORS. THESE CARS ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE TO PURCHASE AND IT IS UNFAIR TO BE STUCK WITH THESE HIGH REPAIR BILLS WHEN THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND REPORTED BY SO MANY BMW OWNERS. FIRST, IT WAS MY WATER PUMP, AND NOW THE FUEL INJECTORS. THIS IS MY SECOND BMW. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED THE 328 AND IT HAD LIFTERS REPLACED AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER BMW - PROBABLY GO WITH LEXUS! SHAME ON BMW FOR NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679867

51,847 miles · May 19, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LAMPS CAN ON AND MY CAR LOST POWER AND STALL WHILE I WAS DRIVE . LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND COAST THE CAR TO SAFE SIDE ROAD UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WILL RUN FOR FEW SECONDS AND DIE, HOWEVER I W…

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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LAMPS CAN ON AND MY CAR LOST POWER AND STALL WHILE I WAS DRIVE . LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND COAST THE CAR TO SAFE SIDE ROAD UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WILL RUN FOR FEW SECONDS AND DIE, HOWEVER I WASN'T ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592327

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.