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2008 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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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

What owners actually said

74 reports
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

132,047 miles · Aug 5, 2018
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING FAMILY DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH. I LOOSE ALL POWER IN THE CABIN. THE CAR STARTS THROWING ALL WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, STEERING,SWAY CONTROL, TRANSMITION, ETC. ENGINE STILL RUNNING WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL HAD TO USE E BRAKE TO PULL OVER THEN IT WANTED TO KEEP GOING HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO STOP IT. CALLED TOW TRUCK S…

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DRIVING FAMILY DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH. I LOOSE ALL POWER IN THE CABIN. THE CAR STARTS THROWING ALL WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, STEERING,SWAY CONTROL, TRANSMITION, ETC. ENGINE STILL RUNNING WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL HAD TO USE E BRAKE TO PULL OVER THEN IT WANTED TO KEEP GOING HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO STOP IT. CALLED TOW TRUCK SENT FAMILY HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11115823

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2018
SeatsVehicle Speed Control

TIP IN AS IT IS CALLED, LAG IN THE RESPONSE TIME FROM WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TILL THE CAR ACTUALLY TAKES OFF. ALSO PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR SENSING SOMEONE IS THERE WHEN THEY ARE NOT CAUSING THE FASTEN SEAT BELT ERROR TO CONTANTLY GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11075764

60,000 miles · Mar 1, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

INSULATION CRUMBLING ON ALL WIRING INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHT (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) UNITS RESULTING IN MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND MARKER LIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, A COMMON PROBLEM AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. ISSUE IS EXACERBATED BUT NOT CAUSED BY HEAT. INSULATION ON WIRING TO NAVIGATION, RADIO/MEDIA PLAYER, …

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INSULATION CRUMBLING ON ALL WIRING INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHT (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) UNITS RESULTING IN MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND MARKER LIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, A COMMON PROBLEM AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. ISSUE IS EXACERBATED BUT NOT CAUSED BY HEAT. INSULATION ON WIRING TO NAVIGATION, RADIO/MEDIA PLAYER, CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT, OR CCC (CAR COMMUNICATION COMPUTER), CRUMBLING CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS TO OCCUR IN ALL THE ABOVE SECTIONS. I SUSPECT MUCH OF THE CAR'S WIRING TO BE IN SIMILAR, POOR CONDITION. I HAVE READ THAT MANY EUROPEAN CARS FROM THE '80S, '90S THROUGH THE FIRST TEN OR SO YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY USED A SOY BASED, BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION AS PART OF A "GREEN MOVEMENT". THIS EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID WIRE DOES NOT LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 10 YEARS, MUCH LESS THAN THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT. PLEASE SEE: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?2132684-HEADLIGHT-WIRE-JACKETS-JUST-FLAKE-OFF HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E60-DISCUSSION-2/HEADLIGHT-WIRING-OUTER-JACKET-DETERIORATING-139655/ HTTP://WWW.PEACHPARTS.COM/SHOPFORUM/OFF-TOPIC-DISCUSSION/330631-CAN-YOU-BELIEVE-BMW-STILL-USING-BIODEGRADEABLE-WIRING-INSULATION.HTML HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML HTTPS://RENNLIST.COM/FORUMS/PORSCHE-CAYENNE-FORUM/733521-BRITTLE-WIRING-INSULATION.HTML THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE THREADS SUCH AS THESE ON THE WEB. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD LIKE THIS. THE MANUFACTURERS KEEP PRODUCING VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF WIRING. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE INSULATION DEGRADES. IT'S ABSURD TO START BIODEGRADING WHEN THE CAR IS JUST FIVE OR SO YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ODI #11075579

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

1 miles · May 31, 2017
Exterior Lighting

THE WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLAMP HOUSING BECOMES BRITTLE AND CAN SHORT OUT. THEY CAN FLICKER OR GO OUT. IF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT EXPERIENCE A SHORT, A DRIVER CAN BE LEFT DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN DEADLY ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY RH HEADLIGHT. THE ISSUE HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AND CO…

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THE WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLAMP HOUSING BECOMES BRITTLE AND CAN SHORT OUT. THEY CAN FLICKER OR GO OUT. IF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT EXPERIENCE A SHORT, A DRIVER CAN BE LEFT DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN DEADLY ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY RH HEADLIGHT. THE ISSUE HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AND COMPLAINTS ARE POSTED ALL OVER BMW FORUMS. REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS ARE IN EXCESS OF US$900 EACH LEAVING MANY CAR OWNERS TO GO WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLAMPS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TONIGHT WHEN THE RH LAMP WENT OUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS DUE TO THE WIRING SHORT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF BOTH WENT OUT. I DON'T HAVE PHOTOS OR VIDEO EVIDENCE.

NHTSA ODI #10992589

122,000 miles · Apr 12, 2017
Exterior Lighting

WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS FALLING AWAY LEAVING BARE WIRES. CURRENTLY ONLY AFFECTING THE DRL. SEARCHING BMW FORUMS - THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BEING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT MORE THAN $700 PER UNIT. WITH THE NUM…

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WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS FALLING AWAY LEAVING BARE WIRES. CURRENTLY ONLY AFFECTING THE DRL. SEARCHING BMW FORUMS - THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BEING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT MORE THAN $700 PER UNIT. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN ON-LINE FORUMS, I FEEL THIS SHOULD WARRANT A SAFETY RELATED RE-CALL. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10972081

53 miles · Jan 29, 2017
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2008 535I (E60) W/55K MILES, IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO AFTERMARKET ALTERATIONS. WHILE DRIVING CAR IN THE HIGHWAY, I HAD A PARKING LIGHT ALERT/ERROR THAT MY PARKING LIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER ARRIVING TO MY HOME I INSPECTED MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ANGEL EYES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT SHOWED COMPLETELY BA…

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I HAVE A 2008 535I (E60) W/55K MILES, IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO AFTERMARKET ALTERATIONS. WHILE DRIVING CAR IN THE HIGHWAY, I HAD A PARKING LIGHT ALERT/ERROR THAT MY PARKING LIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER ARRIVING TO MY HOME I INSPECTED MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ANGEL EYES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT SHOWED COMPLETELY BARE WIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BULB CONNECTORS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. I FOUND FLAKING INSULATION AND BARE WIRES EVERYWHERE THE INNER SEALED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY!!!. THE MORE I TOUCHED THE WIRES, THE MORE INSULATION FLAKED OFF, ALMOST LIKE A POWDER. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948194

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.