BMW 535xi Complaints

144 consumer complaints on file.

#11611307August 28, 2024
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Car is over heating. Replace water pump and thermostat. Car still over heating. Bad water pumps.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11590941May 27, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
the taillight, blinker and reverse light all went out and when I pulled the components out To check to see if the bulbs are burnt all of the bulbs are perfectly fine, but the aluminum pieces were sparking, and the whole component will not work
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11508175February 20, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Station wagon lift gate has severe wiring failures between the lift gate and body. This problem is well known throught the blog community. Broken wires cause failures, and electrical danger, to the rear lighting system that includes brake, running, back up, and turn signals. Also effected is the rear wiper, defroster, and operation access to open and close the lift gate. Tailgate failure would prohibit emergency opening and access to spare tire and fuses. I have already spent $3,000 on one harness replacement (dealer) and am looking at another $3,000 to repair (dealer) more wiring that will restore the brake/running lights on one side (failed state inpection). The internal lighting diagnostics did NOT indicate any lighting problems or warning. Broken wires could also cause failures to some or all of the entire electrical system. Very dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463604May 6, 2022
AIR BAGS
The passenger seat occupancy sensor stopped working. On the NHSTA website I found where BMW offered a 15 year warranty for this part. What was the negotiation with NHSTA that BMW offered this warranty? It is warranty SI B01 01 18. My car on the list is the E60 and E61 with option 456 (Comfort Seat). BMW refuses to honor this warranty and want to charge me $2,700 to repair this. Note that the front passenger seat is rarely occupied. Why should this part fail prematurely?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11461541April 20, 2022
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle's engine caught fire approximately 13 1/2 hours after last having been driven. I parked it in my driveway at 9pm on April 15, 2022. I was alerted to a fire in the engine by my neighbor at 10:30am on April 16, 2022. The entire engine was engulfed in flames, melting all of the plastic components. It burned through my hood and affected every part of the engine. We were able to get the fire out with a garden hose before it spread to the house and my parents' two other vehicles parked next to it. No one was burned while putting out the fire, but several neighbors and family members did breathe in the toxic smoke. 911 was called and the fire department confirmed the fire was out. The driveway under the vehicle has burn damage, but we haven't moved the vehicle yet to see the extent of it. The check engine light had been on since purchase. The vehicle had been maintained by a mechanic specializing in import motors. He was unable to determine the cause of the check engine alert, and said it was a problem that BMW has with several of their models of this era. The vehicle was only covered under liability insurance, so our insurance company has not required an inspection. It has not yet been inspected by a mechanic or any other entity. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320619April 8, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY BMW IS A 2008 BMW 535XI THAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON 02/2008. I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH CYLINDER 4 MISFIRING SO I CHANGED ALL 6 SPARK PLUGS AND CYLINDER 4 IGNITION COIL ONLY TO HAVE CYLINDER MISFIRING STILL. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CHECKED AND STATED THAT I HAD A BAD IGNITION COIL BECAUSE MY SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION COIL SMELLED LIKE FUEL. MY FRIEND IS A TECH AT A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME NOT TO REPAIR IT YET BECAUSE BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A E61 SPORTS WAGON. I WILL PROVIDE THE DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS THAT MY VEHICLE IS UNDER THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. WHEN AT IDLE MY CAR SHAKES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR I JUST NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES WERE UNTIL NOW. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE SO I WILL PUT TODAY'S DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319458March 27, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MISFIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF COLUMBIA LOCATED AT (1900 I70 DR. SW, COLUMBIA MO) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER 4 MISFIRE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,450.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11279664November 12, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
FOR OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE (SMALL) ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY & CONSTANTLY GOING ON/OFF. I'VE HAD SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, TUBES & EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN REPLACED AND HAVE TAKEN (OR TOWED IN MOST CASES) THE CAR TO MANY DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS FOR MULTIPLE QUOTES & REPAIRS. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THE SMALL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY GONE & THE CAR WAS FINE TO DRIVE/REVERSE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW BLOCKS, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION/REDUCE SPEED LIGHT CAME ON, THE POWER WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED & I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A DUMP TRUCK. IN 2008, I BOUGHT MY BMW BRAND NEW BECAUSE I WANTED NO CAR ISSUES BECAUSE I AM NOT A MECHANIC. EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT REPEATED & DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT NO MECHANIC CAN IDENTIFY. AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES (HPFP). AFTER THE THIRD HPFP WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP LITERALLY FOR THREE MONTHS STRAIGHT, I GOT A LAWYER INVOLVED AND BMW CORP APOLOGIZED & SAID I COULD HAVE A CHOICE OF: 1/ GETTING A DIFFERENT CAR THAT THEY PICKED OUT (A 535I NOT THE XI I BOUGHT BECAUSE OF SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS) 2/ THEY CUT ME A CHECK FOR A FEW THOUSAND AND TOLD ME TO SHUT UP AND I COULD NEVER SPEAK OF WHAT HAPPENED OR BE PART OF FUTURE LAWSUITS OR CLASS ACTIONS. I'VE NEVER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY 2008 BMW (116K MILES ON IT OVER 12.5 YEARS) EVERY BMW OWNER THAT BOUGHT A BMW BETWEEN THE RANGE OF YEARS KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT RE: THE CONSTANT AND NEVER-ENDING ISSUES THAT ALL START WITH THE HPFP & ESCALATE FROM THERE. REPAIR SHOPS CAN'T FIX THE ISSUES & BMW COVERS UP. NHTSA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MASSIVE BMW ISSUE AFFECTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF OWNERS. JUST GOOGLE IT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221741June 21, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS, HESITATES WHEN DRIVING. MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYS THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS FAILING, BUT CAN BE DRIVEN WITH DECREASED PERFORMANCE AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO BMW. BROUGHT THE CAR TO BMW SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE I HAVE 159K MILES ONE THE SAID VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, (CARLOS - NORWALK BMW), WHO IS POLITE AND HELPFUL, WE FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THREE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES. FIRST IS IN 2009 WHEN THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AFTER FOLLOA YEAR 2010, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN REPLACED THE SAME FUEL PUMP. THEN ON 2013, HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INJECTORS BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN ONGOING AND THIS TIME, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER THE 120K MILES. I BELIEVE THAT BMW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PROPERLY FIX IN THE FIRST PLACE. AT LEAST 3 TIMES OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY BMW), AND STILL NOT RESOLVED! IT IS A GOOD CAR, BUT CAN BE DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT ANYMORE UNTIL I FEEL IT IS SAFE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. AT LOW SPEED, IDLING, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH CAN BE REALLY SCARY. I HOPE THEY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTUALLY FIND AND FIX THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206229May 8, 2019
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
87,000 MILES WARNING LIGHT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT ENGAGED AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE. QUOTED $1800 BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPLACE, FIX. LOOKING FOR RECALL AS MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME. WAS TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T TELL WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL INFLATE OR NOT. AGAINST THE LAW TO DISCONNECT THE LIGHT. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WITHOUT TAKING THE SEAT APART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11189881March 19, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT HEADLIGHTS BUILDS UP CONDENSATION AND ALOT OF WATER. LOWERING VISIBILITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174967February 7, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED, MEANING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DOES NOT KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SITTING THE IN PASSENGER SEAT. APPARENTLY, THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE FOR 2006 BMWS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEWER ONES LIKE THOSE IN 2010. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172770January 29, 2019
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS HUNG UP ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170230January 15, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
MY CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ERROR POPPED UP ON THE MAIN SCREEN OF " "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." IT ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER WHICH I DID. BMW OF WICHITA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE BY THE OWNER AND THEY SAID NO IT JUST A PART THAT FAILED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD OFFER ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE I SET THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND SO I FIGURED I WOULD REPORT IT TO YOU. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OFF A COLD START AND BEFORE ANYONE SAT IN THE SEAT AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164369January 1, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WATER CONDENSES INSIDE THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS IMPACTING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIGHTING SSYSTEM. REPORTED THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161148December 13, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
KNOWN SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO BROKEN WIRING IN E61 WAGON HATCH WIRING. SEE THIS THREAD: HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E61-TOURING-DISCUSSION-4/TAILGATE-WIRING-HARNESS-REPLACEMENT-72751/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132255September 29, 2018
POWER TRAIN
AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO BMW OF BUENA PARK TO TAKE CARE OF A COUPLE OF RECALLS, A COUPLE OF MILES AFTER I GET ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HEARD THE EMERGENCY SOUND ON MY DASHBOARD, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN SAYING ' DRIVE MODERATELY, MAXIMUM DRIVE TRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE' THE CAR DID NOT STOP BUT LOST LOTS OF POWER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11124363September 4, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE RPMS FELL TO 0 AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK. NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND VERY MISTERIOUS. AFTER THE MECHANICS DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE THEY SAID THAT APPARENTLY CYLINDER NUMBER SIX SEIZED. AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE OIL WAS AT HE MAX LEVEL, AS WELL AS ANTIFREEZE, THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. MY MECHANIC ASSUMES THAT IT SEIZED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF PRESSURE, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE AS I WAS TOLD THERE ARE 2 PRESSURE SENSORS IN THIS TYPE OF ENGINE (N55). THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND PRICEY REPAIR, WHICH RAN OVER $7,000. MY CAR HAS 90K MILES AND I'VE BEEN TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EMPLOYEES OF BMW AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON DEFECT, WHICH IS VERY UPSETTING FOR THIS TYPE OF LUXURIOUS SEDAN. SHAME ON YOU BMW!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114710July 31, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF GIVING A FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. I HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS HAS PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114054July 27, 2018
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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