BMW 528xi Complaints (2013)

56 consumer complaints on file.

#11510806March 8, 2023
ENGINE
The 2013 BMW 528xi had impeccable maintenance up to this catastrophic event. The mileage was just over 80,000 miles at the time of detonation. The four-cylinder N20's plastic timing chain guide experienced catastrophic failure upon placing the car in drive, obstructing the oil pump's ability to lubricate, scorching the cylinders, and destroying the engine. BMW of North America has covertly settled a class action lawsuit regarding this issue (N20 timing chain guide), which caused this incident on my 528xi. However, no public notices were issued to current customers. Additionally, timing chains are a lifetime component; their guides should be as well unless otherwise specified in the manual. BMW of North America either installed inferior components unknowingly that do not meet their strict OEM specifications or engineered a timing chain bomb that they knowingly are aware of and are liable for all damages associated with this engineered nightmare.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505518February 4, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Something isn’t right with how water travels to and gets into the Front Headlights of these cars weaking the seals and damaging the multiple modules of these headlights my front passenger headlight out of nowhere started forming condensation in the headlight which shorted almost every module in there it barely works now. I have a coworker with with same exact model and year as mines and he said he just had to have his replaced too. My repair guy says he replaces 2 a week on BMW’s at his shop. Something is defective either with the actual headlights or seals or with how the vehicle is designed to allow water to flow down straight to the headlights through the slits in the hood of the car. Now my car will not pass inspection until I pay $4k to replace the headlight. BMW needs to recall these headlights or fix the trajectory issue or the seal or something I should not be responsible for this cost entirely. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496388December 7, 2022
POWER TRAIN
I have a 2013 BMW 528I with 160,299 miles. I bought it 4 months prior to the incident with 145,000-150,000 miles on it. First the beginning of the month, the blower motor from the ac/heating stopped working. This was not covered under the extended service warranty I purchased. Then last that month my girlfriend is driving on the interstate merging onto another interstate when the BMW'S DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND she HAD A LOSS OF POWER. She did everything she was supposed to do. I had the veh towed home. The next day, I went out and it would not even stay running. I then had it towed to the repair shop which was chosen by the dealership I bought the car from. They inspected it and stated that the fuel injectors needed replacing because they were leaking. How was I to know they were leaking. There were no indicators at all prior to the warning light and lost power on the interstate. She could have been badly injured. Warranty stated this was not part of the engine, so they would not cover the repairs. The car is still sitting at the shop 4 months later. it is going to cost over $2000 to repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478921August 12, 2022
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The engine timing chain failed due to faulty plastic guide around the timing chain which gets brittle and brakes in the engine causing catastrophic engine failure. Our safety and the safety of others on the Parkway was put at HIGH RISK because the car goes into some safe mode and puts itself into PARK!! This three lane parkway has no shoulder to pull over on at all! So we were blocking the entire lane during rush hour traffic in NYC!! This problem was confirmed by the BMW dealership where the car is now, and they are fully aware of this issue with certain model BMWs produced between 2012 thru 2015. The vehicle was inspected by BMW Certified Mechanics at their service station. The warning light came on a min before the car shut itself down on this very DANGEROUS stretch of highway!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11448334January 21, 2022
ENGINE
Driving as normal, and came to stoplight at intersection of busy highway. Stopped for red light, and call stalled, and couldn't be restarted. Just as the car shut off, I got a Drivetrain Malfunction warning. Had to have a tow company tow vehicle to my BMW dealer 50+ miles away. Being at a busy intersection at night, and not being able to move the car (couldn't get it out of park), it put the driver at risk until assistance arrived because oncoming traffic wasn't prepared for a vehicle in the middle of the road, and not moving (even with 4-way flashers on) and having the driver stand on the roadside would have been just as dangerous. After running diagnostics, dealer stated timing belt snapped and caused engine damage. Cost of repair would be $13,000 which exceeded the value of the car; ended up buying new car with basically no trade-in value on this car and no financial assistance from BMW. Interesting enough, when I took delivery of my new vehicle, my sales person said there were 2 additional vehicles in their repair shop with the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11447376January 13, 2022
POWER TRAIN
While driving with my children, the u-joint on my BMW 528xi failed, causing the driveshaft to break. There was no warning lights or other system indicators. Because the car was moving, the driveshaft continued to spin, smashing the oil and pan and other components in the car. Thankfully I was driving on a side street and not on a Highway, because I would imagine there could have been injury if this occurred at higher speeds. BMW confirmed that the u-joint failed upon inspection. My personal mechanic said that a driveshaft and u-joint is not a maintenance item and that it should not fail if properly designed and manufactured. I have since learned that BMW recalled this exact component on certain other 5 series and X5 models during the same years, but not my model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11442688December 4, 2021
ENGINE
Driving on highway got Low Oil Pressure light followed by Drivetrain Malfunction. Engine failed, managed to pull over on shoulder because road was deserted. Could have been rear ended or crashed into another vehicle if any cars were on road. Also dangerous to be stranded on the shoulder of a deserted dark highway at night. Towed to BMW Dealer and they diagnosed premature Oil Pump failure causing Timing Chain assembly to break. Said I needed an engine replacement now. This car was inspected by a mechanic who also performed an oil service change just 385 miles prior to this event. Since vehicle has over 100,000 miles, BMW NA is offering no financial assistance at all. Manufacturer placed me in an extremely dangerous and possibly fatal situation due to design flaws and defects in materials.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405634March 30, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER BMW GALLERY NORWELL LOCATED AT 1040 HINGHAM ST, ROCKLAND, MA 02370 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11394398February 3, 2021
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE AND THE ENGINE FAILED THE SAME WAY BOTH TIMES IT WENT FROM 55MPH TO 20 BEGIN TO JERK PROMPTED ME TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387729January 12, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS ONLY AT 66K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373270November 6, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF REST (30MINS-1HR) AND A COUPLE TIMES ON EXTENDED DRIVES(2+ HOURS) CAR STALLS OUT THE FIRST 6 TIMES CAME UP WITH POWER TRAIN AND FUEL MODULE CODES TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN ISSUE APPEARED FIX TILL IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN NO LONGER THROWING CODES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365248October 19, 2020
ENGINE
I AM HAVING THE SAME DRIVETRAIN ISSUES THAT OTHER EARLIER MODEL BMW'S BETWEEN 2011 TO 2015 THAT WAS RECALLED. MY OIL PUMP CHAIN MODULE AND TIMING CHAIN MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR ABOUT A MONTH OFF AND ON. I STARTED MY CAR AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON DASH. I'VE DRIVEN CAR FOR 3,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASING AND IT JUST CAME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330332June 23, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CAR WAS GIVING THE POWERTRAIN SERVICE MESSAGE, WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD START TO POWER DOWN THE CAR APART OF BUILT IN MECHANISM. TOOK TO BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE LOOKED AT. THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINKS WERE FOLDING OVER ON ITSELF, AND THE CHAIN WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY. TIMING CHAIN GUIDES HAVE FAILED, CAUSING EXHAUST CAMSHAFT TO UNSYNC FROM CRANKSHAFT. CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF VALVES CONTACT PISTON. RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE MOTOR AT COST JUST UNDER $15,000. CAR IS UNDER 7 YEARS OLD WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY WAS "EXTENDED" TO COVER THIS ISSUE IN 2018 OUT TO 7 YEARS, 70,000 MILES. THIS HAS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT SPRING OF 2020. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326467May 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
BMW ENGINE N20B20 KNOWN TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THE CAR IN QUESTION IS 2013 BMW 528I XDRIVE, 4 CYL. TURBO ENGINE, AUTOMATIC, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, SEDAN. I WAS AT WORK AND STARTED DRIVING HOME, GOT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, HIT 65 MPH AND IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED BY THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY THAT THERE IS POWERTRAIN ISSUE AND TO PULL OVER AND CALL SERVICE. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR HOME AND THEN AGAIN TO THE SERVICE SINCE IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD 77130 MILES ON THE CAR AT THE MOMENT. I GOT CALL FROM THE SERVICE THIS MORNING 05/29/2020 WHERE THEY STATED: CAR HAD 3 QUARTS OF OIL INSTEAD OF 5 WHICH CAUSED MECHANICAL DAMAGE AND WEAR. PLASTIC LEAD FOR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CHAIN IS LOOSE. CAMSHAFT I BELIEVE IS BROKEN. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE FIX IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT $11,000.00. I ASKED IS THERE ANY OTHER SOLUTIONS BESIDE WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY SAID NO EXCEPT FOR GETTING USED ENGINE INSTEAD OF NEW. NOW I HAVE ONE MORE BMW (2007 328I, N52 6 CYL. ENGINE, 6 SPEED MANUAL, REAR WHEEL DRIVE - STILL IN GREAT SHAPE, NEVER LEFT ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 176000 MILES AND COUNTING), I AM ENTHUSIAST, I TAKE GREAT CARE ABOUT MY CARS. ALWAYS FULL SYNTHETIC OIL EVERY 5000 MILES, ALWAYS MANN FILTER(S), ALWAYS BMW SPEC LL-01 FOR US, ALWAYS CASTROL MADE IN BELGIUM. ALL THE PARTS GENUINE, BEST TIRES. WITH ALL THAT CARE I KNOW THE WEAKNESS - OIL THIRSTY ENGINES. THE CAR THAT'S IN PROBLEM GOT IT'S OIL CHECKED THAT MORNING OR DAY BEFORE AND SHOWED UP MAX. THOSE NEW ENGINES HAVE ELECTRICAL OIL READER (NO STICK ANYMORE) SO I HAVE TO RELY ON THAT. I AM HEAVILY DISAPPOINTED IN BMW AND HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THIS ISSUE. THEY SHOULD OFFER REMEDY AND FULL REIMBURSEMENT OR RECALL FOR THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11322933May 1, 2020
ENGINE
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD (CROSSING OVER RT 29 IN MALVERN, PA). A MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN IN MY CAR SAID DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT HE SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11316532March 6, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AFTER 6 YEARS AND 65000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308711February 12, 2020
ENGINE
BOUGHT USED 2013 BMW 528I XDRIVE 0N 4/2018 WITH OVER 94K MIKES. CAR IN GREAT CONDITION AND ALWAYS SERVICED. AT 123K MILES, WARNING SIGNALS CAME ON ("OIL PRESSURE LOW, DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, STOP IMMEDIATELY AND TOW TO DEALER"). WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON STREET IN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PULLED OVER AND AS I COASTED TO STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF PRIOR TO MY STOPPING. WHEELS LOCKED UPON STOP. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. TIMING CHAIN JUMPED OFF TRACK AND RUINED THE ENGINE. NO SIGNS LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT. REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WILL COST BETWEEN $12-15,000. COST MORE THAN CAR. I HAD TO SCRAP IT. (CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FROM REPAIR SHOP WHEN/IF YOU NEED IT).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308786February 12, 2020
ENGINE
CAR WAS IN MOTION BROKE DOWN ON HIGHWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308564February 11, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY BMW, A 2013 528I MODEL, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY. A WARNING MESSAGE INDICATED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. AS I ATTEMPTED TO NAVIGATE TO THE SHOULDER, ANOTHER MESSAGE STATED THERE WAS A DRIVE-TRAIN MALFUNCTION. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO DECELERATE,.SHUT DOWN AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11300997January 21, 2020
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING FROM MEMPHIS TO PCB LAST FRIDAY WHEN I LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NEAR BIRMINGHAM. FIRST THE 'OIL PRESSURE LOW' WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE 'DRIVETRAIN' WARNING LIGHT. PULLED OVER AND GOT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN B'HAM, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE ROUGHLY 15-17K. THEY DIDN'T VISUALLY INSPECT THE TIMING CHAIN...JUST A HUNCH BY THEIR LEAD MECHANIC BASED ON THE TICKING HE HEARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET THE ENGINE TO START. THEY OFFERED TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE ISSUE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $1000, WHICH I DECLINED. I'M HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MEMPHIS, WHERE I WILL LOOK INTO FINDING A SECOND-HAND ENGINE FOR REPLACEMENT. I WILL BE TRACKING THE LAWSUIT. MY CAR (2013 528I XDRIVE) ONLY HAD 74K MILES, AND I OWE WHAT THEY QUOTED ME FOR A NEW ENGINE, SO THAT'S NOT A CONSIDERATION. I HAVE BEEN RELIGIOUS WITH MAINTENANCE, WITH ALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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