BMW 535xi Complaints (2008)

71 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
#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
#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
#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
#11113720July 26, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE WIPERS KEEP STOPPING, NOT FUNCTIONING, I HAD REPLACED THE MOTOR THREE TIMES NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113836July 26, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH, 2018, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK, I STARTED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY COMPANY'S UNDERGROUND GARAGE AND THE INTERIOR BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND MORE SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT BACK TO MY OFFICE TO CALL AAA. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES LATER I WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SMOKE IN THE GARAGE. AS I APPROACHED THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE BUT I COULD TELL THAT THE BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT WINDOW SHIELDS AND THE SUNROOF WERE SCORCHED. MY KEY FOB DID NOT WORK SO I HAD TO OPEN THE CAR WITH THE KEY. WITH THE DOOR OPEN THE THICK SMOKE ESCAPED AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF A FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BMW OWNERS IN THE PAST AND THAT THIS WAS A COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE IN LETTING YOU KNOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113846July 26, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11088894April 18, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSULATION ON WIRING INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS FALLEN OFF EXPOSING BARE WIRES. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN REPLACING BULBS. DISCUSSION BOARDS ON WEB HAVE MANY OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. BMW DOES NOT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11062694January 14, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE TAILGATE HAVE BEEN BOTH SEVERED AND OTHERWISE DAMAGED BY THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE TAILGATE AND LIFTGLASS. THE HINGES AND WIRING TRAYS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND THE WIRE INSULATION MATERIAL SEEMS TO BE OF A PVC MATERIAL. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MATERIAL IS VULNERABLE TO FAILURE WITH ONLY REGULAR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HARNESS TRAY IN THE TAILGATE HINGES ACT AS SHEARS THAT HAVE SEVERED THE WIRES. THIS PRESENTS SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL OF FIRES FROM ELECTRICAL SHORTS, MALFUNCTIONING AND DAMAGE OF CONTROL MODULES DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, INOPERABLE REAR-DEFOGGER SYSTEM, INOPERABLE KEYFOB REMOTES FOR ENTRY AND LOCKING, LOSS OF RADIO SYSTEM INCLUDING WEATHER BAND FOR SAFETY UPDATES, ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE NOT ONLY A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT EVERY VEHICLE IN THIS DESIGNATION HAS EITHER SUFFERED FROM THESE PROBLEMS OR IS SUSCEPTIBLE. AS NOTED IN SEVERAL BLOGSITES WHERE OWNERS AND REPAIR SPECIALISTS HAVE COMMENTED, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BOTH NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER. CLEARLY A RECALL AND MANUFACTURER-PAID REPAIR SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11048049November 22, 2017
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT C. 89,000 MILES - WARNING: "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTION". BMW DEALER, ROCKVILLE, MD, WANTS $660 TO TELL ME IF IT'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE BAG, AND/OR ITS HOUSING AND/OR ONLY A FAULTY SENSOR SENDING AN INCORRECT MESSAGE (!!) FOLLOWING THAT SUSPICIOUS DRILL THEY CAN THEN FIX IT - A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF IT'S ONLY A SENSOR, MUCH MORE $ IF IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. CAR MOVING OR NOT, THE WARNING REMAINS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043376November 5, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MECHANICAL INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS DEFECT MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE DURING COLD STARTS,HESITATION WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL FOR RAPID ACCELERATION ON HIGHWAY ROADS. THERE IS ALSO A ROUGH IDLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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