2008 BMW 535xi recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Power train

  Car is over heating. Replace water pump and thermostat. Car still over heating. Bad water pumps.

  Apr 14, 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

  May 26, 2024
• Electrical system

  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…

  Feb 3, 2023
• 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?

  Feb 15, 2022
• EngineFire

  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…

  Apr 16, 2022
• 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…

  Apr 8, 2020
• Engine

  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.

  Jun 1, 2019 · 93,450 miles
• Electrical system

  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…

  Nov 10, 2019 · 116,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.