2008 BMW 5 Series Complaint Log

PURCHASED A 2008 BMW 535I IN JUNE 2008. VEHICLE HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, STARTED TO HAVE THE "ENGINE MALFUNCTION/REDUCED POWER" LIGHT COME ON ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR APPROX TWO WEEKS AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THEY REPLACE SOME FUEL INJECTORS AND SPARK PLUGS. HAD THE VEHICLE BACK APPROX 3 WEEKS. HAPPENED AGAIN. LUCKILY STILL NOT ON THE FREEWAY. DROVE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED MORE FUEL INJECTORS. HAD THE VEHICLE BACK A WEEK AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES GOING 65 MPH AND ALMOST WAS IN A MAJOR TRAFFICE ACCIDENT. CALLED THE DEALER TODAY (SATURDAY) AND THE SERVICE DEPT IS NOT IN ON WEEKENDS. SALES MANAGER SAID "TAKE THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE ELSE" AND "IT WON'T AFFECT US IF SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED AND A LAWSUIT IS FILED". AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT.

2008 BMW 535I-ENGINE POWER FAILURE, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND MANEUVERING ABILITY. *TR

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED, PRE-OWNED 2008 BMW 535XI WITH APPROX. 22,000 MILES ON 10/23/10. SUBSEQUENT TO MY PURCHASE, I DISCOVERED THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IN THE VEHICLE HAD EARLIER FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED. ON 10/28/10, JUST 5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING - I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET WHEN THE CAR BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND ROCKING, THE ENGINE LOST SUBSTANTIAL POWER AND NEARLY STALLED, AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 10/28/10 AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED 10/30/10. 3 OF 4 FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL SPARKPLUGS. AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION WOULD POSE AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK IN MY OPINION. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW USA AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE RESPONSE TO-DATE. *TR

2008 BMW 535I. ENGINE START-UP TAKES LONGER THAN NORMAL. THE ENGINE IDLES ROUGH AND HESITANT TO ACCELERATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. BMW CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER A RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER. *TR

OUR 2008 BMW 528I HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CHARGING THE BATTERY IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES OR MULTIPLE STOPS. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WILL STOP AND NOT START. AFTER FOUR (4) TRIPS TO THE DEALER (TRUCKED TWICE) THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT IT IS AN OPERATOR PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLUGGED INTO AND ELECTRICAL BATTERY CHARGER WHEN NOT IN USE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY INDICATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN DAILY FOR DRIVES OF MORE THAN 20 MILES TO HOPEFULLY CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE ISSUE HAS US IN FEAR OF THE VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR VERY SLOWLY REGAINED MOMENTUM. A FEW MINUTES LATER, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF, I RESTARTED IT, PUT IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, PUT IT INTO DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD, TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. I TRIED TO PUT IT INTO DRIVE AGAIN BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE CAR WAS DEAD AND MESSAGE FLASHED ON "REDUCED ENGINE POWER." FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE RMFD HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. BMW TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS, 120,000 MILES. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER WITH AN EXTENSIVE REDUCTION IN POWER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED WITH CAUTION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, SPARK PLUGS AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES IN WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP WAS REPLACED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION. IN ADDITION, WHEN ENCOUNTERING A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND DOWN-SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO SECOND GEAR, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WOULD OCCUR. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. UPDATED 01/28/11 *BF UPDATED 02/07/11

2008 BMW 535I - CAR HAS HAD 3 FUEL PUMPS, 3 SEPARATE VISITS FOR PLUGS / INJECTORS, LAST VISIT FOR REPLACED FUEL PUMP CREATED LARGE FUEL LEAK IN CAR WHICH RESULTED IN TOW TO DEALER. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT PROBLEM. HPFP, REPEATED ENGINE PROGRAM. *TR

I HAD MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I MENTIONED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SLOW TO START IN THE MORNING, AND IDLED ROUGHLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS 'REPROGRAMMED" AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. YESTERDAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE RIGHT, THROUGH 3 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH A CAR THAT BARELY ACCELERATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A BAD SENSOR. THIS MORNING, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MY WIFE TRIED TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, BUT THE ENGINE DIED AT THE LIGHT. SHE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, AND MADE IT HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND THE CAR DIED AGAIN. SHE WAS VERY WORRIED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO GET HIT WHILE STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION. FINALLY, AFTER A FEW MORE CYCLES OF STARTING THE CAR, GOING A FEW FEET, AND THE CAR DYING, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN, AND NOW THEY ARE CHANGING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR

HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE INSTANCES IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS WHERE MY CAR STALLED OR SPUTTERED WITH LOSS OF POWER , AND ONCE I HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. DANGEROUS SITUATION IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. *TR

ENGINE MALFUNCTION -- REDUCED POWER AND THEN THE CAR EITHER REDUCES POWER OR DIES COMPLETELY. ALSO, COLD ENGINE ROUGH START AND ROUGH IDLE. TO DATE, FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED, WHERE UPON IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I NO LONGER BUY SAM'S CLUB 93 OCTANE GAS BUT A "NAME BRAND." I DID -- PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED ON JULY 24, 2010, OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT WARNING, THIS TIME WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT A FEW MOMENTS AND RESTART. THE BMW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR SINCE LATE JULY, AND HAVE NOW REPLACED ONE OF THE TURBOS IN THE ENGINE. I AM HOPING NOBODY HAS TO DIE BEFORE BMW IS ASKED TO RECALL N54 ENGINE BMW'S OR BUY BACK THE ONES THEY HAVE SOLD. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RECOMMENDED THAT I WRITE A COMPLAINT TO BMW NORTH AMERICA. I WILL. THERE IS ALSO A PETITION GOING -- HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/MOD_PERL/SIGNED.CGI?FIXPUMP WHICH I THINK WILL GIVE YOU SOME IDEA ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THANK YOU. ' *TR

BMW 535XI SPORT WAGON 2008- .. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ICON CAME ON ABOVE SPEEDOMETER - ORANGE ENGINE/HALF BLACK AND ON DASHBOARD BELOW NAVI READOUT "ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER." FROM THEN ON WE HAD NO THRUST WITH GAS PEDAL. CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED. THIS THEN HAPPENED FOUR MORE TIMES. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP AND PARTS WERE THROWN AT IT AND EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD THE ISSUE WAS PROBABLY FIXED BUT THEY REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ABOUT 30 DAYS SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. PARTS REPLACED WERE VACUUM HOSE BLACK, VACUUM PUMP, PRESSURE SENSOR,REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THROTTLE, REPLACED ALL VACCUUM HOSES ON 7/14/10, CHARGED BATTERY 7/27. *TR

ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS THE SECOND EPISODE. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODE I HAD TAKEN IT TO BMW DEALER,THEY HAD IT INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND FIXED IT. I HAPPENED TODAY AGAIN AND HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY IT IS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM AND GAVE A THURSDAY APPOINTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY I AM FACING ATLEAST A 40% POWER REDUCTION. *TR

REDUCED POWER FROM ENGINE. PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WITH REGULAR POWER. REDUCED POWER IN TRAFFIC AT 40MPH. PULLED OVER SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED WITH FULL RETURN OF POWER. ONE REPEAT OF PROBLEM 3 MONTHS LATER WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTION AUXILIARY PARTS. TOO SOON TO KNOW IF PROBLEM WILL RECUR. *TR

JUNE, 2010 - I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 BMW 535 STATION WAGON ON THE HIGHWAY (LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY I-495, NEW YORK) AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR LURCHED, MADE A LOUD NOISE AND LOST POWER. BMW REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AUGUST 2009 - THE CAR STARTED BUT LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD WENT ON SAYING "VEHICLE HAD REDUCED POWER". IT WAS TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AUGUST 2008 - THE BMW LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THEY MADE A REPAIR TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *TR

2008 BMW 535XI- ENGINE FAILURES AND REDUCED POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS- VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

2008 BMW 535I "ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER!" MESSAGE ON 06/07/10. IT HAS AROUND 30K MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WASTEGATE MALFUNCTION. I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER ON 06/08/10 AND DROVE IT TO FLORIDA ON 06/09/10. AFTER BEING IN FLORIDA FOR 4 DAYS, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE I-DRIVE SYSTEM FROZE AND EVENTUALLY POWERED OFF AND CAME RIGHT BACK ON. THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT, AND I MADE IT BACK TO ATLANTA THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUES (NO ERROR ON THE DISPLAY). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, 06/14 AND THIS TIME A LOW PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER YESTERDAY (06/16) AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. DROVE TO WORK TODAY (06/17), NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME TODAY, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE CAR WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. THESE CARS APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING! *TR

THE SEAT BELT'S HEIGHT IS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND TOO LOW FOR A 6FT5IN DRIVER. THE SEAT BELT OFTEN RIDES ON LEFT SIDE OF SHOULDER INSTEAD OF ON TOP. IT IS NOT LIKELY TO FUNCTION OPTIMALLY IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. *TR

CAR LOSES POWER 2008 BMW.535I *WE HAD JUST GOTTEN IT OUT OF THE SHOP (NEW PLUGS AND NEW BRAKES ,CHANGED THE OIL AIR FILTER FULL SERVICE) AND THE NEXT DAY WE HAD GONE OUT FOR SUPPER WHEN THE CAR WOULD BARRLY RUN IT WAS LIKE IT HAD 2 CYCLINDERS. HAD THE BMW PLACE PICK UP AND THEY SAID IT WAS LOW FUEL PUMP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER. WHEN THEY GOT THAT IN IT DID NOT FIX IT SO THE PUT ANOTHER SET OF PLUGS AND NEW COILS AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IN ALSO. THEY ENDED UP COVERING THE WHOLE BILL. BUT IT SEEMS NOT TO RUN LIKE IT USE TO. NOT AS MUCH POWER. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND MORE INFO ON PROBLEM AND HOW THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY.* TR

ON 5/20/10, MY 2008 BMW 535XI SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A SINGLE LANE, RESULTING IN A NEAR REAR-END COLLISION. THIS HAPPENED ONCE PREVIOUSLY. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LATEST INCIDENCE TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CASE # [XXX] ???. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE N54 ENGINE IN THE BMW IS A HAZARD-I ALMOST GOT KILLED WHEN MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD-BMW REPLACED THE HP FUEL PUMP 3X ALREADY AND THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO FIX THE PROBLEM? *TR

2008 BMW 535I TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND SENT ME ON MY MERRY WAY. TOOK MY CAR IN ON MONDAY, MAY 4 DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH AND TICKING NOISE IN ENGINE...TOLD THEM WE WERE GOING ON A 1,000 MILE ROAD TRIP THE END OF THE WEEK. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BUT DID REPLACE SOME BRAKE ITEMS. DRIVING HOME AT THE END OF OUR TRIP, ON ACCELERATION MY CAR 'SKIPPED' THREE TIMES....A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER I TESTED IT AND ACCELERATED AGAIN (ON FL TURNPIKE) IT 'SKIPPED' HARD AGAIN THREE TIMES. GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT...AT THE LIGHT I GOT A 'ENGINE MALFUNCTION' LIGHT AND LIMPED INTO THE 7-11. PUT GAS IN CAR, CALLED BMW CONCIERGE. WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, GET A DRIVER TO HELP US TRANSFER ALL OUR LUGGAGE ETC, AND TAKE US HOME. NEXT DAY CALLED DEALERSHIP...THEY HAD CAR DAY AND A HALF AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP. I UNDERSTAND FROM TONS OF BMW OWNER BLOGS THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE...WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR IN FRONT OF A SEMI LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILY'S HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACE NOT ONE, TWO, OR THREE TIMES BUT CONTINUOUS...FOUR! THIS IS ABSURD. WHERE'S BMW'S INTEGRITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ADDRESS THE SITUATION, AND NOT PUT THEIR CONSUMERS IN HARMS WAY. DO WE NEAR A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE OR OUR FAMILY'S FILING LAWSUITS ONCE WE'RE SIX FEET IN THE GRAVE FOR THEM TO STAND UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS ONCE AND FOR ALL???? *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REDUCED POWER CAME ON, BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP. THEY "REPAIRED" CAR FOR 10 MINUTES.. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH WHEN IT RAN. IT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. CAR STOPPED AND HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED. DANGER! BMW BOUGHT ME OUT OF MY LEASE..THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

I AM REPORTING KNOWN FAILURES AND AN "UNOFFICIAL RECALL" (SEE WEB LINK TO BMS SERVICE REPORT) OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS FOR 2008/2009 BMW CARS WITH THE 3 LITER TWIN TURBO ENGINES. WHEN THESE FUEL PUMPS FAIL THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF POWER AND THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP MODE". BMW HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMPS TO OVER 100K MILES AND 10 YEARS, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FORMAL SAFETY INVESTIGATION BY THE US GOVERNMENT (THAT I KNOW OF) OR A FORMAL RECALL BY BMW SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF CARS SUDDENLY SLOW AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 BMW 535, IT IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE MORNING AND I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN/IF MY FUEL PUMP WILL FAIL - TO THE POINT I WILL NO LONGER LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR. WWW.BMWBLOG.COM/2009/03/.../MORE-BMW-FUEL-PUMP-NEWS/ HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=181600. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGHLY. A WARNING LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. WE STOPPED THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DESTINATION (SHOPPING). WHEN WE FINISHED OUR SHOPPING, I STARTED THE CAR AND IT CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY AND THE SAME WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE APPEARED. I WANTED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE BUT WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE THE CAR STALLED. I RESTARTED THE CAR, DROVE IT ABOUT 100 FEET INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP, A SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HEARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE PUMP WITHOUT GETTING AUTHORIZATION FROM BMW BECAUSE BMW HAD HAS SO MANY FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

ON APRIL 6, 2010 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A SHOPPING CENTER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON OUR BMW 528I AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE REAR WHEELS STARTED SPINNING, BURNING RUBBER ON THE PAVEMENT APX. 25 FT. BEFORE I COULD STOP BY PRESSING THE STOP/START SWITCH. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY PARKING SPACE SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR OTHER CARS. WHEN I GOT OVER THE SHOCK, I STARTED THE MOTOR AND IT WAS STILL UNDER FULL THROTTLE. AGAIN, I PRESSED THE STOP SWITCH. I WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC SO AGAIN, I PRESSED THE START SWITCH AND THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. I BACKED UP INTO MY ORIGINAL SPACE AND CALLED THE BMW DEALER WHO SENT A TOW-TRUCK TO DELIVER THE CAR TO THEIR SHOP. BMW SENT A FIELD TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE CAR ON 4/20/2010. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL STATING NO MECHANICAL FAULTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY ANYONE AND THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP OR A $25/DAY STORAGE FEE WOULD BE CHARGED TO US. I TOLD THEM I WOULD NEVER TAKE THE MORAL OR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN SO THEY AGREED TO DELIVER IT TO OUR HOME. I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE DEALER'S MGR. AND CALLED HIM SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK FOR A REPURCHASE OF THE CAR. WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. WE WERE FORCED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY WHO CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BMW REGIONAL OFFICE. THE REGIONAL OFFICE REVIEWED THE SERVICE RECORD AND REFUSED TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THE DECISION BY BMW REGIONAL OFFICE COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THIS LEFT US WITH NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO PAY OFF THE LEASE ONE YEAR EARLY AND GET THE CAR OUT OF OUR POSSESSION. A CASHIER'S CHECK FOR $5,694.87 WAS MAILED TO BMW ON 8/23/2010 AND THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 8/30/2010 WITH 7,299 MILES ON IT. BMW NOW HAS A CAR WORTH APX. $5,000 MORE THAN IT WILL BE AT THE END OF THE LEASE ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2011. IT ANGERS US THAT BMW WOULD FORCE US TO KEEP A CAR THAT COULD PUT US & OTHERS IN HARM'S WAY IF WE DROVE IT, WITH A RISK OF UNLIMITED LIABILITY! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREOWNED VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL 2010. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF . THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. ON JUNE 2, 2010 THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THAT FUEL PUMP WITH A "NEW" PUMP. THE DEALER WAS DELIVERING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE OWNER AND THE MECHANIC EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW DECIDED TO TAKE A FUEL SAMPLE FROM THE TANK TO DETERMINE IF THE FUEL WAS THE CORRECT. THEY ALSO ADVISED THEY HAD FOUND DEBRIS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. BMW STATED THAT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE FUEL TANK OFF AND CLEAN IT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF ABOUT $3,000.00 AS THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT WAITING FOR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

CAR HAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUCTION SINCE FABRICATION.WAS NEVER HANDLED. I AM NEW OWNER AND TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODELL AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT MY VIN DOESNT FALL UNDER IT. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS.

MY 2008 535 BMW FUEL PUMP WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE POWER. THANK GOD THE ON COMING TRAFFIC STOPED. BMW IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION

CAR HAS SUDDEN REDUCED POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING AND "REDUCED POWER" WARNING SIGN COME ON. HAPPENED 4 TIMES. BMW HAS "REPAIRED" THREE TIME (REPROGRAMMED CAR, REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS) TO NO AVAIL. ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT THIS MORNING. WHEN I TRIED TO HIT THE GAS, POWER DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY AND I NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED AND HIT IN AN INTERSECTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THERE WAS A SUDDEN REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER FOR 30 SECONDS. THE ENGINE SHUTTERED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,500.

I HAVE A 2008 BMW 535 XI THAT HAS SHOWN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER/ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE. THE CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE AND BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THANKFULLY, BOTH TIMES I WAS WITHIN A MILE OF THE HIGHWAY EXIT. I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON LONG TRAVELS BECAUSE A REDUCED ENGINE POWER MALFUNCTION COULD ENDANGER ME AND MY FAMILY. BMW ATTEMPTED TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS FIRST BY REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THEN BY REPLACING ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. THUS FAR THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN BETTER BUT I AM STILL LEERY OF THE CAR. *TR

1) STARTING/DRIVING CAR 2) ENGINE MALFUNCTION, LOSS OF POWER, REAR END COLLISION POSSIBLE WHEN DRIVING. *TR

MY BMW 535XI STARTED HAVING FUEL PUMP ISSUES STARTING AROUND 14 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, AT 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT INTO SAFETY MODE, CASING IT TO SLOW DOWN TO A SNAILS PACE. A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED. THE SECOND TIME IT WOULD NOT START IN A PARKING LOT AFTER TURNING IT OFF FOR 10 MINUTES AFTER A 20 MINUTE DRIVE. I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSIST AND THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN WHO WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. HE TOLD ME TO TAKE TO THE DEALER BUT IT SHOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE HOME. I LEFT THE LOT AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES IT COMPLETELY SEIZED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE LEFT LANE. MY 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR. I AM THANKFUL WE SURVIVED. I CALLED THE TECHNICIAN BACK AND HE CONVINCED ME TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH HIM FOLLOWING TO THE DEALER (APPROX 3 MILES). WHEN I COMPLAINED TO BMW THEY DID NOT SHOWED NO CONCERN THAT WE WERE PUT IN HARMS WAY. IN THIS INSTANCE THE FUEL TEMPERATURE SENSOR/PRESSURE SENSOR HAD A PERMANENT FAILURE. AT 19,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SUSPECTED THE FUEL PUMP BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SO CORPORATE WOULD NOT ALLOW REPLACEMENT. AGAIN AT 20,370 MILE, CHECK ENGINE PLUS "COLD START NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS" NO ACTION BECAUSE NOT TRIPPING CORPORATE SPECIFICATIONS. AT, 21,092, HIGH PRESSURE PUMP PERMANENT MALFUNCTION. ENGINE WAS FLOODED WITH FUEL. FIVE DAYS AND 100 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE FLOODED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING AND ALL THE SPARK PLUGS WERE SOAKED WITH GAS AND HALF WERE NOT WORKING. AT THAT TIME (NOV. 2010) I ASKED BMW TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. BMW AGREED TO A "TRADE ASSIST" THAT WILL COST US AN ADDITIONAL $33,000 TO BE GET A NEW CAR. WE DO NO UNDERSTAND HOW AFTER ALMOST KILLING US WE CANNOT GET OUT OF THIS CAR WITHOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY. WE REFUSE TO SELL OUR PROBLEM TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW 535I AND RECEIVED THE DREADED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER" READOUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT DEVELOP MORE THAN 1,500 RPMS. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, A RATHER COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THE HPFP WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR HAS PERFORMED FINE NOW FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, ALTHOUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED READOUT DID APPEAR ONE MORE TIME, BUT I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT IMMEDIATELY AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *TR

LOSS OF POWER TO CAR: 1 TURBOCHARGER REPLACED LOSS OF POWER TO CAR: FUEL PUMP REPLACED LOSS OF POWER TO CAR: 3 FUEL INJECTORS AND 3 SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. *TR

ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND IS COMBINED WITH A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. HAVE HAD BMW DEALER TROUBLESHOOT BUT NO RESOLUTION AFTER 7 ATTEMPTS. *TR

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR STOPPED REAL FAST (NOT TO A COMPLETION), COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS BEHIND ME. *TR

ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD STARTING; MOST RECENTLY THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS DURING MORNING TRAFFIC FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO BOSTON, MA. AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WAS POSSIBLY SOME INDICATION OF GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BMW DEALERSHIP REPORTS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM IN ITS LATE MODEL VEHICLES YET I HAVE HAD NO WARNINGS OR RECALL NOTICE FROM THE FACTORY. TWO ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS . THE WAGON WILL VISIT THE SHOP FOR A THIRD TIME TOMORROW ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE MALFUNCTION. *TR

MY 2008 BMW 528I HAS NOW SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN DOWN-SHIFTED, AT HIGH SPEED (60MPH) WITHOUT WARNING 4 TIMES. THREE OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAYS OF LOS ANGELES. THIS LATEST INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE HIT BY MULTIPLE CARS AS I COASTED TO A GOREPOINT AT A FREEWAY OFFRAMP. *TR

CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THIS TIME, 2 FUEL INJECTORS AND PLUGS WILL BE REPLACED. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN THE SAME EACH TIME - ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, LOW POWER MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND CAR RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH. ONE INCIDENT REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP AS IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RE-START. BASED ON INFORMATION ON THIS SITE AND IN THE BMW FORUMS, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR IS NOT BEING ADEQUATELY REPAIRED, BUT JUST PATCHED. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR THAT MIGHT STALL OR LOSE SIGNIFICANT POWER WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. *TR

FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) IN MY 2008 BMW 535I. CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSED A UNSAFE REDUCTION OF SPEED BEING THE CAR BY DESIGN WILL REDUCE POWER DURING THE FAILURE TO SAVE THE ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAULTY BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A WALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK A CRASH COULD REOCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,473 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,469.

TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARKED AND VEHICLE BLOCKING MOVING TRUCK. UNABLE TO TOW AUTO BECAUSE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR UNLOCKING MECHANISM. NECESSARY TO CONTACT BMW DIRECTLY FOR ASSISTANCE TO UNLOCK TRANSMISSION AND VEHICLE SUBSEQUENT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

I WAS ROUTINELY EMPTYING THE TRUNK OF MY 2008 BMW 528I ON AUGUST 1, 2009. I HAD TO RETURN TO THE CAB AND MY RIGHT CALF BRUSHED AGAINST THE EXPOSED CHROME TAILPIPES FOR NO MORE THAN A SECOND. THE TAILPIPE WAS SO HOT, I GOT A SECOND DEGREE BURN ABOUT 5 INCHES LONG. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO HAVE THE WOUND DRESSED AS IT WAS BLISTERING AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT INFECTION. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW BUT THEY DENY THERE IS ANY DANGER. THIS INJURY COULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME OR ANOTHER PARTY. SEE PHOTOS OF INJURIES AT BMWTAILPIPEBURN.BLOGSPOT.COM. *TR

2008 BMW 535I, WITH SPORT PACKAGE WITH 3.0 LTR TWIN TURBO ENGINE. TWICE SINCE PURCHASING NEW ON 1 AUGUST 2008 THE "ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER" WARNING APPEARED. IN BOTH CASES WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED AFTER DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MILES AS DID THE LACK OF POWER. CAR ALSO OCCASIONALLY STARTS WITH ROUGH IDLE THAT DISAPPEARS WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE. CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME AND INITIAL REPORTS SHOW RECORD OF "MISFIRE" EVENT. ISSUE COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS AT A VERY INOPPORTUNE TIME SUCH AS WHEN ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED TO SAFELY BLEND INTO TRAFFIC. NEEDS DEFINITIVE FIX IMMEDIATELY! MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE IN MANY FORUMS SUGGEST THAT FIX IS NOT YET AVAILABLE FROM BMW. PERHAPS A REDESIGNED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS REQUIRED VICE A REPLACEMENT WITH ONE OF THE CURRENT DESIGN. *TR

THE CAR SHOWED ENGINE MALFUNCTION SIGN WITHOUT WARNING IN MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET. ALL POWER, STEERING, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. I COULDN'T MOVE THE WHATSOEVER. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND AVOID POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

THIS OTHERWISE FINE AUTOMOBILE SEEMS TO GO THROUGH BATTERIES QUICKLY. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN MAY 2007. SINCE THEN BATTERIES HAVE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AS FOLLOWS: 2009 2011 2013 AND NOW IN 2015 THE NEW BMW BATTERY INSTALLED IN 2013 IS BADLY DISCHARGED. IN 2011 THE DEALER RAN THIS CAR THROUGH AN EXHAUSTIVE ELECTRICAL ANALYSIS AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THEN WHY ARE BATTERIES DYING SO QUICKLY? COUNTING THE ORIGINAL BATTERY I'VE BEEN THROUGH 4 ALREADY AND THE 5TH ONE SEEMS ABOUT TO DIE. BMW TOOK CARE OF THE 1ST TWO REPLACEMENTS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE 3RD AND PENDING 4TH REPLACEMENTS ARE ON MY TAB. SOMETHING APPEARS TO BE FAULTY WITH THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY THE VEHICLE'S SLEEP MODE. BMW SHOULD FIND THE DEFECT AND REPAIR IT AT NO OR NOMINAL CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS LIKE ME WHO BUY CAR BATTERIES MORE OFTEN THAN FLASHLIGHT BATTERIES. THANK YOU. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD. WE WERE GOING UP A SLOPE, OUR CAR ( BMW 5 SERIES) SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BEYOND 30 MPH. WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER CONTACTING BMW, THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY CAN NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS ALL THE DEALERS ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. SO WE DROVE THE CAR SLOWLY TO THE HOUSE ( 3 MILES AWAY). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER NEXT DAY, WERE TOLD THAT IT IS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED. NOW WE HAVE THE CAR BACK. BMW DEALER MENTIONED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO MENTIONED THAT SUCH A FAILURE IS AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE FOR THE CAR'S GREAT ENGINE. MY WIFE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAY FAIL WITH THE CHILDREN WITH HER IN THE CAR, IT WILL BE DANGEROUS. EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO AND FROM WORK I AM WORRIED THAT THE ENGINE MAY FAIL AND TRULY CAN NOT TRUST THE "GREAT ENGINE" THAT THE DEALER IS SO PROUD OF. *TR