2008 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3 Series years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 3 Series. That ranks 6th out of 20 3 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (19 complaints, 28%), typically at around 61,374 miles. Complaints mention 4 fires, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 68owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 BMW 3 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 | 28% | 61,374 | — | — |
| Engine | 13 | 19% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 15% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 7% | 15,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 7% | 25,970 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 7% | 145,932 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 6% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 4% | 25,250 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 4% | 39,600 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 4% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 4% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 3% | 85,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 94,167 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 48,334 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 38,913 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 BMW 3 Series recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Fix: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Seat belts:front; air bags:frontal
Problem: Bmw is recalling 2,350 my 2008 1-series and 3- series passenger cars. Incorrect crimp connectors may have been used on the side air bag and belt tensioner wiring. As a result sufficient contact between the crimp connectors and the corresponding plug may not occur which could lead to an increase in the electrical resistance of that connection.
Risk: If that happened, it would be possible for the side air bag and/or the safety belt tensioner not to deploy and will not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2009. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services toll-free at 1-800-525-7417.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Was driving on highway going 80 and the car just shut down, was unable to steer, left me and my 9 year old stranded for about 30 minutes untill it started back up, everyday everytime i drive it no matter what the speed it shuts down and have to pray that i don't get hit by a car or am able to glide…
My 2008 bmw 335xi with 42000 miles was stored in my heated shop. The car started on fire and destroyed the contents of my shop and the car. Bmw sent an inspector to check the damage and took hundreds of pictures. Clearly the fire started under the glove compartment area and continued to burn until…
I received a recall letter telling me to stand by for another recall letter to then tell me to have the car fixed. The car blown up parked outside of my house it has not been used for 24 hours prior to the incident. I have just now recently recieved the second recall letter months later no. 17v-676
I own a 2008 335i twin turbo bmw 3 series, while driving i started smelling a fresh gas smell in the back of my car inside and outside, really strong smell so much i have to keep my windows down and it gives me a headache and i feel like my car is going to catch on fire with any given spark and it…
The wires on the inside of my headlights are cracked, and have a lot of bare copper showing. The plastic sheathing (cable jacket) has become brittle from the heat, and is falling apart, exposing the conductor. This is creating the risk of an electrical fire or damage to the electrical system. The…
Other BMW 3 Series years
← 2007 3 Series · 2009 3 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 3 Series | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 3 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2011 3 Series | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 3 Series | 30 | 2 |
| 2009 3 Series | 53 | 1 |
| 2008 | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 3 Series | 115 | 1 |
| 2006 3 Series | 202 | 3 |
| 2005 3 Series | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 3 Series | 77 | 0 |
| 2003 3 Series | 73 | 0 |
| 2002 3 Series | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 3 Series | 36 | 1 |
| 2000 3 Series | 88 | 1 |
| 1999 3 Series | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 3 Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 3 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 3 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 BMW 3 Series?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW 3 Series?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 BMW 3 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3 Series model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.