BMW 528I Engine Problems
Owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the BMW 528I across 11 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (43). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (11% of reports).
- 205engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $15,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 22 of 205 complaints (11%)
- Engine cooling: mentioned in 14 of 205 complaints (7%)
- Train malfunction: mentioned in 13 of 205 complaints (6%)
- Oil pressure: mentioned in 12 of 205 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the BMW 528I at $15,100, and half of them between $10,800 and $16,300.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 116 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 205 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 19 a fire, 4 an injury.
BMW 528I engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2011
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
1. Vanos Bolts recall. NHTSA Recall 23V-707. Cause the car the have a rough idle, check engine light, car to stall, and cut off in traffic all with seconds. Dealership says it was not the Vanos Bolts that cause the shutdown, but it is the DME and ICM. 2. The safety of myself and my 15 year old…
car engine timing chain guides are faulty and there have been lawsuits that were settled and no recall on the actual part with drivers still having issues with the N20 engine now getting quotes for over $15,000. is this not an incident where itâs not the fault of a driver but manufacturing? This…
I am filing an official safety recall non-compliance and documentation fraud complaint against the franchise dealership, BMW of [XXX], regarding their handling of active safety campaigns B110724 (Electric Water Pump) and B120921 (DME Control Unit).Following a severe engine overheating failure…
the vehicle was driven for approximately 30 minutes, operating with zero dashboard warnings or performance indicators. The vehicle was then parked on my property and turned off completely. Approximately two hours and thirty minutes later, the vehicle spontaneously ignited while stationary and…
car was brought in for a recall could erupt fire from engine and electrical brought car to bmw 8/2025 have checked list when brought in car was in perfect condition per bmw .pick up car checked engine light was on brought back immediately manager took to shop and cleared light immediately came back…
Frequently asked questions
Do all BMW 528Is have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 205 owner complaints about engine for the BMW 528I. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the BMW 528I engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the BMW 528I?
Owners report a typical cost of $15,100 (half paid between $10,800 and $16,300), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the BMW 528I?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 22 of 205 complaints, followed by “engine cooling” (14).
Other BMW 528I problems
See all BMW 528I problems.