2008 BMW 535I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 535I years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 535I. That ranks 2nd out of 11 535I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (27 complaints, 36%), typically at around 81,068 miles. Complaints mention 4 fires, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 74owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 BMW 535I 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27 | 36% | 81,068 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 22% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 15 | 20% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 18% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 12% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 9% | 94,900 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 8% | 118,524 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 8% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 7% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 4% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 4% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% | 51,150 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% | 315,700 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 1 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 36,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 BMW 535I recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Problem: BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
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.
here is wisdom; traffic circles; eliminate collisions 98% cut pollution fossil fuels & signal electricity 98%; cut manhour prevailing wages 98% employee med sick vac and retirement 98% and equipment maintenance 98% yes 98% of wasted taxpayer revenue allotted to traffic signal intersections can…
The vehicle front passenger seat sensor MAT (SRS) failure. This is a safety-related issue. The same item was recalled for prior years' models. A recall should issued be for this model and and year.
Hpfp is going bad engine light comes on long crank start
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 bmw 535i. The contact stated while driving at 30 mph, when warning message of "engine hot and drive moderately" was illuminated on the instructional panel. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and then saw smoke exiting the front passenger side of the…
Copious amounts of smoke are released upon start and now it smokes even worse no matter what. It used to stop but not anymore. So many people have a problem with this. I noticed my car couldn't accelerate and then smoke started coming everywhere and then it ran ok but as soon as i got home my car…
Other BMW 535I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 535I | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 535I | 12 | 2 |
| 2015 535I | 23 | 0 |
| 2014 535I | 30 | 2 |
| 2013 535I | 39 | 1 |
| 2012 535I | 54 | 1 |
| 2011 535I | 112 | 4 |
| 2010 535I | 58 | 1 |
| 2009 535I | 71 | 1 |
| 2008 | 74 | 1 |
| 1995 535I | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW 535I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2008 BMW 535I badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 BMW 535I?
Owners most often report engine, exterior lighting, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 27 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW 535I?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 BMW 535I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 535I model years, the 2008 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.