2008 BMW M5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other M5 years
- Not enough data 4th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW M5. That ranks 4th out of 21 M5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 33%), typically at around 72,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 6owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 BMW M5 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 | 2 | 33% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 33% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 17% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 17% | 40,480 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 17% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 17% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 17% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 17% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 17% | 40,480 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 17% | 40,480 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 BMW M5 recalls (2)
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].
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: Bmw is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 5-series, model year 2004-2010 6-series, model year 2006-2010 m5, and model year 2007-2010 m6 vehicles. The insulated bulkhead connector for the positive battery cable may have been incorrectly attached to the trunk floor panel, which can lead to a loosening of the bolt connection. As it loosens, an increase in electrical resistance at this cable connection is possible and could cause the cable connection to overheat.
Risk: Overheating could lead to a fire, even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the battery bolt cable connection as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 30, 2012. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services 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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 bmw m5. The contact stated while attempting to parallel park, the vehicle was shifted to reverse and a loud pop noise was heard as flames was seen coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated people outside of the vehicle…
While driving my bmw m5, the vehicle became momentarily unstable while driving on state route 52 between walker valley and ellenville around a turn @ ~50mph. Shortly after the abs and dsc lights became illuminated. I have several vehicles so i did not drive this car and could not get repaired…
All wires leading into the headlights have deteriorated and are bare. It keeps shorting out the lights and seems to be a major fire hazard. This is a garage kept car with 80k miles. Appears many many others have the same problem. Please help.
Vanos, engine
THE SUNROOF DRAINS OF MY VEHICLE OVERFILL OR CLOG CAUSING WATER TO LEAK IN THE TRUNK AND WHEEL WELL. THE CARS WHEEL WELL HOLDS THE CARS BATTERY, RDC, AND PDC MODULES. SURROUNDED BY FOAM WHEN WATER REACHES THE MODULES THEY ARC AND SPARK CAUSING THEM TO HEAT UP AND MELT. ALSO LOCATED IN THE TRUNK IS…
Other BMW M5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 M5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 M5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 M5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 M5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 M5 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 M5 | 6 | 3 |
| 2016 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 M5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 M5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 M5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 M5 | 6 | 1 |
| 2006 M5 | 39 | 1 |
| 2003 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 M5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 M5 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 M5 | 4 | 2 |
| 1995 M5 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW M5 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 M5?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW M5?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 BMW M5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M5 model years, the 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.