2008 BMW Z4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Z4 years
- Far more complaints than other years 8th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW Z4. That ranks 8th out of 21 Z4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (8 complaints, 42%), typically at around 65,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 19owner 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 Z4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 8 | 42% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 26% | 52,010 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 11% | 30,950 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | 35,129 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 BMW Z4 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.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
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.
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.
This complaint is regarding a large number of 2008 BMW cars exhibiting the ABS failure light. Mine is a Z4 with @ 65K miles and was diagnosed by a certified mechanic as the ABS module failure - a high ($3000-$4000) cost repair. If you use this search term - "how common is bmw 2008 ABS module…
The contact owns a 2008 BMW Z4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the…
Idling in gear (automatic transmission) at a drive thru. Car suddenly tried to accelerate. Put car in park and engine continued to increase to max rpms. I shut off the engine at the ignition. Restarted engine and idled normally.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 bmw z4. The contact stated that for several months the air bag warning indicator was flashing. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. The…
Recently purchased a 2008 bmw z4. After a week of ownership the airbag light came on. Fault code points to the passenger seat occupancy sensor oc3. Bmw issued a 15 year extended warranty to many bmw models including the 2006 and 2007 z4 with comfort seats, but not to the 2008 model. This repair…
Other BMW Z4 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Z4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Z4 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 Z4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021 Z4 | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 Z4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2019 Z4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2016 Z4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2015 Z4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2014 Z4 | 7 | 3 |
| 2013 Z4 | 7 | 3 |
| 2012 Z4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2011 Z4 | 46 | 6 |
| 2010 Z4 | 10 | 5 |
| 2009 Z4 | 22 | 4 |
| 2008 | 19 | 2 |
| 2007 Z4 | 33 | 2 |
| 2006 Z4 | 91 | 2 |
| 2005 Z4 | 191 | 0 |
| 2004 Z4 | 411 | 1 |
| 2003 Z4 | 414 | 4 |
| 2002 Z4 | 4 | 0 |
See all BMW Z4 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 Z4?
Owners most often report air bags, steering, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW Z4?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 BMW Z4 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Z4 model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.