NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW 3 Series. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
MY MODEL CAR HAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTORS. MY VEHICLE'S FUEL INJECTORS HAVE MISFIRED AND HAVE CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON IN MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE TOLD ME MULTIPLE STORIES AS TO WHY THEY WILL NOT HONOR MY CAR UNDER THIS RECALL. ONE REASON THEY GIVE IS MY VIN #, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEN THEY SAY MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THE PURPOSE OF A RECALL IS THAT IT REPAIRS YOUR CAR EVEN IF IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SPENT OVER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. BMW WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME OR FIX THE CAR UNDER THE RECALL THAT I KNOW MY CAR FALLS UNDER. THE RECALL IS EVEN LISTED ON MY FAILED DMV INSPECTION REPORT, AND THEY ARE STILL NOT COOPERATING. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO? MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION, AND IT'S THE ONLY CAR I HAVE. *TR
SINCE PURCHASING THIS BMW IN FEB 2012, I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER 4 TIMES ( AND ITS ONLY AUG. 2012) DUE TO AIR BAG & SEATBELT LIGHTS ON, BOTH FRONT SEATS HAVE HAD SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS REPLACED, & VARIOUS OTHER AIRBAG WORK, FRAYED WIRES UNDER SEAT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE UNSTOPPABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROX 104K MILES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY ON ITS WAY TO THE DEALER TODAY 08/23/2012 FOR ITS 4TH TRIP -FOR THE UN-STOPPABLE AIRBAG & SEAT BELT LIGHT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE DOOMED WITH. *TR
I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OVER BAD CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. *TT
BMW 335I 2008. VEHICLE MALFUNCTION DURING HIGHWAY CRUISING. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR ACCIDENT IF NOT TAKEN QUICKLY IN CONSIDERATION. DRIVEN THE REST OF THE WAY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT AT 60MPH THE OR LESS. *TR
I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE BMW DEALER FOR A YEAR NOW THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS BAD WHEN THE CAR HITS THE LITTLEST BUMP THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT EXPLODED I HAVE A BAD LEFT FRONT STRUT AND I THINK ITS A DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE IT NOTED AND HAVE A RECALL PLACED ON THIS 328XI 2008. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE CAR MADE NOISE AFTER THAT DRIVING IT. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE MOUNTING BOLTS ( ALUMINUM ) FOR RIGHT ENGINE SUPPORT ARM BROKE. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY SAID IT WAS A FLAW IN THE ENGINE BOLTS. THE CAR HAD 40,984 MILES.
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. MANUAL KEY WILL WORK IN THE DRIVE SIDE DOOR OUTSIDE ONLY. OTHER 3 DOORS WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IS TO CLIMB THRU THE WINDOW OR CLIMB OUT OF THE DRIVER DOOR. DRIVER HAS TO CLIMB OUT OF WINDOW AND USE MANUAL KEY TO OPEN DOOR. MANY POST ONLINE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WILL HAVE IT FIXED, HOWEVER, THE COSTS ARE VERY HIGH; THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! IF CAR IS WRECKED OR ON FIRE, RESCUE WOULD NOT LIKELY BE ABLE TO HELP DRIVER OR PASSENGER TIMELY. RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR
WHEN I WENT TO A TIRE STORE TO PURCHASE WINTER TREADS I DISCOVERED THE RIM ON THE BACK LEFT WHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME IF I CONTINUED DRIVING ON IT THE CRACKED RIM, THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF. I HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF BMW'S AND NEVER SEEN A CRACKED RIM. (EVEN WHEN I LIVED IN THE POT HOLE LITTERED NE) THREE DAYS AGO I WENT TO THE SAME TIRE STORE BECAUSE THERE APPEARED TO BE A LEAK IN THE NEW, LEFT REAR TIRE. THE RIM WAS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES. THIS IS SCARY AND IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY COSTLY AS THE RIMS ARE ABOUT $300+. TO HAVE TWO OF THESE RIM FAILURES IN A MONTH IS A BIT SHOCKING. BMW SAYS PARTS FAIL THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR (NOT ON ANY OF MY PREVIOUS BMW'S) THE TIRE STORE SAYS THE RIMS ARE A VERY THIN ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE CAR FASTER AND THEY SEE A NUMBER OF FAILURES. NOT SAFE. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FAILURE. DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF CAR. DANGEROUS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. NO WAY TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. *KB
THE AUC SENSOR UNDER THE HOOD IS NOT WELL SECURED. THE BRACKET SECURING THE SENSOR IS BROKEN LEAVING THE SENSOR LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOOSE SENSOR WIRE RUBS AGAINST SHARP EDGE OF THE CAR BODY, BREAKING THE OUTER PROTECTIVE SHIELD OF THE WIRE. THE EXPOSED WIRE IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE "MALFUNCTION PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" DEALER CLAIMED THEY FIXED PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ON JULY 9, 2011, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING THE PARKWAY, WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED OPERATING! THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, AND NOTHING WORKED IN THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS OR MORE THE STEERING WHEEL. AS THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN I KEPT TRYING TO RE-START THE CAR BUT NOTHING WORKED. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BY USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE KEY IN AND OUT AND HIT THE START/STOP AND THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO RALLYE BMW TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND ALSO CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE BECAUSE I DID NOT AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANYMORE. I WAS REQUESTING EITHER A NEW VEHICLE OR FULL VALUE BACK ON THE CAR. BMW SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED "BMW REVIEWED REMOTELY UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALLING. NO PROBLEM FOUND", AND DECIDED THAT MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE AND FEEL THIS POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
DROVE MY 2008 BMW 328XI SEDAN TO WORK SITE ABOUT 54 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME TOWN WITH NO ISSUES. AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK, GOT INTO CAR AND STARTED ENGINE. NOTICED SMOKING COMING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OPEN HOOD AND NOTICED SMALL FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR SOME WIRING. SMALL BUT STILL ON FIRE. PUT OUT FIRE BY BLOWING ON. CAR STARTED UP FINE WITH NO ERROR CODES. TRIED STARTING AGAIN, SAME RESULT. A ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH SMOKE AND FLAME. I PUT IT OUT AGAIN WITH WATER. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER TO HAVE A REPAIR. BMW DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT THE CAR HAD A ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FIRE AND NO OTHER ISSUES. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $2700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER BMW'S WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS 29000 MILES ON IT. HOW IN THE WORLD IS THIS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY. THIS WAS A VEHICLE FIRE! IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF IS IT NOT? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE RPMS FLUCTUATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF TYLER AT (903) 229-4409 (LOCATED AT 2401 W SW LOOP 323, TYLER, TX 75701) AND WAS INFORMED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,051.
SERIOUS PROBLEM, I CAN NOT DRIVE AND CAN NOT REPLACE BLOWOUT, BROKEN RUN FLAT TIRES FROM BRIDGESTONE ON MY '08 BMW 328I. IT'S THE 4TH WARRANTY COVERAGE REPLACEMENT IN 6MONTHS BUT THIS TIME IT IS OUT OF STOCK AT MY COSTCO TIRE WHERE I PURCHASED THEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE MAKER, BRIDGESTONE TIRES THAT THERE'S 18,000+ BACKORDERS ON THESE TIRES AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA ON ETA. *TR
I OWN A 2008 BMW 335XI. THE FUEL SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, AND THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY, THE RPM DROPS, AND I HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET TO A COMFORTABLE SPEED OF 60MPH, THE CAR STILL DOESN'T DRIVE AT FULL REGULAR POWER. I FIRST COMPLAINED 4 MONTHS AGO, THEY SAID IT'S NOTHING. I COMPLAINED AGAIN A MONTH AFTERWARDS. THE DEALER SAID THERE'S A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP RECALL AND KEPT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR 1 WEEK. 3 MONTHS AFTERWARDS, THIS WEEK, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME POWER LOSS AGAIN ON A SMALLER SCALE. I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION, I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE, THE DEALER SAID IT HAS A RECALL AGAIN FOR THE SAME FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE - HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LOSS OF PRESSURE. MY CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER, I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN THEY COULD FIX IT. I DON'T SEE A SECOND RECALL ON THIS ISSUE YET. AND BMW DID NOT SEND ME A RECALL LETTER YET. I THINK ALL OF BMWS TWIN TURBO POWERED CARD SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF ROADS AND CHECKED AND FIXED BEFORE THERE'S ANY LOSS OF LIVES OR PROPERTY. AT THIS POINT CLEARLY, BMW DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A FIX FOR THIS. A NHTSA INVESTIGATION IN TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ISSUE. UNTIL THIS IS FIXED, BMW'S TWIN TURBO POWERED CARS SHOULD BE PUT ON "DO NOT RECOMMEND" LIST AS FAR AS SAFETY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE RADIO ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 40 MINUTES AND WAS UNABLE TO USE THE HORN TO INDICATE THAT HE WAS TRAPPED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER IN THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB WAS LOW, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
BMW NA HAS ISSUED THEIR "VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 10E-A02" THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THE RECALL: ECU REPROGRAM, HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) REPLACEMENT, AND INJECTOR REPLACEMENT. WHICH PARTS ARE PERFORMED IS SPECIFIC TO VEHICLES VIN. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP LAST MONTH AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD ACCORDING TO MY VIN THAT MY CAR WITH THE ORIGINAL HPFP AND INJECTORS ONLY NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THIS WAS CONFIRMED WHEN I CALLED BMWNA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR ENGINEERS DETERMINED MY HPFP WAS NOT FAULTY. SO I ONLY HAD MY ECU REPROGRAMMED. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SIGNIFICANTLY LONG CRANKS. TODAY I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTERS. AS I PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STUMBLE AND LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POWER. THIS HAD PUT ME AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS I HARDLY HAD ENOUGH POWER TO PULL UP THE SMALL INCLINE OF MY DRIVEWAY. FORTUNATELY I HAD NOT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A SPEEDING CAR OR CUT SOMEONE OFF AND WAS NOT T-BONED OR REAR ENDED. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER GETTING A HPFP REPLACEMENT AND BEING RUN THROUGH A "PRE-PROGRAM". *TR
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/...P/B511907G.HTM SITUATION ONE OR MORE OF THE DOORS MAY NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE KEY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, OR THE CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BY USING THE KEY IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK CYLINDER OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. TYPICALLY FAULT CODES A6D4 AND A6D5 ARE STORED IN THE JUNCTION BOX ELECTRONICS (JBBF). CAUSE THIS IS DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE IN THE JBBF CAUSED BY EITHER: AN EXCESSIVE AMPERAGE DRAW BY ONE OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, WHICH IS COMMONLY ATTRIBUTED TO SILICONE CONTAMINATION; OR AN INTERMITTENT, BUT ACCEPTABLE, AMPERAGE SPIKE SLIGHTLY ABOVE 15A, DUE TO NORMAL VARIATION IN THE LOCKING SYSTEM. CORRECTION REPLACE THE FUSE WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT RATING. REPLACE THE NECESSARY ACTUATOR AS WELL, BUT ONLY IF IT IS DRAWING EXCESSIVE AMPERAGE.
FUEL INJECTORS CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 15,000 MILES OR SO. ALL 6 WERE INITIALLY REPLACED ON RECALL AT 35,000 MILES AND THEN 3 MORE NEEDED REPLACEMENT 49,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 61,000 MILES AND NEEDS ANOTHER 3 REPLACED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AGAIN OR WARRANTIED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. SAFETY ISSUES ARE THAT WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATES PUTTING THE OCCUPANTS IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR TURNING ONTO A BUSY STREET CAN BE REALLY SCARY. *TR
CAR: 2008 BMW 335I ISSUE: DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD/CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN A VERY LOWSPEED CRASH (LESS THAN 5 MPH) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 BMW 335I ON A STREET (HWY 6, HOUSTON, TX) IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN. MY WIFE REACTED A BIT LATE AND GENTLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS A SMALL SCRATCH ON THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER CAR (VW BEETLE) AND A SMALL DENT ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE BMW. AT THIS TIME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE BMW. THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. LOOKING AT THE SPEED AND THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH ITSELF IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BMW HAD FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR NOTICE SO THAT IT CAN BE ADDRESSED. *TR
2008 BMW 328I STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE STALLED UNDER POWER AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC - DEALER SAID NO CODE WAS THROWN SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADDRESS. THE OTHER STALLS HAVE NOT DURING SLOWDOWN PERIOD, NOT AS CRITICAL BUT THEY COME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER WHICH IS DANGEROUS! NO ACCIDENT FROM IT YET BUT I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE IN 2010, TWO MORE RECENTLY DEC 2010 & JAN 2011. *LN
ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILURE. MANY BMW VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE HAD VARIOUS ISSUES WITH THEIR BMW ABS SYSTEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PER BMW MEMBER SITES AND THE FACT THAT BMW PUT OUT A REPAIR KIT FOR THE PROBLEMS SHOULD CONFIRM THAT A LOT OF BMW AUTOS HAVE THIS ABS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT IS $4000.00 ON AVERAGE AND I FEAR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THAT AND ARE DRIVING WITH NO ABS AND MOST TIMES TRACTION CONTROL, I MYSELF STILL HAVEN'T FIXED MINE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. LOCAL BMW SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOO BAD ; BUT NO WAY A $50K CAR HAS THIS BIG A DEFECT UNDER 50,000 MILES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR
AFTER STARTING MY BMW IT OCCASIONALLY WILL RUN FINE FOR BETWEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET AND THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE AND THEN BRIEFLY STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEM TO HAPPEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR). ONE TIME I HAD TO COAST OFF THE ROAD AND RE-START THE CAR. THE OTHER TWO TIMES THE CAR HAS BRIEFLY STALLED (ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AS IF IT HAS BEEN SHUT OFF WITH THE KEY ON), THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THEN THE MOTOR CAUGHT AGAIN AND BEGAN RUNNING NORMALLY. MY CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE LAST TIME THEY REPLACED THE #4 SPARK PLUG AND THIS SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CAR RUNNING WITH LOW POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT CURED THE STALLING ISSUE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE WERE PASSING A CAR OR IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM HOPING THAT THE DEALER WILL EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO FIX MY PROBLEM. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES ON MY CAR SO I HAVE ABOUT 8,000 MILES LEFT IN WARRANTY. *TR
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2010. I AVERAGE LESS THAN 650 MILES PER MONTH AND DRIVE ONLY ON LOS ANGELES COUNTY STREETS. A MONTH AFTER LEASING MY VEHICLE, ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES SPLIT AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER NOT MAINTAINING THE ALIGNMENT. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL FOUR (4) TIRES WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RUN-FLAT TIRES, AS REQUIRED BY MY LEASE. SIX MONTHS LATER, IN OCTOBER OF 2010, I AGAIN HAD NUMEROUS TIRE PRESSURE ISSUES, AND RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP NOVEMBER 19. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE TIRES, BUT A TIRE SENSOR ISSUE. WHEN I PICKED-UP THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR WAS ON. I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL RIMS ARE CRACKED AND THAT THE REAR TIRES MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, MY ISSUES ARE COMMON AMONG OWNERS WITH THE BMW FACTORY RIMS IN COMBINATION WITH THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RUN-FLAT TIRES, AND CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. FURTHERMORE, MY FIRST SET OF TIRES WAS SO DAMAGED FROM THE INTERIOR WALLS (NOT VISIBLE UNLESS ON A LIFT) THAT THEY COULD HAVE EASILY SPLIT IN NORMAL DRIVING, PLACING ME AGAIN AT A SEVERE SAFETY RISK.
AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE ONTO A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION THE CAR HESITATES/LAGS/DELAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE CATCHES, THEN IT TAKES OFF LIKE A RABBIT WHEN YOU DON'T EXPECT IT. THIS VEHICLE BEHAVIOR HAS CAUSED NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS MORE THAN ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT'S NOT A DELAY WHICH DECREASES A TRANSIENT SURGE. IT INCREASES THE TRANSIENT SURGE AS THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE FOR A HALF SECOND THEN BOLTS FORWARD WITH AN AWKWARD LURCH AND A SLAM. IT'S MUCH ROUGHER THAN A NORMAL TAKEOFF WOULD BE. IT'S NOT AT ALL SMOOTH. SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS BEING REAR-ENDED. THE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2010 MANY BMW OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BMW AS I HAVE. THE ANSWER I GOT AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS FROM BMW WAS, "IT'S NORMAL". *TR
DRIVING ON A MAIN ARTERIAL STREET, CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY, DECELERATE AND THEN SHUT-OFF. THIS WAS YESTERDAY, 11-8-2010. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ON SATURDAY 11-6-2010. MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP NOW HAS THE AUTO AND HAS NOT DETERMINED WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2008 BMW 328I, STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, REQUIRED A NEW BATTERY. I WAS DENIED WARRANTY/MAINTENANCE COVERAGE FOR THE BATTERY DUE TO MY 'DRIVING PROFILE' - I DROVE MORE THAN 100 TRIPS OF LESS THAN 5KM IN THE LAST 36 DAYS. HOWEVER, I DROVE A TOTAL OF 2420 MILES IN THE LAST 32 DAYS, AS INDICATED ON TWO CAR REPAIR RECEIPTS. BMWNA STATED THAT DUE TO ME DRIVING SUCH SHORT DISTANCES, THE BATTERY WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE PROPERLY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT, NOT A DRIVER-RELATED ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC KEYS FAILED AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK; THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY ONE TO UNLOCK. THE PASSENGERS HAD TO EXIT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED (REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN) UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
WAS DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADS IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE SIMPLY STALLED OUT. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. DIFFICULT TO START, BUT FINALLY DID. NO POWER TO ENGINE AND CAR SIMPLY BUMPED AND SPUTTERED ALONG UNTIL THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. I WAS STILL IN TRAFFIC. TURNS OUT IT WAS CAUSED BY FUEL PUMP FAILURE. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TR
LONG CRANK, STUTTERING, ENGINE DYING AT IDLE (OR IN TRAFFIC), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/LIMP MODE. BMW DEALERS DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2008 BMW 335I. SINCE 2008 IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT LEAST TWICE FOR ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN REPLACING HPFP. IN AUGUST 2010, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ALONG WITH A SLOW AND RATTLING START, ODORS OF GAS, AND SHAKY ROUGH RIDE -SINCE THEN, MY 335I HAS BEEN SERVICED SIX TIMES WITHOUT AVAIL. BMW NA RECALL AND BMW FAIRFAX, VA MECHANICS REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE AFTER THE SEVENTH SERVICE APPOINTMENT SINCE AUG 10. THE CAR EXPECTEDLY LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
THE CAR STARTED BUT IT STARTED EXTREMELY "ROUGH" WITH THE ENGINE RPMS RACING THEN DROPPING DOWN TO 500 RPMS, FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. EVENTUALLY IT EVENED OUT. UNFORTUNATELY STARTING ISSUES ARE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SIMILAR STARTING ISSUES. THEY REPLACED: THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH BMW KNOWS IT HAS ISSUES WITH, MADE "SOFTWARE" UPDATES, AND REPLACED THE DMA. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE IT AND TURN ON TO A BUSY STREET, I ESSENTIALLY LOST MOST OF THE POWER IN THE CAR. IT WAS EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING TO STEP ON THE GAS, EXPECT THE CAR TO RESPOND AND IT DIDN'T. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET ON A BUSY FREEWAY. THANKFULLY, IT WASN'T BUT I AM WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER RESEARCHING TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES, INDEED THEY HAVE. ALL ISSUES SEEM TO BE RELATED TO BMW'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ISSUE, WHICH THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT SOLVED GIVEN MANY HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME OF GOING BAD AGAIN. I HAVE HAD MINE REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT AM NOW HAVING ISSUES AGAIN. DETAILED ACCOUNTS ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET (SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AS IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY) AND I AM SURPRISED THE NHTSA HASN'T DONE ANY SERIOUS INVESTIGATION, NOR FORCED BMW TO RECALL EITHER THE VEHICLE OR REPLACE ALL PARTS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND NEEDED TO CORRECTLY FIX THE ISSUE (FUEL PUMP, LOW PRESSURE SENSOR, FUEL INJECTORS, ETC.). I AM CONSIDERING CONTACTING REPORTERS BECAUSE THIS IS A TOYOTA TYPE SAFETY ISSUE WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHILE IT MAY ONLY HAPPEN IN A CERTAIN % OF VEHICLES, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND PROPERLY CORRECTED? PEOPLE HAVE BEEN "LUCKY" THUS FAR, BUT THIS REALLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE MUST FORCE BMW TO ADDRESS IT. *TR
RECALL CAMPAIGN LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME. TOOK INTO BMW PASSPORT TO FIX. THEY CHARGED ME 277.75 TO FIX AND NOW WITH A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE THEY ARE NOT REIMBURSING ME. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF REPAIR, ALSO RECALL NOTICE AND DATE I TOOK IN, THEIR OWN RECEIPT SHOWS NO FIXING AS TAKEN CARE OF EARLIER WHEN THEY CHARGED ME $277.75. HELP! *TR
2008 BMW 335XI: UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION, CAR LOSES POWER AND EVENTUALLY STALLS. CAN SOMETIMES BE RESTARTED, THOUGH IT HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AS WELL. CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND FAILURE STILL OCCURS. *TR
POSSIBLE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM FAILURE. POSSIBLE INPUT AND/OR OUTPUT CYLINDER(S) FAILURE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. CAR IN 1ST GEAR, DEPRESS CLUTCH PEDAL AND PUSH START BUTTON. CAR JUMPS FORWARD 10-20 FEET. BRAKE STOPS CAR AND KILLS ENGINE. CLUTCH PEDAL REMAINED AGAINST FIREWALL. CLUTCH HAD NOT DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE. PEDAL LOCATION ENABLES START SEQUENCE. PULLED PEDAL BACK TO NORMAL POSITION AND QUICK CHECKED FOR PROPER OPERATION. WENT TO DEALER 09/20/2010, DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE CONDITIONS THEREFORE NO REPAIRS OFFERED.
I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2008 BMW 335I COUPE IN THE PAST YEAR. THREE OF THESE FAILURES RESULTED IN SITUATIONS WHERE POWER WAS LOST WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN COLLISIONS FROM THE REAR. I ALL CASES THE CAR WAS BEHAVING NORMALLY AT SPEEDS UP TO 70MPH AND THEN THE ENGINE WOULD STOP OR GO INTO LIMP MODE ALLOWING TRAVEL AT LESS THAN 20MPH. THE FOURTH CASE RESULTED IN THE CAR NOT STARTING. IN ALL FOUR INSTANCES THE BMW DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PUMP HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE ENGINE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED THREE TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INSTANCE OCCURRED IN LATE AUGUST AND REQUIRED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED. THAT IS THE OCCURRENCE REPORTED IN THE BALANCE OF THE FORM. PREVIOUS FAILURES WERE IN JUNE OF 2010, AUGUST OF 2009 AND JULY OF 2009. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO OCCUR IN CLOSE CHARTERS AT HIGH SPEED. *TR
BMW 335I 6-SP MANUAL BEGAN SHAKING ROUGHLY ON START-UP, RPMS JUMPED UP AND DOWN WILDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 2000 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED, IDLING SETTLED DOWN, CAR RAN FINE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON. SAME PROBLEM ON NEXT STARTUP, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND I DID NOT TURN OFF CAR. AFTER ABOUT ONE MINUTE OF IDLING, CAR BEGAN IDLING NORMALLY, DROVE FINE. SAME PROBLEM ON NEXT START UP--CALLED DEALER FOR SERVICE. STARTED CAR, IT SEEMED FINE, SO I DROVE AWAY. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING ROUGHLY WHILE DRIVING AND HAD SEVERELY DIMINISHED ACCELERATION POWER. DOWNSHIFTING DID NOT HELP. COULD BARELY GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, ESPECIALLY CLIMBING A HILL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HPFP WAS REPLACED WITHIN 2 DAYS. SEEMS OKAY, BUT OCCASIONAL LURCHING, PERCEIVED LAG IN ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS, AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BMW X35S MAKES ME QUESTION THE CAR'S RELIABILITY. *TR
I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 BMW 335I CONVERTIBLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES, 12 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER". THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING WHEN TRYING TO START IT. IT TOOK PROGRESSIVELY LONGER TO START THE CAR. A BRAND NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED BY BMW OF DALLAS. 12 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. ROSEVILLE BMW KEPT THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND UPDATED THE SOFTWARE CLAIMING BMW AUTHORIZED THE SAFE RELEASE OF THE VEHICLE PER THEIR STANDARDS. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL INSTRUCTED ME THAT THERE IS REALLY NO FIX FOR THE CAR AND NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS HAVE COME IN FOR THIS ISSUE, SOME WITH EXTREMELY UNSAFE PRESENTATIONS, SUCH AS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSING POWER ON THE FREEWAY WHILE GOING 80 MILES/HOUR IN FRONT OF A BIG RIG. HE SAID THAT MY PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THIS SAFETY COMPROMISE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AFTER ROSEVILLE BMW DEEMED IT SAFE. THE NEXT MORNING, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THE RPMS WOULD GO TO 3,000 BACK TO 1,000 AND BACK TO 3,000 ON ITS OWN. THEN IT BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY AND THE "ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER" LIGHT CAME ONE. I CALLED INTO ROSEVILLE BMW, AND THE SAME SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD IT TOWED IN (WITHIN 16 HOURS OF RELEASING IT TO ME IN "SAFE CONDITION"). THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN BUT ADMIT THAT THIS IS NOT A FIX BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
BMW 3 SERIES AND ALSO OTHER SERIES WITH RUN FLAT TIRES HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WITH AN AVERAGE BUMP LIKE A MANHOLE COVER THE WHEEL WILL CRACK. I HAVE REPLACED 3 SO FAR ON MY WIFE'S 2008 335XI AT MY COST. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THAT EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH BMW DENYING IT WAS THE WHEEL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35,000+/- MILES ON IT. WHEN BROUGHT IN DUE TO RAPID AIR LOSS BMW STATES IT WAS THE DRIVING CONDITIONS NOT THEIR WHEEL. I ACCEPTED THIS THE FIRST TIME BUT AFTER 3 WHEELS I FEEL THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN OR MATERIAL DEFECT. IT SEEMS TO BE THE RUN FLAT STYLE TIRES. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE TIRES SO I SWITCHED FROM THE FACTORY TIRES TO A DIFFERENT BRAND BASED ON THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION AFTER THE FIRST WHEEL CRACKED AND STILL HAVE HAD THE ISSUE TWO MORE TIMES. MY WIFE HAS AN OLDER MERCEDES THAT SHE DRIVES THE SAME WAY AND IT HAS THE SAME WHEELS FROM 2003. IT MUST BE THE WHEELS SUPPLIED BY BMW. *TR
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR
1. 2008 BMW 335I SEDAN HIGH FUEL PUMP PRESSURE PROBLEM. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. 2. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. 3. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR
1. LONG CRANKS WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING... 2. ENGINE MALFUNCTION MESSAGE, EVERY FEW DAYS.. LOSS POWER 3. BMW REPLACE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
SIDE MIRRORS MOVE UP AND DOWN EVEN WHEN NOT SET TO ADJUST WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTED PRIOR TO DRIVING, YET AT TIMES MOVE THE HIGHEST OR LOWEST POSITION RESULTING IN MIRRORS POINTED TO SKY, OR ROAD PAVEMENT. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. IN ADDITION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE MIRRORS, PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS ROLL DOWN AFTER BEING ROLLED UP. SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP MADE IN WHICH COMPUTER WAS "RESET" WITH NO RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM. MIRROR ISSUE NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO ENGAGE DUE TO THE RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT THE PUMP WAS USED FOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/09/10
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND CAR DISPLAYED AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT. *TR
ENGINE STARTS ARE PRECEDED BY LONG CRANKS, FLUCTUATING RPMS AND SHAKING FELT AT THE DRIVER'S SEAT. CAR GOING 70MPH, LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DRIVING BACK FROM WORK. "ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER" WARNING CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, AS WELL AS THE HALF ENGINE LIGHT. CARS BEHIND ME FRANTICALLY SWITCHED LANES TO AVOID COLLISION. THE WARNING MESSAGE WENT AWAY AFTER I RESTARTED CAR LATER, BUT KEPT SHOWING UP EVERY TIME I DROVE. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT FAIL EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I'VE ALREADY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX PROBLEM. THIS IS, APPARENTLY, A WELL KNOWN FAILURE. BMWNA HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED AN OFFICIAL RECALL. THIS PROBLEM CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES/COLLISIONS. BMWNA MUST ISSUE AN OFFICIAL RECALL SOON. *TR