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
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILED AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PUMP FAILED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REACT WELL TO SULFUR IN THE GASOLINE. *TR
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SUNROOF ON MY 3.35I BMW COUPE 2008 MODEL. NO KNOWN CAUSE. IT JUST EXPLODED AND SHOWERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH GLASS SHARDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED IN POWER AS THE SPEED VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONING AND THE REDUCE SPEED WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
IN JULY OF 2009 THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON MY 2008 335I. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. ON NOVEMBER 12TH THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. BMW STATED THAT THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE HP FUEL PUMP BUT COULD NOT GIVE A REASON TO THE DEFECT. ON NOVEMBER 30TH THREE FUEL INJECTORS AND 3 SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS CAR LOST POWER AND OR STARTED TO SPUTTER. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALL 3 TIMES. I'VE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND AM CURRENTLY STARTING A LEMON LAW CLAIM. *TR
WHEN STARTING MY CAR THE ENGINE JERKED AND ALMOST STALLED ON START-UP. ALSO UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAR ACCELERATION IS SLUGGISH AND IS "JERKY" DURING BRAKING. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY IN OCTOBER 2007. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CAR IS IN THE SHOP ON AVERAGE OF ONCE EVERY 3 WEEKS! DEALER CONTINUES TO REPLACE PARTS BUT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. PARTS SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE! *TR
2008 BMW 335I SEDAN. HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) FAILED AT 11,000 MILES-CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE (HALF POWER). HPFP REPLACED AT DEALER. NEW PUMP FAILED AT 13,000-ALSO REPLACED. NOW AT 15,000 MILES, CAR IS EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS AGAIN (SYMPTOMS OF PUMP FAILURE) AGAIN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A THOROUGHFARE AND SUDDENLY THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF IN MY CAR AND THE POWER DECREASED. THE WARNING SAID "ENGINE MALFUNCTION--REDUCED POWER." THE CAR BASICALLY LOST POWER AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO GET KILLED AS I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS CAREENING AROUND ME AND ALMOST REAR ENDING ME. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I LOOKED UP THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT IS COMMON FOR THE 330 SERIES OF BMWS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A SUCCESSION OF HIGH POWER FUEL PUMPS IN THE TWIN ENGINES. WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE? I AM A WRECK AND DON'T THINK I CAN TRUST BMW. THEY KEEP PUTTING IN DIFFERENT PUMPS IN OTHER PEOPLES CARS FROM THE BOARDS, AND THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ABNORMALLY HARD IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS BELOW FREEZING, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS ALWAYS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REVERSE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
ON SUNDAY MAY 10, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 335 WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE CAR SHAKING AND BREAKING DOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO BE NOTIFIED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT WAS BECAUSE I USED 15% ETHANOL GAS. THIS IS ABSURD AS I HAVE BEEN USING THE GAS RECOMMENDED BY BMW AND I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT, ALL GAS IN NEW YORK STATE CONTAINS THE LEGAL 10% ETHANOL SO I DON'T SEE HOW ANY CONSUMER COULD KNOW IF THE ETHANOL PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN. THE HPFP IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN MANY 335 MODELS AND BMW HAS EVEN ISSUED A RECALL OVER IT IN THE PAST, THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A FAULT IN THE FUEL PUMP AND BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO PIN IT ON BAD GAS AND TRYING TO DENY WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ROTATED WITHOUT BEING MANIPULATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CONTINUED TO FAIL AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE VISIBILITY IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN INCLINE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN RESTARTED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CONTACT REACHED HER DESTINATION. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER THE FINAL OCCURRENCE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,600. UPDATED 05/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/14/09.*JB
THE 08 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION STALLS IN 2ND GEAR WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS. BMW HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING INTERMITTENT NOISES AND SHAKING. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD BAND COMING FROM THE REAR END AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SLOW (IN HEAVY LOS ANGELES TRAFFIC). I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY PULL FORWARD OR BACKWARD FOR A FEW FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, STEVE THOMAS BMW IN CAMARILLO, CA. THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY. WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT AROUND TO EXAMINING THE VEHICLE ON MONDAY, THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE REAR BREAKS HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ON. THEY ACCUSED ME OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I NEVER USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR IS 5 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ONLY 5000 MILES ON IT. I TOLD SERVICE WRITER THAT EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NEVER USED AND EVEN IF IT HAD BEEN, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGNAL AND SOUND WARNING. HE SAID HE CHECKED WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND AND IT WAS WORKING. STILL ACCUSED ME OF DRIVING WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THAT CAUSED THIS. *TR
SEATBELT MECHANISM WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN BUCKLED, EVENTUALLY THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT EVEN LOCK AND DRIVERS SEATBELT RENDERED INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE DRIVERS SEAT AND INSTALLED NEW SEATBELT AND LATCH SYSTEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335I AND THE CAR HAS LOST POWER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO MY COMPLAINTS EVEN AFTER IT SPENT OVER A MONTH AT THE DEALER IN 2009. THEY KEPT SAYING THE REPAIRED THE CAR, I WOULD DRIVE IT HOME AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE CAR WOULD AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD SHAKE TERRIBLY. THE KEEP TELLING ME IT IS THE FUEL INJECTION AND THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT I AM FEARFUL TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IN CASE THE ENGINE FAILS AGAIN. *TR
2008 BMW 335I THREW A ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND THEN WENT TO REDUCED POWER MODE. *TR
WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE FOR ~100 MILES AND THEN EXITED. AT THE FIRST RED LIGHT THE CAR STALLED AND REFUSED TO RUN NORMALLY. IT SPUTTERED AND STALLED REPEATEDLY. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT A DEALER WAS WITHIN 1 MILE AND WAS ABLE TO EFFECT REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF A PRESSURE PUMP WHICH WE WERE TOLD IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CAR. BMW HAS NOT DESPITE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM. HAD THE PUMP FAILED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WE WOULD HAVE STALLED ON THE FL. TURNPIKE WHILE TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REQUIRE BMW RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PUMP. OUR CAR HAD ONLY 4400 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF FAILURE AND WAS IN FRO SERVICING 3 WEEKS PRIOR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CONDITION. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE PHONE WHO REPAIRED OUR VEHICLE HE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM ON THE PHONE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A WELL KNOWN TO BMW AND FREQUENT PROBLEM. *TR
A LITTLE WHILE BACK AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR SAYING THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR. NOT LONG AFTER, I LEFT MY OFFICE ONE NIGHT; I GET IN MY CAR WITH MY COWORKER AND BEGIN DRIVING. AS I DROVE WE BOTH HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE FROM MY CAR AND THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE, CARS BEHIND ME BEGIN TO HONK AND DRIVE AROUND ME LEAVING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE A CAR MAY HIT ME OR MY CAR. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH MY CAR ALMOST COMPLETELY DISABLED. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR PICKED UP FROM MY HOME AND DROPPED OFF BY A SERVICE CENTER. THEY CALL ME A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER SAYING THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO ALL THE TIRES OF THE CAR AND THE PRESSURE MONITOR FOR THE TIRES. THE TIRES FOR THIS CAR ARE SPECIAL TIRES WITH PRESSURE MONITORS TO INDICATE WHEN THEY ARE LOW ON PRESSURE OR FLAT. I'VE ONLY PUT 6500 MILES ON THE CAR AND DRIVEN IT WITH A LOT OF CARE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE SERVICE CENTER IS SAYING I INFLICTED THE DAMAGE AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT. I HAD BEGUN SPEAKING WITH FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME CAR AND THEY ALL SAID THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
WE HAVE TWO REMOTES FOR KEY-LESS ENTRY INTO OUR 2008 BMW 335I CONVERTIBLE. THE CAR HAS A PROXIMITY SENSOR AND CAN AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN I PUT MY HAND ON THE DOOR HANDLE, WITHOUT REQUIRING ME TO PRESS ANY KEY ON THE REMOTE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAD A REMOTE EACH, AND IT SEEMS BOTH OF US PUT OUR HANDS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DOORS UNLOCKED, WE BOTH GOT IN BUT APPARENTLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DIDN'T SHUT AT ALL ON CLOSING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN. AS SOON AS I TOOK A TURN, THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN FREELY. I TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR, BUT IT WOULDN'T LATCH ON. I STOPPED THE CAR, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, LOCKED THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE AND UNLOCKED IT AGAIN, AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE. THE BMW SERVICE REPS SAID THAT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT ACTUALLY OCCURRING AGAIN IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR
HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP FAILURE FOUR TIMES THIS MONTH NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
OWN A 2008 BMW 335I. CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WENT ON WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY. IT WENT INTO SAFETY MODE, IF I TRIED ACCELERATING THE CAR SHUDDERED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO NEAREST BMW DEALER, DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. PUMP REPLACED. LESS THAN 1,000 MILES LATER, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME BEHAVIOR. DEALER "COULD NOT REPLICATE". CAR HAS LONG CRANKS WHEN STARTING COLD. SHUDDERS AND SHAKES. THIS CAR IS A HAZARD. BMW HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BY EXTENDED THE FUEL PUMP WARRANTY FROM 50,000 MILES TO 100,000 MILES, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MULTIPLE ONLINE REPORTS OF REPEATED FUEL PUMP FAILURE. BUT, BMW WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS A FAULT CODE IS CAPTURED. THIS CAR MUST BE RECALLED. *TR
GO HERE FOR THE ENTIRE STORY: WWW.BMWFIRE.COM I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 BMW 328I FOR $38,000 FROM SONNEN BMW IN SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAD A SERIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND RESULTED IN MY CAR BEING TOTALED. I HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE FOG LIGHT FALLING OUT OF ITS CASING INTO THE LOWER CORNER OF THE BUMPER WHICH CAUSED THREE SEPARATE FIRES. BMW HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE THAT HAD 11,500 MILES AND IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE END OF JUNE 2008 I FIRST REALIZED THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED UPON A CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR RIGHT AWAY TO SONNEN BMW'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AS I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I SHOWED THEM WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL TWO WEEKS OUT AND THAT MY CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. TWO WEEKS LATER I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO SONNEN'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY "VERIFIED THE DEFECT" AS STATED IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE FRONT BUMPER AND SUPPOSEDLY RE SECURED THE FOGLIGHT. ALL OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER BMW'S WARRANTY AS IT WAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I ASKED TOM MURTHA (MY SERVICE ADVISOR) WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED, HE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT DAMAGE, THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED WAS A MISTAKE WHEN BUILDING THE VEHICLE AT THE FACTORY. I THOUGHT ALL OF MY PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED UNTIL A FOGGY DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM. WHILE WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT I TURNED ON MY FOG LIGHTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF FRONT & BROADWAY (ASSUMING THAT THE FOGLIGHT HAD BEEN SECURED). IT WAS FOGGY OUT AND MY PASSENGER AND I COULD NOT SEE THE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT BECAUSE OF A SMALL FIRE IT CAUSED. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS WHEN A PEDESTRIAN WALKED UP TO MY CAR AND ALERTED ME THAT THERE WAS A FIRE. I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND I DUMPED THE CONTENTS OF A LARGE WATER BOTTLE ON THE FLAME. *TR
335I GIVING TROUBLE AND CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. CAR LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE GOES INTO CRISIS MODE. *TR
HPFP FAILURE ONCE ON 10/16/08 AND AGAIN ON 09/30/09. *TR
1. USED REGULAR UNLEADED AS ATLANTA WAS OUT OF PREMIUM 2. DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 MILES 3. ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD VIOLENT SHAKE THEN DIE, ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WOULD APPEAR 4. DEALER REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335I CONVERTIBLE. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE FUEL PUMP HAS MALFUNCTIONED COMING OFF OF THE FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LACK OF POWER. THIS HAS PUT ME AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING. PLEASE MAKE BMW ISSUE A RECALL, ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
AT AROUND 2000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE CAR BEGAN HAVING LONG CRANK TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I FEEL THIS SITUATION WARRANTS YOUR IMMEDIATE REVIEW FOR A POSSIBLE FORCED RECALL. MY 2008 BMW 335XI BEGAN HAVING SPORADIC PROBLEMS IN SEPTEMBER 2009. BECAUSE OF MY DISTANCE TO A DEALERSHIP AND LONG TIME BETWEEN PROBLEMS I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. BY DECEMBER THE PROBLEMS BECAME MORE SEVERE AND FREQUENT. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD BECOME ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER POWER AND THE CAR WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD FIRST TAKEN THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON JAN 2, 2009 AND THEN AGAIN TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER 3 MORE TIMES. IN ALL 4 CASES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE A SOFTWARE ADJUSTMENT AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IN ALL 4 CASES THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 5TH TIME TAKEN TO A DEALER AND MY CALLING THE REGIONAL MANAGER AND THREATENING TO RETURN THE CAR THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FINALLY REPLACED. BASED ON COMMENTS MADE BY TECHNICIANS I SUSPECT THAT BMW REALIZES IT HAS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED A STALL POLICY ON REPLACING THE UNITS TO SPREAD OUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND/OR HOPE THE PROBLEM EXTENDS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DANGER WITH THIS ACTION IS THAT IT PLACES THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AT RISK AS THE CAR CAN STALL WITHOUT OUT WARNING SUCH AS IN AN INTERSECTION AS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: 1.) LONG(ER) CRANK 2.) ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER 3.) SERVICE ENGINE SOON 4.) HEAVY, ERRATIC SHAKING AND SHUDDERING 5.) ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE A UNION PACIFIC TRAIN WITH LOUD PUMPING SOUND 6.) BECAUSE OF 4 + 5, DECIDE TO TURN-OFF THE ENGINE OR SOMETIMES IT JUST STALLS BEFORE 7.) AFTER RESET, THE CAR BECOMES DRIVABLE BUT SYMPTOMS WILL REOCCUR. 8.) ABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM WHEN I MASH THE GAS AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON AN AUTO FORUM, I SUSPECTED THAT THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS TO RUN SOME TESTS AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEY REPLACE THE PART, THE CAR HAS NOT BROKEN DOWN AGAIN. HOWEVER, THEY INTRODUCE ANOTHER PROBLEMS. 1) THE CAR'S EXHAUST NOISE IS MUCH LOUDER NOW 2) THE CAR IS LESS FUEL EFFICIENT, LOWER MILES PER GALLON 3) THE CAR NOW HAS A TURBO LAG WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY NON-EXISTENT. THIS MEANS BMW IS FALSELY ADVERTISING THE 335I TWIN-TURBO HAS ZERO LAG. THIS WAS TRUE BEFORE THEY UPDATED THE CAR'S SOFTWARE BUT IS NOT LONGER TRUE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335XI. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FRACTURED THREE TIMES. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ENTER INTO LIMP MODE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STOPS FUEL DELIVERY INTO THE ENGINE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
1) TRANSMISSION JERKS FORWARD WHEN LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE INTERMITTENTLY 2) CAR HAS LONG STARTS; I BELIEVE IT TO BE A FUEL MANAGEMENT PROBLEM 3) CAR HAS REDUCED POWER INTERMITTENTLY PROBLEMS OCCURS ABOUT EVERY TWO DAYS; THE TRANSMISSION JERKING FORWARD AND REDUCE POWER IS UNSAFE. IT CAN'T BE FORECASTED DURING EVERYDAY DRIVING. I HAVE IN CONTACT WITH BMW NA AND MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES; BMW CLAIMS NO ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM. FUEL/TRANSMISSION ISSUE MAKES THE CAR HARD TO PREDICT. BMW DEALER RECOMMENDED A DIFFERENT FUELING STATION DUE TO ETHANOL CONTACT; SINCE I STARTED USING THEIR RECOMMENDED GAS STATIONS, THE PROBLEM HAS GOOTEN WORSE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE CAR HAS NOT TECHNICALLY FAILED YET. I'VE CREATED AN EXCEL CHART TO TRACK THE ISSUES, EVENTS AND DATE/MILEAGE/STATUS OF CAR CONDITIONS. I WILL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WITH THE RE-OCCURING ISSUES. VEHICLE TYPE 2008 BMW 335I COUPE (MODEL WAS NOT LISTED IN DROP-DOWN BAR LATER IN COMPLAINT). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE RADIO AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAIN FUNCTIONAL, BUT ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY PLACED GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AT LEAST A QUARTER TANK OF GAS AND THAT THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR HAD NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. THE SECOND TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 70 MILES REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO KEEP AS MUCH GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED THE THIRD TIME, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL LEVEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FOURTH VISIT TO THE DEALER, THEY REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL LINES WAS PINCHED. THE DEALER RE-ATTACHED THE FUEL RETURN LINE. ONE MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND DISPLAYED THAT THERE WAS 94 MILES OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PLACED GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. TESTS WERE PERFORMED ON THE RIGHT LEVEL SENDER, THE HARNESS WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE JBE SENSOR, WIRES WERE REPLACED, AND THE HARNESS WAS REASSEMBLED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT PERFORMED NORMALLY FOR THREE WEEKS. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 56 MILES REMAINING IN THE TANK. SHE PLACED FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,025 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,425. UPDATED 06/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/10/09.*JB
I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI. IT HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I AM AT THE RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND! SO HARD I LOOK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE THE CAR THAT HIT ME AND GET OUT TO GET THEIR INSURANCE INFO. BMW WILL NOT FIX IT SAYING THAT THE TECH CANT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM! IF MY KIDS OR YOUR OR SOME DRIVER WITH NOT ALOT OF EXPERIENCE WOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM I ASSURE YOU THEY COULD PANIC AND HIT THE GAS AND END UP IN THE INTERSECTION AND GET KILLED!!! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!!!!*TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH; PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE TURBO CHARGER AND BANOS SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE DRIVER OBSERVED AFTER THE VEHICLE SERVICE REPAIR; SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND OIL WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I OWN A BMW 2008 335 XI AND HAVE HAD THREE FUEL PUMPS AND PISTONS CHANGED ON IT. THE TIME BEFORE TODAY, THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND PISTONS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE GAS WAS BURNING AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL PIPE. TODAY IT WAS TOWED FOR THE FOURTH FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT AND BURNING GAS SMOKE WAS SHOOTING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL PIPE WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. IN EVERY INSTANCE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WILL STOP IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE CITY BECAUSE I FREQUENT THE NJ TURNPIKE AND AM FEARFUL IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE ON THE TURNPIKE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY JUST REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS WITH FAULTY FUEL PUMPS. PLEASE HELP ME ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I AM SCARE THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS IT IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND INJURIES (INCLUDING DEATH). *TR
ON THREE OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AND RPM'S SUDDENLY DROP. THE DATE REFERENCED BELOW WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ALL THREE TIMES. THEY CHANGED SOME PARTS, BUT THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. AT ONE TIME, I WAS TRY TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT WAS SCARY. ANOTHER TIME WAS CHANGING LANES ON A HIGHWAY. THIS SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND PCV RECALL ISSUED NOV. 2017 REMEDY UNAVAILABLE
BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN NOS.17V-683 (PCV VALVE HEATER) AND 17V-676 (BLOWER MOTOR WIRING) WERE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2017 AND TO DATE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WHAT IS THE HOLDUP? LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD ANY PROBLEM BUT, AS NOTED IN THE RECALLS, FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE SYSTEMS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DOOR OF MY CAR AND EXIT. I COULD NOT UNLOCK IT EITHER MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY. THE UNLOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. I HAD TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW AN REACH OUTSIDE TO THE DOOR HANDLE. EVIDENTLY THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT REPAIRED IT BY INSTALLING AN "UPDATED DOOR LATCH ON BOTH FRONT DOORS." I AM GRATETFULL THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT CAR BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY.
2008 BMW 328I. CONSUMER STATES WHEN POWER IS LOST TO THE DOORS, FOR ANY REASON, THE PASSENGER DOORS REMAIN LOCKED WITH NO WAY TO OPEN THEM FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE *TGW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE HANDLE WAS PULLED. *JB