There are 4 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2008 BMW 5 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE WIPERS KEEP STOPPING, NOT FUNCTIONING, I HAD REPLACED THE MOTOR THREE TIMES NOW.
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE - VERY LOUD - ON THE TOP OF MY CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OR LANDED ON THE SUNROOF. I SAFELY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND THEN SAW THE HUGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED LOUD POPPING NOISES, SIMILAR TO THE SOUND OF A GUN SHOT. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF BEGAN TO SHATTER, FALLING OVER HIM WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE STRUCK THE SUNROOF TO CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT WAS PERSISTENT THAT NOTHING HAD STRUCK THE SUNROOF AND LATER WHILE PERFORMING RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE EXACT SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAD ALSO ENCOUNTERED THE SUNROOF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,500.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I DRIVE WITH THE SUNROOF COVER OPEN, NOT THE ACTUAL WINDOW, THERE IS A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND IN THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AIR GAP OR SOMETHING. WHEN I CLOSE THE SUNROOF COVER, IT IS NOT AS LOUD, BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR WIND HOWLING. I KNOW THERE AREN'T ANY LEAKS BECAUSE WHEN IT RAINS, THERE IS NO WATER COMING INTO MY CAR. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026