2008 BMW 535Xi

Car is over heating. Replace water pump and thermostat. Car still over heating. Bad water pumps.

The taillight, blinker and reverse light all went out and when I pulled the components out To check to see if the bulbs are burnt all of the bulbs are perfectly fine, but the aluminum pieces were sparking, and the whole component will not work

Station wagon lift gate has severe wiring failures between the lift gate and body. This problem is well known throught the blog community. Broken wires cause failures, and electrical danger, to the rear lighting system that includes brake, running, back up, and turn signals. Also effected is the rear wiper, defroster, and operation access to open and close the lift gate. Tailgate failure would prohibit emergency opening and access to spare tire and fuses. I have already spent $3,000 on one harness replacement (dealer) and am looking at another $3,000 to repair (dealer) more wiring that will restore the brake/running lights on one side (failed state inpection). The internal lighting diagnostics did NOT indicate any lighting problems or warning. Broken wires could also cause failures to some or all of the entire electrical system. Very dangerous.

The passenger seat occupancy sensor stopped working. On the NHSTA website I found where BMW offered a 15 year warranty for this part. What was the negotiation with NHSTA that BMW offered this warranty? It is warranty SI B01 01 18. My car on the list is the E60 and E61 with option 456 (Comfort Seat). BMW refuses to honor this warranty and want to charge me $2,700 to repair this. Note that the front passenger seat is rarely occupied. Why should this part fail prematurely?

The vehicle's engine caught fire approximately 13 1/2 hours after last having been driven. I parked it in my driveway at 9pm on April 15, 2022. I was alerted to a fire in the engine by my neighbor at 10:30am on April 16, 2022. The entire engine was engulfed in flames, melting all of the plastic components. It burned through my hood and affected every part of the engine. We were able to get the fire out with a garden hose before it spread to the house and my parents' two other vehicles parked next to it. No one was burned while putting out the fire, but several neighbors and family members did breathe in the toxic smoke. 911 was called and the fire department confirmed the fire was out. The driveway under the vehicle has burn damage, but we haven't moved the vehicle yet to see the extent of it. The check engine light had been on since purchase. The vehicle had been maintained by a mechanic specializing in import motors. He was unable to determine the cause of the check engine alert, and said it was a problem that BMW has with several of their models of this era. The vehicle was only covered under liability insurance, so our insurance company has not required an inspection. It has not yet been inspected by a mechanic or any other entity. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.

MY BMW IS A 2008 BMW 535XI THAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON 02/2008. I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH CYLINDER 4 MISFIRING SO I CHANGED ALL 6 SPARK PLUGS AND CYLINDER 4 IGNITION COIL ONLY TO HAVE CYLINDER MISFIRING STILL. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CHECKED AND STATED THAT I HAD A BAD IGNITION COIL BECAUSE MY SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION COIL SMELLED LIKE FUEL. MY FRIEND IS A TECH AT A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME NOT TO REPAIR IT YET BECAUSE BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A E61 SPORTS WAGON. I WILL PROVIDE THE DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS THAT MY VEHICLE IS UNDER THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. WHEN AT IDLE MY CAR SHAKES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR I JUST NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES WERE UNTIL NOW. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE SO I WILL PUT TODAY'S DATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MISFIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF COLUMBIA LOCATED AT (1900 I70 DR. SW, COLUMBIA MO) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER 4 MISFIRE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,450.

FOR OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE (SMALL) ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY & CONSTANTLY GOING ON/OFF. I'VE HAD SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, TUBES & EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN REPLACED AND HAVE TAKEN (OR TOWED IN MOST CASES) THE CAR TO MANY DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS FOR MULTIPLE QUOTES & REPAIRS. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THE SMALL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY GONE & THE CAR WAS FINE TO DRIVE/REVERSE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW BLOCKS, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION/REDUCE SPEED LIGHT CAME ON, THE POWER WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED & I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A DUMP TRUCK. IN 2008, I BOUGHT MY BMW BRAND NEW BECAUSE I WANTED NO CAR ISSUES BECAUSE I AM NOT A MECHANIC. EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT REPEATED & DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT NO MECHANIC CAN IDENTIFY. AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES (HPFP). AFTER THE THIRD HPFP WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP LITERALLY FOR THREE MONTHS STRAIGHT, I GOT A LAWYER INVOLVED AND BMW CORP APOLOGIZED & SAID I COULD HAVE A CHOICE OF: 1/ GETTING A DIFFERENT CAR THAT THEY PICKED OUT (A 535I NOT THE XI I BOUGHT BECAUSE OF SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS) 2/ THEY CUT ME A CHECK FOR A FEW THOUSAND AND TOLD ME TO SHUT UP AND I COULD NEVER SPEAK OF WHAT HAPPENED OR BE PART OF FUTURE LAWSUITS OR CLASS ACTIONS. I'VE NEVER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY 2008 BMW (116K MILES

VEHICLE STALLS, HESITATES WHEN DRIVING. MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYS THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS FAILING, BUT CAN BE DRIVEN WITH DECREASED PERFORMANCE AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO BMW. BROUGHT THE CAR TO BMW SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE I HAVE 159K MILES ONE THE SAID VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, (CARLOS - NORWALK BMW), WHO IS POLITE AND HELPFUL, WE FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THREE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES. FIRST IS IN 2009 WHEN THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AFTER FOLLOA YEAR 2010, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN REPLACED THE SAME FUEL PUMP. THEN ON 2013, HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INJECTORS BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN ONGOING AND THIS TIME, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER THE 120K MILES. I BELIEVE THAT BMW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PROPERLY FIX IN THE FIRST PLACE. AT LEAST 3 TIMES OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY BMW), AND STILL NOT RESOLVED! IT IS A GOOD CAR, BUT CAN BE DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT ANYMORE UNTIL I FEEL IT IS SAFE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. AT LOW SPEED, IDLING, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH CAN BE REALLY SCARY. I HOPE THEY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTUALLY FIND AND FIX THE ISSUE.

87,000 MILES WARNING LIGHT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT ENGAGED AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE. QUOTED $1800 BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPLACE, FIX. LOOKING FOR RECALL AS MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME. WAS TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T TELL WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL INFLATE OR NOT. AGAINST THE LAW TO DISCONNECT THE LIGHT. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WITHOUT TAKING THE SEAT APART.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS HUNG UP ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

KNOWN SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO BROKEN WIRING IN E61 WAGON HATCH WIRING. SEE THIS THREAD: HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E61-TOURING-DISCUSSION-4/TAILGATE-WIRING-HARNESS-REPLACEMENT-72751/

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF GIVING A FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. I HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS HAS PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN.

THE WIPERS KEEP STOPPING, NOT FUNCTIONING, I HAD REPLACED THE MOTOR THREE TIMES NOW.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH, 2018, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK, I STARTED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY COMPANY'S UNDERGROUND GARAGE AND THE INTERIOR BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND MORE SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT BACK TO MY OFFICE TO CALL AAA. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES LATER I WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SMOKE IN THE GARAGE. AS I APPROACHED THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE BUT I COULD TELL THAT THE BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT WINDOW SHIELDS AND THE SUNROOF WERE SCORCHED. MY KEY FOB DID NOT WORK SO I HAD TO OPEN THE CAR WITH THE KEY. WITH THE DOOR OPEN THE THICK SMOKE ESCAPED AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF A FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BMW OWNERS IN THE PAST AND THAT THIS WAS A COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE IN LETTING YOU KNOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

INSULATION ON WIRING INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS FALLEN OFF EXPOSING BARE WIRES. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN REPLACING BULBS. DISCUSSION BOARDS ON WEB HAVE MANY OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. BMW DOES NOT

THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE TAILGATE HAVE BEEN BOTH SEVERED AND OTHERWISE DAMAGED BY THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE TAILGATE AND LIFTGLASS. THE HINGES AND WIRING TRAYS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND THE WIRE INSULATION MATERIAL SEEMS TO BE OF A PVC MATERIAL. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MATERIAL IS VULNERABLE TO FAILURE WITH ONLY REGULAR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HARNESS TRAY IN THE TAILGATE HINGES ACT AS SHEARS THAT HAVE SEVERED THE WIRES. THIS PRESENTS SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL OF FIRES FROM ELECTRICAL SHORTS, MALFUNCTIONING AND DAMAGE OF CONTROL MODULES DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, INOPERABLE REAR-DEFOGGER SYSTEM, INOPERABLE KEYFOB REMOTES FOR ENTRY AND LOCKING, LOSS OF RADIO SYSTEM INCLUDING WEATHER BAND FOR SAFETY UPDATES, ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE NOT ONLY A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT EVERY VEHICLE IN THIS DESIGNATION HAS EITHER SUFFERED FROM THESE PROBLEMS OR IS SUSCEPTIBLE. AS NOTED IN SEVERAL BLOGSITES WHERE OWNERS AND REPAIR SPECIALISTS HAVE COMMENTED, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BOTH NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER. CLEARLY A RECALL AND MANUFACTURER-PAID REPAIR SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

AT C. 89,000 MILES - WARNING: "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTION". BMW DEALER, ROCKVILLE, MD, WANTS $660 TO TELL ME IF IT'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE BAG, AND/OR ITS HOUSING AND/OR ONLY A FAULTY SENSOR SENDING AN INCORRECT MESSAGE (!!) FOLLOWING THAT SUSPICIOUS DRILL THEY CAN THEN FIX IT - A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF IT'S ONLY A SENSOR, MUCH MORE $ IF IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. CAR MOVING OR NOT, THE WARNING REMAINS ON.

MECHANICAL INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS DEFECT MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE DURING COLD STARTS,HESITATION WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL FOR RAPID ACCELERATION ON HIGHWAY ROADS. THERE IS ALSO A ROUGH IDLE

THE DRIVE SHAFT FOR MY BMW 535XI BROKE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARMING. THIS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERNEATH COMPONENTS OF THE CAR. SUCH AS RIPPING THE DATA CABLE AND BURST THE TRANSMISSION AND ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LICKED OUT INSTANTLY. MY VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH ON COMING CARS. I HAVE UPLOADED A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN DRIVE SHAFT WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING TOWED . I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS BUT I AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD THEM AT THIS TIME. IN ADDITION THE PRESSURE HOSE FOR THE POWER PUMP BURST AND IT IS UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 3 POWER HOSTS BECAUSE IT IS A BMW RECOMMENDATION.

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT FAILURE LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON. BROUGHT BACK TO THE BMW DEALER, SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR BMW. BUT SERVICE WOULD COST $2,300 TO FIX. I ASKED IF IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THEN IT IS A DEFECT. BMW SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AS I SEE IN OTHER RECENT RECALL ANNOUNCEMENTS LIKE LAST MONTH FOR THE BMW X3.

THIS IS THE 3RD COMPLAINT ON THE SAME VEHICLE I HAVE PLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS AND THEY HAVE FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE COMPUTER COMPONENTS ARE LOCATED, HAS BEEN RECEIVING WATER LEAKAGE FROM FAULTY PLUGS VIA THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM LEADING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THUS CAUSING MAJOR MALFUNCTIONS SUCH AS FUEL INJECTORS, STARTERS, BATTERIES, SENSORS, AND INDICATORS THAT MAJOR TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN WHAT IS REALLY WRONG IS THAT ALL THE COMPUTER COMPONENTS ARE DROWNING IN WATER, CORRODED AND RUSTED. THIS IS FAULTY FROM THE BMW FACTORY AND THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND VIA THE INTERNET FROM MANY CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE PLACED A COMPLAINT WITH BMW AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. IN ONE INSTANCE I EXPERIENCED THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE STEERING WHEEL ON/OFF BUTTON WAS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO DRIVE AND IS UNRELIABLE!!

ON THURSDAY MARCH 30TH I DROPPED THE CAR OFF WITH BRINSFIELD AUTO IN GREENSBORO, NC BECAUSE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON APRIL 6TH I PICKED IT UP WITH COMPLETED REPAIRS OF A CLEANED #5 FUEL INJECTOR THAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS RUNNING RICH BUT AFTER BEING CLEANED WAS RUNNING CORRECTLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER AN INDICATOR. ON APRIL 8TH I WAS DRIVING IN GASTONIA, NC AND THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUDDERING TO THE POINT IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I PULLED INTO A CAR DEALERSHIP THAT WAS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WAS AFTER HOURS AND PARKED THE CAR. MY SON AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A VERY CLEAR ODOR OF GAS. THERE WAS A COUPLE DRIVING THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP LOT WHO STOPPED AND ALSO NOTICED THE ODOR AND AGREED IT WAS INDEED FUEL AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED BACK TO BRINSFIELD AUTO WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE #5 FUEL INJECTOR WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND SHOOTING STRAIGHT FUEL THROUGH THE ENGINE AND OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FIRE HAD I NOT NOTICED.

MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND NOT RUNNING.

WIRING AND REAR DIVERSITY ANTENNA CAN BECOME WET UNDER REAR HATCH FAIRING. THIS HAS CAUSED THE COMFORT ACCESS TO WORK WITH REDUCED RANGE AND OR NOT WORK AT ALL. WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE HAVE SEVERED CABLES FROM OPENING AND CLOSING REAR WINDOW PORTION OF HATCH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND OVERHEATED. IN ADDITION "PLEASE SHUT ENGINE OFF DUE TO OVERHEATING " WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

THE CAR HAS AN PASSENGER RESTRAINT ERROR THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY. THE CAR FUEL GAGE DOES NOT WORK EITHER

I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2008 BMW 535XI SPORTS WAGON FROM CONCORD BMW ON 09.01.2015 WITH 81,759 MILES ON IT. ON DECEMBER 15, 2015 I WAS TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED WHEN THE REAR AIR SPRINGS FULLY COLLAPSED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO CONCORD BMW'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT VERY SAME DAY TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. ON DECEMBER 17, 2015 I RECEIVED AN EMAIL REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM BMW CONCORD SERVICE ADVISOR JOEY TIONGSON FOR $24,188.17 (I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE FOR $17,400.00).THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAINS ALLOWED WATER TO TRAVEL DOWN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE VEHICLE AND FLOOD ALL THE ELECTRONIC MODULES. TIMING OF THIS INCIDENT IS SUCH THAT MID-DECEMBER 2015 PRODUCED THE FIRST RAINFALL IN OUR AREA DUE TO CALIFORNIA DROUGHT. MY CAR WAS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY SIGNIFICANT WATER PRIOR TO THESE FIRST RAINS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THIS PRE-EXISTING CONDITION OF WHICH I WAS NEVER ADVISED. MY RESEARCH AFTER THIS INCIDENT INDICATES THAT OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT NOT TO THIS MAGNITUDE. BMW HAS ALSO ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS ADVISING DEALERSHIPS OF THIS PROBLEM.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 BMW 535XI AND HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO. IT HAS SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN ON THE ROAD DUE TO FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING MISFIRES AND NOW THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ALSO THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE PRETENDING THAT THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION IN 3 & 5 SERIES ISN'T THEIR FAULT. I CHECKED THE CARFAX ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE BUYING IT AND IT WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT A BMW DEALERSHIP. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I ALSO HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOTALLY IGNORED THE RECALLS AND SCREWED OVER THE FIRST OWNER. BMW NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING CARS WITH KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE TO DROP $3800 TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED. THE CAR WON'T EVEN START NOW.

I PURCHASED A 2008 BMW 5 SERIES WAGON 9/1/2015 ON CALIFORNIA HAD ITS FIRST RAIN STORM CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE BMW RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS 12/16/115. THE DRAIN LINES ARE A WELL DOCUMENTED AND A BMW SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I EXPERIENCED WIDESPREAD SYSTEM FAILURE, TIRE WARNINGS, TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNINGS AND THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND THE CAR DROPPED ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE BMW DEALERSHIP GAVE US $24,188.17 REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND WIRING WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR

RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ON DASH AND WARNING ON THE NAV SCREEN GOES ON WHENEVER SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND TOUCHING THE HANDLE TO LOCK THE DOORS VIA THE KEYLESS ENTRY FEATURE, THE CONTACT FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD NOT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND REMAINED TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE DRIVER CAME BACK TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT WHAT THE CONTACT PERCEIVED AS A FAILURE WAS A SECURITY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

APRIL 2013, BMW DEALER #1 (SELLER) WAS TOLD BY SELLING DEALER THAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT JUST CAME ON HOURS BEFORE DELIVERY.. WAS TOLD TO BRING CAR TO A DEALER IN MY STATE AND THEY WILL FIX IT, NO CHARGE SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY; MAY 23, 2013 BMW DEALER #2 (SERVICE) RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGH IS ON.. DEALER #2 ADVISED THAT BST CABLE WAS SLICED, HENCE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR, WHICH WAS $1,000.00. JUNE 12, 2013 BMW DEALER #3 (SERVICE) WENT TO DEALER #3 FOR SECOND OPINION, SURPRISED WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS AND FIXED FOR $117.00.. BELOW IS THE ACTUAL DEALER FINDINGS AND FIXED; , , , , 93398 SPORADIC FAULT RAN, SHORT TEST, CONNECTED CHARGER 12.31V , , , , FAULTS ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAIN FIRING CIRCUIT, FAULT OCCURENCE 1, FAULT , , , , CURRENTLY NOT PRESENT INSPECTED CONNECTIONS AND LINES, CHECKED , , , , MEASURED RESISTANCE AS SEEN BY MODUAL, WITHIN SPEC. CLEARED , , , , FAULT MEMORY SEPTEMBER 2014 BMW DEALER #3 (SERVICE) RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGH IS ON IS BACK.!! TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER #3.. THIS TIME DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE BST CABLE IS CORRODED DUE TO WATER IN THE REAR VENT IN THE BATTERY AREA.. BST CABLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND COST $919.98. SUMMARY: APRIL 2013 DEALER #1 STATES, RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEALER FIX, NO CHARGE. MAY 2015, DEALER #2 STATES BST CABLE GOT SLICED, $1,000.00 REPAIR JUNE 2013 DEALER #3 STATES HEAD RESTRAINT FIRING CIRCUIT, FIXED IT FOR $117.00 SEPT 2014 DEALER #3 NOW STATES BST CABLE GOT

I HAD THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ERROR SHOW UP ON MY VEHICLE'S DASH IN 2013. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOME MODULE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST. NOT SURE WHY WOULD THEY HAVE A REPLACE A MODULE IN "DRIVER SIDE" WHEN THE ERROR IS IN "PASSENGER SIDE." BUT I DIDN'T ARGUE AND LET THEM REPLACE IT AND PAID $400 FOR THE PRIVILEGE. NOW AGAIN IN APRIL 2015, SAME ERROR IS HAPPENING. FIRST THE DEALER (BMW OF CLEVELAND, SOLON, OH) COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM FOR 2 DAYS. BUT WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, THEY SAY THAT NOW THE WHOLE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS A WHOPPING $700. THE CAR SHOWS PROBLEM IN PASSENGER SIDE, AND DEALER SAYS DRIVER SIDE HEADREST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS! LOOKS LIKE THE DEALER IS TRYING TO SCAM ME ON THIS. IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS?

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED. SOME BMW 5-SERIES WATER PUMPS HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

I WAS EXITING THE THE FREEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ON A BANKED ONRAMP THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO RELEASE THE BRAKE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE UNEXPECTED LOSS IN POWER STEERING CAUSED ME TO LOOSE GRIP ON THE WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE (WHICH STRUGGLED TO START) THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON TELLTALE" ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ENTERED "REDUCE ENGINE POWER MODE". AFTER SCANNING THE DTC (P3090) I LEARNED THE VEHICLE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. I NOTICED BMW HAS A RECALL ON THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY THEIR RECALL ONLY COVERS THE FUEL PUMP TO 120,000 MILES AND MY VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 9,500 MILES ABOVE THE COVERED THRESHOLD. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND READING ONLINE I FEEL THE PUMP HAS SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW THAT BMW HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS. I WISH BMW WOULD HOLD UP TO THEIR INTEGRITY AND CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

I DISCOVERED FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH NOT CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND WITH NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION" ABOVE MY HEAD. IT WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SHOT. BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL OVER, THE SHATTERED GLASS OF THE SUNROOF BLEW OFF THE ROOF ONTO THE ROAD BEHIND ME. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COME OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND I WAS NOT GOING UNDER A BRIDGE OF ANY KIND. IT WAS AS IF THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. HAD THE SUNROOF CURTAIN NOT BEEN CLOSED, ALL THAT GLASS WOULD HAVE COME INTO THE CAR AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY. *TR

CAR OVER HEATED AND I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS GO OUT ON THEM AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. HE TOLD ME HOW TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE ISSUE AND IT IS THE PUMP. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS... *TR

I STARTED MY CAR AND UPON STARTING IT BEGAN RATTLING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH SAYING. ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UPON START UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW DESIGN FUEL INJECTORS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING DUE TO MISFIRING FUEL INJECTORS AND HAD ERRATIC ENGINE OPERATION. NOTE: BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN DECEMBER 2010. BMW NOTED IN THE RECALL THAT THIS REPAIR IS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, BMW IS NOT HONORING THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE. *JS

VEHICLE IS STATION WAGON VARIANT OF 535. THE STATION WAGON HAS A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF (STANDARD EQUIPMENT) IS GUTTER PRONE TO CLOGGING, AND WATER WHICH ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ACCUMULATES IN AN ELECTRONICS WELL UNDER THE CARGO FLOOR UNKNOWN TO THE DRIVER. THIS WATER CORRODES CONNECTIONS TO A NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC MODULES AND DAMAGES THE MODULES THEMSELVES WHEN SUBMERGED. THERE ARE MANY AFFECTED FUNCTIONS WHICH CAN BE DISRUPTED, BUT CRITICALLY SENSORS WHICH AFFECT WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. AN INCORRECT DETERMINATION OF PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY COULD EITHER CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WITH AN UNDERWEIGHT PASSENGER OR CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. MY VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD THESE MODULES SUBMERGED AND IT APPEARS TO NOT BE AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM - PARTICULARLY FOR THE STATION WAGON VARIANT. *TR

RIGHT REAR HATCHBACK RUNNING LIGHT SHUTS OFF WHEN HATCH SHUTS OR IS FULLY OPEN, BUT COMES ON WHEN IN BETWEEN FULLY OPEN AND COMPLETELY CLOSED. *TR

THE INSULATION OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS CRUMBLING AND POSES A FIRE HAZARD AS THE WIRES HAVE LOST THEIR INSULATION AND CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. *TR

COLD START IN THE MORNING FOR DRIVE TO WORK, CAR SUFFERED SLOW START AND ROUGH IDLE. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION ON IDRIVE WITH HIGH COOLANT FAN RPM. SHUT DOWN CAR FOR 30 MINUTES, RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUE INDICATED IN IDRIVE BUT YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. DROVE TO DEALER FOR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON SAFETY RECALL FOR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY (13V-407). WHILE AT 40 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM DEALER, ENGINE SURGED THEN REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION AND CHECK ENGINE ON IDRIVE. RADIATOR FAN WENT TO HIGH RPM AND CAR SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH RAPIDLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A TWO LANE ROAD. VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER INDICATES IT IS FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. LAST ONE OCCURRED WITHIN 27 MONTHS AND 16K MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ENGINE FAILED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400.

I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE "RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION!" FOR NO REASON AND IT SAYS "PASS, RESTRAINT SYSTEM - FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER" ETC. *JS