2008 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 691 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 15 involved a crash and 63 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJul 8, 2009
BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.
IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 09V257000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
691 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Sep 3, 2011
THROUGH OUT THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED THREE TIMES WITH FIVE OCCURRENCES OF THE CAR NOT CRANKING AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN LEAVING ME STRANDED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR LESS THAN 5-10 MINUTES AT THE TIME. THE FIRST INSTANCE IT WAS TOWED BMW OF MOBILE REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING EVEN THOUGH I HAD OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT CHECK THE BATTERY TO BE SURE THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THEY CHARGED ME OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS BATTERY. TWO DAYS AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO BMW OF MOBILE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS ETC. WOULD COME ON. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR OVER 5 DAYS RUNNING TEST THEN STATED THAT "NOTHING WAS WRONG." I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD IT TOWED IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. TWO DAYS LATER IT WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN WHEN MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE AT A LATE LOCAL HIGHSCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME. THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE PROBLEM CAUSING SOMETHING TO MELT NEAR THE FUSE PANEL($1,200) TO REPLACE). *TR
Power train, Aug 2, 2011
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jul 28, 2011
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.
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2011, fire
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
Tires, Feb 27, 2011
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 21, 2011
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
Electrical system, Feb 17, 2011
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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2011
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 system, Gasoline, Feb 11, 2011
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
Power train, Jan 27, 2011
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.
Air bags, Jan 27, 2011, crash
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 23, 2011
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
Wheels, Dec 7, 2010
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 7, 2010
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
Fuel system, Other, Nov 18, 2010
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED IN PARKING LOT. NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. IT WAS REPLACED AND 2 WEEKS LATER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT. ONLY A SOFTWARE UPDATE. STILL HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Nov 9, 2010
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
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 1, 2010
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.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 27, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD CRANK FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG, UNUSUAL TIME BEFORE STARTING. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE UNUSUALLY AND ACCELERATE EXTREMELY SLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
Electrical system, Oct 26, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Oct 25, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 13, 2010
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
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Oct 12, 2010
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
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 29, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 23, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 21, 2010
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