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, Visibility, Sep 19, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 18, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 3, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 2, 2010
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 31, 2010
BMW N54 ENGINE 1. SYMPTOMS BEGIN WITH INCREASING LONG-CRANKS ON START-UP. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE PERFORMS AT REDUCED POWER, AND ULTIMATELY TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. 2. I AM ON MY 3RD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) WITH APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON THE CAR IN 2 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. APPARENTLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HPFP FREQUENTLY LEADS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPARK PLUGS, AND COILS WHICH CAUSE SEVERE MIS-FIRING AND VIOLENT SHAKING. MY COILS WERE REPLACED AS WAS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND AN O2 SENSOR IN BETWEEN HPFP #1 AND #2. AT TIMES THE ENGINE HAS CUT POWER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. 3. BMW MADE AVAILABLE A HPFP FROM A NEW MANUFACTURER (MY #2 HPFP) AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISCONTINUED THAT PART (PART # ENDING IN 943) AND REPLACED IT WITH PART # ENDING IN 933, WHICH IS A RE-MANUFACTURED HPFP (THE PUMP CURRENTLY IN MY CAR). EACH OF THE THREE PUMPS APPEARS TO BE NEARLY IDENTICAL, EACH HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND NONE SEEM TO ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 30, 2010
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
Wheels, Aug 26, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 17, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Aug 12, 2010
MULTIPLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES ON VEHICLE STARTING AT 27,055 MILES, SECOND AT 28,711 MILES, THIRD AT 40,872 MILES. ALSO EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 35,784 MILES.(REPAIRED) SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF REPROGRAMMING SOFTWARE FAILED TO FIX THE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. STILL ONGOING FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE SYMPTOMS OCCURRING AFTER RECENT DEALER SERVICE/INSPECTION. THE THIRD BREAKDOWN WAS CATASTROPHIC AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED OFF ROADWAY. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 11, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 11, 2010
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AFTER REPLACEMENT AND NOW THE CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AT START. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 7, 2010
CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF LONG CRANK, WHEN STARTING AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ALL SPEEDS. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED OUT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ALL POWER WAS LOST IN THE VEHICLE INCLUDING STEERING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP, AND TWO MONTH LATER WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN REPROGRAMMED THE CAR. TWO ADDITIONAL VISITS TO THE SHOP FOR THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES-CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY LOSING ALL POWER AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED INJECTORS, IGNITION COILS, SPARKPLUGS AND THE MOST RECENT CLAIM THAT THE CAR WAS LOW ON FUEL WITH 1/4 TANK! WHEN CAR DIES ALL OF A SUDDEN ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 60+ MILES PER HOUR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SEEING ALL THE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS MADE ME REALIZE THAT BMW IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM UNTIL SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. *TR
Seat belts, Aug 7, 2010
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 3, 2010
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 31, 2010
ON JULY 24, 2010, MY 2008 BMW 335I SEDAN EXPERIENCED AN HPFP FAILURE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MY 335I (DELIVERED JULY 2008) HAS HAD LONG START CRANKS FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. MY WASHINGTON, DC BMW DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IT CANNOT REPLACE THE HPFP UNTIL IT FAILS OR THROWS AN ELECTRONIC CODE. ON JULY 24, I WAS DRIVING APPROX 500 MILES TO A VACATION. 350 MILES INTO THE TRIP, ON I-87 AT APPROX 65MPH IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC, A CAR CUT INTO MY (MIDDLE) LANE. I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND QUICKLY APPLIED MEDIUM THROTTLE TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. MY ENGINE STUMBLED SEVERELY AS I CHANGED LANES/ACCELERATED AND THE HALF-POWER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGHLY, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST SPEED RAPIDLY, IN THE LEFT LANE OF VERY CROWDED HIGHWAY. THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME. I SHUT OFF ANY ACCESSORIES (AIR CONDITIONING, STEREO, ETC.), PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN APPROX 50-55MPH ON A LONG DOWNHILL AS I MERGED OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. AS I PULLED OFF, THE CAR NEARED A STALL, WITH THE ENGINE IDLE JUMPING WILDLY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER TURNING IT BACK ON, THE HALF-POWER ENGINE ICON CAME ON AGAIN, ALONG WITH A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE AGAIN HAD ALMOST NO POWER TO ACCELERATE AND RAN ROUGHLY. THE HPFP AND LOWER PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR WERE REPLACED BY KEELER BMW, LATHAM, NY, ON JULY 29, 2010. MY CAR HAD RECEIVED THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DURING A PAST SERVICE. I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE HPFP PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BECAUSE OF THE LONG CRANKS, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MINE TO FAIL AND HOPED IT WOULD NOT BE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I NOTED A RECENT ARTICLE IN WHICH A BMW SPOKESPERSON SAID THE FAILURES ARE NOT OCCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE, BMW NEEDS TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE COME OUT WITHOUT GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 31, 2010
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
Electrical system, Jul 30, 2010
THE SPEEDOMETER IN THIS VEHICLE IS OFF BY 5 MPH AT 60 MPH AND PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. BOTH THE DEALER AND BMW CORPORATION REFUSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT A NEW SPEEDOMETER BE INSTALLED OR THAT THE OLD UNIT BE RECALIBRATED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 30, 2010
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
Fuel system, Other, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2010
ENGINE MALFUNCTION. LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 28, 2010
WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND CAR DISPLAYED AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 27, 2010
2008 BMW 335I INFAMOUS FAILING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP). SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING PUMP ARE LONG CRANKS UPON START UP AND IF IT FAILS DURING DRIVING, IT CAN LEAVE YOU STRANDED. MY HPFP FAILED ONLY ONCE AROUND 22,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED PROMPTLY BY BMW. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jul 25, 2010
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. FAILURE STARTS OFF WITH LONG STARTS, FOLLOWED BY ROUGH IDLE FOLLOWED BY REDUCED POWER AND FAILED PUMP. HAD 4 PUMPS REPLACED. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jul 25, 2010
WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65-70MPH, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS LEFT WITH 50% ENGINE POWER (LIMP MODE). LUCKILY THE DEALER WAS ONLY A COUPLE MILES AWAY, SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THERE FOR REPAIR, BUT HAD THIS BEEN ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THE BMW HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKING WELL EVER AFTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS INCIDENT ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT TYPICAL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILURES TYPICALLY PRESENT LIKE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 25, 2010
MY WIFE WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER. TURNS OUT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM UNTIL I READ THIS ARTICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 25, 2010
LOST ENGINE POWER DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 1/2008 - IN 4/2008 AND 5/2010. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AT NO COST. *TR