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.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not notified of the issue. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2022
Hello why you send me letters saying that , you guys gonna take my car away for what or why if its my car .If I don't have any warning or letters with the Police that say my car gonna be taking away for no reason !? that doesn't make sense to me cuz I'm not the only person who's driving a BMW car .My car is in good conditions, few days ago I did the smoke check. the car pass everything clean. Like is weird that BMW dealership send me this letter to me , if my car is mine , I already pay off my car and I don't nothing to do with BMW dealership because everything is good with my car. So I need to cut off that warning that I have on my car and if you can contact me at this Phone number [XXX]. Like I said that doesn't make sense , taking my car away for no reason. And I already contact the hotline number that appears in the below of the papers , I spoke with some People about this problem but they trash , they can't solve anything. So I need somebody who knows about this and how to cut off the warning of my car thanks!! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 11, 2022
The engine and all electrical components including power steering spontaneously cutout while driving, usually while engine isnt being stressed at all, sometimes while idling. If the car is rolling, i have to restart the engine while driving and using manual power to steer. Obviously, this is a huge safety problem. I've just had the alternator and battery replaced, and they test fine. This has happened at least 50 times and I've reduced time driving vehicle until I solve the issue, which has persisted at least 6 months. I asked the BMW dealer about the following recall, and they claim they already performed it years ago after I already owned the car, without my recalling being told it was done. However, the symptoms are back, and BMW refuses to do anything about it at this time: Report Receipt Date: FEB 07, 2013 NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V044000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 504,545 All Products Associated with this Recall Details 2 Associated Documents Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW is recalling 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle. CONSEQUENCE: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2013.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact stated upon turning off the vehicle after driving for approximately 2-3 hours, she smelled a burning plastic odor inside and outside of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and BMW of Springfield Parts & Accessories (391 US-22, Springfield, NJ 07081: (908) 232-1466) were contacted and made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was notified about the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was still safe to drive despite the parts for the recall not being available. The manufacturer was also notified of the issue and informed him that the vehicle was not safe to drive; he was instructed to leave the vehicle parked until parts for the recall were available. The contact was referred back to the dealer for a loaner vehicle; however, the dealer stated that there were no loaner vehicles available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine, Mar 14, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2008 328i. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated he smelled a burning odor and parked the vehicle. The contact looked under the hood and did not see any damage. The contact restarted the vehicle to drive home and heard a loud noise coming from the engine and vehicle started overheating. After arriving home, the contact opened the hood and became aware that the hood insulation was missing, and the PCV hose was leaking oil. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 11, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving at 25-30 MPH for 10 minutes, the engine started misfiring, went on overheating mode and stalled. The coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that he turned off the vehicle for some time; however, when he restarted the vehicle, the coolant temperature warning light was still illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact drove back to his residence. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving and he could smell a burning odor . The contact became aware that his VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), which he associated with the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,300.
Power train, Feb 28, 2022
The driveshaft connection to the differntial has unusual movement that causes a clunking noise when changing low gears. This means the internal differential parts are subject to fail in the long term and can cause injuries to the driver if not fixed and vehicle gets out of control
Engine, Feb 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH on the highway, the engine failed. The contact pulled over to the emergency lane. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove home safely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure code was not able to be generated and another appointment was made for further testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was also informed that his vehicle could be related to a fuel injection issue. No further information was available. The approximate failure mileage was 147,675.
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 17, 2022
UNKNOWN since I have bought my 2008 bmw 328i I had one recalled fixed on my dash I have the air bag light and the brake light tire light service engine soon light on my door locks would work some times and then I had to open my car from the driver side manually then my drivers side window won't roll all the way up only half way then my car just wouldn't start out of the blue replace the starter ran for three weeks and wouldn't start again and has been sitting for a month now my passenger seat belt won't click in sometimes and my warranty is out but the recalls I have read are just what my car is doing I would like this matter to be looked in to and my car repaired at no cost its a safety issue an inconvenience and has cost me money wise extremely .
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 26, 2022
The plastic power pieces that goes over the battery melted. Ever since then I have had electrical problems. My concern is when that pieces melted it could have caused a fire. I dint even know it melted till I started have electrical problems and had to look at my battery. As far as the fuel problems I have a n51 and from what I understand the parts for it are hard to find I would like to know more about the bmw 15yr/150,000 mile warrenty that the bmw forms are talking about
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 18, 2021
I am experiencing a know issue others have complained about related to the high pressure fuel injector failure in my vehicle. There have been previous recalls for this and my vehicle should fall within the recall dates and is showing all of the symptoms of this failure yet is it some how not part of the recall. What is happening is on cold starts or even idle the car is shaking and has a very apparent misfire, I have checked the spark plugs and they indeed have fuel on them. The injectors are causing excessive fuel in the cylinder this leads to a host of problems that are potentially, catastrophic like the engine seizing while driving due to oil dilution from the fuel
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 19, 2021
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V044000 (Electrical System) 17V676000 (Electrical System) and 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted bit did not inform the contact on the status of the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts Distribution Disconnect.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 18, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the radiator would overheat as the temperature gauge would indicate that the engine was hot. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where it was discovered that plastic parts inside the reservoir including the head gasket had melted and entered the radiator, which caused the failure. The contact also stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a greyish smoke began to emit from both the undercarriage and the engine of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and exited the vehicle with his children as he witnessed flames emitting from underneath the vehicle. A motorist behind him was able to pour a jug of water onto the fire which extinguished the flames. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his home. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty. The contact had made minor repairs to the vehicle but the vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Engine, Nov 10, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact stated that he had parked and turned off the vehicle, but about 20 minutes later he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that as he opened the hood of the vehicle he saw flames of fire and was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The contact stated that he removed the battery from the vehicle. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to their location for diagnosis. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not diagnose the vehicle as the vehicle had caught fire. The dealer referred the contact to NHTSA. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.
Suspension, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 21, 2021
Mileage Rollback
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2021
with no warning my car just shut down as I was driving thank god I was able to pull over and park after not knowing what the problem was I inspected the battery and saw the positive cable was damaged how I don't know but it needs to be replaced I have had the car for 2 years and never had a problem it is available for inspection
Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2021
Recently had to replace a failed bulb in my 2008 BMW 328i, during the replacement i noticed crumbling insulation within the plastic headlight compartment - basically all i had to do was touch the headlight wires lightly and insulation would crumble and flake off - this insulation is badly degraded, probably made out of improper materials and could potentially pose a hazard if the wires inside were to short out due to lack of insulation. I was able to carefully slip some insulative sleeves around the failed insulation wire to effect a temporary fix (which i don't really trust) BMW should recall and replace this dangerous wiring.
Electrical system, Jul 2, 2021, fire
2008 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED BATTERY CABLES WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE.
Electrical system, Jun 19, 2021
Two years ago, the driver side door would not open from the inside or outside of the car (pulling on both handles didn't open it) and attempting to unlock it by the dash unlock button didn't work. . The only way to exit the car was to crawl across the front of the car and exit out the passenger side. Was told that the problem was caused by a faulty door actuator. Fast forward to today and the same thing is happening again. I can't open my front drivers side door from the inside or outside which is obviously a major safety issue. Pulling on the handle on either side doesn't open the door and using the dash unlock button doesn't help unlock it either. After doing some research on this, it looks like this is a chronic problem with BMW E90 models (mine is a 2008 328i). With this being a major safety issue and is common with this model of vehicle, is there the possibility of a recall?
Engine, Jun 1, 2021, fire
The contact owned a 2008 BMW 328xi. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, she saw smoke exiting the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact parked and exited the vehicle safely and called 911. The contact stated 25 seconds after exiting the vehicle, the vehicle exploded and caught on fire. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated that there was no injury. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 8, 2021
MY VEHICLE STARTED SHUTTING DOWN FROM THE RADIATOR WHERE IT CAN ONLY BE STARTED MANUALLY.
Other or unspecified, Dec 8, 2020
THE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM WAS COMPROMISED USING THE OBD. I HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD THE VEHICLE IS BEING TRACKED. WHEN I STOP REMOVE THE KEY WITHIN 2 MINUTES I HEAR THE NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES I HEAR A LOUDER NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE PERSON WHO IS TRACKING ME IS TRYING TO LOCATE THE VEHICLE. FEW MINUTES LATER THEY SHOW UP. THE VEHICLE WAS LINKED TO SPECTRUM MOBILE SO I AM ALWAYS PICKING UP SPECTRUM WIFI WHEREVER I GO. DONGLES WERE USED TO ACCESS MY DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM. AN OBD ADAPTER - A DONGLE THAT PLUGS INTO THE PORT AND CONNECTS TO THE PHONE VIA BLUETOOTH. ONCE YOU PAIR THE SMARTPHONE WITH THE ADAPTER AND RUN THE APP, A 'BASIC' MODE WITH HIGH-LEVEL OPTIONS, AND AN 'EXPERT' ONE THAT EXPOSES ALL THE LOW-LEVEL SETTINGS CAN APPLY AND CONFIG. WITH SPECTRUM MOBILE HOTSPOTS, YOU CAN ACCESS SPECTRUM'S WIFI NETWORK USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICE. SPECTRUM MOBILE HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING HOTSPOTS. I SEE THE FOLLOWING 3 HOTSPOTS ALL TIME WHEREVER I GO IN MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH 2 OTHERS. * SPECTRUM MOBILE * SPECTRUMWIFI PLUS * SPECTRUMWIFI YOU CAN REGISTER UP TO 15 DEVICES PER ACCOUNT, BUT ONLY FIVE OF THOSE DEVICES CAN BE CONNECTED TO A SPECTRUM WIFI HOTSPOT AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE HELP I HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT WITH THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT 502(C) DR# 20-49284 OFFICER ACEVES DID# 5995