2008 Bmw X5 Electrical Problems

Your car caught fire in the engine compartment while parked, which appears to have been caused by an electrical problem. Police and fire departments responded to the scene and filed a report. This issue requires immediate investigation by a BMW service center to identify the root cause of the electrical fire.

Your fuel pump connector has burned into the fuel pump wiring harness, creating a serious fire hazard. Your mechanic compared this to a ticking time bomb, and you believe your vehicle should have been covered by a recall even though your VIN doesn't show one. The repair will likely involve replacing the fuel pump connector and harness to eliminate the fire risk.

Your parked X5 caught fire in the engine compartment while the car was off, resulting in total loss. BMW issued a recall in 2022 for a part that could cause fires in some vehicles, but you were not directly notified by your dealer. There were no warning signs before the fire occurred. The recall part may need to be inspected or replaced to prevent this fire risk.

Your 2008 BMW X5 experienced a coolant leak from the crossover pipe near the timing belt cover, which wasn't discovered until smoke suddenly poured from under the hood and out of the air conditioning vents with no warning lights—creating a serious fire risk. The low coolant light came on initially but disappeared after adding coolant, leaving you unaware of the dangerous leak. The repair involves replacing the leaking coolant crossover pipe and likely inspecting the EGR cooler system, which BMW has recalled for similar coolant-related fire hazards in other model years.

Your car's PCV valve heater can experience an electrical short that causes it to overheat, creating a serious fire risk while you're driving or shortly after you park. You may notice an electrical burning smell coming from under the hood, which is a warning sign to pull over immediately and exit the vehicle. BMW will replace the electrical wiring harness and add fuse protection to the PCV valve heater circuit at no cost.

Your car is producing black smoke from the tailpipe and losing power when you accelerate, and it's burning through spark plugs every 2 weeks and consuming about 5 quarts of oil every 2 weeks with oil leaks appearing in multiple locations. The power loss is forcing you to use slower routes to work and miss work, and you feel the car is unsafe for your family to drive. You received a recall notice from BMW 2 months ago but haven't received resolution yet, and the problem has been worsening over 6 months.

this vehicle is dangerous and I cannot drive it without it smoking and overheating, exhaust or fumes get inside the vehicle not safe for my family, I bought it last year and have had problems since and I cant get it fixed. I tried to call the BMW office last year to no avail and no returned calls, I constantly had to fill coolant when driving and afraid to drive no more because smoke from engine and smell of smoke is frightening while on the road. can't drive this vehicle anymore

suspension warning came up. air suspension bags. and air pump fail while driving at 65m/h. car was hard to control. I had to slow down to 40m/h. to drive safely.

ear conditioning will not work while driving in the desert.

Car engine stalled. Needed to be jumped. The battery was brand new, was changed a few days ago.

VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE STOPPED. A SMELL OF HOT ELECTRICAL WAS PRESENT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE SHUT OFF. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED A BLOWN FUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUT, AS WELL AS MELTING OF THE PLASTIC POWER CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE INSULATION ON THE POWER WIRES THEMSELVES. THE BARE WIRES WERE EXPOSED AT THE CONNECTION. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS STIFF FROM THE CONNECTOR OF THE FUEL PUMP TO THE RUBBER SEAL ON THE BODY.

BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ARE INSTALLED IN PLASTICS THAT ARE MELTED QUICKLY BY THE TIME WHICH CREATES FIRE RISK. I OPENED BOTH BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AND SAW THAT BOTH SIDES ARE MELTED IN PLASTICS ARE COMPLETELY BLACK AROUND FROM THE HEAT. MY CAR HAS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT TURNS TONS OF LIGHTS AND ERRORS IN MY DASHBOARD COMPUTER, THEN LATER ON THEY GO AWAY. AND ALSO I SMELL BURNING SMELL SOMETIMES. I BELIEVE ALL RELATED TO BRAKES BULBS ARE BURNING THE INSERTS OR SOMEHOW THIS MODEL OF BMW HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. LAST TIME ON 1/28/2020 WHEN WE WERE DRIVING FROM NJ TO CT ON 95, CAR LOST ALL OF DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND DETAILS INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, TACOMETER, MILES, SINGALS ETC, ALL DIED AND TONS OF ERROR MESSAGE POPED UP. BUT CAR DROVE JUST FINE.

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKE FROM ENGINE AREA AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT NORMAL SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND GOT MYSELF AND CHILD OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE PRECEDED TO BURN AND WAS FULLY ENGULFED. FIRE FIGHTERS EXTINGUISHED FIRE.

KEPT GETTING MAIL ABOUT A RECALL MY CAR HAD DIDNT THINK IT WAS THAT IMPORTANT SO I STALLED THE PROCESS A LITTLE UNTIL I KEPT GETTING MAIL NON STOP ABOUT THE MATTER SO I FINALLY FIND THE TIME TO TAKE MY CAR TO GET THE RECALL DONE OF COURSE I IMAGINED IT WILL BE A WALK IN THE PARK DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE , SO AFTER I GET THE RECALL DONE FOR FUEL PUMP AND AIRBAGS I PICK VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE , NEXT DAY COMES MY CAR LEAVES ME STRANDED ON A RANDOM BLOCK AND COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN ON ME , WHAT MAKES MATTERS WORST NOW IM STUCK SOMEWHERE AND HAVE TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE ME SOMEWHERE IM NOT BOTHERING OR MOVE ME OUT THE WAY , I CONTACT THE DEALER TEL THEM WHATS GOING ON THEY MAKE ME PAY A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM AGAIN , SO I BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LET THEM CHECK OVER THE WORK THEY JUST DID ON MY CAR BECAUSE I WASNT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEFORE THIS LITERALLY NONE MAYBE A LIGHTBULB WENT OUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT NOTHING ELSE EVEN PASSES INSPECTION WITH FLYING COLORS , SO ANYWAYS PASS THAT NOW THEY TELLING ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT THEY JUST WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE MIND YOU I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND IVE OWNED IT A FEW YEARS , SO NOW I GOT THIS RECALL DONE AND NOW THIS PROBLEM COMES UP , SO NOW I AGREE TO PAY THEM 1100$ JUST TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FREE WHICH IM NOT HAPPY ABOUT ONE BIT NOT ONLY THEY TAKE LONGER THEN THEY SUPPOSE TOO WORKING ON MY CAR BUT FEW DAYS AFTER I PAY THEM AND TAKE MY VEHICLE NOW THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN !! GET STRANDED SO NOW IM NOT THINKING GOING BACK BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE COME UP AND HAVE TO PAY ONCE AGAIN ! SO AS OF NOW I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO MY OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC SO HE CAN FIX A PROBLEM MY CAR NEVER HAD PRIOR TO THIS RECALL VISIT IM FURIOUS AND SPEND OVER 3000 TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE DEALERS MESS !

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BE USED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BIMMER CAR CARE (2017 WABASH AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60616) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I WAS DRIVING AND BUMPED UP AGAINST A SIDEWALK CURVE AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MY CAR SHUT OFF. IT WILL NOT START ANOTHER MORE AND THE HOOD UNDERNEATH WAS ON FIRE. (SMOKE WAS PRESENT).

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE REPLACE MY KEY FOB TWO TIME IN ONE YEAR EACH TIME IT COST ME $275.00 BY BMW WHY CAN'T BMW REPLACE THE KEY WITH A $2.00 LIKE ALL ITS OTHER MODELS. ONLY THE 2008 MODELS COST THAT MUCH

WATER LEAKAGE ON DRIVER SIDE REAR- AS WELL AS ACCUMULATING IN SPARE TIRE WELL SUBMERGING BATTERY IN 3 INCHES OF WATER. HI-FI AMPLIFIER - BLUETOOTH- NAVIGATION- RADIO- SOS DAMAGED FROM THIS. ALL WINDOWS SHUT AND VEHICLE FILLED WITH WATER.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DASHBOARD GIVE ERROR THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CAR LOSES POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIGN AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, ENGINE WILL NOT START OR CRANK AS IF BATTERY POWER IS LIST. ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED WITH A JUMPER OR IF THE CAR IS LEFT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTE TO AN HOUR, THE ENGINE WILL START WITHOUT A JUMPER.

MY DASHBOARD LIGHT FLICK ENGINE , ABS,PARKING BREAK WILL SHUT OFF VEHICLE LESS THAN 10MIN DRIVING WITH CAUTION.

AFTER PARKING SUV, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK/OPEN WITH DOUBLE PULL, HOWEVER, USING UNLOCK BUTTON (UNLOCKS ALL DOORS) DOOR WILL UNLOCK. IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY ONE INVOLVING FIRE, THIS COULD BE A FATAL SAFETY ISSUE. WORKED FINE UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, NOW IT WON'T UNLOCK; MADE THREE TRIPS IN THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED ALL THREE TIMES AFTER PARKING.

THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 15 2015. THE SHUT DOWN HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SITTING 24 HOURS, THE VEHICLE REBOOTS AND WILL START - IT IS THEN GOOD FOR 7 DAYS UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS HAVE DIAGNOSED, BUT CANNOT IDENTIFY/DUPLICATE PROBLEM. BATTERY REPLACED, BUT DID NOT REMEDY ISSUE. FIRST OCCURRENCE, VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP - VARIOUS MESSAGES ON NAV SCREEN (WARNINGS: TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION, WARNED IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, WILL NOT START AGAIN); ON DASH ALL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. TURNED VEHICLE OFF, DID NOT START AGAIN, AS NOTED ON NAV SCREEN. NEXT DAY, STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. TOWED TO SHOP, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DROVE ONE WEEK, THEN PARK BRAKE CAME ON. NEXT DAY, SAME ALERTS-THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING. DID NOT RESTART AFTER TURNING OFF. WAS ABLE TO START AFTER 24 HOURS, BUT COULD ONLY DRIVE A FEW FEET BEFORE TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE MAKE A U TURN. TOWED TO SHOP THAT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING, SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE, AS VEHICLE RAN SMOOTHLY. FOLLOWING WEEK, RETURNED TO SHOP FOR FURTHER TESTING. BATTERY REPLACED AND REGISTERED. WHEN PICKING UP VEHICLE, NOTICED NAV SCREEN WAS BLACK, WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. 4 DAYS LATER, IT CAME ON, BUT WENT OUT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE NEXT DAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW, WIPERS CAME ON, DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK. COULD NOT ROLL DOWN WINDOW OR OPEN DOOR TO TALK TO SAFETY PATROL. PATROL JUMP STARTED VEHICLE. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED). NAV SCREEN IS STILL BLACK, DVD AND CD DO NOT WORK (CD CHANGER SPITS OUT CDS). SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN GEARS. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, AS IT CUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO CHOICE, AS I RECENTLY PURCHASED IT IN AUGUST 2015; AND I HAVE TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUITY TO TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE.

ENGINE STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. UNABLE TO RESTART CAR. EVERYTHING COMPLETELY LOCKED DOWN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.

ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION/SHEATHING WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT/HOUSING IS SHOWING SIGNS OF AND OR OUTRIGHT DETERIORATION WHICH IN TURN EXPOSES BARE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. AT THIS POINT, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EFFECTED LIGHTS BUT THE WIRES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO NOTICEABLY TROUBLED. THE ISSUE IS NOT SPEED, MOVEMENT OR AREA DEPENDENT. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE, I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO AN OWNER'S FORUM DETAILING OTHER'S DILEMMAS DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE.

THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS MOUNTED IN THE TAILGATE FAILED. THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN FAULT ON THE E70 MODEL, WHERE THE POOR QUALITY SEALANT AND METHOD USED TO PREVENT THE INGRESS OF WATER INTO THE LAMP HOUSING FAILS. THIS LEADS TO CORROSION OF THE CONNECTOR HOUSINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE UNIT WHICH MUST BE REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRITY AT GREAT COST. AS BMW ARE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING (INDEED THEY ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ADMITTING SAME ) SI B 63 11 10 AND THE ITEM IS A SAFETY COMPONENT, I FEEL THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE WORK UNDERTAKEN AT THE COST OF BMW AND NOT THE UNFORTUNATE OWNERS. THEY SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, REPLACE THE SEALS WITH THE UPDATED ITEM (A NEOPRENE GASKET RATHER THAN SOMETHING RESEMBLING BATHROOM CAULK) AT THE NEXT SHEDULED SERVICE BEFORE THE DRIVER FINDS THEMSELVES WITH TWO FAILED BRAKE LIGHT UNITS?

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

ALL 6 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED. CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA JUST NORTH OF THE AIRPORT MY VEHICLE SIMPLY SHUT OFF IN POST GAME RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY SON WERE NOT HARMED AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MUSCLE TO CAR OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAD 66,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND ACCORDING TO BMW, AFTER MY CALL, WAS NOT PART OF THE 2008 X5'S VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR WITH NORMALLY ASPIRATED IN-LINE 6 CYLINDER ENGINES TO REPLACE THE LOW- PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. INTERESTINGLY, IN THE BMW PRESS RELEASE DATED OCTOBER 26, 2010 - 1130 AM EDT THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NOTIFIED THE NTSBA THAT THESE PUMPS FAIL ON MY MAKE AND MODEL OF WHICH THEY RECALLED 20,800 CARS, THE ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING AND THE DRIVER WILL LOSE POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING AND BRAKES. WOW, AT 50 MPH ON A SUPER HIGHWAY THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE 2008 X5 3.0L STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A JET ENGINE WITH THE SUPER LOUD FAN NOISE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR, AND LUCKILY THE ENGINE HADN'T OVERHEATED YET. THEY FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING TO BURN OUT, AND OBSERVED OIL LEAKAGE NEAR ENGINE. IF I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ANY MORE, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. BMW SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND OTHER PARTS INCLUDING GASKET SOMETHING. THANK YOU. *TR

RIGHT REAR SUNROOF DRAIN DID NOT DRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION INCLUDING FAILURE OF ALL SAFETY AND DASH GAUGES - (INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE) ON INTERSTATE AT FREEWAY SPEED. REPAIRS EXCEED $1,500.00. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 15, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM, MY 2008 X5 3.0SI HAD AN OVERHEATING ENGINE PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE MY FAMILY AND I WERE VACATIONING. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR ME, MY WIFE AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WERE ACCOMPANYING ME. THE CAR ENTERED INTO A "SAFE MODE", SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST A COMPLETE HALT, JUST WITH ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THEN I HAD TO TRY TO FIND A SAFE WAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION. WE HAD TO STAY IN THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS TRYING TO KEEP WARM UNTIL I COULD GET A TOWING SERVICE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE CLOSEST BMW SERVICE CENTER (85 MILES AWAY) AND FIND A CAR RENTAL SO I COULD GET MY FAMILY TO A SAFE PLACE (I.E. HOME, 115 MILES AWAY). THE SERVICE CENTER FIXED MY CAR AT A COST OF $1,400, AND THEY TRACED THE PROBLEM BACK TO AN ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FAILURE. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD MANUFACTURER`S WARRANTY UNTIL BARELY THREE MONTHS AGO, AND THIS EXPENSIVE AND VITAL ENGINE PART FAILS CONVENIENTLY SOON AFTERWARDS. THIS ELECTRIC WATER PUMP OUGHT TO HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF MORE THAN 6 YEARS/69,000 MILES. IN SHORT, MY FAMILY AND I WERE PUT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND I HAD TO SPEND MORE THAN $1,800 (INCLUDING TOWING AND CAR RENTAL CHARGES) OUT OF MY POCKET BECAUSE OF A NOTORIOUSLY BAD BMW PART (THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS RECALLS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS IN OTHER BMW X5S).

MY CAR IS STOCK INSIDE MY GARAGE WITH A PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION ERROR. THE PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE EVEN WHEN I TRIED MANUALLY. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED BMW US BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS TO FIX THIS COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MANY OWNER ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. *TR

THE X5 DISPLAYED A DIGITAL MESSAGE ON THE DASH FRONT PANEL STATING: "LEFT BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION". I REMOVED THE PANEL WHERE THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS ARE LOCATED AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S BRAKE LIGHT PLASTIC CARRIER, WHERE THE BULB SITS, WAS BURNT BROWN, MELTED AND CRACKED OPEN. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TO MY SURPRISE, I FOUND THAT THE SAME EXACT CIRCUMSTANCE HAD HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THE BULB IS TOO HOT AND TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC CARRIER, CAUSING THE MELTING. IN MY OPINION, ON TOP OF MAYBE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE THE MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS, IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, THAT IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I BELIEVE THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE AGENCY. I CALLED BMW AG, MANUFACTURERS AND THEY REPLIED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I OWE A 528I, 2010 AS WELL, AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER LAST WEEK TO TAKE IT BACK FOR, AS THEY STATED > THIS RECALL INVOLVES THE BULB CARRIER ("BULB HOLDER") WITHIN THE REAR LAMP. WITHIN THE BULB CARRIER, THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION DUE TO AGING AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. I TOOK THE 528I TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS BULB CARRIERS WERE REPLACED, DUE TO THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED, SO IT WAS FIXED TO STANDARDS. I TOOK 8 VERY CLEAR PICTURES OF THE MELTED PLASTIC BULB CARRIER OF THE X5, 2008, I CAN SEND YOU IF NEEDED, TO BACK UP MY COMPLAINT. THANKS FOR THE KIND ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO THIS MATTER AND HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU IN A VERY NEAR FUTURE, I REMAIN, V/R, BMW X5, 2008, OWNER. *TR

MALFUNCTION OF LEFT HEADLIGHT. DEALER INSPECTION REVEALED"HEADLIGHT WIRES LEADING TO BULB SOCKET HAVE CORROSION ON THEM AND CASING AROUND THE WIRES IS COMING OFF". THERE WAS A RECENT VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL CAR FOR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH REAR LAMP BULB CARRIER: RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-407 POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MALFUNCTION OF HEADLIGHTS LEADING TO DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS OR CRASH CAN OCCUR ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT OR IN BAD/INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DISPLAY THE MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS TOO HOT AND ADVISE ME TO PULL OVER. WITHIN 2 SECONDS, THE CAR SLOW ITSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DESPITE MY FOOT WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE BMW AND IT TURN OUT THE WATER PUMP HAD STOP PUMPING WATER TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. BMW CHARGED ME $1200 TO FIX IT BIT I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE SINCE A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEAL NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT BMW DID ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE BUT ONLY ON THE LESS POPULAR, BIGGER ENGINE VERSION. *TR

AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP CONWAY MOTORS IN EVERETT, WA. CONWAY MOTORS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL PUMP AND THE WIRING WAS BURNT CONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP. MARK AT CONWAY MOTORS CALLED BMW TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS SURPRISED WHEN BMW PARTS IN SEATTLE STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL BUT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THERE HAD BEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH BURNT WIRING CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP. MARK ADVISED WE COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE LUCKY THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPLODED. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY TO WORK AND BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT DONE A RECALL IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND PUT MY WIFE'S LIFE IN DANGER.

THE GROUNDING WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR TO THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER MELTED AND MELTED PARTS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS RESULTED IN NO SIGNAL, BRAKE AND RUNNING REAR LIGHTS. A RECALL HAS BEEN CALLED FOR BMW E46 3 SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 5 SERIES AS WELL. *TR

GROUND WIRE FOR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT BURNED UP. GROUND WIRE, BOTH SIDES OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, AND TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER ALL BURNED UP. PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHT DO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. IMPROPERLY RATED FUSE DID NOT BLOW BEFORE CIRCUIT BURNED UP AND MELTED. THIS CIRCUIT IS NOT DESIGNED CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME. CAR MODEL IS A 2008 528XI. *TR

VEHICLE IS 2008 528I SEDAN. THE TIRE MONITOR PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS DISPLAYED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. THEY SAID THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK ON ALL 4 TIRES. HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE TMP INDICATOR. THEN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, VARIOUS ALERT INDICATORS WOULD DISPLAY BRIEFLY AND THE DATE AND TIME WERE NOT SET. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED FLUID (REFERRED TO BY BMW AS 'AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE') LEAKED FROM INSIDE THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE INTO THE RDC (COMMUNICATION) MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE TRUNK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE SUBMERGED FLUID SHORTED OUT THE MODULE AND MELTED THE HARNESS. THE RDC MODULE AND THE HARNESS WERE REPLACED. THE TRUNK WAS NOT WET SO I DID NOT REALIZE ANYTHING HAD LEAKED NOR WAS I AWARE THERE WERE CRITICAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE TRUNK, WHICH WERE NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED. TO PLACE THE RDC MODULE IN AN AREA WHERE LIQUIDS CAN PENETRATE (I.E. OPEN DRUNK WHILE RAINING, GROCERIES SPILLING'), IS EXTREMELY POOR VEHICLE DESIGN. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF 'AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE' IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT COST ALMOST $1000 TO FIX. *TR

OUR 2008 BMW 528I HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CHARGING THE BATTERY IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES OR MULTIPLE STOPS. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WILL STOP AND NOT START. AFTER FOUR (4) TRIPS TO THE DEALER (TRUCKED TWICE) THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT IT IS AN OPERATOR PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLUGGED INTO AND ELECTRICAL BATTERY CHARGER WHEN NOT IN USE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY INDICATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN DAILY FOR DRIVES OF MORE THAN 20 MILES TO HOPEFULLY CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE ISSUE HAS US IN FEAR OF THE VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE IS 2008 BMW 535XI WAGON. BLOCKED SUNROOF DRAINS MEANT THAT WATER DRAINED INTO THE VEHICLE, GATHERING IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE ELECTRONICS SIT. CAR HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES AND WARNINGS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ELECTRICAL FAILURE, SUNROOF ERROR AND TPM FAILURE. CAUSE PER BMW WAS BLOCKAGE OF REAR SUNROOF DRAIN. THIS IS A COMMON FAULT CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN OF THE SUNROOF DRAINS (TOO NARROW AND PRONE TO BLOCKING). A RECALL ON THE SEDAN 5 SERIES MOVES THE ELECTRONICS TO A HIGHER POSITION IN THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE ELECTRONICS DAMAGE BUT BMW STATE THERE IS NO SIMILAR MOVE POSSIBLE FOR THE WAGON., ALSO IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT OCCURS AND BMW HAS NO SUGGESTED SERVICE STEPS T P[REVENT OCCURRENCE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ITS VERY DANGEROUS AND V EXPENSIVE TO REMEDIATE. BMW OCCASIONALLY COVERS A GOODWILL REPAIR BUT WON'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY. ADVICE FROM BMW IS NOT PARK THE VEHICLE UNDER TREES! DEALER INDICATES WHEN THIS RE-OCCURS BMW WILL NOT COVER THE COST AGAIN. *TR

MY 2008 BMW X5 IS REPORTING HIGH BATTERY DRAIN AND IT'S ONLY 13 MONTHS OLD WITH 5,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATES THE ISSUE IS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN AT LEAST 25 MILES A DAY. IF THIS IS A REQUIREMENT TO OWNING THE VEHICLE IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATES THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW. YET THE ONLY SOLUTION OFFERED IS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY PREMATURELY AS IT FAILS OR HOOK THE BATTERY UP TO A TRICKLE CHARGER EVERY NIGHT. AS STATED ABOVE, I WAS NEVER INFORMED THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. I REALIZE THIS IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE OR IMPENDING SAFETY THREAT. HOWEVER, BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FINDING A SOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER OR RECALLING THE VEHICLE SO WE HAVE SOME RECOURSE. *TR