Most common 2008 BMW 135i problems
Share of the 51 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 135i complaints by model year
Best 135i years: 2013, 2010. Years to avoid: 2008. Compare all years →
2008 BMW 135i recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Electrical system › Wiring
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons…
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 began on March 13, 2013.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 BMW 135i:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2008 BMW 135i owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
Cars' idle has been fluctuating for a couple of weeks at idle. Vehicles fuel pump has been replaced 2 times already through out it's life. Last week (July 13,2017) car died in the middle of the road and I had towed into the dealership that same morning. Dealer refuses to take any initiative to fix the problem at all. I have software where it shows that the cars vehicles high pressure fuel pump is failing. Car is throwing codes too. Car was in motion when fuel pump died on me in a city street.
I was driving down the highway and the water pump went out. The car overheated and the warning light came on telling me to turn the car off. Before I was able to pull over to the shoulder the car stalled and I was unable to propel it forward any longer. I pulled over and had to get it towed.
Air bags
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 135I. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger occupancy sensor mat to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,850.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 BMW i35i. The contact stated that while at a stop light, another vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained knee and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was drivable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was repaired of the accident damage, then later was taken to momentum BMW dealer, located on 10002 southwest fwy, houston, tx 77074, phone: [phone], where the vehicle was diagnosed of a faulty air bag and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted and made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. The VIN was not available.
Wheels & tires
The rear right wheel was cracked at 5 places around the circumference and lost tire pressure, discovered by costco tire center in everett washington when brought it in, in August 2014, thinking that the tire got a nail. BMW seattle declined to cover the tire by warranty stating that I bought in 2009 and it is above 5 years so no warranty on it, I had to buy the after market set of rims (vmr model 701) that does not fit totally with the car and would like to revert to use the original set with a replaced rear right rim. I took pictures and sent in 2 days ago to BMW as the set of rims I bought for the car do not really fit. The original cracked rim has a manufacturing defect as shown in my photos taken from inside the rim looking out: the aluminum material show a riddle irregularity at several places. BMW calls me today to re-iterate the refusal for the rim replacement.
Tl*-the contact owns a 2008 BMW i35. The contact stated that the rear wheels were cracking on the inside. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer because the tire indicator light illuminated; the dealer stated that the problem was caused by driver errors and was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 25,000. The consumer stated BMW refused to acknowledge that their rims are defective and crack as a result of normal driving, especially their 18 inch rims when coupled with run-flat tires. BMW claimed the cracks must have come from the driver impacting some object like a pothole, rather than a result of a defect in the design of the rim. The consumer believed the rims were designed too weak to take the impact of normal on-road driving. …
2008 BMW 135i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 BMW 135i a good car?
Based on 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 135i rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the 135i at the same age. It is one of the 135i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 BMW 135i?
The fuel & propulsion system — 18 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (13) and wheels & tires (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW 135i have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2008 BMW 135i, the most recent from January 15, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 135i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008. See the full BMW 135i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW 135i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 60% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.