Most common 2008 BMW 535i problems
Share of the 74 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 535i complaints by model year
Best 535i years: 2016, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2011, 2008, 2009. Compare all years →
2008 BMW 535i recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
What 2008 BMW 535i owners say
Engine & cooling all 27 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 BMW 535i. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, when warning message of "engine hot and drive moderately" was illuminated on the instructional panel. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and then saw smoke exiting the front passenger side of the hood. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a bottle of water she had in hand. No fire or police report was filed. The contact was currently waiting to have the vehicle towed to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired as of yet. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.
While driving, the car stopped accelerating and a transmission malfunction warning came up on. The fan on the engine also came on very loud and there was lots of exhausted coming out. I drove slowly to a shop. Once at the shop they stated they could not get the car to shift into gear. They did diagnostics on it and said it was a shift module that needed replaced, I had it replaced and it did not fix the problem. They then said it needed a reset that could only be done at the BMW dealership. BMW performed the reset and that did not fix the problem. BMW diagnosed that the transmission pump was out and a $9K transmission needed to be replaced. The car continues to not be drivable, not stay in gear. It has also started spitting out milky substance from the exhaust like the coolant is leaking into engine. …
Lights
While driving about 35 MPH on a busy street at rush hour I prepared to make a right turn by indicating. The fast turn single flashing started and the computer system in my 2008 535i said rear turn single malfunction. I slowed to my the turn and the person behind me slammed on their brakes and swerved to avoid hitting me and almost crashed into the person next them. I didn't realize why this happened, so I pulled over to check my lighting system and realized that the right rear lights weren't functioning properly. I opened the rear brake compartment and smelled burning melted plastic. I disconnected the brake light connector and found that it was melted. I searched online and found that there is a NHTSA recall for this problem for my year car. When I went to beverly hills BMW I was turned away. They told me that there wasn't a recall that covered my car. …
My 2008 BMW 535i headlight went out and I took it to a certified mechanic to change the headlight bulb, he took out the headlight and shown to me the wiring in both headlights have flaked off and had presented a fire hazard situation which caused the fuse the blew. I researched the BMW forums and found lots of people with the same issue, hence, it is not an outlier. I contacted BMW USA and they refused to remedy the situation. I was told by them that the vehicle is out of warranty and that the vehicle mileage was past the headlight wiring should not go bad in 8 years and they were rude and told me they will not pay for it. I also learnt that most of these headlight wires in the e60 flaked off within 50K miles and are not discovered until a short or blown bulb. Hella (the manufacturer of the headlight) said it is not their problem since the make the headlights to BMW specifications.
Electrical system
While driving about 35 MPH on a busy street at rush hour I prepared to make a right turn by indicating. The fast turn single flashing started and the computer system in my 2008 535i said rear turn single malfunction. I slowed to my the turn and the person behind me slammed on their brakes and swerved to avoid hitting me and almost crashed into the person next them. I didn't realize why this happened, so I pulled over to check my lighting system and realized that the right rear lights weren't functioning properly. I opened the rear brake compartment and smelled burning melted plastic. I disconnected the brake light connector and found that it was melted. I searched online and found that there is a NHTSA recall for this problem for my year car. When I went to beverly hills BMW I was turned away. They told me that there wasn't a recall that covered my car. …
My 2008 BMW 535i headlight went out and I took it to a certified mechanic to change the headlight bulb, he took out the headlight and shown to me the wiring in both headlights have flaked off and had presented a fire hazard situation which caused the fuse the blew. I researched the BMW forums and found lots of people with the same issue, hence, it is not an outlier. I contacted BMW USA and they refused to remedy the situation. I was told by them that the vehicle is out of warranty and that the vehicle mileage was past the headlight wiring should not go bad in 8 years and they were rude and told me they will not pay for it. I also learnt that most of these headlight wires in the e60 flaked off within 50K miles and are not discovered until a short or blown bulb. Hella (the manufacturer of the headlight) said it is not their problem since the make the headlights to BMW specifications.
2008 BMW 535i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 BMW 535i a good car?
Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 535i rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the 535i at the same age. It is one of the 535i 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 535i?
The engine & cooling — 27 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the lights (16) and electrical system (15).
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW 535i have?
There is 1 recall for the 2008 BMW 535i, the most recent from September 11, 2013 (tail lights). 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 535i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2008 and 2009. See the full BMW 535i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW 535i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 27% 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.