Most common 2008 BMW 535xi problems
Share of the 71 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 535xi complaints by model year
Best 535xi years: 2010, 2012. Years to avoid: 2008, 2011. Compare all years →
What 2008 BMW 535xi owners say
Electrical system all 26 →
The vehicle's engine caught fire approximately 13 1/2 hours after last having been driven. I parked it in my driveway at 9pm on April 15, 2022. I was alerted to a fire in the engine by my neighbor at 10:30am on April 16, 2022. The entire engine was engulfed in flames, melting all of the plastic components. It burned through my hood and affected every part of the engine. We were able to get the fire out with a garden hose before it spread to the house and my parents' two other vehicles parked next to it. No one was burned while putting out the fire, but several neighbors and family members did breathe in the toxic smoke. 911 was called and the fire department confirmed the fire was out. The driveway under the vehicle has burn damage, but we haven't moved the vehicle yet to see the extent of it. The check engine light had been on since purchase. …
Station wagon lift gate has severe wiring failures between the lift gate and body. This problem is well known throught the blog community. Broken wires cause failures, and electrical danger, to the rear lighting system that includes brake, running, back up, and turn signals. Also effected is the rear wiper, defroster, and operation access to open and close the lift gate. Tailgate failure would prohibit emergency opening and access to spare tire and fuses. I have already spent $3,000 on one harness replacement (dealer) and am looking at another $3,000 to repair (dealer) more wiring that will restore the brake/running lights on one side (failed state inpection). The internal lighting diagnostics did NOT indicate any lighting problems or warning. Broken wires could also cause failures to some or all of the entire electrical system. Very dangerous.
Engine & cooling
The vehicle's engine caught fire approximately 13 1/2 hours after last having been driven. I parked it in my driveway at 9pm on April 15, 2022. I was alerted to a fire in the engine by my neighbor at 10:30am on April 16, 2022. The entire engine was engulfed in flames, melting all of the plastic components. It burned through my hood and affected every part of the engine. We were able to get the fire out with a garden hose before it spread to the house and my parents' two other vehicles parked next to it. No one was burned while putting out the fire, but several neighbors and family members did breathe in the toxic smoke. 911 was called and the fire department confirmed the fire was out. The driveway under the vehicle has burn damage, but we haven't moved the vehicle yet to see the extent of it. The check engine light had been on since purchase. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 BMW 535xi. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle overheating warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electric water pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Fuel & propulsion system
Vehicle stalls, hesitates when driving. Message on the dash says that the fuel pump is failing, but can be driven with decreased performance and to bring the vehicle to BMW. Brought the car to BMW service and they told me that there was a recall on the fuel pump but my car is not covered because I have 159K miles one the said vehicle. Upon further investigation with the service advisor, (carlos - norwalk BMW), who is polite and helpful, we found that the car had already been serviced for three same problem at least 3 times. First is in 2009 when they replaced the high pressure fuel pump. After folloa year 2010, the same problem occurred. The dealership again replaced the same fuel pump. Then on 2013, having the same problem again, the dealership replaced the injectors but the problem is still occurring. …
I was exiting the the freeway and when I was on a banked onramp the engine stopped running while vehicle was in motion. I lost power steering and the ability to release the brake. I nearly lost control of the vehicle as the unexpected loss in power steering caused me to loose grip on the wheel. The engine was in neutral when the engine stalled. Upon restarting the engine (which struggled to start) the "service engine soon telltale" illuminated and the vehicle entered "reduce engine power mode". After scanning the DTC (p3090) I learned the vehicle's high pressure fuel pump failed. I noticed BMW has a recall on the issue. Unfortunately their recall only covers the fuel pump to 120,000 miles and my vehicle has roughly 9,500 miles above the covered threshold. Based on my experience and reading online I feel the pump has some sort of design flaw that BMW has failed to properly address. …
2008 BMW 535xi engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 BMW 535xi a good car?
Based on 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 535xi rates avoid: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the 535xi at the same age. It is one of the 535xi 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 535xi?
The electrical system — 26 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (19) and fuel & propulsion system (15).
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW 535xi have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 BMW 535xi. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 535xi?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008 and 2011. See the full BMW 535xi years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW 535xi problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 8% 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.