Most common 2008 BMW 650i problems
Share of the 6 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 650i complaints by model year
Best 650i years: 2008, 2010, 2014. Years to avoid: 2012, 2007, 2013. Compare all years →
What 2008 BMW 650i owners say
Electrical system
We have almost died in this car twice. The first time in 2017, I was driving down a city street and noticed smoke coming out of the hood. Immediately pulled over, and opened the hood to find starter in flames. Called the fire department to extinguish the fire and the car spent a week in the shop getting "repaired". This past week, again while driving on a city street, I smelled what smelled like burning metal. Pulled over immediately and looked under the hood however nothing was there. Felt a slight burn on myself and discovered that my heated seat had burned a a half dollar size hole if not bigger into the seat and burned through my expensive jacket and a sweater! This car is unsafe. After doing some research, we learned that thousands of BMW's catch on fire every year. We spent money on a luxury vehicle for more safety and comfort, not a death trap. …
All the wiring to the standard xenon headlights and daytime running lights have deteriorated. It is a known problem by BMW, as they were using biodegradable wiring coating. The protective coating of the wires dries up, falls off and creates shorts leading to total headlight failure that cannot be repaired. There have been numerious complaints of these wires causing car and engine fires as well as dangerous situations where the headlights do not work. BMW refuses to fix the problem and their only fix is to have the consumer buy new headlights at roughly $1800 per light. In my case, both headlamps have deteriorated wire coating and exposed wires. The right headlamp has failed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 BMW 650i a good car?
Based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 650i rates better than average: 85% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 650i at the same age. It is one of the best 650i years by this measure. 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 650i?
The electrical system — 3 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and seats (1).
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW 650i have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 BMW 650i. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 650i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2010 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2007 and 2013. See the full BMW 650i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW 650i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 106,000 miles; 0% 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.