31 of the 223 complaints filed about the BMW 535XI are about the engine — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2008.
31
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
ENGINE
Car is over heating. Replace water pump and thermostat. Car still over heating. Bad water pumps.
NHTSA complaint #11611307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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. The vehicle had been maintained by a mechanic specializing in import motors. He was unable to determine the cause of the check engine alert, and said it was a problem that BMW has with several of their models of this era. The vehicle was only covered under liability insurance, so our insurance company has not required an inspection. It has not yet been inspected by a mechanic or any other entity. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.
NHTSA complaint #11461541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MISFIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF COLUMBIA LOCATED AT (1900 I70 DR. SW, COLUMBIA MO) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER 4 MISFIRE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,450.
NHTSA complaint #11319458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
FOR OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE (SMALL) ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY & CONSTANTLY GOING ON/OFF. I'VE HAD SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, TUBES & EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN REPLACED AND HAVE TAKEN (OR TOWED IN MOST CASES) THE CAR TO MANY DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS FOR MULTIPLE QUOTES & REPAIRS. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THE SMALL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY GONE & THE CAR WAS FINE TO DRIVE/REVERSE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW BLOCKS, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION/REDUCE SPEED LIGHT CAME ON, THE POWER WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED & I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A DUMP TRUCK. IN 2008, I BOUGHT MY BMW BRAND NEW BECAUSE I WANTED NO CAR ISSUES BECAUSE I AM NOT A MECHANIC. EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT REPEATED & DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT NO MECHANIC CAN IDENTIFY. AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES (HPFP). AFTER THE THIRD HPFP WAS REPLACED, AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP LITERALLY FOR THREE MONTHS STRAIGHT, I GOT A LAWYER INVOLVED AND BMW CORP APOLOGIZED & SAID I COULD HAVE A CHOICE OF: 1/ GETTING A DIFFERENT CAR THAT THEY PICKED OUT (A 535I NOT THE XI I BOUGHT BECAUSE OF SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS) 2/ THEY CUT ME A CHECK FOR A FEW THOUSAND AND TOLD ME TO SHUT UP AND I COULD NEVER SPEAK OF WHAT HAPPENED OR BE PART OF FUTURE LAWSUITS OR CLASS ACTIONS. I'VE NEVER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY 2008 BMW (116K MILES ON IT OVER 12.5 YEARS) EVERY BMW OWNER THAT BOUGHT A BMW BETWEEN THE RANGE OF YEARS KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT RE: THE CONSTANT AND NEVER-ENDING ISSUES THAT ALL START WITH THE HPFP & ESCALATE FROM THERE. REPAIR SHOPS CAN'T FIX THE ISSUES & BMW COVERS UP. NHTSA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MASSIVE BMW ISSUE AFFECTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF OWNERS. JUST GOOGLE IT!
NHTSA complaint #11279664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE RPMS FELL TO 0 AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK. NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND VERY MISTERIOUS. AFTER THE MECHANICS DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE THEY SAID THAT APPARENTLY CYLINDER NUMBER SIX SEIZED. AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE OIL WAS AT HE MAX LEVEL, AS WELL AS ANTIFREEZE, THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. MY MECHANIC ASSUMES THAT IT SEIZED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF PRESSURE, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE AS I WAS TOLD THERE ARE 2 PRESSURE SENSORS IN THIS TYPE OF ENGINE (N55). THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND PRICEY REPAIR, WHICH RAN OVER $7,000. MY CAR HAS 90K MILES AND I'VE BEEN TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EMPLOYEES OF BMW AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON DEFECT, WHICH IS VERY UPSETTING FOR THIS TYPE OF LUXURIOUS SEDAN. SHAME ON YOU BMW!!!
NHTSA complaint #11124363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18
NHTSA complaint #11114054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR THREE WEEKS, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ERHARD BMW BLOOMFIELD, 1845 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302, (248) 834-7788) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VANOSE HOUSING BOLT FRACTURED INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016 BY BMW OF ANN ARBOR (501 AUTO MALL DR, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103, (734) 663-3309) AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN ADVISING THAT THE PART BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11066435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. INDICATING A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION AND MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I ALMOST GOT IN A REAR END CRASH. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A $2,200 BILL.
NHTSA complaint #11062578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TWO TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS MY 2010 BMW 535XI HAS SHUT DOWN. EACH TIME IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED(12/24/16 AND 12/29/16), THE AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT ACTIVATED). ONCE WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR AND ONCE WHILE TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOLLED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING THE TOW OPERATOR STARTED THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION A SECOND TIME. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND PICKED IT UP FOUR DAYS LATER. IT HAS STARTED AND OPERATED AS BEFORE UNTIL DAY FIVE WHEN I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AND IT INITIATED A DOWNSHIFT AND STOPPED OPERATING. EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON. IT IS A SCARY FEELING, ESPECIALLY SINCE EACH TIME I WAS IN THE MIDST OF OTHER VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10938620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10927425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND OVERHEATED. IN ADDITION "PLEASE SHUT ENGINE OFF DUE TO OVERHEATING " WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10906002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, THE ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (ENGINE, STEERING) WAS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER OF 2012. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MAY 12, 2014 AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2016. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10837195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED. SOME BMW 5-SERIES WATER PUMPS HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10717391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR OVER HEATED AND I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS GO OUT ON THEM AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. HE TOLD ME HOW TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE ISSUE AND IT IS THE PUMP. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS...
NHTSA complaint #10703806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I STARTED MY CAR AND UPON STARTING IT BEGAN RATTLING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH SAYING. ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10701538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING DUE TO MISFIRING FUEL INJECTORS AND HAD ERRATIC ENGINE OPERATION. NOTE: BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN DECEMBER 2010. BMW NOTED IN THE RECALL THAT THIS REPAIR IS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, BMW IS NOT HONORING THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #10669296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
HAD 3 IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 49000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD 3 MORE IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 67000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED IN CYLINDER 3.
NHTSA complaint #10641301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
COLD START IN THE MORNING FOR DRIVE TO WORK, CAR SUFFERED SLOW START AND ROUGH IDLE. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION ON IDRIVE WITH HIGH COOLANT FAN RPM. SHUT DOWN CAR FOR 30 MINUTES, RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUE INDICATED IN IDRIVE BUT YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. DROVE TO DEALER FOR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON SAFETY RECALL FOR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY (13V-407). WHILE AT 40 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM DEALER, ENGINE SURGED THEN REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION AND CHECK ENGINE ON IDRIVE. RADIATOR FAN WENT TO HIGH RPM AND CAR SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH RAPIDLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A TWO LANE ROAD. VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER INDICATES IT IS FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. LAST ONE OCCURRED WITHIN 27 MONTHS AND 16K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10619117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ENGINE FAILED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400.
NHTSA complaint #10617252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ENGINE FAILED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400.
NHTSA complaint #10617252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.