Vehicle Data Hub

2008 BMW 5 Series engine problems

40 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2008 BMW 5 Series, which is 29% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
40 29% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
25,000 miles 36 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2008 BMW 5 Series Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 25,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 13 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 13 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 7 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 0 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 25,000 miles
Based on 36 complaints that include mileage. 92% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles13
20k to 40k miles13
40k to 60k miles7
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles0
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 36 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 25,000 miles, and 92% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the engine complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

I purchased a new BMW 535I on may 26, 2008 and on aug 8, 2008 while I was driving my car at 70 miles and hour the car started was shaking as if running on 3 cylinders. There was a message from the car stating engine malfunction reduced power! I waited 3 hours for a tow truck and after a few days I received a call from richmond BMW stating I needed a new high pressure fuel injection system. I said fine and then received a call the next day saying my car was ready.

Reported at 5,000 miles, September 2008

Car loses power 2008 BMW.535I had just gotten it out of the shop (new plugs and new brakes ,changed the oil air filter full service) and the next day we had gone out for supper when the car would barrly run it was like it had 2 cyclinders. Had the BMW place pick up and they said it was low fuel pump and they had to order. When they got that in it did not fix it so the put another set of plugs and new coils and high pressure fuel pump in also. They ended up covering the whole bill.

Reported at 55,000 miles, May 2010

Other problems reported for the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Engine problems in other years

  • 2023
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 1997
  • 1996

Engine problems across all BMW models