2008 BMW 335I Electrical Problems

"I am reporting a failed safety remedy by BMW of Macon regarding Recall 13V-044 (Battery Cable Connector). Following the recall service, the vehicle suffered a systemic digital failure and a legal odometer discrepancy of approximately 20,000 miles 73,547 to around 53,000k (The 53k miles was seen on the dash after the service, but the exact number wasn’t documented by me, but was reported to my service advisor at BMW of Macon) Specifically: 1. Module De-Sync: The recall was allegedly performed without proper voltage stabilization, causing a communication failure ('brownout') between the CAS and Instrument Clustermodules. 2. Vehicle Immobilization: The resulting digital handshake failure has triggered a security lockout, rendering the car unable to crank and locking the transmission in Park (No Neutral). 3. Misdiagnosis: The dealership is refusing to reconcile the software corruption they caused, instead attempting to charge for a mechanical starter motor that was fully operational (CAS 1/1) prior to their intervention. This vehicle entered the dealership for a safety recall and was returned in a digitally compromised, legally unmarketable, and non-operational state. I request a federal investigation into the dealership's failure to provide a safe and effective remedy."

NHTSA ID

11733910

Incident

Apr 17, 2026

The engine and all electrical components including power steering spontaneously cutout while driving, usually while engine isnt being stressed at all, sometimes while idling. If the car is rolling, i have to restart the engine while driving and using manual power to steer. Obviously, this is a huge safety problem. I've just had the alternator and battery replaced, and they test fine. This has happened at least 50 times and I've reduced time driving vehicle until I solve the issue, which has persisted at least 6 months. I asked the BMW dealer about the following recall, and they claim they already performed it years ago after I already owned the car, without my recalling being told it was done. However, the symptoms are back, and BMW refuses to do anything about it at this time: Report Receipt Date: FEB 07, 2013 NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V044000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 504,545 All Products Associated with this Recall Details 2 Associated Documents Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW is recalling 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle. CONSEQUENCE: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2013.

NHTSA ID

11460407

Incident

Apr 11, 2022

ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE CAR. MANUFACTURER'S DEALER HAD TO INSTALL "UPDATED DOOR LATCH ON BOTH FRONT" DOORS. AT THE TIME THE VECHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11339810

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

99,559 mi

NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11193066

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

WENT TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY BURNED OUT BRAND NEW XENON HID BALLAST. CONFUSED ABOUT WHY IT BURNED UP(FAILURE RATE OF 1 PER 1,000 QUOTED BY THE MANUFACTURER) I TOOK OFF THE BACK COVER FOR THE HOUSING. TO MY SURPRISE, THE POWER CABLE'S THAT PLUGS INTO THE HID BALLAST INSULATION WAS COMPLETELY GONE. BARE. WIRES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN EXTREME FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. CURIOUS IF MY OTHER HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS THE SAME WAY, I POPPED THE BACK HOUSING OF IT TO INSPECT FOR ANOTHER HAZARD. LORD AND BEHOLD, IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. NOT JUST THE POWER SUPPLY INSULATION ON THE WIRES FOR THE BALLAST WAS CHIPPING, ALL OF IT WAS CHIPPING. THE DRL, ANGEL EYE AND TURN MAKER WIRING INSULATION WAS ALL..GONE. SOMEONE HAD RECENTLY DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE BEFOREHAND AS THERE WAS ELECTRICAL TAPE & SOLDER ON SOME OF THE WIRES KEEPING THEM TOGETHER. ---------------------------- THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD! ----------------------------

NHTSA ID

11183713

Incident

Mar 2, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

VEHICLE OVERHEATED DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING AND BEGAN RAPIDLY SLOWING FORCING AN EMERGENCY EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR AN EXIT. BMW DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WATER PUMP BUT PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS PROBABLY BLOWN AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE "IBS" CABLE. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "NEGATIVE IBS CABLE." THEREFORE, IT APPEARS THAT FAILURE OF THIS CABLE WILL REQUIRE EMERGENCY STOPPING OR EMERGY HANDLING AT ANY SPEED. THE HIGHWAY SPEED I WAS TRAVELING MADE THIS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE SHOWING THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE NEGATIVE IBS CABLE.

NHTSA ID

11176321

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

Mileage

79,744 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OCCUPIED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THROUGH THE AIR VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HIS FAMILY WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11155939

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FLOW BMW (2565 PETERS CREEK PKWY, WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127, (888) 896-2985) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE SUPPLY OF PARTS WERE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THIRTY DAYS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11152913

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF MACON (LOCATED AT 4785 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, (866) 980-4231) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11150048

Incident

Oct 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON OCTOBER 25, 2017. WITHOUT WARNING, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED. A PASSERBY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR ARRIVED AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID

11123323

Incident

Aug 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PETER PAN BMW (2695 S EL CAMINO REAL, SAN MATEO, CA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11121083

Incident

Oct 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO REMEDY THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF ONTARIO (1350 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761, (909) 906-4000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11104238

Incident

Dec 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WEST GERMAN BMW IN FORT WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11102966

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

STRONG SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRIC WIRING WHILE DRIVING. TURN OFF AC. AFTERWARDS AC STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION, AC BLOWER MOTOR HAD BURNED WIRING TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS BROKEN. HAD TO GET BLOWER MOTOR AND CONNECTOR REPLACED. NO VISIBLE SMOKE OR FLAMES. STRONG SMELL OF PLASTIC/ELECTRONICS BURNING WHEN IT HAPPENED. WIRING DAMAGE PRETTY BAD. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN CITY STREET WHEN IT HAPPENED SMELL CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES EVEN WITH WINDOWS OPEN.

NHTSA ID

11097680

Incident

Mar 19, 2017

Mileage

55,000 mi

BARE WIRE EXPOSED ON BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11074384

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BE USED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAUDERDALE BMW-MINI SERVICE CENTER (2601 S ANDREWS AVE, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11065868

Incident

Jan 30, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (CENTURY WEST BMW, 4245 LANKERSHIM BLVD, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91602) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11055724

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE SMOKE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT, DUE TO THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN OVERHEATING, THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM BMW AT (855) 645-6452 (10002 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074), BUT THE CALL WAS DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11044699

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

HEAD LIGHT WIRING SHEATHING IS DETERIORATING , IT IS FLAKING OFF CAUSING WIRES TO TOUCH, IT HAS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FRIED MY LIGHTING BALLAST AND BLOWN HEADLIGHT BULB.

NHTSA ID

10903459

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION "REDUCED POWER " MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF , LOW ENGINE OIL MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON EVEN THOUGH ITS GOOD ON OIL , THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK AFTER THAT. IT'S CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT MY THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10724891

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

86,335 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10715237

Incident

Dec 13, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE OUTSIDE BUT EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THE DOORS STAY LOCKED. WIFE HAD TO EXIT MY CAR WAS BY CRAWLING OUT OF THE WINDOW. ABLE TO USE THE KEY FOR MANUAL UNLOCK OF DRIVER DOOR ONLY; GAS TANK DOOR REMAINS LOCKED SO I CANNOT PUT GAS IN MY CAR AND, THEREFORE, CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704402

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

Mileage

128,534 mi

I HAD NOTICED A MELTING PLASTIC SMELL FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE AND SHORTLY AFTER THIS MY HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT SO I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB. BY THIS TIME, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY HEADLIGHT MOUNT. UPON OPENING THE HEADLIGHT I NOTICED ALL OF THE WIRE SHIELDING HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE WIRES INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT MOUNT, CAUSING THE WIRES TO ARK AND MELT. UPON COMPARING AGAINST THE OTHER HEADLIGHT, I FOUND THE SAME THING- ALL OF THE WIRE SHIELDING HAD FALLEN OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, SIMPLY DUE TO HOW HOT AND DRY THIS MODEL GETS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEING SEALED. THEY SAID IT'S USUALLY COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER NOT IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE'S MILEAGE. SINCE THE HEADLIGHT IS A SEALED UNIT, YOU CANNOT ACCESS THE WIRES TO REPLACE THEM AND CANNOT PURCHASE A HARNESS, THE WHOLE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800 EACH. I GOOGLED AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING BMW HQ DIRECTLY, THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NOT COVERED, AND GOT BACK TO ME SEVERAL WEEKS LATER OFFERING TO PAY $200 TOWARD THE COST OF THE $1600 REPAIR IF I HAD IT DONE AT THE DEALER, OR $2000 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW BMW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693370

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

800,000 mi

I JUST GOT BELT REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE BELT POPS. THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND THEN WOULD NOT START. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE N SAW THAT ITS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 07- 08 335I'S BUT BMW IS REFUSING A RECALL. IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY N IT HAPPENED. ITS TERRIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693108

Incident

Mar 7, 2015

Mileage

59,000 mi

AN OIL LEAK FROM THE TOP MOUNTED OIL FILTER HOUSING SPILLED ONTO THE RUBBER ACCESSORY BELT CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND DISINTEGRATE. THE RESULT WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWERS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND POWER STEERING. THIS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CREATED A SITUATION WHERE THE AUTO WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE LOSS OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING, CAUSED AN EVENTUAL COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF POWER AND SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE LEAVING ME ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED AT ONLY A 65,000 MILE ODOMETER READING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679970

Incident

Jan 22, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi