2008 BMW 335I: engine stalls while driving

Filed Apr 11, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed May 10, 2020 · Fuel system · 123,000 miles · GA

01may2020. Brought 2008 bmw 335i to south atlanta bmw dealership to replace rear brake pads (based on inspection report from a jan2020 appt). It was determined that: 1. Oil filter housing gasket: filter housing gaskets & oil cooler o-rings leaking oil 2. Radiator hose replacement. Upper coolant hose turning brown and seeping. 01may2020. Radiator hose was replaced along with conducting brake fluid flush and micro filter. Same day after repairs were complete the car stalls and shuts off and becomes unable to drive. Car is towed back to dealership for further inspection. Upon further inspection the following are identified: 1. Fuel pump replacement: r&r high pressure fuel pump & low pressure sensor per fault code 29f2 2.turbocharger - variable boost control solenoid: both vanos solenoids & oil change per sib. Dealership informs me that the fuel pump's warranty has been extended 10 years/120000 miles due to manufacturing issues with the fuel pump. I have never been made aware of issues with the fuel pump or extended warranties for replacing. I do think I should be responsible for repairs on a malfunctioning fuel pump that was poorly manufactured. Bmw should be responsible for the replacement and repair.

Filed Aug 4, 2017 · Fuel system · 69,000 miles · WA

My car began to run roughly after a cold start as I was leaving my office. After a few seconds and feeling decreased power, I tried to pull off the road and into a parking spot in the parking garage at microsoft's head quarters (where I work). The vehicle stalled out. I was able to restart the vehicle and get into a parking space, but it continue to run roughly. I noticed an intense smell of gasoline and immediately turned off the engine. I exited the vehicle and checked the exhaust. It was blowing white smoke and had gasoline dripping out of the tail pipes, I let the vehicle cool down and restarted the engine with another person observing the tail pipe. It again was running very rough and had gasoline spraying out of the tail pipe. I immediately turned off the engine. The car was towed to a service center. They have diagnosed the issue is that 2 of the injectors are stuck in the fully open position. As a result, the car is unsafe (I was lucky there wasn't a massive fire). Previously, I'd had the hpfp (high pressure fuel pump) replaced under recall. I am concerned that the recalled/replaced hpfp may itself be defective and failed, causing 2 injectors to fail simultaneously (there's statistically no chance of two injectors failing simultaneously without some causal factor upstream in the fuel system). On contacting bmw (in bellevue wa) and bmw north america, they have refused to cover the repair or acknowledge the issue. I am continuing to engage with them on the repair, but believe this is a more serious safety issue. Had I not pulled off when I did, the vehicle could have went up in flames while on the highway.

Filed Feb 7, 2016 · Fuel system · 94,000 miles · CA

Faulty high pressure fuel pump- loss of power - engine stall in traffic

Filed May 7, 2015 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · SC

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Engine · 40,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 bmw 335i. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the message displayed the engine over heating warning. As a result, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Sep 14, 2014 · Engine · 102,000 miles · TX

The engine is idling very roughly at a full stop whether its a traffic light, or just stop and go traffic. The rpms will spike to 750-800 rpms and drop below 5-400 rpms randomly causing the entire car to shake violently, and stall at times.the incident seems common with my model car though online forums and friends that have the same car and the 328 with n54 engine. My main issue is that there is no malfunction code associated with it, and it happens randomly; sometimes when the car is cold, sometimes at running temp, sometime with AC on, sometimes with AC off. There doesn't seem to be a specific variable causing the issue, but it is a major issue non the less, therefore bmw dealership can't seem to figure out a fix for my problem and continuously turn me away even though I have extended bumper to bumper warranty. This issue has become a safety concern of mine and I don't want it to get worse and causing an sudden loss of power or an accident. I've noticed that there was a recall for 2007-2011 3-series for loss of electrical power/stalling, but I'm not sure if its the same circumstance for my car or different.

Filed Aug 30, 2014 · Fuel system · 90,234 miles · VA · crash

Car had fuel pump initially replaced when car still under the factory warranty. Bmw na will try to avoid the absolute truth. Note injectors for the n54 engine are also on a world wide recall. Now the injection pump from a recall is being called extended warranty for 10 years or 120,000. Miles well it happened, got hit by a car from rear when my 335i stalled!!!!!! I was experiencing extended starts, followed by engine stalling repeatedly for 3 attempts then it will clear out. Now when light load is applied the engine light with the engine half graded out appears (reduced power), engine running violently rough codes comes up are p142e & p3090. They wanted me to replace my injectors first because they said I have "old injectors" note when hpfp was replaced they replaced the recalled injectors but they changed only 4 ! Even though they know it's a 6 cylinder I wanted to tell bmw that when they built the engine they installed all 6 new injectors. Their reply was it only needed 4 at that time, well what a out now your telling me I need to replace all 6 because their old injectors so the replacement done was to mask the problem!!! To this date they have issues with the current engine plate form n54 - n55 epic failure. Some say its also replacement of just a fuel pressure sensor. I'm changing mine on monday bought it online from a bmw dealer installation is 2-2.5 hours basic tools needed and care.

Filed Dec 7, 2010 · Engine · 43,790 miles · NY

After starting my bmw it occasionally will run fine for between several hundred feet and three quarters of a mile and then briefly stall. This has happened while on the highway. It seem to happen after it has been parked for a short period of time (anywhere from a few minutes to a little over an hour). One time I had to coast off the road and re-start the car. The other two times the car has briefly stalled (all the dash lights come on as if it has been shut off with the key on), the car slowed down and then the motor caught again and began running normally. My car has been into the dealer several times. The last time they replaced the #4 spark plug and this seems to have fixed another problem I had with the car running with low power for a few moments, however it has not cured the stalling issue. I am reporting this because I think that it could be very dangerous if someone were passing a car or in heavy highway traffic when this happened. I am hoping that the dealer will eventually be able to fix my problem. I have approximately 44,000 miles on my car so I have about 8,000 miles left in warranty.

Filed Oct 13, 2010 · Fuel system · 35,000 miles · NC

Was driving on public roads in traffic and the engine simply stalled out. I tried to start the car again. Difficult to start, but finally did. No power to engine and car simply bumped and sputtered along until the engine stalled again. I was still in traffic. Turns out it was caused by fuel pump failure. Fuel pump has been replaced.

Filed Aug 11, 2010 · Fuel system · 41,485 miles · CA

High pressure fuel pump failed after replacement and now the car sometimes stalls at start.

Filed Aug 7, 2010 · Fuel system · 28,000 miles · WA

Car showed signs of long crank, when starting and hesitation when driving the vehicle at all speeds. Eventually the check engine light would come on and off. Car eventually stalled out and engine light came on when driving on the freeway in heavy traffic, all power was lost in the vehicle including steering. Dealership replaced the high pressure pump, and two month later when it failed again reprogrammed the car. Two additional visits to the shop for the same circumstances-car stalled on the freeway losing all power and dealership replaced injectors, ignition coils, sparkplugs and the most recent claim that the car was low on fuel with 1/4 tank! When car dies all of a sudden on the freeway at a speed of 60+ miles per hour is extremely dangerous. Seeing all the others with the same problems made me realize that bmw is not going to address the problem until something tragic happens.