2008 BMW 5 Series: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 15, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 76,000 miles · NJ

All 6 fuel injectors failed. Car lost power while driving on 3 separate occasions.

Filed Apr 12, 2011 · Fuel system · 21,088 miles · TN

Engine malfunction! Reduced power was the message I received on my dash display. I took photos of the displayed message. Car went from 65 MPH down to 18 MPH in a matter of seconds in the far left lane of the interstate highway. Could have been killed. Had to chug and lurch over three lanes of speeding traffic to get to the right shoulder of the road. I've already had the fuel pump replaced by bmw recall (a recall that I was never notified by bmw that the recall existed). Apparently the fuel pump recall was not all of the problem as this same engine malfunction still occurs and the car still behaves the same as before the fuel pump recall. Took the car to the dealer the very next day. He cleared a code in my onboard computer and did nothing to fix this problem. This problem with my bmw 535xi wagon is going to get someone in my family killed or seriously injured. I've read multiple complaints online from bloggers regarding this same problem. Why is bmw not fixing the problem. At the time the fuel pump was replaced the dealer also reprogrammed my car's onboard computer and checked the fuel in the tank which, according to the dealer appeared to be fine.

Filed Jan 24, 2011 · Engine · 22,000 miles · FL

Car check engine light came on, reduced power on dash, and sluggish. Towed car to dealer, replaced spark plugs and high pressure fuel pump. Check engine light came on again, took to dealer, needed pressure sensor. This has occurred 4 times now, dealer states this is ongoing problem with this engine, and have I would have to bring the vehicle in whenever this occurred, no loaner car available. I do not feel safe in the vehicle when this occurs.

Filed Jan 21, 2011 · Fuel system · 12,925 miles · NJ

My bmw 535xi started having fuel pump issues starting around 14 months after purchase, at 12,000 miles. The first time it went into safety mode, casing it to slow down to a snails pace. A new fuel pump was installed. The second time it would not start in a parking lot after turning it off for 10 minutes after a 20 minute drive. I called road side assist and they sent a technician who was able to get it started. He told me to take to the dealer but it should be fine to drive home. I left the lot and within 3 minutes it completely seized and lost all power while accelerating in the left lane. My 11 year old daughter and I were in the car. I am thankful we survived. I called the technician back and he convinced me to drive the car with him following to the dealer (approx 3 miles). When I complained to bmw they did not showed no concern that we were put in harms way. In this instance the fuel temperature sensor/pressure sensor had a permanent failure. At 19,000 miles, the check engine light went on and I took it in to the service department. They suspected the fuel pump but could not replicate the check engine light, so corporate would not allow replacement. Again at 20,370 mile, check engine plus "cold start not running on all cylinders" no action because not tripping corporate specifications. At, 21,092, high pressure pump permanent malfunction. Engine was flooded with fuel. Five days and 100 miles later, the engine flooded again. This time the fuel injector was leaking and all the spark plugs were soaked with gas and half were not working. At that time (nov. 2010) I asked bmw to take the car back. Bmw agreed to a "trade assist" that will cost us an additional $33,000 to be get a new car. We do no understand how after almost killing us we cannot get out of this car without spending more money. We refuse to sell our problem to someone else.

Filed Nov 13, 2010 · Fuel system · 18,000 miles · CA

Purchased a 2008 bmw 535i in june 2008. Vehicle has 30,000 miles on it. About six months after purchasing the vehicle, started to have the "engine malfunction/reduced power" light come on about every three months. Two months ago, the same thing happened but the vehicle shut off at a stop light. Had the vehicle towed and the fuel pump was replaced. Had the vehicle back for approx two weeks and same thing happened again. Had the vehicle towed. They replace some fuel injectors and spark plugs. Had the vehicle back approx 3 weeks. Happened again. Luckily still not on the freeway. Drove the vehicle in to the dealer. They replaced more fuel injectors. Had the vehicle back a week and the vehicle shut off on the freeway in traffic in los angeles going 65 MPH and almost was in a major traffice accident. Called the dealer today (saturday) and the service dept is not in on weekends. Sales manager said "take the vehicle somewhere else" and "it won't affect us if someone is killed or injured and a lawsuit is filed". Afraid to drive the vehicle at this point.

Filed Nov 2, 2010 · Engine · 24,000 miles · CA

2008 bmw 535i-engine power failure, engine shuts down and loss of power steering and maneuvering ability.

Filed Sep 16, 2010 · Transmission · 37,048 miles · NY

Bmw 535xi sport wagon 2008- .. Driving on highway, icon came on above speedometer - orange engine/half black and on dashboard below navi readout "engine malfunction-reduced power." from then on we had no thrust with gas pedal. Car went in for service and was supposedly repaired. This then happened four more times. Each time the car was in the shop and parts were thrown at it and each time we were told the issue was probably fixed but they really did not know what the problem was. The car was in the shop about 30 days since the original incident. Parts replaced were vacuum hose black, vacuum pump, pressure sensor,removed and reinstalled throttle, replaced all vaccuum hoses on 7/14/10, charged battery 7/27.

Filed Sep 13, 2010 · Fuel system · 27,042 miles · CT

While accelerating, the engine lost power and went into neutral. I was able to put it back into drive and the car very slowly regained momentum. A few minutes later, after the car had been turned off, I restarted it, put it into reverse to back out of a parking place, put it into drive to move forward, tried to accelerate, the car went into neutral again and would not move forward. I tried to put it into drive again but with no success. The car was dead and message flashed on "reduced engine power." fortunately I was in a parking lot and not on a highway. The car had to be towed to the dealer. The rmfd high-pressure pump had to be replaced. Bmw told me that this was a common problem and that the warranty on this part had been extended to 10 years, 120,000 miles. The old part is not available.

Filed Sep 13, 2010 · Engine · 17,641 miles · FL

Engine malfunction -- reduced power and then the car either reduces power or dies completely. Also, cold engine rough start and rough idle. To date, fuel injectors were replaced, where upon it was recommended that I no longer buy sam's club 93 octane gas but a "name brand." I did -- problem re-occurred on july 24, 2010, out of the blue without warning, this time with my 6 year old in the car on a highway. I was able to get over to the right shoulder of the road without incident, and turn off the engine, wait a few moments and restart. The bmw dealer has had my car since late july, and have now replaced one of the turbos in the engine. I am hoping nobody has to die before bmw is asked to recall n54 engine bmw's or buy back the ones they have sold. The dealership has recommended that I write a complaint to bmw north america. I will. There is also a petition going -- http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?fixpump which I think will give you some idea about the scope of the problem. I do not have the old parts. Thank you. '

Filed Aug 5, 2010 · Electrical, Fuel system · 28,300 miles · TX

Have had 3 separate instances in the past 9 months where my car stalled or sputtered with loss of power , and once I had no steering or braking ability. Dangerous situation in freeway traffic.

Filed Jul 31, 2010 · Fuel system · 22,500 miles · MD

I have a 2008 bmw 535 xi that has shown the reduced engine power/engine malfunction while on the highway twice. The car refused to accelerate and became very hard to maneuver. Thankfully, both times I was within a mile of the highway exit. I am hesitant to drive this car on long travels because a reduced engine power malfunction could endanger me and my family. Bmw attempted to fix these problems first by replacing the high pressure fuel pump and then by replacing all of the fuel injectors. Thus far the problem has been better but I am still leery of the car.

Filed Jul 27, 2010 · Fuel system · 34,000 miles · NJ

On 5/20/10, my 2008 bmw 535xi suddenly lost power while driving on a single lane, resulting in a near rear-end collision. This happened once previously. Both times the car was towed and the dealer said they replaced the high pressure fuel pump. I complained about the latest incidence to bmw customer relations and services department, case # [xxx] ???. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).