2008 BMW 5 Series fuel system problems

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

My vehicle had a faulty PCV valve that was under "Stop Drive," order. I received no correspondence from the federal safety agency nor from BMW of North America in regards to this. My BMW X-5 had significant issues that are directly associated with this issue. After contacting BMW of North America directly because I could not reach anyone at my nearest BMW Service Department, it was escalated twice to attempt to arrange for my vehicle that I unknowingly continued to drive. My vehicle has sat undriven since May of 2024. It was finally picked up, towed to the dealership for repairs related to the PCV recall. The PCV valve was replaced and my vehicle was returned to me in undriveable condition. None of the rough idle, burning smell or engine issues were attended to. They simply replaced the valve without further investigation into the damage done by continued driving of a "Stop Drive," order. BMW of North America is placing blame solely on the federal safety agency for not sending me correspondence relative to this recall. My vehicle was identified as having the faulty Takata airbags and I received all of the documents sent by both the federal safety agency and BMW USA. I now have a undriveable, unsafe vehicle due to the servicer simply replacing a recalled object but not the damage caused by continuing to drive a vehicle that should have had immediate service. Please advise what steps should be taken. Tara Catalano-Smith

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Fuel system · 90,000 miles · SC

Gasoline is leaking from the fuel level sensor, which is accessed beneath the left rear passenger seat, due to a crack in the plastic housing. My independent mechanic who specializes in bmw repair, tells me this is a common problem with bmw and mercedes vehicles.

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 May 26, 2011 · Engine, Fuel system · 28,700 miles · NJ

Three wks ago my 08 528i was making a rattling sound in the engine, tin-can sounding. Took the car for service & they replaced my lifters and related parts. They said that the lifters are "known" for going bad on the 5 series and it's typically due to seasonal changes. When my husband brought the car home to me I was very upset because the noise was still there, not as loud as before. I called bmw and made another appointment, citing that this problem had not been resolved and it needed to be looked at again. The appointment with a loaner could not be scheduled for another 10 days, so we waited. During those 10 days the vehicle started to take longer to turnover at start up. I would also feel the engine lightly shuttering as I drove at speeds averaging 35-50 miles per hour. Monday 05/23/11 was my requested appointment; however because my 15 mo. Old baby was ill we had to cancel. Thank goodness we did because my car would not have made it the 20 miles of freeway to the dealership. Today, 05/25/11, I made a left out of my neighborhood and as I accelerated approx. 50 yards, my engine bucked (felt like the bottom fell out), I lost speed dramatically. Suddenly, steering became nearly impossible and I was forced to "turn" into a small shopping center. However, I lost ability to steer upon entering the parking lot. My car would respond to nothing but the brakes (thank god those atleast worked). I looked down at my gear shift to attempt to reverse away from the curb and maneuver into a parking space, though my car was thrown into neutral & would not respond to anything but "park". I attempted to startup again but engine wouldn't turn over. It was dead. Within moments my ABS, check eng, and battery lights illuminated & corresponding msgs came onto my communication screen. Car was towed. Awaiting dealership response in the am. After seeing prior complaints, I see someone needs to be fired. The us government needs to step in before people die! Thank god my baby wasn't with me!

Filed May 18, 2011 · Brakes, Fuel system · 8,900 miles · NV

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 bmw 528i 5 series. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and coming to a traffic light the brakes were applied and it automatically slowed down the vehicle. There was no warning light at the time of the failure. The vehicle continued to hesitate and accelerate, before the contact reached his destination. The dealer towed the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. The manufacturer was contacted and stated they would contact the dealer regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 8,900. Updated 07/08/11 *bf the consumer was informed the fuel pump was clogged for the second time, which was causing the vehicle hesitate when the consumer was attempting to accelerate. Updated 10/12/11

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 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 29, 2010 · Fuel system · 22,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 bmw 535xi (na). While driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine began smoking. The dealer made three attempts to diagnose the failure. The high pressure fuel pump was replaced but it cracked again. The vehicle was being repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was 30,100. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

Filed Nov 16, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 35,000 miles · CA

The car showed engine malfunction sign without warning in middle of busy street. All power, steering, everything went dead without warning. I couldn't move the whatsoever. I was lucky enough to make a right turn before this happened and avoid potential accidents.

Filed Nov 15, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 45,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 bmw 535xi. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal was engaged and the engine began to sputter with an extensive reduction in power. The contact continued with caution and the vehicle was taken to a dealer where they replaced the fuel pressure sensor, spark plugs and performed an oil change. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times in which there were no resolutions. The high pressure pump was replaced on a different occasion. In addition, when encountering a bump in the road and down-shifting from third to second gear, an abnormal clicking noise would occur. Recently, the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was in the process of being diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. Updated 01/28/11 *bf updated 02/07/11