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2000 BMW 528I problems

The most common problem on the 2000 BMW 528I is engine and cooling, typically around 90,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical 528I model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
42
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
13
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
19-21mpg

The worst 2000 BMW 528I problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    11
  • Airbags
    7
  • Brakes
    4
  • Tires
    4
  • Driver assistance
    3
  • Electrical
    3
  • Locks
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Lights
    2
  • Seats
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2000 BMW 528I

ABS 6

Recalls 1

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported February 17, 2000 · 17,700 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamps in these vehicles are controlled by a switch activated by the movement of the brake pedal. This switch could fail internally, causing it to remain either in the "brake lamps off" position or in the "brake lamps on" position.
Risk
If this happens, the brake lamps either will not operate or will be continuously illuminated, regardless of brake pedal position.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch.

Recall number 00V048000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2000 BMW 528I

Technical service bulletins for the 2000 BMW 528I 13

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 13 bulletins for the 2000 BMW 528I

2000 BMW 528I fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.8L 6‑cylRWD16-1824-2619-21

What 2000 BMW 528I owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 2, 2023 · Engine · 102,000 miles · TX · fire

The contact owned a 2000 BMW 528i. The contact stated that shortly after arriving home and with the vehicle parked in his garage, he observed first white smoke and then brown smoke emanating from the engine compartment. While waiting for emergency services, the contact stated that he then observed flames engulfing the engine compartment and heard a loud pop. As a result, the contact reported extensive smoke damage to the interior of the garage. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, and a fire report was filed. A police report was also filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; instead, the contact has stored the vehicle at his home. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Aug 29, 2020 · 123,000 miles · TX

The shifter on the console will hang up get stuck often when I put it in reverse then from reverse to drive it won't shift all the way to drive it keeps stopping in neutral now while it's in neutral I can pull back on the shifter and hold it it will catch drive partially but u have to keep pulling back on the shifter and hold it but it doesn't go all the way in drive it's just on the front edge and if u let go of the shifter it drops back into neutral it's a safety hazard cause u cant go forward to get out of the way of other motorists especially in an emergency it takes a few minutes of pushing the shifter forward into park and then pulling the shifter back to drive after a couple minutes of doing this it will eventually go into drive and it seems to be getting worse at times and sometimes it won't even shift out of park without having to wiggle the shifter back and forth and then pulling the shifter back with twice the force that u would normally use to shift it out of park this has happened multiple times backing out of my driveway and directly onto a main road I live on and its happened in parking lots when trying to leave a restaurant or gas station etc.

Filed Jul 14, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 192,094 miles · CA

Went on data base the federal safety agency that says my vehicle has 3 recalls . What do I do n go to fix these problems

Filed Nov 10, 2018 · Seats · 145,000 miles · MD · fire

As I was driving my beloved 2000 bmw 528i on 11/9/2018 at 2:15 pm, on route 12 south in duck, nc, traveling at approximately 35 MPH, smoke began pouring from the underside of the driver's seat. The heated seats were not turned on. No dashboard warning lights were on, except for a rear tail light indicator that had appeared within the last week. I had just driven through a rain shower, so the headlights were on, but I had turned the wipers off. I pulled the car over and immediately turned the ignition off. I got out to look under the front seat but there was nothing under the seat that was causing a problem. When I was on the phone with the 911 operator, flames started coming from under the seat. The duck nc police were on the scene almost immediately and attempted to us a fire extinguisher, but the seat kept burning. The duck nc fire department was just a few hundred yards down the road and when the arrived they filled the front seat with water. As I was clearing my possessions out of the car, I notice the headlights were still on, so I turned them off. Although the car had approximately 145,000 miles on it, I was the original owner and I had kept it in mint condition. I had a professional mechanic perform the maintenance work. In september of 2018, the battery had been replaced with a new bmw battery. Other than maintenance work, the car had never had any engine components fail or electrical issues. It was a great vehicle. Pictures of the burnt seat and the driver's side door are included.

Filed Oct 29, 2018 · Engine · 283,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 528i. The contact was driving and came to a stop, when smoke was seen coming from the passenger side of the hood. There was a cracking sound then flames was seen coming from under the hood. The contact and the passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated attempted to extinguish the flames but could not. The fire department was called and was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injurie. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 283,000.

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Lights · 198,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 528i. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the high intensity discharge headlights malfunctioned. The contact stated that there was a complete loss of functionality with the headlights. Bmw of dallas (6200 lemmon ave, dallas, texas 75209, (972) 763-5528) was contacted via voicemail regarding the failure. The contact noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle and discovered that the front passenger side headlight was on fire. A store employee extinguished the fire. The fire department was not contacted. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 198,000.

Filed Jun 23, 2017 · Airbags · 133,000 miles · FL

My car was parked in front of my house stationary I was changing the battery when I put the battery in and connected it the airbags blew up destroyed the dash steering wheel and cracked the front windshield this car is off and parked

Filed Apr 25, 2012 · Tires · VT

New tires eagle f1 asymmetric bought and installed in may 2011 ( unknowingly rec'd 2007 production tires ) and then removed my tires for winter tires in november 2011. When reinstalling the summer tires this spring / april 2012, multiple bubbles were apparent on 3 of the tires and the 4th tire had a bubble as well. Was told by an independent goodyear tire vendor that the bubbles resembled the effects impact damage. Furious and puzzled as to how these bubbles appeared after having sat a winter indoors and no damage was apparent when the tires were removed ( on rims ) at season's end. The tires were dismounted and remounted this spring. The bubbles emerged after reinflating them. How could there be multiple impact bubbles in different spots ( all on outside ) on the same tire and all tires have these bubbles? Goodyear is trying to avoid responsibility and only willing to give a percentage as goodwill ! This is the first time I have ever had an issue other than early tire wear let alone all four tires with multiple bubbles on 3 of the 4 tires ! Being shipped tires that were 4 years old could not have helped this situation. Very frustrated by the whole drawn out handling and processing by goodyear. They are denying fault which will be fought and proven to them at their expense.

Filed Dec 9, 2011 · Lights · 175,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 528i. While parked, the contact noticed that the exterior light warning indicator was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the tail lights would function erratically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the regulation lamp would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

Filed Dec 1, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 127,000 miles · LA

Abs module fail at 127,000 k. This stops my speedometer from working along with my (dcs) traction control, gas gauge and the brake go into emergency mode..

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Questions about the 2000 BMW 528I

Is the 2000 BMW 528I reliable?

Owners have filed 42 complaints about the 2000 BMW 528I, fewer than a typical 528I model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2000 BMW 528I?

Engine and cooling, with 11 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles. Next is airbags (7).

How many recalls does the 2000 BMW 528I have?

1 recall, covering exterior lighting.

What gas mileage does the 2000 BMW 528I get?

Official estimates for the 2000 BMW 528I range from 19 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16-18 city and 24-26 highway.

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