2008 BMW 5 Series electrical system problems
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2008 BMW 5 Series — 15% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I was driving and bumped up against a sidewalk curve and my airbags deployed as well as my car shut off. It will not start another more and the hood underneath was on fire. (smoke was present).”
filed Nov 6, 2017
“Just bought a used 2008 528i (e60) w/94k miles, in otherwise perfect condition. Went to change the angel eyes from drab yellow to lux led's. Noticed bare wires on both sides of the bulb connectors, on both sides of the car. Tried to use electrical tape, just made more bare wire. The more I touched…”
filed Feb 16, 2016
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Electrical SystemCampaign 12V126000 · Mar 26, 2012
Related service bulletins
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information…
B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 11, 2024Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâ  s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the…
B653423 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 22, 2023
Electrical System problems in other 5 Series years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 5 Series | 6 | 7% |
| 2006 5 Series | 19 | 22% |
| 2005 5 Series | 4 | 19% |
| 2004 5 Series | 9 | 14% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2008 BMW 5 Series
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.