2008 BMW 528I problems
Owners have filed 181 complaints about the 2008 BMW 528I with NHTSA. Exterior lighting accounts for 18.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 16.6%.
Complaints181
Crashes1
Fires24
Injuries2
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Exterior lighting 18.8% · 34
Electrical system 16.6% · 30
Air bags 12.2% · 22
Engine 11.0% · 20
Engine and engine cooling 9.4% · 17
Power train 8.3% · 15
Fuel/propulsion system 7.7% · 14
Seat belts 5.0% · 9
Severity
Of those complaints, 1 describe a crash, 24 describe a fire and 2 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 6 model years of the BMW 528I in this data, 2008 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 10 in the last three years against 31 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 90,000 miles.
In owners' own words
All of the internal headlight wiring insulation on both headlights is crumbling off which is exposing the copper wire, causing sparks and shorting out. I have performed much online research and apparently this is a known problem by BMW. Currently it's a huge safety issue because it's unpredictable when headlights will short out while driving, losing sight of the road and possibly increasing risk of accident. Exterior lighting · reported at 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528I. The contact stated that the inside of the headlight housing became abnormally foggy. The bulb also looked as if it was foggy and busted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacture was not notified about the possible default. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. Exterior lighting · reported at 78,000 miles
When I attempted to install new low beam, high beam, and angel eye bulbs I discovered that all the protective coating on the wires inside the headlight assembly was missing or crumbling off. These exposed wires are a certain fire hazard. Any attempt to repair the wire coating resulted in more coating crumbling off, exposing yet more of the wire. Exterior lighting · reported at 82,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…