2008 BMW 5 Series Exterior Lighting
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* 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 FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBLE DEFAULT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. ..UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT'S BULB, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL THE CABLE INSULATION INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE CRUMBLING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES FAILED ACCOMPANIED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE GROUNDING WIRE CONNECTOR (INSIDE THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR WHICH ATTACHES TO 8 PIN RECEIVER ON THE LIGHT) MELTING WHICH RENDERED THE BRAKE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, REVERSE LIGHT, AND LIGHTNING INOPERATIVE. AS CONNECTION WAS FAILING, THE GROUND CONNECTION WAS LIKELY INTERMITTENT LEADING TO LIGHTING MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATIONS ON DASH AND INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS, DIMMED BRIGHTNESS OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS. THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION/FAILURE REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER CARS/DRIVERS OF MY CAR'S INTENTIONS. COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE REAR END COLLISIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE PASSENGER'S REAR TURN SIGNAL AND REVERSE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
THE REAR BACK-UP LAMP OUTAGE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULB AND SAW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN BURNT AROUND THE BROWN WIRE. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES TO OTHER WITH THE SAME YR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEAL WHO IN TURN REFERRED ME TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL RESPONSE FROM THEM SAYING THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN PROCESS AND TO WAIT 4-6 WEEKS. THE PROBLEM, IS THAT MY TAIL LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THIS CANNOT BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I AM INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND ALL OF EXTERIOR LIGHTNING WOULD NOT FUNCTION UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WARNING OF REAR LIGHT AND REAR RIGHT BLINKER MALFUNCTION. *TR
THE GROUNDING WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR TO THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER MELTED AND MELTED PARTS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS RESULTED IN NO SIGNAL, BRAKE AND RUNNING REAR LIGHTS. A RECALL HAS BEEN CALLED FOR BMW E46 3 SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 5 SERIES AS WELL. *TR
GROUND WIRE FOR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT BURNED UP. GROUND WIRE, BOTH SIDES OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, AND TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER ALL BURNED UP. PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHT DO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. IMPROPERLY RATED FUSE DID NOT BLOW BEFORE CIRCUIT BURNED UP AND MELTED. THIS CIRCUIT IS NOT DESIGNED CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME. CAR MODEL IS A 2008 528I. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2008 BMW 5 Series has 34 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.