2008 BMW 5 Series Exterior Lighting

The daylight lamps fall apart causing poor lighting at night and continuous alarms while driving. Also, impacting the quality of light and lack of lighting at night. The alarms are continuous and block ALL other alerts from the vehicle, including cruise control, temperature, overheating, engine, and other notices.

the taillight, blinker and reverse light all went out and when I pulled the components out To check to see if the bulbs are burnt all of the bulbs are perfectly fine, but the aluminum pieces were sparking, and the whole component will not work

The daytime running lights aka Angel Eyes wiring is sub-standard. The plastic coating on the wires for the daytime running lights/Angel Eyes has melted away exposing bare wiring that has fused causing the lights to malfunction and not work. I believe the manufacturer is aware of this sub-standard issue and needs to provide a suitable fix or replacement for the sub-standard wiring of their product.

My front left and right headlight assembly went out. Went to take a look to realize all the wiring inside the assembly was exposed and sparking. Come to find out this was a common issue in this year make and model. They are charging $2,500 per assembly for a factory issue that could start a fire. Needs taken care of ASAP

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN ENGAGED. A WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR FLICKERED RAPIDLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULB, PASSENGER SIDE, FOR THE SECOND TIME, WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, AND ABOUT THE FIFTH TIME (DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE; HEADLIGHT BULB AND ANGEL EYE BULB) SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP, HOUSTON, TX). AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS INFERIOR WIRING INSULATION. THE WIRING INSULATION IS DETERIORATING CAUSING THE BULBS TO PREMATURELY BURN OUT AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE REPLACEMENT BULBS ARE PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL BMW STORE. THEY ARE NOT NON-OEM BULBS AND THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. BMW NEEDS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT.

HEADLIGHTS.... ANGEL EYES BOTH SIDES BURNED OFF PROBLEM WITH ELECTRIC SOCKETS I WOULD THINK!!! THIS IS HAPPENING TOO A LOT OF BMW AS RESERCH! *BF *TR

WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS FALLING AWAY LEAVING BARE WIRES. CURRENTLY ONLY AFFECTING THE DRL. SEARCHING BMW FORUMS - THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BEING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT MORE THAN $700 PER UNIT. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN ON-LINE FORUMS, I FEEL THIS SHOULD WARRANT A SAFETY RELATED RE-CALL. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME.

THE WIRE INSULATION INSIDE THE HEADLAMP HOUSING BECOMES BRITTLE AND CAN SHORT OUT. THEY CAN FLICKER OR GO OUT. IF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT EXPERIENCE A SHORT, A DRIVER CAN BE LEFT DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN DEADLY ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY RH HEADLIGHT. THE ISSUE HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AND COMPLAINTS ARE POSTED ALL OVER BMW FORUMS. REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS ARE IN EXCESS OF US$900 EACH LEAVING MANY CAR OWNERS TO GO WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLAMPS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TONIGHT WHEN THE RH LAMP WENT OUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS DUE TO THE WIRING SHORT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF BOTH WENT OUT. I DON'T HAVE PHOTOS OR VIDEO EVIDENCE.

LOW BEAM AND FOG LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE CASING AROUND THE WIRES IS JUST DISINTEGRATING AND MAY BE ARCHING. I TRIED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO TRY TO INSULATE THEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING HAPPEN. AFTER LOOKING AROUND FOR RECALLS, I FOUND NO RECALLS ON THIS SUBJECT, BUT FOUND PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. THE MALFUNCTION IS NOT CONSTANT, BUT IS ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME. I HAVE LEARNED A WAY AROUND IT BY MOVING THE HEADLIGHT DIAL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION. I'M DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE NOW, SO WILL HAVE THE DEALER CHECK IT NOW THAT I'M GOING IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. BUT I'M GUESSING I'M GOING TO BE STUCK WITH A HEFTY REPAIR BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS A DESIGN FLAW.

HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION IS FLAKING OFF AND LEAVING EXPOSED, UNINSULATED WIRES WHICH CAN SHORT OUT AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, PARKING LIGHTS, AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.

I PURCHASED A USED 2008 BMW 528I MID-JANUARY OF 2017. IT WAS WELL MAINTAINED, A SINGLE OWNER VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 60K MILES. IT HAS A CLEAN CARFAX AND A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT A BMW DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO, FL. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR JUST OVER 3 WEEKS, THE PASSENGER SIDE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMP WENT OUT. I RECEIVED A "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP" (MIL) ON THE DASH SO I INVESTIGATED. BEING AT HOME AND THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, I REMOVED THE COVER TO THE ASSOCIATED BULB, I NOTICED BARE WIRING THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLUG-IN CONNECTOR (THERE ARE TWO WIRES). I THOUGHT THIS UNUSUAL AND STRANGE. I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED THE BULB BUT THAT DID NOT REPAIR THE FAULT. SINCE THE INSULATION ON THE FAULTY WIRING WAS IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER, IT WAS PROVIDING A GROUND AND SHORTING OUT THE BULB. THIS COULD REPRESENT A POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING A FIRE AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. FURTHER RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET (FORUMS), I WAS ASTOUNDED AT THE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO BMW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HELLA IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR BMW. I AM UNSURE AT THIS TIME IF BMW HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN TO HELLA OF THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR SUBSTANDARD WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT APPEARS OVER A 5-8 YEAR PERIOD OF USE THAT THE INSULATION IS BEING SUBJECTED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSE BRITTLENESS, FRACTURES AND FINALLY DEGRADE TO WHERE THE WIRING BECOMES EXPOSED. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT DOES NOT APPEAR CONCERNED OR MOTIVATED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM SURE THAT THERE CONCERNS REVOLVE AROUND PROFIT MARGINS, BUT I FEEL WHERE SAFETY IS OF CONCERN, MONEY SHOULD NOT BE THE REASON FOR NOT CORRECTING A PROBLEM. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO DISCERN THE POTENTIAL IMPACT TO CONSUMERS SHOULD THIS PROBLEM NOT BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

I HAVE A 2008 535I (E60) W/55K MILES, IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO AFTERMARKET ALTERATIONS. WHILE DRIVING CAR IN THE HIGHWAY, I HAD A PARKING LIGHT ALERT/ERROR THAT MY PARKING LIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER ARRIVING TO MY HOME I INSPECTED MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ANGEL EYES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT SHOWED COMPLETELY BARE WIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BULB CONNECTORS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. I FOUND FLAKING INSULATION AND BARE WIRES EVERYWHERE THE INNER SEALED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY!!!. THE MORE I TOUCHED THE WIRES, THE MORE INSULATION FLAKED OFF, ALMOST LIKE A POWDER. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD!!!! *TR

FRAYED AND DISINTEGRATING HEADLIGHT WIRING PRESENT THROUGHOUT MY HEADLAMPS. THESE ARE SEALED ENCLOSURES FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ITEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE HEADLIGHTS MAY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, PARTICULARLY IN HOT WEATHER. THESE ARE NON CONSUMER REPLACEABLE PARTS AND PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS OF SERVICE.

HEADLAMP WIRING AND CONNECTOR HAS CRUMBLED OFF LEAVING BARE WIRES EXPOSED AND SHORTING OUT WITH POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING FIRE.

HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT BULB AND A TURN SIGNAL BULB. WHEN OPENING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO ACCESS THE TWO BULBS MUCH OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY JUST CRUMBLED AWAY INTO VERY TINY PIECES AND DUST, WHICH FELL INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE ASSEMBLY. IT'S AS IF THE WIRE INSULATION HAS DRIED OUT AND FAILED IN THE EIGHT YEARS SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. NOW MOST OF THE WIRING IS JUST BARE AND EXPOSED. THE WIRING CAN'T BE ACCESSED FROM OUTSIDE AND THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT COME APART. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WIRING SHORT CIRCUITING AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE IN THE HEADLIGHTS. I'M 68 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED 13 DIFFERENT CARS FROM AMERICAN AND GERMAN MANUFACTURERS. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING. I CONTACTED BMW ABOUT THIS AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS MAY BE A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS SERIES OF BMW CARS. BMW WON'T AKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND WON'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN TO SUGGEST THAT I BUY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FROM THEM WHICH WERE MADE WITH THE SAME POOR QUALITY WIRING.

BOUGHT A 2008 BMW 550I AND EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHT FAILURE WITH THE HEADLIGHT FUSE BLOWING REPEATEDLY WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS NOTICED THAT ALL THE WIRES IN THE HEADLIGHT WERE BARE. USED LIQUID INSULATION TO FIX THE ISSUE HOWEVER HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OF THIS CAR CATCHING FIRE FROM THE ISSUE AFTER SOME RESEARCH

I HAD A PARKING LIGHT GO BAD AND WHILE I WAS REPLACING IT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NO LONGER INSULATED. THE INSULATION HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND IS FLAKING OFF. I REMOVED THE COVER FOR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THAT LIGHT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THESE BARE WIRES COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

WIRING FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MELTED ALL WIRING INSULATION OFF. I GOT A SHOCK WHILE REPLACING THE BULB BEFORE I REALIZED THERE WAS NO INSULATION LEFT. TO REPLACE THE LIGHT FIXURE IT IS IN EXCESS OF $1,500 EACH AND BOTH HAVE ALL INSULATION MELTED OFF THEIR WIRES. THE BULBS DO NOT STAY ON AND WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING A VALID NH INSPECTION STICKER.

SUDDENLY RIGHT SIDED HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I OPENED THE HEADLIGHT COVER TO CHANGE THE BULB . FOUND ALL THE WIRING WAS CRUMBLED AND THE COATING WAS MELTED. HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS A LOT. I CALLED BMWNA TO COMPLAINT ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO OPEN COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER BMW 528I 2008 OWNERS. THIS IS HAZARDOUS ISSUE AS OPEN WIRES CAN POTENTIALLY CATCH FIRE IN HEADLIGHT. SAME PROBLEM IN TAIL LIGHT INITIATED RECALL LAST YEAR. *TR

THE HEAD LIGHT WIRING HAS FLAKED OFF AND CAUSED A SHORTAGE IN MY HEADLIGHTS. *TR

RIGHT REAR HATCHBACK RUNNING LIGHT SHUTS OFF WHEN HATCH SHUTS OR IS FULLY OPEN, BUT COMES ON WHEN IN BETWEEN FULLY OPEN AND COMPLETELY CLOSED. *TR

HEADLIGHT ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. STARTED CAR AND AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND THEN RECEIVED A DRIVERS SIDE BULB OUT ERROR INDICATION. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE I LOOKED AT THE HEADLIGHT AND NOTICED THE INNER LENS HAD FALLEN AWAY INSIDE THE HOUSING. I BEGAN TO EXAMINE THE HEADLIGHT CLOSER AND DISCOVERED A LOT OF WIRES THAT WERE BASICALLY ROTTEN. MEANING THERE WAS NO INSULATION WHAT SO EVER TO PROTECT AGAINST A SHORT IF THE WIRES MADE CONTACT. I EXAMINED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ONLY TO FIND THE EXACT SAME CONDITION WITH THE WIRING, LARGE AMOUNTS OF BARE UNPROTECTED WIRES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE ENTIRE INNER LENS BECAME SO HOT THAT THE PLASTIC WELDS MELTED AND ALSO THE METAL HOUSING CAUSING THE LENS TO FALL AWAY. I CONTACTED BMW NA AND WAS TOLD ON THE PHONE THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO A FULL VEHICLE FIRE HAD I NOT INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. I CANNOT GET TO ALL OF THE BARE WIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHT. THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH HEADLIGHT IS ~ $3000.00 PARTS PLUS AROUND 250 IN LABOR CHARGES. SADLY IF THIS IS NOT PROPERLY DISCOVERED IT COULD LEAD TO A TOTAL DESTRUCTION FROM A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE AND EVEN DEATH IF THE DRIVER WAS TO BECOME A ASPHYXIATED FROM THE FUMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

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 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.