Six problems related to battery cable have been reported for the 2008 BMW 328. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
It has a electrical power distribution battery cable . It shuts off completely.
On June 24th 2017 as I was backing out of my driveway at my house in my 2008 certified pre-owned BMW 328xi, the car was in motion, with my 3 year old son and he noticed smoked coming from the vents. I turned my head around to see what he was talking about and noticed smoke billowing from the vents and glove box area. I immediately unbuckled him from his car seat and told him to get out. I exited the vehicle, dialed 911, and got him to a safe distance. I could see an electrical fire (based on location and smell) coming from under the passenger side dash board near the glove box, within 4 minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Luckily no one was physically injured. The fire investigator says the fire originated from the glove box area where a fuse panel and battery cable are located as identified in the fire report attached. It is my belief that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction at the fuse panel located under the glove box. I did some research and in 2013 there was a recall (NHTSA campaign number: 13v044000) for the vehicles power cable attached to the fuse box that was fixed; however, I believe that it was either fixed improperly by BMW or the recall didn't fix the issue.
6 weeks ago my car lost all power. I had the car towed to a mechanic that has worked on and repaired my car before. They replaced the fuse box and all fuses ($678. 00) which didnt fix the car. Because they were at an impasse with the repairs I had the car towed to BMW mercedes specialist ($110. 00). My car has been at the second shop for a month. . . . It still will not start. So, this weekend I got online and did some digging about the 2008 BMW 328i repair history. As it turns out there was a recall on the battery cable in March on 2013. I bought the car is Jan. 2013. Did not receive or was I made aware of the recall. So now I am out $1000. 00 not to mention what I owe the second repairs shop. And BMW USA informs me that I now have to have the car towed at my expense to a BMW dealership. . . And have the cable repaired there to have the repair covered by BMW. First of all BMW is liable to have informed me of the recall. . . Which they did not. So, its my understanding by law I have to be completely remedied monetarily by BMW for all and any costs related to the recall. BMW is trying to strong arm me into bringing my car to them. My car is already taken apart at the second mechanics shop. . . . I have already been without my car for 6 weeks. Please review my situation and advise me of my rights. And the laws that apply to this recall.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. While parked, the vehicle failed to start and the battery and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the battery and the positive connection cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, while driving at 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The engine warning light illuminated and engine malfunction was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic who diagnosed that the valve coil, the spark plugs, and the valve gasket covers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 13v044000 (electrical system); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 73,025. The VIN was unavailable.
On the afternoon of November 10th, while driving, a red light with a passenger restraint system malfunction message lit up on the dashboard. I brought the car into the dealer the next day and they said they had to order the part. They were unable to turn the light off, which affected my ability to retrieve time and temperature on the dashboard reader. They had to order the part, which was replaced on November 26th. The part is called sop battery safety terminal (battery cable plus pole). I was told that the wires tested as "broken intermittently. " I was told that when this battery cable works correctly it will shut off the gas pump so that there was no danger of fire. I was concerned about driving the car even when the driver side seemed to be all right, because if gas leaked the whole car would be on fire, not just the passenger side. Since there was a recall of the airbag system, I thought this might be also related. The dealer said he had seen this before on other cars but he could not say how many. I am grateful that this could be fixed before any accident occurred.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328i. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician advised that the battery cable failed and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 3,400.