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2000 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

28 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

10 reports
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102,000 miles · Oct 2, 2023
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

The contact owned a 2000 BMW 528i. The contact stated that shortly after arriving home and with the vehicle parked in his garage, he observed first white smoke and then brown smoke emanating from the engine compartment. While waiting for emergency services, the contact stated that he then observed flames engulfing the engine com…

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The contact owned a 2000 BMW 528i. The contact stated that shortly after arriving home and with the vehicle parked in his garage, he observed first white smoke and then brown smoke emanating from the engine compartment. While waiting for emergency services, the contact stated that he then observed flames engulfing the engine compartment and heard a loud pop. As a result, the contact reported extensive smoke damage to the interior of the garage. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, and a fire report was filed. A police report was also filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; instead, the contact has stored the vehicle at his home. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11547795

98,755 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

AUXILIARY FAN FAILURE WHILE IDLING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CAR WILL BEGIN TO OVERHEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261122

102,500 miles · May 2, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE RADIATOR BLEW FOR NO KNOW REASON. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM. ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS $16,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226520

90,000 miles · Sep 11, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

COLD START ISSUES. CAR WANTS TO STALL UPON START UP. WHEN CAR FINALLY WARMS UP THE IDLE SMOOTHES OUT. THE GAS MILEAGE IS DROPPING DUE THE MALFUNCTIONING SEALS IN THE DOUBLE VANOS SYSTEM. BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10202503

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FARMERS AUTO INSURANCE. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 3/8/2007 IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. A CAR HIT THE REAR PART OF MY BMW. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS INSURANCE, REPAIRED MY CAR AND REPLACED THE MUFFLER WITH ONE THAT IS NOT BMW COMPATIBLE. THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PAID IN FULL MY, AND FARME…

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I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FARMERS AUTO INSURANCE. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 3/8/2007 IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. A CAR HIT THE REAR PART OF MY BMW. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS INSURANCE, REPAIRED MY CAR AND REPLACED THE MUFFLER WITH ONE THAT IS NOT BMW COMPATIBLE. THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PAID IN FULL MY, AND FARMERS', COSTS. WHEN I CALLED THE FARMERS' AGENT REQUESTING A BMW MUFFLER, FARMERS INSISTS THEY CAN NOT DO IT. I FEEL MY CAR HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED - IT HAS LESS VALUE, BECAUSE OF THIS LOW QUALITY REPAIR REQUIREMENT FROM FARMERS. PLEASE HELP ME GET FARMERS TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER WITH A BMW COMPATIBLE ONE AND GET THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE THE COST. TEHHUEI PAN FARMERS' CLAIM # - 1009813023

NHTSA ODI #10193931

80,000 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET BURNED OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING WAS CREATED BY THE A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK IN THE OVERFLOW PLASTIC TANK.

NHTSA ODI #10161500

53,400 miles · Dec 7, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102273

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR NECK FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093246

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

2000 BMW 528 IDLES ROUGH IN COLD CLIMATES (2002/2003). THIS PRODUCES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR IN WARMER CLIMATES. DEALER CONSTANTLY STATES "PROBLEM UNREPRODUCABLE". AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT DEALERSHIP AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING WENT BACK, GRABBED A TEC…

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2000 BMW 528 IDLES ROUGH IN COLD CLIMATES (2002/2003). THIS PRODUCES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR IN WARMER CLIMATES. DEALER CONSTANTLY STATES "PROBLEM UNREPRODUCABLE". AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT DEALERSHIP AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING WENT BACK, GRABBED A TECHNICIAN AND HAD HIM SIT IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTERWARDS TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S PROBABLY A PART CALLED THE VANOS UNIT. HAD PART REPLACED THEN PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THIS WINTER (2003/2004), PROBLEM RESURFACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10056914

68,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE ROAD AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE ABILITY TO ACCERLATE DECREASED ALSO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10043722

Official recalls

1

00V048000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 17, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.