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Chart based on 43 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 BMW 1-Series
Engine not specified
57340 mi
Had rust underneath, in the back. Got fixed for free by the dealer a few days ago.
Center mounted tail light lens was cracked. Parts were in stock so replaced under warranty same day.
18000 mi
Wind noise on driver's side
35000 mi
3rd tail light replaced. Front seat stitching repaired. Steering wheel plate was peeling and was replaced.
1000 mi
Outside mirrors creat a whistling noise at 45-70 mph. Whistling increases in volume with speed. Certain crosswind conditions increase noise. Design flaw root cause is the groove and pressure cavity aft/under the mirror cap.
1000 mi
The rear 3rd brake light cover (red plastic) on trunk is cracked. Part was ordered by BMW Service Center; a waiting part. Inside surface of driver's side window had 6 hair line scratches. Dealer service mgr. offered to 'good will' pay for the labor required to change out the window if I paid for the part.
2000 mi
It was the 3rd brake light plastic cover, not the actual light bulb, that was cracked. Direction given to technician NOT to over-torque new spring-loaded studs during installation of new part.
31000 mi
Sunroof rattle. Sunroof sunshade was ordered and replaced but was/is wrong color. Correct color had to be ordered from Germany during volcano/plane issues in Europe. Awaiting delivery/install.
The 3rd brake light was cracked and became loose. It was replaced. I do not know the cause.
30600 mi
US $264
Center brake light was cracked. Replaced brake lamp assembly with updated unit.
16000 mi
Cruise Control Stalk button was loose and rattling. Ordered new stalk.
31000 mi
2 rattles in dash. One behind nav screen, one in right corner below A pillar. Problems were claimed to have been fixed, but persist exactly as originally described to dealer.
41000 mi
3rd brake light lens cracked and fell out. had already been replaced 2x. forum research discovered a TSB detailing some metal grinding as part of lens replacement. discussed with dealer. work performed including grinding.
58000 mi
Rattles in dash never fixed. Pulling that giant 1 piece dash out of my daily driver was a risky prospect. I figured I'd end up not being able to find the source, or break something else in the attempt.
30000 mi
3rd Brake Light cracked apart from the trunk, needed replacement.
25620 mi
A pillar broke loose (internal tab), had new A pillar installed. Got an E90 335xi loaner.
Also inner part of steering wheel had to be replaced covering/paint was coming off. Audio control switch on steering wheel had to be replaced too.
35000 mi
Also found source of rattling noise from sunroof, replacement parts ordered. Leather on bottom of driver’s seat started to tear replacement ordered.
36000 mi
Replaced sunroof rain gutter thought to be source of constant rattling. Seat cover replaced.
38000 mi
Rattling from sunroof area.
2000 mi
The leather around the side airbag on the driver's seat was trimmed so the seat stuffing was visible. It was about a 2mm gap.
20760 mi
The chrome strip on the top of the passenger door was loose. They looked at it, ordered the part, I went back and they put it on while I waited.
21560 mi
Chrome strip replaced. When bringing car in to replace chrome strip, remarked on excess wind noise at high speeds. Dealer determined weather stripping was defective and ordered new weather stripping. Weather stripping replaced. Excess wind noise reduced. NOTE: Problem had existed from day one, but I finally got around to complaining and dealer fixed it immediately. Fantastic dealer, BTW.
24800 mi
Brought the car in because the driver door doesn't close properly. We then noticed that the problem was due to incorrect repair of weatherstripping. So my dealer is going to replace the weatherstrippping on both doors again on May 11. Parts ordered.
25500 mi
Replaced the weatherstripping (for the second time). That seems to have helped the wind noise problem, but the door is still a little too hard to close on the driver's side. No one seems to know how to fix it.
41540 mi
$300
There isn't really a category for the catastrophic failure of a glass sunroof. But that's what happened. In the middle of an open motorway, at speed, not trailing any other car, the sunroof spontaneously shattered.
47680 mi
Water got into a circuit box through the right rear tail light and filled it up. The problem was discovered following some body work when the key would not unlock the door. The circuit board had to be replaced and the whole car reprogramed.
10000 mi
Rattles
47000 mi
replaced steering wheel cover (plastic plate around the buttons).
Center brake light lens cracked and fell out of housing. Replaced under warranty. Center brake light lens cracked and fell out of housing. Replaced under warranty.
27000 mi
Tail lamp assemblies improperly aligned when reinstalled after recall performed at previous trip. Tail lamps realigned correctly. Tail lamp assemblys improperly aligned when reinstalled after recall performed at previous trip. Tail lamps realigned correctly.
33000 mi
Also had some vibrations taken care of around rear parcel shelf, as well as a clutch inspection.
41000 mi
High mounted rear brake light replaced for the 3rd time due to manufacturers defect in cracks forming at edge.
Convertible top was misaligned which caused wear on the passenger side near the C-pillar when the top was raised or lowered as it rubbed a rubber gasket. Was re-aligned and does not rub now.
20460 mi
Driver side left bolster leather was wearing too quickly. The dealer replaced the leather on the seat with a new leather cover.
new convertible top. The original developed a hole in the C-pillar on the driver's side. Apparently the original guide can rub and eventually cause a hole a small dime-sized hole in the top. The is a new guide that solves the problem. trim around steering wheel had rubber coating beginning to peel. Part replaced with newer part model.
13000 mi
3rd Brake Light fell off the car and into pieces.
Repaired by dealer under warranty
20000 mi
Had a few bad rattles. Left at dealer for a couple of days and fixed correctly.
Convertible top had a wear mark from getting pinched when it was put down. Convertible top was replaced. Leather driver's seat showing scuff/wear marks where person entering car rubs against seat. Replacement leather on backorder.
12000 mi
Backordered part arrived for repair of seat leather.
16000 mi
Convertible top - mechanism wearing through fabric of top.
28000 mi
clips that hold the inner liner of the convertible top, told due to botched replacement of top
34000 mi
clips that hold the inner liner of the convertible top
11280 mi
Replaced steering wheel as plastic finish near horn buttons was pealing off the under material.
30000 mi
US $2700
window became detached from convertible top. Replaced top
Brakelight lens on trunk lid was lying on floor in several pieces day after we took delivery of new car. Nothing had hit it. It just fell out. Was told it wasn't properly glued in at factory and that I wasn't the 1st to experience this issue.
8000 mi
2nd time 3rd brakelight lens in trunk deck lid has been replaced. Not sure why they crack.
18000 mi
Convertible top wear Third brake light
30000 mi
Extra screw in convertible top header. Rolling around and rattling.
33000 mi
Convertible headliner pulled loose. Headliner is stretched in place using plastic clips at convertible top header. Plastic clips broke. Inner headliner (convertible liner) securing clips had broken. BMW apparently created a repair kit just for this problem. So the liner was not replaced, only repaired
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2008 BMW 1-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
