2011 Bmw 535I US
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Bmw 535I US has 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is tires problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: over a period of 5 weeks and 2300 miles i have experienced sidewall degradation (blister) four different times on three tires after traversing broken pavement/pot holes at speeds between 25 and 60 mph. since this specific tire is only sold on 2011 bmw 535 and 550 all-wheel drive models with optional.
45
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TIRES
18 complaints- • OVER A PERIOD OF 5 WEEKS AND 2300 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL DEGRADATION (BLISTER) FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES ON THREE TIRES AFTER TRAVERSING BROKEN PAVEMENT/POT HOLES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 60 MPH. SINCE THIS SPECIFIC TIRE IS ONLY SOLD ON 2011 BMW 535 AND 550 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS WITH OPTIONAL
- • AIR BUBBLES ON GOODYEAR ECELLENCE (MADE IN GERMANY) RUN FLAT TIRE 245/40R19 94Y INSTALLED ON BMW 535I . THESE ARE THE CODE ON THE TIRE: DOT NE66 JF1R 3710 / B350057 / GG257SHMPVM / D18R E13 029524-S E13. I BOUGHT MY BMW 535I WITH M SPORT ON DEC 22 2010. AS OF APRIL 2011, TWO AIR BUBBLES DEVELOP
- • GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRE DEVELOPED BUBBLE AFTER LESS THAN 2000 MILES. TIRE IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND IS THE ONLY TIRE APPROVED FOR THIS CAR. I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH THE CAR AND THE TIRE SINCE I HAVE TO EITHER ORDER NON-RECOMMENDED TIRES (THIS IS THE ONLY RUN-FLAT TIRE IN THE OE SIZE)
“OVER A PERIOD OF 5 WEEKS AND 2300 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL DEGRADATION (BLISTER) FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES ON THREE TIRES AFTER TRAVERSING BROKEN PAVEMENT/POT HOLES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 60 MPH. SINCE THIS SPECIFIC TIRE IS ONLY SOLD ON 2011 BMW 535 AND 550 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS WITH OPTIONAL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
7 complaints- • UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, LIQUID SPILLED ON THE ENGINE COMPUTER THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH TO 3 MPH ALMOST INSTANTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLED SPORADICALLY WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ENGINE WOULD REV EXCESSIVELY AND ATTEMPT TO SURGE
“UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
WHEELS
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES DUE TO THE RIMS. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RIMS CAUSING FAILURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RIMS WERE BENT, BUT ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE NOT
- • I HAVE A 2011 BMW 535I WITH RUN FLAT TIRES. AFTER HITTING A SMALL POT HOLE I NOTICED BUBBLES ON THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL SLASH IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW TODAY AND AT FIRST WAS TOLD THAT THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURENCE IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE. I TOLD TH
- • BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRE REPLACED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO. MINIMAL DRIVING, COMBINATION HIGHWAY/ROADS. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES DUE TO THE RIMS. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RIMS CAUSING FAILURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RIMS WERE BENT, BUT ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE NOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG
- • CAR SHOWS ERROR OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE.
- • MY BMW HAS ABOUT 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN OR ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF POWER, IT'S LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL
“UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED A DISCHARGE IN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN REPLAC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICL
- • I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. 1. BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BECAME FILLED WITH CONDENSATION/WATER. I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED A BMW DIAGNOSIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOST LIKELY CASE WAS THE COLD AIR. THEY CHECKED FOR EXCESS AIR LEAKS IN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BUT DID NOT FIND EXCESS AIR LEAKS. (SEE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED A DISCHARGE IN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN REPLAC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 45 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TIRES: OVER A PERIOD OF 5 WEEKS AND 2300 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL DEGRADATION (BLISTER) FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES ON THREE TIRES AFTER TRAVERSING BROKEN PAVEMENT/POT HOLES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 60 MPH. SINCE THIS SPECIFIC TIRE IS ONLY SOLD ON 2011 BMW 535 AND 550 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS WITH OPTIONAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐WHEELS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES DUE TO THE RIMS. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RIMS CAUSING FAILURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RIMS WERE BENT, BUT ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 535I US — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 45
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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