2000 BMW 528i

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

68/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 528i, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	10	22%
Engine and engine cooling	9	20%
Tires	4	9%
Seats	2	4%
Exterior lighting	2	4%
Latches/locks/linkages	2	4%
Service brakes	2	4%
Steering	2	4%
Unknown or other	1	2%
Steering	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THE SHIFTER ON THE CONSOLE WILL HANG UP GET STUCK OFTEN WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT WON'T SHIFT ALL THE WAY TO DRIVE IT KEEPS STOPPING IN NEUTRAL NOW WHILE IT'S IN NEUTRAL I CAN PULL BACK ON TH
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

WENT ON DATA BASE NHTSA THAT SAYS MY VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALLS . WHAT DO I DO N GO TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint: Steering

AS I WAS DRIVING MY BELOVED 2000 BMW 528I ON 11/9/2018 AT 2:15 PM, ON ROUTE 12 SOUTH IN DUCK, NC, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE HEATED SEATS WERE NOT
NHTSA complaint: Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP, WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THERE WAS A CRACKING SOUND THEN FLAMES WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD
NHTSA complaint: Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 528I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF FUNCTIO
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE STATIONARY I WAS CHANGING THE BATTERY WHEN I PUT THE BATTERY IN AND CONNECTED IT THE AIRBAGS BLEW UP DESTROYED THE DASH STEERING WHEEL AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THIS CAR IS O
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

NEW TIRES EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC BOUGHT AND INSTALLED IN MAY 2011 ( UNKNOWINGLY REC'D 2007 PRODUCTION TIRES ) AND THEN REMOVED MY TIRES FOR WINTER TIRES IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN REINSTALLING THE SUMMER TIRES THIS SPRING / APR
NHTSA complaint: Tires

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2000 BMW 528i. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 00V048000

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.

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

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

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	62	average
Depreciation	65	good
Performance	57	average
Efficiency	37	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 20% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 64% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2000 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 62: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2000 BMW 528i?

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 10 of them (22%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2000 BMW 528i reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2000 BMW 528i last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2000 BMW 528i?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.