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moderate Owners of the 2013 BMW 535i have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 535i | 4 |
| 2013 535i (this page) | 5 |
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Lane Change Warning Lamps on Side View Mirrors Are Too Dark. The lane change warning lamps (small and triangle-shaped) on the exterior door mirrors are too dark. This may occur when driving from light to dark conditions, such as: * Entering a tunnel * At twilight CAUSE: RLSS (Rain Light Solar Sensor) hardware error.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE VISIBLE INTERNAL MOISTURE/CONDENSATION: Water on the inside (A) or misting (B) of both headlight lenses that is visible from outside.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗?TAILLIGHT FLICKER WHEN TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVE . Taillight flickers when turn signal and brake light are active; see video in this link: tinyurl.com/zmr65st When the following preconditions occur simultaneously: Engine on (idle). Tail light active (switched on). Brake light active (through actuation of the brake pedal). Turn signal active (switched on). Current fluctuations reduce the voltage to the tail light.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE VISIBLE INTERNAL MOISTURE/CONDENSATION. Water on the inside (A) or misting (B) of both headlight lenses that is visible from outside. Water inside the headlights can be caused by two situations: Water/moisture ingress into the headlight housing. Thermal conditions that result in the formation of condensation. Note: An important indication that the moisture issue is caused by ""condensation"" rather than a ""water leak"" into the headlight housing, there will be misting/condensation in ""both headlights."""
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗BMW: SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCING VARIOUS MESSAGE DISPLAYED REGARDING MALFUNCTION OF LED HEADLIGHT, WITH OPTIONS 0552 AND 0524.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the driver’s side headlamp had condensation inside the headlamp housing. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the headlamp housing. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the passenger’s side headlamp housing and the driver’s side replacement headlamp housing. The failure had caused the turn signals to…
Headlight Assembly has issues with the seal and condensation can/does enter the headlight assembly rendering the functionality of the headlight as suspect. Without proper lighting and condensation in front of the headlight which greatly impacts/effects the clarity and visibility of objects in the front of the car creating a safety issue. The cost to replace/repair these assemblies is excessive…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.