The 2008 BMW 128i has 6 recalls, the most urgent being a driver's frontal airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Two separate fire risks also affect this vehicle. The heater for the crankcase ventilation valve can short circuit and melt surrounding components, creating a fire risk even when the car is parked and off. Separately, the wiring harness for the blower regulator can overheat and melt its electrical connectors, again posing a fire risk even when the vehicle is unattended. On the electrical side, a fuse or wiring fault can cut power to the vehicle entirely, causing an unexpected stall while driving and raising the risk of a crash.