BMW 528i Complaints

833 consumer complaints on file.

#10193931June 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FARMERS AUTO INSURANCE. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 3/8/2007 IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. A CAR HIT THE REAR PART OF MY BMW. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS INSURANCE, REPAIRED MY CAR AND REPLACED THE MUFFLER WITH ONE THAT IS NOT BMW COMPATIBLE. THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PAID IN FULL MY, AND FARMERS', COSTS. WHEN I CALLED THE FARMERS' AGENT REQUESTING A BMW MUFFLER, FARMERS INSISTS THEY CAN NOT DO IT. I FEEL MY CAR HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED - IT HAS LESS VALUE, BECAUSE OF THIS LOW QUALITY REPAIR REQUIREMENT FROM FARMERS. PLEASE HELP ME GET FARMERS TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER WITH A BMW COMPATIBLE ONE AND GET THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE THE COST. TEHHUEI PAN FARMERS' CLAIM # - 1009813023
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193341June 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS ~ 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. ABS, STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, AND SPEEDOMETER ALL FAIL AND STOP FUNCTIONING. CONTROL MODULE MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ~$1500 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193350June 14, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190792May 15, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE A 1999 BMW 528IT WAGON. UNTIL A MONTH AGO MY HUSBAND HAD A 1994 BMW 318IC. ALL FOUR HEADLIGHT LENSES IN THESE CARS BECAME QUITE FILMY, AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT DIMINISHED THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT. THESE CARS WERE NOT ANTIQUES, AND THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD HOLD UP FOR A MINIMUM OF 10-15 YEARS, IN MY OPINION. WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE BMW DO SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE, NOT THE OWNER'S? I HAVE A 1989 VOLVO, AND ITS LENSES ARE STILL FINE, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN ALL CARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188998April 18, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BMW CUSTOMER STATES THAT STRUT PLATE FAILED IN FEB 2007 AND DISCOVERED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR EXACTLY THIS DEFECT**CC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186467March 29, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
BMW 2000 MODEL 528: DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT IMPACT OR INERTIAL CAUSE. NO BUMPS, POTHOLES OR OBJECTS STRUCK THE VEHICLE. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR ~ TO 8 SECONDS AT 75 MPH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185458March 18, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 5, SOUTHBOUND NORTH OF LOS ANGELES IN VICINITY OF SUN VALLEY, MY 1997 BMW 528I STRUCK A LARGE (30 GALLON) PLASTIC BARREL IN THE ROADWAY, IMPACTING THE LOWER FRONT CENTER/RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS (EXCEEDING $12,000). THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL OUTSTANDING ON THE 1997 BMW 5 SERIES (RECALL NUMBER 04V183000) REGARDING DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION/STRUT COMPONENTS, BUT MY CALL TO BMW AT 800-831-1117 DID NOT RESULT IN ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLE. THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO CONFIRM TWO OTHER RECALL SERVICES THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING ME A SETTLEMENT FOR TOTAL LOSS, BUT I WOULD PREFER THAT THE CAR BE REPAIRED AND THAT BMW BEAR THEIR SHARE OF THE COST FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183024February 20, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT. UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT MOVED FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BOLT OR SCREW WAS MISSING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177512December 28, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
1998 BMW 528I REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OR INTERNAL MOTOR WENT OUT**CC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173232November 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I HAVE A 1997 528I BMW. WHEN IT RAINS MY CAR SHIFTS FROM GEAR TO GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE HIGHWAY PATROL ESCORT ME TO THE NEXT TOWN DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR CHOSE S2 (SPORT 2ND GEAR) AS THE GEAR IT PREFERRED TO DRIVE IN. I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN 40 MPH UNTIL THE CAR DRIED OUT THE NEXT DAY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169438September 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ASC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER ON MY 1999 BMW 528I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 5 SERIES CARS 9/98 TO 9/00 (MINE WAS BUILT 10/98). BULLETIN INFO: VS-23/WEINTUCH BAUGRUPPE/GROUP:32 32 01 00 (646) . THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS CODE IS RA 24 52 515/ 34 52 516. AFTER UNIT FAILED, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS CURRENTLY REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF BMW BULLETIN BOARDS (WWW.ROADFLY.COM). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS KNOWN PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF BMW DEALERS ARE STOCKING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL INVENTORIES OF THIS PART, APPARENTLY IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE SCALE FAILURES OF THE ASC CONTROL UNIT (PART34-52-6-756-343). MY NEXT CAR WILL NOT BE A BMW, THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. THINK & READ BEFORE YOU BUY BMW! IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.LC *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165493August 15, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHILE IN MY GARAGE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT UNLESS THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HANDLE WAS ENTIRELY MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NIELLO BMW IN SACRAMENTO, CA FOR REPLACEMENT AT THE OWNER'S COST. OWNER HAS POSSESSION OF THE BROKEN HANDLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165235August 11, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161500July 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET BURNED OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING WAS CREATED BY THE A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK IN THE OVERFLOW PLASTIC TANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152836March 16, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY ASC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, LOST SPEEDOMETER. TOOK TO BMW MECHANIC WHO READ CODES AND IT READ REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR AND SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. CONTINUED WITH MECHANIC ON LOOKING FOR SOLUTION AND HE CONCLUDED AFTER TALKING TO OTHER BMW MECHANICS AND GOING OVER THE SYMPTOMS THAT IT IS THE ABS CONTROLLER THAT FAILED. SO I HAVE NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL OF SPEEDOMETER UNTIL I CAN FIX THIS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149959February 10, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/03/06.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147772January 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING, ODOMETER FROZEN, FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE, NO AUTOMATIC STEERING CONTROL, NO ABS PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY STOPS. KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM YET BMW, TO DATE, HAS ISSUED NO RECALL THAT I KNOW OF, AS CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147785January 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE DESIGN OF THE ABS CONTROLLER ON A 2000 BMW 528I IS PRONE TO FAILURE AND WILL RENDER THE ABS FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS SERIES OF BMW AUTOMOBILES. THE FAILURE STARTS WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS THAT INDICATE THE ABS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THESE FAILURES CAN BE INTERMITTENT AND IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO HEAT AS THE CONTROLLER IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT VERY NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ONCE FAILED THE FAULTY ABS COMPUTER CAN CAUSE AND DOES CAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE SPEED SENSORS MOUNTED ON THE WHEELS. I REPLACED A BAD WHEEL SENSOR AT A COST OF $93 AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE BRAND NEW WHEEL SENSOR WENT BAD (RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BAD WHEEL SENSOR WAS 4.4M OHM WHILE THE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE NEW WHEEL SENSOR WAS 8.8M OHM. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE DASHBOARD MOUNTED WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND THE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE BRAND NEW WHEEL SENSOR WAS 4.4M OHM AND FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING INDICATED A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER). UPON OPENING OF THE ABS COMPUTER TO INVESTIGATE IT WAS DISCOVERD THAT THE DESIGN OF THE PRIINTED CIRCUIT CARD USES POOR RELIABILITY MECHANICAL DESIGN PROPERTIES FOR A UNIT THAT IS EXPOSED TO EXTREME TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS AND HIGH VIBRATION. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BUT BMW AND BOSCH (ABS COMPUTER MANUFACTURER) REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE REMEDY FOR AFFECTED OWNERS. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AS THE ENTIRE ABS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME REDUCING THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR ENTIRELY OR INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE CARS AND BY IGNORING THE PROBLEM BOTH BMW AND BOSCH ARE PUTTING DRIVERS AND PROPERTY AT RISK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143505November 22, 2005
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY MOVES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134716August 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ON 8/23/05 MY BMW 528I VIN#[XXX] BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS THAT DAY WAS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND SOME TIMES STALL. MY CAR WAS CONNECTED TO A "CHECK ENGINE COMPUTER SYSTEM" TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A "CRANK SENSOR" WHICH HE INFORMED ME WAS RECALLED. HE MADE A CALL TO TULLEY BMW (LOCATED IN NASHUA, NH) IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL BUT THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE COULD FIX IT HOWEVER HE FELT IT WAS WORTH MY EFFORTS TO PERSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER AT TULLEY BMW. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR AND GETTING ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM MY MECHANIC THAT DAY I WENT HOME AND CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I GAVE THEM THE RECALL # 99E-A01AND MY VIN #. I WAS INFORMED BY NORTH AMERICA BMW THAT THE RECALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS MY CAR WAS FIXED BY TULLEY BMW 5/2002. AFTER RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION I CALLED TULLEY BMW AND SPOKE WITH A "PETER" IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND PETER CAME BACK WITH THE SAME INFORMATION THAT HIS RECORDS INDICATE IT WAS DONE. WHEN I TOLD HIM IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE PART IN MY CAR IS THE ORIGINAL SENSOR AND EXPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART CONNECTED DIFFERENT. AFTER ARGUING SOME MORE HE FINALLY AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR ON 8/30/2005. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 8/29/2005 SO IT WOULD BE THERE IN THE AM. IMMEDIATELY THE SERVICE PERSONAL HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE SENSOR. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS IN FACT THE ORIGINAL PART. WHEN I ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY FIRST HAD TO FIND OUT WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THE RECALL. I THEN INFORMED THEM THEY WERE BECAUSE I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAID IT WAS ALREADY DONE THEREFORE TULLEY BMW RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR THAT NIGHT. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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