BMW M5 Complaints

106 consumer complaints on file.

#11543578September 9, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Coolant bottles on all F90 BMW M5's have a faulty coolant bottle that BMW refuses to acknowledge. The coolant bottle cracks no matter how many times it's replaced and it leaks coolant down into the injectors causing injector and engine failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11526047June 8, 2023
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2000 BMW M5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V047000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer denied the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V047000 (Air Bags) due to the steering wheel not being the original steering wheel. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11487810October 4, 2022
ENGINE
My car (a 2014 BMW M5 with only approx. 39K miles) has a known issue with defective fuel injectors (manufactured by Bosch, subsequently replaced by an upgraded part). In fact, in 2018 BMW issued me and other owners with an extended warranty for the fuel injectors for 10 years/120,000 miles (see attached copy). However, in my opinion and based on a 9/7/2022 failure incident I experienced the defective fuel injectors should have resulted in a safety recall. Previously, my car experienced a check engine light in August 2022. The dealership suspected one or more leaking fuel injectors and noted as such on my repair invoice, but I was told due to the testing protocol which BMW requires they could not replace any of the fuel injectors. BMW's testing protocol also resulted in me incurring a large bill of almost $1,100 due to the diagnosis labor involved. On 9/7/2022 while I was driving on the highway at approximately 70 miles an hour, 2 fuel injectors failed (out of 8 injectors, confirmed by subsequent repair) which resulted in a sudden and complete loss of engine power while maneuvering in traffic. I am extremely lucky the sudden loss of engine power did not result in an accident, and I was able to take a highway exit using the vehicle's momentum. Upon exiting the highway, my car's engine completely died and would not re-start. This resulted in my car obstructing the road where it almost caused several accidents and necessitated a 911 call by me to obtain police assistance to get my vehicle out of the way. After this frightening experience and due to the high failure rate I already experienced with 2 out of 8 injectors, I contacted BMW customer service and attempted to get the remaining 6 injectors replaced. BMW refuses to replace the remaining injectors and stated they would only replace a specific injector after failure. I urge the NHTSA to require BMW to perform a safety related recall for this known fuel injector issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11482858September 4, 2022
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
car went into transmission malfunction and speed was reduced when I was going at high speed. could have caused an accident but luckily I am a good driver so accident was avoided.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11413930April 26, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND A LOUD POP NOISE WAS HEARD AS FLAMES WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SCREAM TO HIM THAT THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE LOCAL DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11407446April 11, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCKS. PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE WHEN PULLING DOOR HANDLES. CANNOT UNLOCK MANUALLY. MUST PRESS BUTTON ON DASH TO UNLOCK. VEHICLE NOT IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11385992January 1, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REVERSE BACKUP LIGHTS AND CAMERA IMAGE IS SO DIM AND LIMITED AS BE UNUSABLE AND VERY UNSAFE WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT IN DARKNESS. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT FIX AS DESIGNED IN! I BELIEVE SAME SYSTEM USED ON ALL 2021 SERIES 5 CARS. LEFT CAR AT DEALER WITH FOBS AS I AM REFUSING THE CAR CANCELLING SALE AS HIDDEN DEFECT UNSAFE AND NOT FIXABLE PER DEALER SERVICE MGR. ATTACHED PHOTOS ARE ACTUALLY BRIGHTER THAN WHAT DRIVER SEES. VIEW IS FROM MY GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY TO BACKUP. RED TINT IS BREAK LIGHTS STRONGER THAN WEAK BACKUP LIGHTS ALL VERY ABNORMALLY DIM WITH VERY RESTRICTED ILLUMINATED VIEW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373629November 8, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BEHAVIOR OF MY CAR'S DCT TRANSMISSION HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT FOR ME. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A SOFTWARE CHANGE BMW MADE TO THE DCT TRANSMISSION. THE ISSUE IS AS FOLLOWS: -WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, WHEN YOU RELEASE THE THROTTLE AND LET THE VEHICLE COAST (AS WHEN YOU WANT THE VEHICLE TO NATURALLY DECELERATE WITHOUT BRAKING) THE TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE THE DCT CLUTCHES. THE CAR WILL THEN MAINTAIN SPEED (AS IF CRUISE CONTROL WERE ENGAGED) INSTEAD OF NATURALLY DECELERATING. IN AND OF ITSELF, THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WILL MAINTAIN UNWANTED SPEED. -WHEN THEN TRYING TO RE-ACCELERATE QUICKLY FROM COASTING WHERE A DOWNSHIFT IS NEEDED (AS IN WHEN NEEDING TO PASS LEGALLY ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY), THE CAR WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE THE CLUTCHES FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS OR SO. THIS CAUSES TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OR ACCELERATION FOR 2 OR SO SECONDS. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A RELATIVELY MINOR SITUATION, THE ABOVE SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ALSO, MY CAR DID NOT PREVIOUSLY DISPLAY THIS BEHAVIOR UNTIL AFTER A SERVICE VISIT (I BELIEVE LAST YEAR). I SUSPECT THE DCT TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED BY BMW WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE AND IS THE SOURCE OF THIS CHANGE IN VEHICLE BEHAVIOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327721June 8, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY BMW M5, THE VEHICLE BECAME MOMENTARILY UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING ON STATE ROUTE 52 BETWEEN WALKER VALLEY AND ELLENVILLE AROUND A TURN @ ~50MPH. SHORTLY AFTER THE ABS AND DSC LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED. I HAVE SEVERAL VEHICLES SO I DID NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND COULD NOT GET REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY DUE TO COVID-19. I AM NOT SURE THE EXACT DATE IN WHICH THIS OCCURRED BUT DROPPED OFF TO ORANGE COUNTY BMW ON 5/19/2020. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPLETE DSC UNIT (HYDRO / ELECTRIC) COMPLETELY FAILED. MEANING THERE WAS ALTERED STABILITY CONTROL, ABS BRAKING AND COME TO FIND OUT STEERING. THE STEERING SENSORS WERE DIAGNOSED AFTER THE NEW DSC UNIT WAS INSTALLED AND COULD NOT BE PROGRAMMED DUE TO FAULTY STEERING SENSORS. NOT ONLY WAS THIS SOMETHING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAPPEN, IT WAS ALSO EXTREMELY COSTLY TO REPAIR. TO BMW'S CREDIT THEY DID COVER THE FAULTY STEERING SENSORS BUT THE DSC UNIT THAT KEEPS THE VEHICLE HEADING IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU STEER THE CAR.....WAS NOT. I ATTACHED THE INVOICE FROM BMW CONFIRMING ALL THAT WAS STATED ABOVE. I AM SURE THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS DOCUMENTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11325743May 24, 2020
ENGINE
CLEARANCE FAILURE ON S85 ENGINE TO ROD BEARINGS CAUSES OIL STARVATION. THIS IN TURN CAUSES ENGINE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF DRIVING THIS WILL EFFECT POWER BREAKING, POWER STEERING AND ALL COMPONENTS REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE RUNNING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, I NOW HAVE SYMPTOMS REQUIRING A CHANGE OF ROD BEARINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11323365May 5, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. DON JACOBS BMW LOCATED AT 2689 NICHOLASVILLE RD #1, LEXINGTON, KY 40503, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V475000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,817. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED A ROD WAS SEIZED TO THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSING THE BEARING TO BE DESTROYED AND SENDING METAL SHRAPNEL INTO THE ENGINE. *JS *BF DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER FAILURE DUE TO CYLINDERS LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE RESULTING IN FRICTION ON THE BEARING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11323396May 5, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MY CITY WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A SQUEAKY SOUND SORT OF LIKE A HAMSTER WHEEL. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED TO HEAR LOUD METAL TO METAL CLANKING SOUND AND THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO SAFE LOCATION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BEING HARMED BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR WRECK WAS POSSIBLE DUE TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEED. I HAVE ATTACHED THE MECHANICS QUOTES FOR REPAIR OF ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER AND QUICK OIL PRESSURE FAILURE. A ROD WAS SEIZED TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEN THE BEARING WAS DESTROYED AND METAL WAS SENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. ONE QUOTE IS FOR A REBUILD OF THE ENGINE IF IT IS POSSIBLE ONCE BREAKING THE ENGINE DOWN TO CONFIRM CONDITION AND THE OTHER IS FOR A MOTOR REPLACEMENT WITH A 40K MOTOR. BMW QUOTE FOR A NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR THE ENGINE ALONE IS $51,000 PLUS LABOR. THE MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLES ENGINE AND OIL PUMP COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT DURING THE TIME OF THE RECOGNIZED BMW RECALL BEING THAT THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURING DATE WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2012 AND THE RECALL WAS FOR A 3 MONTH PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 11, 2012. I AM AN ENGINEER WORKING FOR TOYOTA MANUFACTURING OF NORTH AMERICA AND I AM AWARE OF HOW MOST RECALLS CAN COME TO BE. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT VEHICLES CAN BE KICKED OUT OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR OFFLINE REPAIRS AT ANY GIVEN TIME DURING THE BUILD PROCESS THUS MAKING THE WHOLE CARS MANUFACTURING DATE LATER THAN MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE ENGINE AND OIL PUMP. I WOULD LIKE FOR BMW TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AND THE IMMEDIATE DANGER IT PUT ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE RELATED TO THIS UNSAFE FAILURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11323291May 4, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY BMW M5 STARTED TO JUMP AND THE RPM'S NEEDLE STARTED TO JUMP UP AND DOWN AND LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR DISPLAYED MESSAGES THAT SAID 'FUEL SUPPLY- FULL DRIVE PERFORMANCE NOT AVAILABLE DRIVE MODERATELY ' AND ANOTHER 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE ' CAR HAS 33,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258658September 27, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL WIRES LEADING INTO THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED AND ARE BARE. IT KEEPS SHORTING OUT THE LIGHTS AND SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT CAR WITH 80K MILES. APPEARS MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241212August 1, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
THERE ARE NO POWER MODIFICATIONS TO MY VEHICLE, I JUST RECENTLY INSTALLED A LOWER MILEAGE ENGINE, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE PARTS SURROUNDING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION (IE CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, THROWOUT BEARING, CLUTCH FORK, ETC). THE BREAK-IN PERIOD FOR A NEW CLUTCH IS 500 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING AND 1000 MILES FOR THE ENGINE. I COMPLETED THE BREAK-IN PERIOD ON SATURDAY JULY 20, 2019, FOR THE CLUTCH BUT STILL HAVE SOME MILES TO GO FOR THE ENGINE BREAK-IN, SO ON 7-24-19 I WAS ENTERING THE FWY FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEADAL IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED AND I HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN OUT OF 1ST GEAR YET!!! SO, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, B/C I HEARD SOMETHING RUBBING, AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT BACK TO THE SHOP THAT HAD JUST INSTALLED THE NEW ENGINE. THE SHOP CONTACTED ME WITH NEWS AND PICTURES, SHOWING ME THAT THE FACTORY WELDS ON THE DIFFERENTIAL'S SUBFRAME MOUNT HAD SNAPPED APART, DROPPING THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM ITS CORRECT POSITION AND DESTROYING MY DRIVESHAFT, IN THE PROCESS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SAID THERE'S A RECALL FOR THE M3 SUBFRAME BUT NOT THE M5??? THEN GOES ON TO SAY WITH THE AGE AND MILEAGE...BUT WELDS ARE SUPPOSED TO WITHSTAND AGE AND MILEAGE, ESPECIALLY BEING THAT IT'S A SPORTS SEDAN DESIGN TO SHRED TYRES AND ACHIEVE 3-DIGIT SPEEDS. THE INTERNET IS FLOODED WITH THE VERY SAME INCIDENTS WITH OTHER M5 OWNERS BUT IT SEEMS NO ONE ELSE HAS BOTHERED TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS B/C IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THEN THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND FLIPPED MY CAR INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC (SEE PHOTOS)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221202June 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING
FUEL FILLER TUBE GASKETS ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL CAUSING THE STEERING ELECTRONICS TO BE FLOODED AND SHORT OUT CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX WITHOUT CHARGING $1,000.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210134May 27, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR JERK STARTED SMOKING I PULLED OVER AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209993May 25, 2019
STEERING, SUSPENSION
CREAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHEN PARKED AND AT LOW SPEEDS. DIAGNOSIS FROM SHOP INDICATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. BOTH SIDES REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11193446April 2, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "AIR BAG OFF" INDICATOR WAS FLASHING FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11098125May 26, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I ALMOST HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2 WEEK OLD 2018 M5 ON THE 1-95 HIGHWAY ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 25, 2018 AT ABOUT 9:45PM. WITHOUT WARNING, AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE CAR JERKED FOR ABOUT 3SECONDS , KICKED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTED DECELERATING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE SURROUNDED BY SPEEDING VEHICLES. I MANAGED TO GUIDE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION FOR 2MINUTES, AFTER WHICH I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE DRIVE. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP TODAY, ONLY TO BE INFORMED, THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF COMPUTER GLITCH CONTROLLING THE FUEL PUMP CAUSING IT TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TOLD THERE HAS BEEN A SOFTWARE PATCH TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. IF IT IS TRUE, I BELIEVE THE CORRECTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE CAR WAS PICKED UP OR PROMPTLY NOTIFIED TO RETURN THE CAR FOR FIXING. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT IF NOT FOR MY PROMPT SITUATION AWARENESS AND EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING THIS POWERFUL CAR WHICH IS MY FOURTH M5 SINCE 2006. OWNERS NEED TO BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY FOR FIXES LIKE THIS THAT CAN LEAD TO FATAL INCIDENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING SIMILAR HAS BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THIS MODEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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