2025 BMW 530i Head Restraint Groaning Noise TSB

BMW has released Service Information Bulletin SIB 52 07 25, Revision 2, dated January 28, 2026, to address a concern regarding "M5 HEAD RESTRAINT GROANING NOISE" in certain 2025 BMW 5 Series and M5 vehicles. This bulletin supersedes the previous SI B52 07 25 dated October 2025, with updates including expanded model and production date ranges, an updated correction procedure, and revised parts and claim information. This repair is designated as mobile-friendly, meaning it can be performed by mobile service technicians.

Symptoms

Owners may notice persistent "groaning noises" emanating from the decorative trims on the head restraints of both the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. These noises can occur on any route, at any temperature, and even when the seat is in a slightly reclined position. A video demonstrating the noise, identified as BV52 01 25 M5 Head Restraint Groaning noise, is available for technicians.

Cause

The root cause of the 2025 BMW 530i head restraint groaning noise is identified as the edge of the aperture trim rubbing against the seat leather upholstery at the point of contact.

Repair Procedure Summary

To correct the "M5 HEAD RESTRAINT GROANING NOISE", technicians are instructed to replace the decorative aperture trim on both the driver's and front passenger seats. The procedure involves carefully removing the existing trim, which includes detaching the trim from the rear of the seat and disconnecting the electrical connector for the trim M light. The new, improved aperture trim, identifiable by a green dot sticker and pre-attached felt strips, is then installed. Technicians are advised to follow the detailed steps outlined in Repair Instruction REP-TAT-P-5217-01.

Required Parts

The revised part number for the improved trim aperture head restraint is 52 10 7885235. Two of these parts are required, one for each front seat.

Important Warnings

Technicians are explicitly warned: Do not install the part if the felt is missing. The improved part is designed with felt strips to prevent the rubbing that causes the groaning noise.

Warranty Information

This repair is covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. The repair code for this issue is 5210153900, described as "Front seat backrest panel with net pocket / backrest bag (incl. decorative trim) Unpleasant noises." Various labor operation codes, such as 52 00 001*, 00 58 500*, 52 17 390, 52 17 890, and 52 99 000, are used for diagnosis and replacement, with specific guidance provided in SI B01 01 20 or B01 07 20 for documenting and claiming procedures.

Owner Action

If you experience a 2025 BMW 530i head restraint groaning noise, you should schedule an appointment with an authorized BMW service center. Since this is a warranty repair, there should be no cost to you. The service center will diagnose the issue and perform the necessary replacement of the head restraint aperture trims using the updated part.

Source: NHTSA ID: 11027994