BMW 535i Complaints

536 consumer complaints on file.

#11075579March 1, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INSULATION CRUMBLING ON ALL WIRING INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHT (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) UNITS RESULTING IN MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND MARKER LIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, A COMMON PROBLEM AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. ISSUE IS EXACERBATED BUT NOT CAUSED BY HEAT. INSULATION ON WIRING TO NAVIGATION, RADIO/MEDIA PLAYER, CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT, OR CCC (CAR COMMUNICATION COMPUTER), CRUMBLING CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS TO OCCUR IN ALL THE ABOVE SECTIONS. I SUSPECT MUCH OF THE CAR'S WIRING TO BE IN SIMILAR, POOR CONDITION. I HAVE READ THAT MANY EUROPEAN CARS FROM THE '80S, '90S THROUGH THE FIRST TEN OR SO YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY USED A SOY BASED, BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION AS PART OF A "GREEN MOVEMENT". THIS EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID WIRE DOES NOT LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 10 YEARS, MUCH LESS THAN THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT. PLEASE SEE: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?2132684-HEADLIGHT-WIRE-JACKETS-JUST-FLAKE-OFF HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E60-DISCUSSION-2/HEADLIGHT-WIRING-OUTER-JACKET-DETERIORATING-139655/ HTTP://WWW.PEACHPARTS.COM/SHOPFORUM/OFF-TOPIC-DISCUSSION/330631-CAN-YOU-BELIEVE-BMW-STILL-USING-BIODEGRADEABLE-WIRING-INSULATION.HTML HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML HTTPS://RENNLIST.COM/FORUMS/PORSCHE-CAYENNE-FORUM/733521-BRITTLE-WIRING-INSULATION.HTML THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE THREADS SUCH AS THESE ON THE WEB. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD LIKE THIS. THE MANUFACTURERS KEEP PRODUCING VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF WIRING. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE INSULATION DEGRADES. IT'S ABSURD TO START BIODEGRADING WHEN THE CAR IS JUST FIVE OR SO YEARS OLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074361February 22, 2018
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND THE "ENGINE POWER MALFUNCTION" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,900. *TT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072228February 12, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CASEY BMW (12861 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING ONTO THE ENGINE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT AND THE ENGINE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072127February 10, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BMW CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND WHEN THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED IT STATES THAT A EMBLEM TO MARK COMPLETED IS PLACED UNDER THE HOOD. ALTHOUGH, THIS IS NOT ON MY VEHICLE NOR DOES IT SHOW BEING COMPLETED ON ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION. BMW IS VERY SECRETIVE ABOUT ALL ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES THAT THEY MANUFACTURER. IN FACT, MOST ALL BMW DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DO THEIR VERY BEST TOO MAKE YOU PAY FOR NON ISSUES AND WILL NOT REPAIR WHAT IS REALLY FOUND TO BE THE ISSUE. IF NEEDED, I CAN GIVE YOU AT LEAST TWO THAT I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ABOUT THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065521January 28, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V746; IN-TANK FUEL PUMP: THIS FUEL PUMP CONSIST OF 2 PARTS: A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) AND A LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (LPFP). AFTER CONTACTING BMW PACIFIC IN GLENDALE ,CA. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ONLY. MY QUESTION: IS IT ONLY ONE PART OF THE FUEL PUMP INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL??? AFTER CONTACTING MY MECHANIC (A BMW EX MASTER TECHNICIAN EMPLOYEE), I AM CONCERNED THAT NOT REPLACING THE WHOLE UNIT (HPFP AND LPFP UNIT FUEL PUMP) WILL KEEP THE PROBLEM ALIVE AND IT WILL GIVE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF..... MY CAR HAS SHOWN UNEVEN START UPS IN THE MORNING AND ENGINE CODES RELATED THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. THIS INCLUDE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11061640January 10, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME UP ON. THE FAN ON THE ENGINE ALSO CAME ON VERY LOUD AND THERE WAS LOTS OF EXHAUSTED COMING OUT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SHOP. ONCE AT THE SHOP THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND SAID IT WAS A SHIFT MODULE THAT NEEDED REPLACED, I HAD IT REPLACED AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY THEN SAID IT NEEDED A RESET THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP. BMW PERFORMED THE RESET AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BMW DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS OUT AND A $9K TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUES TO NOT BE DRIVABLE, NOT STAY IN GEAR. IT HAS ALSO STARTED SPITTING OUT MILKY SUBSTANCE FROM THE EXHAUST LIKE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE. IN ADDITION THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF THE CAR HAS BECOME DULL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, LIKE IT HAS REACTED TO A HIGH AMOUNT OF HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. A CAR WITH ONLY 132,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE WEARING LIKE IT IS. THERE WAS COOLANT RECALL ON ALL MODELS EXCEPT THE 535I, THIS COOLANT PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN WHAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT VERY PREMATURELY. THE CAR IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE, WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT IS DUE TO A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR ITSELF AND NOT WEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11061260January 8, 2018
POWER TRAIN
MY BMW HAS ABOUT 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN OR ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF POWER, IT'S LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. 'DRIVETRAN MALFUNCTION' CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY WEIRD FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS, CAR COMPLETELY STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, I THANK GOD I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING OFF THE HIGHWAY, OTHER WISE I WOULD'VE HAD A VERY FATAL CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056658December 26, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
OCCASIONALLY DRIVER'S DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED FROM INSIDE USING REGULAR DOOR LATCH, THUS TRAPPING THE DRIVER IN VEHICLE. DOOR WILL HOWEVER UNLOCK IF THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASH IS PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONE IN EVERY EIGHT TO TEN TIMES OF OPENING THE DOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055579December 19, 2017
ENGINE
OUR 2011 BMW 535I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE VANOS BOLTS WHICH MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AND REQUIRED A $5,000 REPAIR. RESEARCH REVEALED THAT BMW RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 165,000 CARS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME AS OUR CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MANY OTHERS. WHEN WE CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THE REPAIR COST THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHY OUR CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH CARS WERE RECALLED BY BMW AND BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY OUR CAR WAS EXCLUDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11044069November 7, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE VALVE COVERS CRACKED, LEADING TO ACCUMULATED OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043975November 6, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, EFFECTIVELY TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE STATIONARY AFTER ENGINE IS STOPPED AND VEHICLE IN PARK. TOOK TO DEALER AND IT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF SERVICE ADVISER, THEY INFORMED ME NOTHING IS WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043150November 4, 2017
POWER TRAIN
CAR SHOWS ERROR OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043149November 4, 2017
ENGINE
THERE ARE WIRES ON THE ENGINE THAT ARE CRACKING AND WAS TOLD BY THE BMW DEALER THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11041496October 30, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2009 BMW 535I XDRIVE HAS BEEN OWNED BY ME FOR 6 YEARS. IT HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I BECAME OWNER, IT HAD 2 FUEL PUMP FAILURES, ONE WATER PUMP FAILURE, AND NOW FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. WHEN ITS FUEL INJECTORS FAILED ON 10/27/17, THE CAR'S ENGINE STARTED SHAKING RIGHT AFTER I TURNED IT ON. THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND I PROCEEDED ON THE SIDE STREET AT 10 MILES AN HOUR SPEED TOWARDS WORK IN THE MORNING. CAR THEN LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. VERY DARK, DENSE, BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. AFTER TOWING IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BMW DEALER THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND RATHER THAN SPRAYING THE FUEL INSIDE THE ENGINE, THEY WERE DUMPING IT IN LARGE AMOUNTS INSTEAD. THIS CREATED A STATE OF TOO MUCH UNBURNED FUEL INSIDE THE ENGINE AND IT CAUSED THE BLACK SMOKE. COST OF REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS $3075. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AS WELL DUE TO THIS DYSFUNCTION AND AS A RESULT I MIGHT NEED REPLACEMENT AS WELL ADDING ANOTHER $1500 TO THE COST. I HAVE LEARNED OF SIMILAR REPORTS OF FUEL INJECTORS PROBLEMS IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, PLACING THE CARS, THE DRIVERS, AND THE PASSENGERS AT RISK. SEEING THE DARK, DENSE, BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE SEEMED VERY UNSAFE AND EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD TRIGGER RECALL OF SUCH DEFICIENT FUEL INJECTORS. I BELIEVE THE FUEL INJECTOR MALFUNCTION CAUSED AN ABNORMAL FIRE INSIDE THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED SUCH DARK SMOKE TO OCCUR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11025052September 22, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHY THE VEHICLES IN OFF POSITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE DOUBLE PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE TRAPPING YOU IN THE VEHICLE THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IS TO ACTUALLY HIT THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CENTER RASH. I FIND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY I WILL BE TRAPPED UNLESS I CAN ACTUALLY REACH THE DOOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS THERE IS A VIDEO THAT I AM FORWARDING AS WELL ON YOUTUBE SHOWING THIS ACTUAL PROBLEM MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED IF YOUR VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020533August 30, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL CAUSING THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VALLEY AUTO WORLD BMW DEALER LOCATED IN 3822 SYCAMORE DAIRY RD, FAYETTEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA; 910-864-0000 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020347August 29, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
FUEL PUMP CUT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 60 MPH. ALMOST RUN OVER BY TRACTOR TRAILER WHILE PULLING CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS LATER RE-STARTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020350August 29, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
GAS TANK WILL ONLY FILL HALF WAY BEFORE THE GAS BLOWS BACK UP THROUGH THE FILLER PIPE ONTO THE GROUND AND MY PANTS - SAFETY ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020069August 28, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER NOTICED AND HAD NO DATE WHEN THE RECALL REMEDY PART WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020146August 28, 2017
ENGINE
AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME, IN AN ONLY ANKLE DEEP PUDDLE INSIDE OF OUR SUBDIVISION, WATER WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE AIR INTAKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROLOCK AND EVENTUALLY DESTROY THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DISABLE A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAINSTORM. I OBSERVED NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING THRU JUST FINE INCLUDING A LATE MODEL INFINITI Q50.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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