2004 BMW 5 Series Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS FRONTAL) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. *TR

I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON 2012, THREE DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE, I COME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE "AIR BAG LIGHT ITS ON", TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR, AIR BAGS LIGHTS STILL ON, THE MECHANIC SAID ITS A SENSOR. A YEAR LATER BRING THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID ITS "NO AIR BAG CONNECTED" WHICH SCARED ME BECAUSE ME AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY ARE ON RISK, WHAT HAPPENED IF WE CRASH? WHERE ITS THE AIR BAGS? THEY WAS DEPLOYED BEFORE IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT DEALERSHIP DON'T TELL ME NOTHING ABOUT THIS, THEY SOLD ME THE CARS SAID "ITS NOT CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVED". NOW I TRY TO THEY TAKE HIS CAR AND PAY ME BACK WHAT I PAY OR JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR, BUT ITS DIFFICULT TO TALK TO THIS PEOPLE. I FEEL AS VICTIM OF "FRAUD" IF I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS CAR HAD A ACCIDENT BEFORE, I DON'T TAKE THIS VEHICLE. HAVE TO BE A RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTLAW ACTION. THE DEALERSHIP NAME ITS "FLORIDA FINE CARS" LOCATED ON "21151 NW 2ND AVENUE- MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33169." PHONE "(305) 384-6400. I JUST NEED JUSTICE IN THIS CASE PLEASE, HELP ME PLEASE. *TR

SINCE 2012, THE NIGHTMARES BEGIN WITH TRYING TO GET MY 525I SMOGGED, FROM WEBER BMW FRESNO UNDER A WHOOPING $500.00. EVERY TIME THE SMOG IS DUE WHICH IS EVER 2-YRS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.... AND BMW GIVES YOU THE CODE YOU REPLACE WHAT THE CODE SAYS AND THEN GUESS WHAT THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON THEY KEEP CHARGING YOU A DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE OF $130.00 EACH TIME AND WHEN YOU GET TO $500.00 THEY NOW KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHICH WILL COST YOU AROUND $1000.00 OR SO. BMW GAVE HIM A CODE FOR $130.00, HE MADE THE REPAIR BASED ON THEIR INFORMATION AND GUESS WHAT IT DIDN'T PASS SMOG. SO, MY MECHANIC TOOK IT BACK, SERVICE ADVISER NOT IN WHO HANDLED THE CAR THE FIRST TIME SO THEIR IS ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS FEE OF $130.00, MY MECHANIC TELLS THEM FINE JUST SMOG IT. WELL IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH THE BMW SERVICE CENTER, THEY CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY NEED AUTHORIZATION NOW FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL TO $520.00, AND YOU GUESSED IT THE CAR STILL HASN'T PASSED SMOG. I CALLED TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MANGER ON 2/11, FOR ASSISTANCE AND OF COURSE HE IS GOING TO LOOK INTO IT AND CALL ME BACK. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE WAS LAST INFORMED THIS SAME THING BY THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID HE WOULD NEED AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE CHARGE OF $520.00 IN ORDER TO DO ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS?? ...WHEN IN FACT ALL THEY DO IS RAKE UP FALSE CHARGES AND CODES BASED ON THE MILEAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE, YOU CAN FORGET THE FACT THAT YOU KEEP UP THE MAINTENANCE ON YOUR VEHICLE, IT WON'T MATTER WHEN THE TIME COMES TO GET YOUR VEHICLE SMOG BE PREPARED TO BE SCAMMED BY WEBER BMW IN FRESNO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WARMER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE HEATED SEAT WARMER WAS DISENGAGED AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

SEAT-WARMER OVERHEATED, BURNING HOLES THROUGH THE LEATHER DRIVER'S SEAT, CAUSING MINOR SKIN BURNS BEFORE TERMINATING USE OF UNIT. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAD NOTICED A BURNING ODOR IN THE CAR PERIODICALLY, BUT NEITHER I NOR MY MECHANIC HAD BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR. ON 1/27/12, I FELT THE EXTREME HEAT IN MY SEAT WHILE DRIVING, AND FOUND TWO CHARRED HOLES IN THE LEATHER SEAT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIRE PER SE, BUT IN ORDER TO REGISTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS (MINOR) INJURY ATTRIBUTED TO ONE PERSON, THIS FORM REQUIRED STATING "YES" TO THE QUESTION REGARDING FIRE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS FAILURE COULD CERTAINLY LEAD TO FIRE IF CONTINUED USE OF THE UNIT HAD OCCURRED. *TR

OWNER OF A 2004 BMW 530I . UPON STARTING MY CAR ONE MORNING FOR MY TRIP TO WORK, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON, REFLECTED ON THE DASH NEAR THE SPEEDOMETER. THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL BMW DEALER, AND AFTER HAVING IT EVALUATED, WAS TOLD MY PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ... THAT IT WOULD COST ME $887.08 PLUS TAX JUST TO REPAIR IT (REPLACE MODULE, PROGRAM VEHICLE,PASSENGER DOOR AIRBAG FAULTY). I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE, THAT THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IS NOT COVERED, AS TOO MANY OTHER OWNERS (FROM MY RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET) OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TRIGGERS THE SAFETY WARNING LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. IT MAY AFFECT THE AIRBAG OPERABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WAS SUBJECT OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL PROGRAM IN 2008 BY BMW. DESPITE MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS (AS EVIDENCED BY COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA AND ONLINE CAR FORUMS), INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVING THIS ISSUE AS DESCRIBED WITHIN THE RECALL PROGRAM FOR CARS OF THE MAKE AND YEAR OF THE PRODUCTION, ONLY 200K WITHIN A SPECIFIC VIN RANGE WERE RECALLED. *TR

A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE CAME ON SO I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND TO CONTACT THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY CHECKED MY VIN AND SAID IT WASN'T AFFECTED. I SUBSEQUENTLY LOOKED UP SAFETY RECALL INFO ON THIS SITE AND VIEWED EA08-001 ALONG WITH PE07-045 AND THE ASSOCIATED LETTER FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA DATED JULY 18, 2008 I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER ONCE MORE AND PROVIDED THEM THIS NEW INFORMATION WHERE I FEEL MY CAR IS APPLICABLE UNDER THIS RECALL. ONCE AGAIN, THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED AND I SHOULD CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA, WHICH I DID. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP FOR BMW CHECKED MY VIN AND SAID, SORRY BUT MY VEHICLE WASN'T AFFECTED. I DISAGREED WITH HER AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO A MANAGER REGARDING THIS RECALL. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AND EXPLAINED THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY VEHICLE CLEARLY IS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE AND FALLS WITH THE INCLUSIVE DOM FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF VIN. SHE EXPLAINED THE PROCESS AND STATED THE THAT SHE WAS SORRY BUT MY CAR WASN'T AFFECTED, THE RECALL WAS CLOSED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT ANYWAY. SHE SUGGESTED THAT IF STILL HAVE AN ISSUE TO CONTACT YOUR OFFICE AND FILE A COMPLAINT. I WOULD LIKE HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT AND CONSIDER REOPENING IT BASED UPON THE ABOVE. I FEEL THAT THERE ARE PERHAPS OTHER OWNERS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AS WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BMW LETTER STATES IN PARA. 4 "THE % OF VEHICLES EST. TO ACTUALLY BE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE IS UNKNOWN" THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IDENTIFIED BY BMW AND I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE AIRBAG ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. *JS

THE ACTIVE STEERING FAULT CODE COMES ON AND STATES YOUR ACTIVE STEERING MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONING. *TR

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, RIGHT HIGH BEAM MALFUNCTION. BMW DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHILE I REFERRED THEM TO THE SAFETY RECALL. THEY STATE THAT OUR BMW DOESN'T HAVE ANY OPEN ITEMS. HOW DO I KNOW THAT ALL THE 2004 525'S WERE INPUT INTO THE BMW DATABASE PROPERLY? I CAN'T PAY FOR THIS $1600 WARRANTY WHEN A SAFETY RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2008 (WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER AN BMW EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

MY PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY CAR ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS UNLOCKED. MY REAR DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. I CANNOT OPEN MY DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AND I AM WORRIED IF I EVER HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE TO GET OUT THEY CANNOT. ALSO WITH THIS PROBLEM MY INTERIOR LIGHTING WENT OUT. THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE BUT MY DOORS ARE. *TR

ACTIVE STEERING FAULT LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER RESTRAINING SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON AFTER CAR PARKED FOR OVER A WEEK DURING A TRIP OUT. SEVERAL FORUMS HAVE INDICATED SIMILAR FAILURE WITH EXCESSIVE REPAIR COSTS FROM DEALER. *TR

WENT TO START CAR AFTER A 5 MINUTE DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, NO SOUND, IGNITION NOT WORKING. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. BMW IS SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN, IGNITION SWITCH, TO THE TUNE OF $3300! THE CAR IS A 2004 BMW 525I. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

WARNING NOTICE ON "I DRIVE" SYSTEM THAT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND THE CAR SHOULD BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS NO LONGER WORKED, EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE AND HEADLIGHTS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED WITH AN UPDATE TO THE "I DRIVE" SOFTWARE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BUT HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT UNTIL OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND THEN THE OWNER HAS TO PAY FOR THE UPDATE TO CORRECT THE SOFTWARE GLITCH. MY COST WAS $320.92. *TR

THE ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED APROX. 30 DEG OFF CENTER. THE CAR DRIVES FINE BUT THE WHEEL IS STUCK 30 DEG OFF CENTER. *TR

BMW REFUSED TO FIX THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 08V384000 FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/03/12*LJ UPDATED 01/09/12

WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLAM TO THE POINT WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FIX WAS COSTLY. CONTINUES TO DO THIS AT TIMES AND WILL ALSO DO A SMALLER SCALE SLAM WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *TR

A DASH WARNING LIGHT, ON MY 2004 BMW 530I APPEARED LAST WEEK WHILE REGULAR DRIVING. THE WARNING LIGHT STATES "MALFUNCTION WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG, NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WEAR SEAT BELT AND HAVE YOUR CAR SERVICED". I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG MALFUNCTION IN 2008. I CONTACTED MY BMW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFAULT AIRBAG BECAUSE MY VEHICLE VIN#. THE SAFETY RECALL IS ON 5 SERIES BMW FOR THE YEAR 2004 AND 2005. MY VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEFINITELY MALFUNCTIONING AND ALL I REQUEST IS FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE MADE AT NO COST TO ME FROM THE BMW CENTER. I HOPE THAT A SEVERE INCIDENT DOES NOT HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND CORRECT WHAT IS WRONG., I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT IN EACH AND EVERY WAY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER AND BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE SEAT HAD BURNED THROUGH A JACKET THAT WAS ON THE SEAT. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED FOR BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,030.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAG: FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/22/11*LJ UPDATED 02/03/12

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I WITH 119,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED MY CAR MAKING A THUMP SOUND AND THEN THE I WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DID NOT SHOW THE DASH ERRORS. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEN THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY A BMW AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAT AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), BUT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 96,000.

SENSORS IN FRONT BUMPER BOTH WENT OUT, DISABLING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. MODULE IN STEERING COLUMN GOES OUT CAUSING DRIVER AIRBAG TO BECOME DISABLED. MODULE IN STEERING COLUMN ALSO DISABLED HORN. IN SUMMARY, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED AS WELL AS THE HORN. HOW CAN I DRIVE MY CAR LIKE THIS?? *TR

I OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I E60 HAD "ACTIVE STEERING FAULT CAME ON AT ALL TIME .THE DEALER WANTS 4000USD TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE STEERING CONTROL IS FINE . I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAD RELATED TO STEERING ANGLE SENSOR DEFECTIVE FROM BMW FACTORY AND DEALERS IN US DID NOT WANT TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THIS PROBLEMS HAD HAPPENED TO ALL BMW'S . ALL OVER THE BLOGS .CUSTOMERS HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM(S). *TR

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS PARKING; 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, WHEN I AM PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD. 2 OF THOSE 4 TIMES, I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD SHIFTED FROM REVERSE, TO DRIVE, AND JUST TAKEN MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THINGS ARE OK AND NORMAL. THEY ARE NOT NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE OTHER SHIFTING ISSUES BELOW: --35MPH (5TH TO 6TH HESITATION) 5-6 HARD SHIFT (SPORT MODE GOING 45-55 MPH) SLOW TO ENGAGE REVERSE -- GEAR SHIFTING IN GENERAL IS JUST SLOPPY (THE LOANER THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED, SHIFTED GREAT). *TR

IN JULY MY CAR WAS SHORT OF OIL AND THE FOLLOWING PARTS WERE REPLACED CYCLONE SEPLERATOR WITH UPDATED KIT AND REPLACED SEPARATOR WITH UPDATED PARTS INCLUDING DIPSTICK TUBE. HAD OIL CHANGED ON 9/16/11, ON ROAD AT 2:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING AND THE OIL LEVEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR FEAR OF PERM. DAMAGE TO ENGINE. IN TOWN WHERE THERE WERE NO STORES OPEN TO BUY OIL,I THOUGH THE OIL LEAKAGE SITUATION WAS TAKEN CARE OF. ADDED 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL, RETURNED HOME TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER WITH THE MILEAGE 69731 AND IT WAS A QUART SHORT. THEY STATED THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND I WAS INFORMED PER SIB 110584 1 QUART OF OIL IS ALLOWED TO BE CONSUMED PER 750 MILES. I INFORMED THE DEALER THIS CAR NEVER CONSUMED OIL BEFORE. HAD I KNOWN THAT IT CONSUMED OIL I WOULD NOT HAVE PAID 1308.00 TO REPLACE THE PARTS. I WOULD HAVE TRADED THE CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I HAVE BEEN GETTING TRANSMISSION ERROR FAULT FREQUENTLY AND NOW SEEMS TO HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. YOU CAN STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT AND IT WILL RUN BUT WILL GENERATE THE ERROR IN A MONTH OR TWO AGAIN. *TR

ACTIVE STEERING FAILURE: HI, I'VE A 2004 BMW 530I AND MY ACTIVE STEERING KEEPS FAILING AND DEALER IS ASKING FOR $4,000 PLUS. I CHECKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO A COMMON ISSUE WITH MOST OF THE BMWS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS IT IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN DESIGN AND CONSUMERS HAVE TO SHED $4K PLUS AND ITS STILL NOT A GUARANTEED FIX. *TR

ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW 2004 545. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) YET THE VACUUM PUMP WAS STILL LEAKING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE VACUUM PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL REPAIR AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL REMEDY AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,570.

MY VEHICLE IS A 530I WITH A PRODUCTION DATE IN DECEMBER 2003, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL RCDNN-04V575. DESPITE THE DECEMBER 2004 NOTICE TO NTSHA INDICATING THAT 100% OF VEHICLES WITH THE SEAT HEATING OPTION PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 17TH 2003 AND APRIL 30TH 2004. BMW INSISTS THAT MY VEHICLE (PRODUCTION DATE IN DECEMBER 2003 AND CONTAINING THE SEAT HEATER IN QUESTION) IS, ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY WILL NOT RELEASE TO ME, NOT IN FACT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. WHAT I FIND INEXPLICABLE AND BEYOND BELIEF, IS THAT THEY WOULD ISSUE A NOTIFICATION TO NTSHA IN NOVEMBER 2004, A FULL SIX MONTHS AFTER ALLEGEDLY REMEDYING DEFECTS IN CARS PRODUCED FROM MID-MARCH 2004 THROUGH APRIL 30TH 2004 WITHOUT CORRECTING THOSE DATES IN THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. BMW REFUSES TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER HEATING ELEMENT DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT IT IS IN FACT DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *TR

WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING, MY AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TRIPPED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, I RESEARCHED ON A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SENSOR. I PRINTED OUT THE PAGE FROM SAFERCAR.GOV, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN# DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY. THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY STATED FOR MY BMW 545I 2004. I AM NOT HAPPY DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU BUY A CAR AND FOR SOMETHING THAT CANNOT WEAR OUT BRAKES... *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH WILL COST OVER $100 JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS ONE OF THE CARS THAT WAS FIXED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I TOLD THEM I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG IT. WHAT IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILS AND SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY INJURED DO TO THIS ISSUE. THE WARNING NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO YEARS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 80,000. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENS FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL AND THEY CANNOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED. THE CAR HAS A VERY HIGH PRICE TAG AND YOU WOULD EXPECT SOME SORT OF OWNERSHIP AND HONESTY FROM THE BMW CORPORATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

IT WAS A RECALL FOR BRAKE FLUID PUMP CHECK VALVE OIL LEAK, AND THEY REPLACED VACUUM HOSE, DID NOT FIXED FLUID LEAK . FLUID IS STILL LEAKING A SMALL AMOUNT.

TRANMISSION FAILURE ON THIS CAR. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT TO NO AVAIL (OVER $3000). WOUND UP GETTING OUR $$ BACK, THANK GOODNESS. APPARENTLY, IN READING ALL THE INFO ONLINE, THE 2004 525I TRANSMISSION FAILURES IS VERY COMMON. ONLY REMEDY IS A FULL-BLOWN BMW REPLACEMENT WITH THE CLUTCH ALREADY SET.

ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER THE STALL. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE POWER ASSIST WHEN VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE STALLS VERY PERIODICALLY AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL WIRING TO FIX PROBLEM BUT PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. ALSO A BRAND NEW ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND STILL SAME PROBLEMS AROSE. MESSAGE CENTER WOULD DISPLAY "TRANSMISSION FAULT" DRIVE MODERATELY. *TT

2004 BMW 530I. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHICH IN TURN, SHUT DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES *TGW THE MECHANIC STATED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR HAD SHORT-CIRCUITED INTERNALLY AND THE SENSOR WAS INSTALLED ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE FUEL INJECTORS, SO THE POWER TO THE FUEL INJECTORS WAS ABRUPTLY CUT OFF AND THE MOTOR FAILED. *JB

FIRE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ENGAGED, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND THE SEAT BEGAN SMOKING. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE HEATER AND NOTICED A BURNED HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V575000 (SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: SEAT HEATER/COOLER) HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,200.

ON FEB 8/9, 2011,MY WIFE WAS COMING BACK FROM WORK IN 2004 BMW 530 WHEN SHE SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND A TINGED ON HER LEG, SHE GOT OUT FROM THE CAR AND SAW A SMOKE AND A BURNING MARK ON THE DRIVER SEAT. I CALLED THE BMW ON 2-10-2011, AND TALKED TO THE REP ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE REP TOLD ME THAT I WILL CALL BACK IN 3/5 DAYS BUT CALLED ME BACK AFTER 4 WEEK AND REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.I TOLD THE REP THAT BMW IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY, AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT, AND I WILL REPORT TO THE SAFETY DEPT AS SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT. *TR

FRONT SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS GOT EXTREMELY HOT AND MADE A BURNING SMELL. PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S LEGS GOT UNCOMFORTABLY HOT TO THE POINT OF DISCOMFORT BEFORE THE HEATER WAS SHUT OFF. *TR

2 WEEK AGO MY VEHICLE DISPLAY " ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION " AND STILL DISPLAYS IT I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET SINCE I HEAR SO MANY DIFERENT THINGS . *TR

THERE IS A FAULTY RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AT ALL THE AIRBAG SIGN INDICATES THAT IT IS OFF. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A MALFUNCTION IN OTHER BMW 5 SERIES AND THE DEALER SHIPS THAT I'VE WENT TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EVEN THOUGH BMW HEADQUARTERS RELEASED A RECALL FOR SOME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. *TR

AFTER TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, I SLOWLY TURNED RIGHT ONTO A TWO-WAY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT LANE MARKERS. TO MY RIGHT WAS A CURB. TO MY LEFT WAS OPPOSING TRAFFIC. MOVING VERY SLOWLY WHILE WAITING FOR THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC TO PASS SO I COULD SELECT A PARKING SPACE, I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL A BIT TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO MANEUVER AROUND A LARGE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, AND THEN A BIT TO THE LEFT IN ANTICIPATION OF PARKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC. I FELT A BUMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, AND DAMAGE THERE SUGGESTS THAT THE BODY MOMENTARILY RESTED ON THE CURB AND THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. AT THIS POINT, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT MOVE ANY CONTROLS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, SURGING FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT: 'I HEARD THE ENGINE REVVING VERY LOUDLY, WITH MORE POWER THAN I HAD EVER HEARD IN NEARLY SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. 'I FELT A VERY BUMPY RIDE, AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS. 'WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING AT A TREMENDOUS RATE, I SAW THE PARKED CARS GETTING CLOSE INCREDIBLY QUICKLY. THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO USE THE BRAKES. IN A DISTANCE OF 23 PACES, THE CAR WENT FROM BARELY MOVING TO SLAMMING INTO A PARKED CAR WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PUSH THAT CAR SIDEWAYS INTO A SECOND PARKED CAR AND TO PUSH THE SECOND PARKED CAR SIDEWAYS INTO A THIRD PARKED CAR. TWO PARKED CARS WERE TOTALED. IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT NOBODY WAS BETWEEN THE CARS THAT WERE HIT. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ASKED BMW TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR EXCEPT THE FLOOR MATS. I ASKED BMW ABOUT NHTSA INCIDENTS: 10102759, 10357973, 10344193, AND 10323285. BMW'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THOSE INCIDENTS. THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF WARNING MESSAGES FROM MY DSC/DTC SYSTEM. BMW ADMITTED IN WRITING THAT THERE ARE CASES IN WHICH THIS SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE WHEELS TO ACCELERATE, BUT INSISTED THAT IT'S "IMPOSSIBLE" TO ACCELERATE SO MUCH. *TR