The tail-lights have gone out creating safty issue and number of warning lights to come up on the dashboard. Dealership stated that the wiring harness around ground wire has melted. They stated that this is same issue that is mentioned under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V407000. The service advisor said that his issue would be fixed by same service bulletin SIB 630613, however my date range is not included in the recall. I would like to report an issue to open a case and extend the recall to include all E60 models from 2004 to 2010. Would you please open an investigation into this matter and contact me for additional information and photos.
NHTSA complaint #11588889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased said automobile from my neighbor for my son to drive. I figured it was a good car to buy because it was serviced by Hendrick BMW (Charlotte, NC) only and regularly. BMW's also have a reputation for being safe as well as reputable so this also weighed into my decision. Fast forward 18 months. The passenger rear brake bulb went out. We replaced the bulb, it worked for a short time, then went out. We replaced the bulb again. This time it didnt work. About a week later the front passenger side head light went out, then the other side. We took it to Hendrick BMW for repair. Hendrick has told us the car wiring basically needs to be replaced due to the protective coat wearing off and corroding the bare wire underneath. The headlights/ brake light will also need to be replaced due to the corrosion blowing out the bulb. For the front headlight the whole assembly needs to be replaced at a tremendous cost. I performed a google search on this and found many, many instances of the same issue. Ive seen many of these cars while casually driving around town. It would seem to be a MAJOR issue if an active drivers head and tail lights suddenly stopped working on a busy road. Also due to the cost most people probably wouldnt fix the issue on their own and drive the car anyway causing an ever bigger safety issue. I have never had this issue with any other vehicle brand ive owned. Ive looked into this issue with other brands and most tell me they use wiring which will not do this. I am not sure why BMW would not do the same. The car is also up for inspection. The car will not pass inspection unless I pony up over $6k ($2500 NADA value) to fix. My taxes are also due. In NC you cant pay the tax unless the car passes inspection. This is costing me daily penalties in addition to the major safety issue. I believe the NHTSA has a duty to look into this major manufacturing defect and have BMW provide remedy to those other unfortunate folks who are experiencing the same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11432327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION ROT LEAD TO FAILED HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ON DRIVER SIDE AND INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF BOTH BEAMS ON PASSENGER SIDE. SEE PHOTO FOR EXAMPOLE OF DISINTEGRATED WIRING ON DRIVER HIGH BEAM WIRING HARNESS. ONLY KNOWN OPTION IS TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ($1250+ PER SIDE) OR ATTEMPT DIY. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN AND HAS LONG BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER BMW E60 (5 SERIES 2004-2010) OWNERS AT BIMMERFEST.COM AND 5SRIEST.NET. SEE THESE URLS FOR MORE INFORMATION: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=883000 HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E60-E61-PARTS-ACCESSORIES-MODS-22/OPENING-UP-E60-HEADLIGHTS-138473/
NHTSA complaint #11340546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WENT TO REPLACE MY FRONT HEADLAMP BULBS AFTER HEADLAMP FAILURE WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT, ON A WINDING ROAD, IN RURAL TEXAS. MECHANIC PULLED THE "SEALED" HOUSING, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRES IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY HAD FAULTY INSULATION. THE INSULATION HAD "FLAKED" OFF TO THE POINT THAT MANY OF THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT, AND FAILURE OF THE HEADLAMP. RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON MANY FORUMS, AND IT IS A COMMON OCCURRRENCE. REPLACEMENT COSTS OF EACH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS APPROX $1500. THE USE OF SUBPAR INSULATION APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10889173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2006 525I BMW WITH 69K MILES AND MY ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS WIRING INSIDE THE LIGHT, THE PROTECTIVE COATING ON ALL THE WIRES ARE ALL DETERIORATING AND GIVING ME A FAULT FOR THE APATIVE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10888668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I REALIZED A LIGHTBULB IN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I BOUGHT THE BULB ONLINE READY TO REPLACE IT. I REALIZED WHEN REPLACING THAT THE WIRES CONNECTING TO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY FLAKED OFF. SO I WANTED MONEY ON A NEW BULB BECAUSE IT WON'T LIGHT UP REGARDLESS. NOW THIS NOT ONLY CAUSES THE BULB TO NOT WORK BUT IT MESSES WITH THE LIGHTS IN THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT. MY ENTIRE LEFT HEADLIGHT TWEAKS. SOMETIMES JUS ONE PARKING LIGHT IS OUT, THEN IT'S THE HIGH BEAM THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN IT'S THE LOW BEAM. SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE LOW BEAMS ON THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS ITS HIGH BEAMS ON BY ITSELF. ALL THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I TRIED TO CHANGE A BULB AND THE WIRINGS JUS FLAKED OFF AS SOON AS THEY MOVED OR BENDED A BIT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK SOMETIMES AND THAT MAKES ME NOT SO VISIBLE AT NIGHT. ALSO I END UP UNINTENTIONALLY HAVING MY HIGH BEAMS ON WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO TURN IT OFF BESIDES COMPLETELY TURNING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS. PRETTY SURE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL OR FIRE HAZARD TOO TO HAVE A BUNCH OF NAKED WIRES SIDE BY SIDE. FAULT NUMBER 2 IS THE BRAKES. WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE STOP MY CAR JERKS. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TALKED TO A COUPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR AS ME AND THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST HAPPENS ONCE THE CAR GETS TO A HIGH NUMBER OF MILES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A FUNCTIONAL CAR SHOULDN'T BE JERKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ESPECIALLY IF THE BRAKES ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10882844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MAIN HEADLIGHT FAILURE DURING NIGHT DRIVING CAUSE BY ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, DUE TO HEADLIGHT INTERNAL ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION FAILURE. INTERNAL ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION SEEMS NOT TO MEET SAE, NEC, ASME, ETC. CODES AND STANDARD FOR THE USES, LIKE ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING, SUBJECT TO HEAT EXPOSURE FROM HEADLIGHT BULB GENERATION. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES CAN RESULT FROM SUDDEN HEADLIGHT FAILURE WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE, WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT AT DARK ROADS. HEADLIGHT FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10854560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE WITH THE DECISIONS OF BMW UPON THIS CAR AND ITS HEADLIGHTS. ANY CAR OF THIS CHASSIS E60 FROM THE DATES 2004-2010 HAVE ROTTING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. ASKING AROUND DID NOT HELP MY SITUATION ONE BIT AT ALL. ALL THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED SINCE THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THEM HAVE BEEN DEGRADED DOWN. CAUSING SHORTS, MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, ETC. GOOGLING THIS FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FRUSTRATED ALL ACROSS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, YOU CANNOT DRIVE ON THESE FOR TOO LONG. MY ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS FAILING PUT MY SECURITY AT RISK WHEN I RELIED ON THEM TO HELP ME WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10662492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V56400 (AIR BAG); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING AND REAR LIGHT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE INTIAL RECALL. UPDATED 8/28/2014
NHTSA complaint #10598454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ARE ON IN CAR, BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS MANUFACTURE FAULT, WHEN I CALLED BMW DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME MANUFACTURE FAULT. I THINK BMW MANUFACTURER IS AT LIBEL AT PRESENT, LET'S JUST HOPE NOTHING HAPPENED TO MYSELF AND FAMILY WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I WANT BMW TO ADD MY CAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10562431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 BMW 525I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POTENTIAL FIRE IN TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO A FAULTY LEFT TAIL LIGHT. THE LIGHT WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY/HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED, RATHER THAN JUST REPLACING A BULB. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT A CONNECTOR HAS MELTED ONTO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRING WAS DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #10498622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER(RIGHT) SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON OUR 2003 BMW 525I. THE TAIL LIGHT IS CONNECTED TO A WIRING HARNESS VIA A CONNECTOR. ONE OF THE CONNECTOR PINS HAS BEEN OVERHEATED BY THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND HAS BEEN BURNT TO A CRISP. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS FORCED BMW TO DO A RECALL IN 2011 ON THE 3-SERIES OF AUTOMOBILES AND YET THEY HAVE IGNORED THE SAFETY OF SERIES-5 OWNERS AND HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS COMPONENT FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE DRIVER INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY HAVE WORKING TURN SIGNALS WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY DO NOT. THE VEHICLE STILL PROVIDES THE SOUNDS AND SIGHTS OF A DIRECTIONAL BEING USED, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS DEAD.
NHTSA complaint #10448852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ABNORMALLY POINTED DOWNWARD AND WAS CAUSING INEFFECTIVE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ADJUSTERS WERE FRACTURED AND THE HEADLIGHT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT CASING WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10411839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT CAR NEW IN APRIL OF 2001. SINCE THAT TIME, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) HAS BURNED OUT 3 TIMES. DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT OR NOT, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT JUST IN CASE.
NHTSA complaint #10005780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. THE PLASTIC SOCKETS HAVE MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND NO LONGER HOLD THE BULBS IN PROPERLY. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES STAY OFF ALL TOGETHER. DEALER ADVISED ME TO BUY NEW ONES @ $320 EACH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, BMW SHOULD REPLACE THEM. DT
NHTSA complaint #769401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.