12 of the
53 complaints about the 2000 BMW 528I are about the
engine — 23% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
90,000 miles.
The contact owned a 2000 BMW 528i. The contact stated that shortly after arriving home and with the vehicle parked in his garage, he observed first white smoke and then brown smoke emanating from the engine compartment. While waiting for emergency services, the contact stated that he then observed flames engulfing the engine compartment and heard a loud pop. As a result, the contact reported extensive smoke damage to the interior of the garage. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, and a fire report was filed. A police report was also filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; instead, the contact has stored the vehicle at his home. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11547795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 283,000 milesAtlanta, GAFire
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP, WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THERE WAS A CRACKING SOUND THEN FLAMES WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT COULD NOT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 283,000.
NHTSA complaint #11143746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,755 milesTrenton, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AUXILIARY FAN FAILURE WHILE IDLING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CAR WILL BEGIN TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10261122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,500 milesGlendale, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE RADIATOR BLEW FOR NO KNOW REASON. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM. ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS $16,000.
NHTSA complaint #10226520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesSanta Maria, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
COLD START ISSUES. CAR WANTS TO STALL UPON START UP. WHEN CAR FINALLY WARMS UP THE IDLE SMOOTHES OUT. THE GAS MILEAGE IS DROPPING DUE THE MALFUNCTIONING SEALS IN THE DOUBLE VANOS SYSTEM. BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10202503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FARMERS AUTO INSURANCE. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 3/8/2007 IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. A CAR HIT THE REAR PART OF MY BMW. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS INSURANCE, REPAIRED MY CAR AND REPLACED THE MUFFLER WITH ONE THAT IS NOT BMW COMPATIBLE. THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PAID IN FULL MY, AND FARMERS', COSTS. WHEN I CALLED THE FARMERS' AGENT REQUESTING A BMW MUFFLER, FARMERS INSISTS THEY CAN NOT DO IT. I FEEL MY CAR HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED - IT HAS LESS VALUE, BECAUSE OF THIS LOW QUALITY REPAIR REQUIREMENT FROM FARMERS. PLEASE HELP ME GET FARMERS TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER WITH A BMW COMPATIBLE ONE AND GET THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE THE COST. TEHHUEI PAN FARMERS' CLAIM # - 1009813023
NHTSA complaint #10193931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesNesconset, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET BURNED OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING WAS CREATED BY THE A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK IN THE OVERFLOW PLASTIC TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10161500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,400 milesOakland, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10102273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,400 milesOakland, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10102273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly Hills, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR NECK FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10093246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2000 BMW 528 IDLES ROUGH IN COLD CLIMATES (2002/2003). THIS PRODUCES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR IN WARMER CLIMATES. DEALER CONSTANTLY STATES "PROBLEM UNREPRODUCABLE". AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT DEALERSHIP AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING WENT BACK, GRABBED A TECHNICIAN AND HAD HIM SIT IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTERWARDS TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S PROBABLY A PART CALLED THE VANOS UNIT. HAD PART REPLACED THEN PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THIS WINTER (2003/2004), PROBLEM RESURFACED.
NHTSA complaint #10056914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesMarlton, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE ROAD AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE ABILITY TO ACCERLATE DECREASED ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10043722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.