36 of the
243 complaints filed about the BMW 530XI
are about the electrical system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
in the trunk in the spare tire well. Water could be there, flooding some electronics. The wiring got wet causing my car to just turn off in the expressway due to the comments getting wet that are harnessed in this area. I tried to get it repaired when the class action lawsuit took place but the dealership I had my car at for 3 months never performed the repair. Then the next dealership refused to perform the repairs due to time constraints. Now every time it rains I am worried my car will short or just shut off. I have had to replace the part 2 times and now I just leave it unattached . the BMW agrees to settle vehicle water damage suit for up to $478 million. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German automaker BMW AG has agreed to pay up to $477.7 million to settle a class-action lawsuit covering about 318,000 U.S. luxury car owners who may have suffered water damage harming electrical components in vehicle trunks.
NHTSA complaint #11562451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front Xenon Headlight Wiring protective plastic coating has degraded and prematurely failed on both headlight assemblies. This caused headlight bulb shorting and poses a potential fire hazard in the front engine compartment of the vehicle. The wiring used in the headlight assemblies was not up to proper standards and failed. The wiring used in other areas of the engine bay seems to be okay. The internal headlight wiring appears to be supplied by the OEM Headlight Manufacturer (HELLA) and does not seem to be up to proper standards to prevent the plastic protective coating from failing over time. This should not be considered a "wear item" as electrical wiring is used throughout millions of much older vehicles without incident.
NHTSA complaint #11535530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BMW Headlight wiring on the 530 series is defective. Wire Insulation throughout the headlight assembly crumbles. The design and wire specification were not fit for use. Heat may be an issue but has nothing to do with climate. The vehicle has spent most of its life in Michigan where the problem was first noted when the age of the vehicle was approximately 8 years. High heat within the headlight assembly also caused deterioration of the covering on fiber optic cable. This problem is well known to BMW owners. The bare wires within the headlight housing pose a risk of electrical shorts and potentially fires.
NHTSA complaint #11526138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The insulation on the internal wiring of the headlight (left and right) have fallen off the wiring leaving sections of conductor exposed creating shorts in the lighting system. This is a known problem in the BMW community (owners and BMW) since at least 2011. This is due to the use of bio-degradable wiring by BMW that breaks down prematurely. Replacement headlight assemblies (high intensity discharge Xenon) are over $1,000 each. Both halogen high beam lights are inoperable which reduces driver vision at night on suburban roadways. Re-wiring with correctly specified wiring is possible but requires specific skills and experience. This is a known problem which BMW has hoped would go away as few of their cars of this age are on the road. This risk assessment driven policy should not shield BMW from fully addressing their failures in material selection which impact safe use of their cars.
NHTSA complaint #11503049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inside headlight wiring insulation became brittle and falls off leading to potential shorts and equipment failure. Additional wiring throughout engine compart shows similar degradation and failure. Split wire housing to protect wires from engine heat also show signs of decay, exposing wires to excess heat and inducing failure of insulation. This is not a turbocharged engine and has lower engine compartment temperatures. This problem started 7-8 years ago and has gotten worse.
NHTSA complaint #11438284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEGRADATION OF HEADLIGHT WIRING. WIRE INSULATION IS FLAKING, CRACKING, AND INTERNAL CONDUCTOR WIRES ARE EXPOSED. CAUSES INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT ISSUES AS WIRING SHORTS DURING DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11233287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER A RECENT HEAVY RAIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS WERE ERRATIC, THE REAR HATCH OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED, AND ULTIMATELY THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION FAILED WITH THE CAR SITTING ON THE REAR BOTTOMING STOPS CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEVERE BOUNCING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVELED STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AND BATTERY/ELECTRICAL AREAS AT THE REAR OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11182008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WITH MY NEWBORN BABY IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THE AC/HEAT SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SMOKE CAME BILLOWING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. IT IMMEDIATELY SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC/ELECTRICAL FIRE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE AND GOT MY CHILD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AND THAT THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS PRECISE ISSUE, BUT IT DOES NOT COVER MY SPECIFIC MODEL. THE RECALL CURRENTLY OUT FOR THIS ISSUE IS # 17V-676, WHICH COVERS A NUMBER OF 3-SERIES MODELS, BUT NOT MY 530XI. I JUST GOT WORD FROM MY MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST $1800 TO REPLACE THE FRIED SYSTEM, AND HE ALSO WARNED ME THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT THE ENTIRE CAR ON FIRE. I HAD HIM PUT THIS IN WRITING FOR ME SO I CAN HAVE RECORD OF IT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS! BMW NEEDS TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL TO COVER OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES! THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11110219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECENTLY THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT (WWW.E6061INGRESSSETTLEMENT.COM). THE SETTLEMENT STATES THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE LESS THAN 120K MILES. MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND I HAVE A SERVICE RECORD FROM 2015 WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100K MILES. BY THE TIME THE LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED AND THE DEALERS WERE ACCEPTING CARS, I CROSSED 120K MILES AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING I'M NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #11102316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS IS CRUMBLING AWAY CAUSING LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORK. THE WIRES SPARK WHEN THEY TOUCH TOGETHER. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10958703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 BMW 530XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AT A FUEL STATION, OPENED THE TRUNK, AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A PATRON. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/02/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10889125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 12V-126: BATTERY CABLE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR THE ISSUE INVOLVES A BATTERY CABLE BOLT CONNECTION IN THE TRUNK. SPECIFICALLY, THIS BOLT CONNECTION IS SECURED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL BY AN INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL. OVER TIME, THIS CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION AND CAUSE AN OVERHEATING CONDITION - EXACTLY SAME THING HAPPEND TO ME
NHTSA complaint #10888513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10887357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME AND SHUT OFF. ABOUT 25 MINUTES LATER THE CAR EXPLODED INTO FIRE AND BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND LEAVING THE SEATS AND TRUNK WITH ALL INTERIOR METAL PARTS ON OUR DRIVEWAY. OUR HOME WAS ALSO DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THIS CAR GOING ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND NO ONE CAN ADVISE US AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10683892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM CONTACTING YOU IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE / REMEDY IN THE REPAIR OF A BURNED OUTER TAIL LAMP SOCKET IN MY 2007 530XIT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. ON 12/31/2014 I RECEIVED A RIGHT TAIL LAMP MALFUNCTION WARNING VIA I-DRIVE AND WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I INSPECTED THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP ASSY AND FOUND THE OUTER TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET CONTACTS TO BE MELTED AND NO LONGER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BULB HOLDER. THE STOCK AND ORIGINAL BULB TESTED FAULTY. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE DAMAGED AND MELTED CONTACT ON THE SOCKET ASSY, THE BMW REPLACEMENT BULB WILL NOT FUNCTION EITHER. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE SOCKET ASSY SHOULD IT BE NEEDED FOR INVESTIGATION. AS IS THE CASE WITH THE 2008-2010 E60 & E61 MODELS, THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL FAILURES IN THE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM RESULTING IN A RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS FAILURE REDUCES THE VEHICLES ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL RECALL ON PRE LCI E61 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10669578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES/ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM AND HAS COST OVER $2000 SO FAR. I'M WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR AS IT IS THE MAIN TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS.I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED, THE TRUNK INOPERABLE AND UNCLOSEABLE, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING, THE LIGHTS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR STAYED ON PERMANENTLY AND I HAD TO DRIVE HOME ONE NIGHT WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN BECAUSE THE WIRING HAD STOPPED WORKING AND IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND MANY BROKEN GROUND WIRES, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS ETC. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RIGHT AND LEFT WIRE HARNESSES REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER FOR ABOUT $2200. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M WORRIED THAT MORE WILL COME.
NHTSA complaint #10668830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS IN AN ISOLATED AREA WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. AT FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T START. FINALLY IT STARTED AND THE WHOLE DISPLAY LITE UP. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT GO TO THE DRIVING POSITION, PLUS SEVERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND I HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN (10 MILES) IN THIRD GEAR. WE STOPPED AT THE FIRST AUTO SHOP WE COULD LOCATE AND HAVE THE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN DENVER. WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND THIS TIME WE GOT TWO RED LIGHTS INDICATING A PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION AND THE SEATBELT MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO GO DOWN INTO THE DRIVING POSITION. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO CHECK, HE TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT ISSUE THOUGH MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THEY WANTED $1300.00 TO FIX IT. I CALLED BMW USA AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED A MONTH AFTER THE RECALLED CARS, PRESENTLY I AM DRIVING WITH DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY. I THINK BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AS THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION AND HAVE ISSUED RECALLS ON A FEW CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10649300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DISCOVERED FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. CENTRAL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INTERIOR FIRE ESCAPING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DIFFICULT THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS.
NHTSA complaint #10606734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.