2004 BMW 5 Series Problems

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

PASSENGER SEAT/AIRBAG WARNING MALFUNCTION. THIS WARNING HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE COMMON SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILURE. AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER MY VIN ISN'T ON THE PREVIOUS RECALL OR IT HAS EXPIRED FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL. BUT MY WIFE SITS IN THAT SEAT AND IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HER AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHOSE FAULT WILL THAT BE?

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WE NOTICED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT "A MARK" THAT LOOKS LIKE A BURNT - WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A MARK OR SOMEBODY PUT A HOT BOTTLE O CUP ON THE SEAT - BUT THIS MORNING WE TURN THE HEATING IN BOTH SEAT TO WARM UP A LITTLE BIT THEN SMELL AND SMOKE START TO COME OUT THE BURNT MARK. WE TURNED IT OFF BOTH SIDES AND OPEN THE WINDOW - NOW OUR CONCLUSION IS THE HEATING ELEMENT CAUSED THAT BURN IN THE SEAT.

WIRE ROT DETERIORATION AT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONCERN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO BARE EXPOSED WIRES. NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. PERSONALLY HAD TO PAY OVER $500 TO HE DEALERSHIP JUST TO WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. AFTER 3 MONTHS, CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HIGH BEAM FAILURE (HID ADOPTIVE PASSENGER SIDE) WHICH THE DEALER TO REPLACEMENT COST OF $2599.

PASSENGER SEAT/AIRBAG WARNING MALFUNCTION. THIS WARNING HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE COMMON SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILURE. AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER MY VIN ISN'T ON THE PREVIOUS RECALL OR IT HAS EXPIRED FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL. BUT MY WIFE SITS IN THAT SEAT AND IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HER AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHOSE FAULT WILL THAT BE?

BMW RECALLED 2004 BMW 525I AND OTHERS FOR THE SEAT MAT SENSOR. I HAD CALLED THEM (2012-13) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE (BASED ON VIN) WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. I INFORMED THEM THAT MY VEHICLE'S MAT SENSOR WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THEM. THEY, BMW USA TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. I STILL CANT UNDERSTAND IF THE REST ARE DEFECTIVE, HOW COME MINE IS CONSIDERED NOT DEFECTIVE WHEN ITS INOPERATIVE AND SAME PROBLEM AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2004 525I. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

PASSENGER SEAT/AIRBAG WARNING MALFUNCTION. THIS WARNING HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE COMMON SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILURE. AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER MY VIN ISN'T ON THE PREVIOUS RECALL OR IT HAS EXPIRED FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL. BUT MY WIFE SITS IN THAT SEAT AND IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HER AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHOSE FAULT WILL THAT BE?

WIRE INSULATION DETERIORATION CAUSING SHORT, POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, 5 SEPARATE LIGHTING COMPONENTS ALL WIRING INSULATION SEVERELY DETERIORATED CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITING AND INOPERABLE HEADLIGHTS. BARE COPPER WIRES MAKING CONTACT I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY IN ELECTRONICS AND FIREFIGHTING. THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND WHILE CHANGING A BULB. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR USING INFERIOR MATERIALS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE (HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?2132684-HEADLIGHT-WIRE-JACKETS-JUST-FLAKE-OFF)

WIRE ROT DETERIORATION AT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONCERN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO BARE EXPOSED WIRES. NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. PERSONALLY HAD TO PAY OVER $500 TO HE DEALERSHIP JUST TO WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. AFTER 3 MONTHS, CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HIGH BEAM FAILURE (HID ADOPTIVE PASSENGER SIDE) WHICH THE DEALER TO REPLACEMENT COST OF $2599.

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

HAD MY CAR 2004 545I (78,250 MILES) SERVICED AT BMW DEALERSHIP IN LONG ISLAND FOR A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING AT FLUID. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND TEST DROVE BEFORE I PICKED IT UP BUT ALSO DENOTED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ATTRIBUTED TO VACUUM PUMP/VANOS SEALS WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AS I WAS DRIVING IT BACK TO NJ FROM LONG ISLAND DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A TRANSMISSION 'KICK/JERK/SURGE' AS CAR DECELERATED SEVERAL TIMES. DROVE THE CAR TO THE MARKET ON SUNDAY (7/25/2010) AND ON THE WAY BACK WARNING ENGINE MALFUNCTION STATING 'ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT'. EMAILED THE BMW SA IN LONG ISLAND THAT REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN/AT FLUID AND HE FELT IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO OIL LEAK AND BAD VACUUM PUMP/SEALS AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT ASAP. MY LOCAL BMW SA IN NJ JUST EMAILED ME TODAY (7/28/2010) STATING: "LOOKS LIKE THE TRANS IS BAD WAITING FOR BMWNA TO GET BACK TO US WE SENT THEM ALL THE FAULTS SORRY FOR THE BAD NEWS" REPORTS OF THESE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION 'SURGE' IS NOT ISOLATED TO 2004 545I MODEL BUT TO MANY 5-SERIES UP TO 2008 AS NOTED IN THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=401524 THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOT ON A LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT ON A CORPORATE, WITH GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, LEVEL AS IT POSES SERIOUS RISKS TO ALL DRIVERS. *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

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

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.

WE JUST PURCHASED OUR BMW 545I IN MID OCTOBER. ON NOVEMBER 13TH WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM OUR SON'S HOME WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. MY HUSBAND SOON REALIZED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND HIS PANTS WERE ON FIRE. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATERS AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND WHILE A PAIR OF PANTS WERE RUINED, MY HUSBAND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY BURNS. OUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FURNISHED ME WITH ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE SEAT HEATERS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN MY CAR WILL BE FIXED. I DO NOT BLAME THE DEALER, BUT HAVE TO QUESTION IF BMW IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. *JB

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.

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.

2004 BMW 530I DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT AND IT WAS ALSO WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE FRONT TIRES ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE INSIDE.*JB

I HAVE DUNLOP SP SPORT TIRES (RUN FLAT) ON MY 2004 BMW 530I WITH 16,000 MILES. THE INSIDE TREAD IS WORN BEYOND THE TREAD TO THE POINT WHERE TIRE THREADS ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, WHILE THE OUTSIDE IS ALMOST GOOD AS NEW. THE REAR TIRES ARE COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED WHILE THE FRONT TIRES CLEARLY SHOW EXCESS AND UNEVEN WEAR ON THE INSIDE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT DUNLOP HAS BEEN REPLACING THESE TIRES AND HAS NOT HAD A SINGLE REFUSAL YET. HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF DEFECTS ARE OUT THERE, AND MUST A FAMILY BE KILLED BEFORE A RECALL HAPPENS? THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT WITH ANOTHER CLIENT HE COULD POKE HIS FINGERS THROUGH THE TIRE, AND THAT CAR HAD 6000 MILES ON IT! I HAD FILED A PREVIOUS COMPIANT ON MY 2004 BMW 530I REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. TODAY THE SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS AT LEAST 25 TIMES, AND THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE DUNLOP TIRES I HAVE, NAD NOT THE CAR. I HOPE SOMEONE INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT: [email protected]. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE PHOTOS.

ENGINE TAPPING/KNOCKING ON FIRST DRIVE OF DAY. 8 SERVICE VISITS. SERVICE BY BMW CONFIRMED "NOISE IS NOT NORMAL." ESCALATED TO BMW NA 3 TIMES. FIRST SERVICED UNDER BMW ORIGINAL WARRANTY. BMW CLAIMS JUST A NOISY ENGINE BY DESIGN. EVEN THOUGH BMW CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL, BMW COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT IT WAS OR COMING FROM. BMW IS NOT COMPLIANT IN PERFORMING UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY. *TR

FOR THREE YEARS BLUE SMOKE OCCASIONALLY COMES FROM EXHAUST IN SPITE OF MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FOR 1 AND 1/2 YEARS RESULTS IN CAR NOT STARTING HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES. *TR

DT: 2004 BMW 530 I. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON/WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN AND THEN MALFUNCTIONING/TRUNK OPENING, AND HALO LIGHTS STAYING ON. THE ONSTAR OR SOS SYSTEMS WAS NOT WORKING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THIS VEHICLE A LEMON. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE LEMON LAW. THIS PROCESS WAS TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE TAKING TOO LONG TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. *AK

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

DT: 2004 BMW 530 I. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON/WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN AND THEN MALFUNCTIONING/TRUNK OPENING, AND HALO LIGHTS STAYING ON. THE ONSTAR OR SOS SYSTEMS WAS NOT WORKING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THIS VEHICLE A LEMON. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE LEMON LAW. THIS PROCESS WAS TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE TAKING TOO LONG TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. *AK