1997 BMW 528 Owner Complaints

I BOUGHT THE 1997 BMW 528I OFF LEASE. IT WAS MY SECOND BMW. THE PRIOR BMW HAD VIRTUALLY NO PROBLEMS. I GUESS THE SECOND ONE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIRST ONE. IF I ONLY HAD A NICKLE FOR EVERY TIME I WISHED I HADN'T TRADED FOR THE SECOND ONE. 1. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO KEEP ONE EYE ON THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AT ALL TIMES (IT WOULD HEAT UP VERY FAST). THE BMW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY CHARGED ME OVER $2,000. WELL, THAT AND A COUPLE OF BOLDFACE LIES ENDED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT DEALERSHIP. 2. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME FRAME. AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MOVING IN AND OUT REPETITIVELY AND WOULDN'T STOP ALONG WITH MY SEAT (IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MEMORY SWITCHES IN THE DOOR). THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO. 3. THE RADIO (FM) AND CD PLAYER QUIT IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH THE SUN ROOF... I AM AN ENGINEER AND I HAVE MANAGED TO FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS MYSELF BUT I AM ASHAMED TO RELATE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIPS HERE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER AUTO-REPAIR FACILITIES. OH, I MIGHT ADD THAT NONE OF MY FIVE CHILDREN, WHO ARE ALL ENGINEERS OR DOCTORS, OWN A BMW AND I'M SURE NONE OF THEIR KIDS (15) WILL EITHER.

NHTSA ID

10745657

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOWN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ONLY. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10153889

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

72,500 mi

ENGINE KEEPS OVERHEATING DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8004403

ENGINE OVERHEATED SUDDENLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEED. SUSPECT THERMASTAT OR WATER PUMP. CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE, "MELTDOWN" OF RADIATOR ASSY. *AK

NHTSA ID

748337

Incident

Jun 20, 2001

THE THIRD/MIDDLE REAR BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING HAS MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WHEN USING BRAKES FOR EXTENDED TIME PERIODS (E.G., WHEN STUCK IN VERY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC). THIS HAS CAUSED THE RED LENSE TO MELT OVER THE BULB, THEREBY POSING A RISK OF FIRE AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING INSPECTED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT USING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE (I HAVE SMELLED THE BURNING PLASTIC). THE HOUSING AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL NOT FIX THE SAFETY HAZARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (AND IT WILL COST $550 FOR ME TO REPAIR IT). THIS DEFECT ALSO PERMITS WHITE LIGHT TO SHINE FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, THEREBY POSING AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

746507

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

WHILE GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK THE SEVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE CAR HAD RUN HOT. I HAD NOTICED NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY SUGGESTED A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUGGESTED THE THERMOSTAT BE REPLACED FIRST. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TEMPATURE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

738190

Incident

Dec 11, 2000

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT AND BACK BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE BAD. VEHICLE ALSO DIDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. DEALER WILL ONLY TAKE $200.00 OFF FOR SERVICE. CINSUMER SAID THAT THERE WAS ONLY 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

854652

Incident

Nov 30, 1999

ABS BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR WENT ON, AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT CONSUMER COULD DRIVE ANOTHER 200 MILES, ONLY DROVE ANOTHER 50 MILES AND NEEDED NEW FRONT AND BACK ROTORS.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

844413

Incident

Jul 15, 1999

IN JUST 32,000 MILES WE ARE NOW HAVING TO REPLACE ANOTHER SET OF TIRES. THE FIRST 2 WENT AT JUST 11.000 MILES AND EVERY 11,000 MILES LATER. IS THIS STANDARD? BMW SAYS YES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2256015 )

NHTSA ID

706351

WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE, AND THE SEAT BELT COVERS ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S NECK. IN CAS OF AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELTS MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

827504

Incident

Aug 30, 1997

BUMPER DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

534690

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

WHILE PARKING HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT AND STEERING WAS LOST. AFTER VEHICLE STAYED PARKED FOR A WHILE STEERING CAME BACK. DEALER NOT ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

814706

Incident

Jul 13, 1997

THE ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN APPLIED UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN A 6 TO 8 FOOT HILL, HITTING A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

806467