1999 BMW 528I Problems

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 528I (BMW 1999) THIS PAST WINTER WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDDLE WITH NO ASSIST, AND WHILE THE CAR DI EVENTUALLY STOP, IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE FACED WITH THIS CONDITION SUDDENLY. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER APPARENTLY WENT BAD, WATER LEAKING IN AND FREEZING, FORTUNATELY NO ON E INJURED.

COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER REMOVED THE BLACK BOX FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT MECHANICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION. *TR

BMW just issued a Do Not Drive order for BMW 5 series cars from 2000 to 2006. Our car is a 1999 BMW 528I. According to your safety records, this car also has Takata air bags, but I see no indication these have been recalled. Since they are actually older than the 2000-2006 cars, shouldn't these 1999 Takata air bags be just as dangerous? What should I do about this? Thank you.

TAKATA INFLATORS: MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE DOOR AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG EXPLODED.

WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC

IVE CONTACTED BMWNA AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY HAVE IGNORED MANY MANY ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. LAWSUIT BEING CONSIDERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK. BMW POLICY IF TO NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AFTER THE 4YEAR/50,000MILE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED....EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW USA. *TR

DOOR HANDLE '99 528I BMW BROKE OFF (MADE OF PLASTIC) = IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN A CRASH NECESSITATING RAPID EXIT FROM VEHICLE. *CB

REPEATED FAILURE OF ABS-ODOMETER-SPEEDOMETER ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED TWO YEARS RUNNING. *TR

ASC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER ON MY 1999 BMW 528I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 5 SERIES CARS 9/98 TO 9/00 (MINE WAS BUILT 10/98). BULLETIN INFO: VS-23/WEINTUCH BAUGRUPPE/GROUP:32 32 01 00 (646) . THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS CODE IS RA 24 52 515/ 34 52 516. AFTER UNIT FAILED, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS CURRENTLY REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF BMW BULLETIN BOARDS (WWW.ROADFLY.COM). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS KNOWN PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF BMW DEALERS ARE STOCKING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL INVENTORIES OF THIS PART, APPARENTLY IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE SCALE FAILURES OF THE ASC CONTROL UNIT (PART34-52-6-756-343). MY NEXT CAR WILL NOT BE A BMW, THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. THINK & READ BEFORE YOU BUY BMW! IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.LC *NM

I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK. BMW POLICY IF TO NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AFTER THE 4YEAR/50,000MILE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED....EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW USA. *TR

COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 BMW 528IT WAGON. UNTIL A MONTH AGO MY HUSBAND HAD A 1994 BMW 318IC. ALL FOUR HEADLIGHT LENSES IN THESE CARS BECAME QUITE FILMY, AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT DIMINISHED THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT. THESE CARS WERE NOT ANTIQUES, AND THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD HOLD UP FOR A MINIMUM OF 10-15 YEARS, IN MY OPINION. WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE BMW DO SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE, NOT THE OWNER'S? I HAVE A 1989 VOLVO, AND ITS LENSES ARE STILL FINE, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN ALL CARS.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND FAILED LATER ON. YH

THE TILT FUNCTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL RAMDONLY ACTIVATES WHICH RESULTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING UP AND DOWN WHICH IS A SURPRISE TO THE DRIVER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO ERROR INDICATORS SHOW UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

MY CAR WAS HIT (BROAD-SIDED AT A PERPENDICULAR ANGLE) BY A 16 YO IN AN 1989 CAMARO. MY BMW VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING BENDING OF THE CAR-FRAME, BLOW-OUT OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW (THAT LANDED ON THE PASSENGER, LACERATING HIS LEG), AND SEPARATION AND RUPTURE OF THE BODY SIDE DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY AND DOOR SHELL. I SUSTAINED BLUNT LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES AND BRUISING FROM IMPACTING THE PILLAR, AND ALSO BACK/LEG INJURIES. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT (THAT MADE BOTH LEFT-SIDE DOORS INOPERABLE), NEITHER THE SIDE NOR THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIRBAG SYSTEMS DEPLOYED, AND THE EMERGENCY CENTRAL UNLOCKING SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AMERICA, WHO AFTER WEEKS OF UNHELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. THE ENGINEERS' REPORT (WHICH TO DATE, HAS NOT BEEN SHARED WITH ME DESPITE MY REPEATED REQUESTS), STATES THAT THE IMPACT "WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE DEPLOYMENT" OF THE AIRBAGS. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SUCH INSTANCES OF FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA? IN THE BMW ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PASSIVE REASTRAINT SYSTEM, THE SIDE (AND HEAD) AIRBAGS ARE CLEARLY CLAIMED TO BE DEPLOYED DURING SIDE IMPACTS OF LESSER SEVERITY THAN THE ONE I EXPERIENCED. ALL BMW AND MERCEDES SALES PEOPLE AND MECHANICS WHO HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WERE OF THE OPINION THAT THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE DAMAGE WITH PHOTOS. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING.*TR

THIS BMW DEPLOYED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. AT THE SAME TIME BOTH FRONT TIRES WENT FLAT. I DO NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME IF THE TIRES WERE PUNCTURED BY AN OBJECT OR NOT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SAID THAT SHE WAS CRUISING AT 70MPH,(8:30AM WITH GOOD VISABILITY) WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT SHE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES ON THE FRONT. THERE WAS TIRE FAILURE WITH THIS INCIDENT, HOWEVER I ONLY KNOW THAT THE BRAND TIRE IS DUNLOP. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. THIS SO FAR, IS A REAL MYSTERY TO US!!!!!!!*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. *JB

1999 BMW 528I A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE AT 51,300 MILES. REQUESTED FACTORY ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED. BMW WAS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AS THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WITH FAILURES AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WHICH MAY INDICATE A DEFECTIVE PART. BMW APPARENT WILL NOT FIX COMPRESSORS MAKING NOISE EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. IF TRUE, THIS IS POOR PERFORMANCE FROM THIS AUTOMOBILE MAKER. *NLM

I BOUGHT A 1999 BMW 528I NEW. I BROUGHT THE CAR REGULARLY INTO SERVICE BASED UPON THEIR PRESCRIBED SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THIS CAR. AT 49,600 MILES ON THE CAR AND EXACTLY 5 YEARS OLD, THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS CAR FAILED. BMW REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2004, WITH 64,205 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP. AT 64,605 MILES, CAR BREAKS DOWN ON ROAD AND IS TOWED INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A NEW MOTOR IS NEEDED. THIS CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MOTOR AS A RESULT OF FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BASICALLY BLAMED THE SITUATION ON US AND NOT THE FAILURE OF THIS BMW ENGINE THAT WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THEIR MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. THERE IS REAL PROBLEM WITH BMW ENGINES AND BASED UPON MY RESEARCH IT RELATES TO BOLTS ON THE OIL PUMP LOOSENING FROM THE CAR'S VIBRATION THEREBY NOT ALLOWING OIL TO BE PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, MY REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ANYMORE. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. *NM