2002 BMW 530I Owner Complaints

We purchased two identical new Pirelli P Zero P245/35/ZR20 91Y tires and had them professionally installed. The mechanic noticed that after installation one of the tires pulled hard to one side. The vehicle was aligned but the issue persisted, so they moved the tire to the other vehicle side. Now the vehicle pulled to that side, at which point we were told the problem was the tire, either a belt separation or other internal tire manufacturing defect. They suggested we contact the manufacturer and get a warranty replacement tire. We have been trying for weeks to get a replacement tire sent out from Pirelli, but they have been unwilling to work with us.

NHTSA ID

11653375

Incident

Mar 20, 2025

NOT SURE WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO WRITE. I SEEN THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING. AND THAT CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE OF THAT PART CAN BE LESS OF CONTROL THAT DONT SOUND SAFE AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11297129

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

CAME OUT IN MORNING AFTER PARKING CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULDN'T START. SMELLED FUNNY. HAD IT TOWED. MECHANIC FOUND MY LCM HAD CAUGHT FIRE. ALL WIRING AND HARNESS MELTED.

NHTSA ID

11258546

Incident

Aug 23, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

I HAVE COOLANT LEAKS AND POWER STEERING LEAKS AND OIL LEAKS , MY ALIGNMENT IN BATIRES ARE INWARD CAUSING MY TIRES TO WORN OUT QUICK, ELECTRIC PROBLEM SOMETIMES CAR WON'T START RANDOMLY MAKING ME TO JUMP START IT, MY SUSPENSION IS BAD NOT SURE WHY BUT CAUSING MY TIRE TRACTION LIGHT GO ON MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STAY IN CONTROL OF CAR WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY

NHTSA ID

11182691

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL

NHTSA ID

11062561

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

I GOT I RECALL FOR REPAIR OF AIRGAG, BUT I DONT FEEL SAFE AT ALL ON THIS CAR, SPOKE TO NORTH AMERICA BMW TO CHANG THE CAR AND REPLACE IT THEY REFUSE EVEN THEY PUT MY LIFE ON DANGER WITH A DEFECT CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA ID

11057078

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

I HAVE CALLED (877.432.7841) EVERY TIME I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF OUR AIRBAG RECALL. THEY CAN NEVER GET IN CONTACT WITH A DEALER IN MY AREA TO GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE CALLED AND BEEN PUT ON HOLD 3 TIMES FOR AN EXTENDED TIME AND AM TOLD TO 'CALL BACK LATER'. IF THIS IS AN URGENT RECALL AND THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE I WOULD LIKE THIS REMEDIED ASAP AS THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN

NHTSA ID

11044103

Incident

Nov 6, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JULY 2015. RECEIVED RESOLUTION NOTIFICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2016. BMW DEALER HAS REFUSED TO INSPECT OR REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DESPITE HAVING COPIES OF THE RECALL NOTICES. SHOP MANAGER AT ALEXANDRIA BMW TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK AFTER CHECKING WITH HIS "DISTRIBUTER. THAT WAS IN OCTOBER 2016. STILL HAS NOT HEARD FROM HIM.

NHTSA ID

10993328

Incident

Jul 15, 2015

Mileage

48,300 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL RECEIVED FROM BMW JULY 2015. FINAL REMEDY NOTICE RECEIVED SEPT 2016. LOCAL DEALER (ALEXANDRIA BMW) REFUSED TO REPLACE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA NOTIFIED ON OCTOBER 6, 2016, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED. THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR ON YOUR WEB PAGE, BUT THE MANUFACTURE SENT THE NOTICES TO US WITH THIS VIN NUMBER. NOTICE ON THE RECALLS PAGE, THIS IS A 5-SERIES VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL SPORTS STEERING WHEEL.SO IT IS COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V318000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10930284

Incident

Jul 25, 2015

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) IN JULY OF 2015. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10930275

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HEATED SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED TO A LOW SETTING WHEN THE SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THERE WAS SMOKE AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR PRESENT. AS A RESULT, A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10670794

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE FRONT SEAT GET TWISTED HERE IS A VIDEO: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WM3HKVKGLXM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441996

Incident

Jun 22, 2011

AT 78,600 MILES THE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DIAGNOSIS WAS P0741 (BMW CODE 48) WHICH IS A FAULT WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC). THIS FAILURE UNTIL CORRECTED RESULTS IN LOWER FUEL MILEAGE, AND A GUARANTEED FAILURE TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TEST DURING STATE MANDATED VEHICLE INSPECTIONS. ADD TO THIS THAT CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE SINCE THE TCC LOCKUP CLUTCH IS SLIPPING RESULTING IN DEBRIS BUILDING UP IN THE FLUID. THIS FAULT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SEAL THAT BMW HAS A HIDDEN SERVICE BULLETIN ON. SEE SI 24 03 06 DATED FEBRUARY 2008. REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS EXPENSIVE. BMW DEALER QUOTED A BIT MORE THAN $3000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I'VE SINCE DETERMINED THROUGH A BMW FORUM THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES TAKING PLACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE SEAL IN QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED AND THAT FAILURE OF THE SEAL WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. *TR *KB

NHTSA ID

10437612

Incident

Sep 16, 2009

Mileage

78,600 mi

I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FAN EXPLODED. THE PLASTIC BLADES PIERCED THE HOOD AND IN ADDITION TO THE FAN AND FAN CLUTCH BEING GONE, THE FAN SHROUD IS GONE, AND IT CUT THE POWER STEERING, OIL FILTER, AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10427080

Incident

Jul 7, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 BMW 530I ON AUGUST 24, 2011 AND ABOUT THREE WEEKS IN TO OWNING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT SEEMS THE CODE READS P0741 I.E. TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID CIRCUIT STUCK OFF. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 107K ON IT HOWEVER, DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY MISFIRE OR TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW FOR AN INSPECTION/CHECKUP TO BE SURE THERE WERE NO MAJOR ISSUES AND THEY GAVE IT A THUMBS UP HOWEVER, THIS WAS BEFORE THE CODE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ENGAGED ON THE DASHED BOARD OF THE VEHICLE. BASED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN FOR BMW IT APPEARS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE IT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10421409

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

106,823 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO RAINY CONDITIONS, WATER WOULD ENTER AND FLOOD THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOORS. THE WATER WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOOR PANELS DUE TO THE MATERIALS THAT THE PANELS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM, AS WELL AS IMPROPER SEALING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10412294

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

HEATED DRIVER SEAT WILL BURN LEG OR BACK. HEATER HAS BURNED HOLE THROUGH LEATHER. PLAZA MOTORS / ST. LOUIS MO INFORMED ME THAT BMW WILL NOT FIX. HEATER IS A FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386219

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD OIL SEPARATOR FAILED, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10384285

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 BMW 530I ,I HAVE REPLACED THE KEY 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR AND NOW THE DEALER SAID ITS TIME TO GET A NEW ONE. TURNS OUT THAT THIS WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH HAS SLOWLY BEEN GETTING WORSE. THAT PROBLEM IS THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM IS BROKEN. YOU HAVE TO OPEN DOORS MANUALLY WITH EITHER THE KEY IN THE DOOR OR REACH OVER AND UNLOCK IT BY HAND. THE DOME LIGHT IS NO LONGER WORKING AS IS THE TRUNK UNLOCK FEATURE WHICH YOU HAVE TO DO BY PHYSICALLY INSERTING THE KEY IN THE LOCK THE DEALERS SAY THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS IN EXCESS OF 900US$ ,AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE FOR THIS COMPONENT WITH NO GUARANTEE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10376720

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

I HAVE A 2002 BMW 530I WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION. TRANNY MODEL 5HP19. AT AROUND 85,000, SOMETIME IN MID-JULY 2006, I BEGAN TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT (ON FOR MAYBE 300-500 MILES, THEN OFF FOR AROUND 7000 TO 10000 MILES) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CEL CODE WAS ALWAYS DIAGNOSED AS P0741 - "TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRCUIT PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF." SINCE 120,000 MILES, THE SAME CODE IS MUCH MORE FREQUENT, MAYBE 600-800 MILES BETWEEN TURNING ON-OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED MY BMW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED AT AROUND 85,000 MILES, AND A FEW TIMES AFTER SINCE. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT AY MY COST, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND GETTING A COPY OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS IS A COMMONLY KNOWN AND RECURRING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED. I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS OF HIGH MILEAGE (AS MINE HAS 160,000 MILES NOW.) THE SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS THE PROBLEM IS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL. HERE IS PARTIAL TEXT OF THE BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN SUPERSEDES SI 24 03 06 DATED FEBRUARY 2008. DESIGNATES CHANGES TO THIS REVISION SUBJECT ZF 5HP19 TRANSMISSION - DIAGNOSIS OF EGS FC 048 (30 HEX) MODEL E46: 323I, 325I, 330I WITH M52TU, M54, M56 AND ZF 5HP19 E39: 525I, 530I WITH M54 AND ZF 5HP19 E85: Z4 ROADSTER 2.5, 3.0 WITH M54 AND ZF 5HP19 SITUATION "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" IS ILLUMINATED AND FAULT CODE 048 "CONVERTER LOCK-UP EXCESSIVE SLIP" (30 HEX OR P0741) IS STORED IN THE EGS TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. CAUSE POSSIBLE CAUSE: DETERIORATION OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER TURBINE SHAFT SEAL *END SERVICE BULLETIN TEXT* ALL I SIMPLY WANT IS BMW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM OBTAINING A CLEAR SMOG TEST ON MY CAR TO REGISTER IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342390

Incident

Jul 17, 2006

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10312728

Incident

Oct 24, 2009

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT MOISTURE ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE AND FROZE. ALSO, THE INTERNAL VALVE BECAME STUCK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE OIL SEPARATOR REPAIR KIT WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,142 .UPDATED 04/25/08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10217916

Incident

Feb 11, 2008

Mileage

60,142 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON DRY TARMAC ON A MAIN STREET IN NEW ROCHELLE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE/SLOW RATE OF SPEED, ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. AS WE SLOWED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT THE BREAKS PULSED VIOLENTLY. IT FELT AS IF WE HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. WE LOOKED TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED TO INDICATE A FAILURE - BUT WE DIDN'T SEE ANY. WE PROCEED TO NEXT LIGHT, AND STOPPED AGAIN. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND NO PULSING. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING, AND WE BOTH WERE CAREFULLY MONITORING THE CAR. AS WE PULLED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE CAR ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY. MY FIANCEE PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND FISH TAIL. THEN, AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS IT STOP AND SHE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106273

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

Mileage

20,827 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063485

Incident

Mar 17, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 BMW 530I. RECENTLY, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE BY ITSELF. I REPORTED INCIDENT TO BMW. TO SUMMARIZE, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION (THAT'S RIGHT, THE FLOOR MAT). *NM

NHTSA ID

10062391

Incident

Feb 16, 2004

Mileage

25,900 mi