2003 BMW 530I Problems

TAKATA RECALL..RECEIVED NOTIFICATION 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE CALLED BMW TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS ARRIVE. THUS WAS 6 MONTHS AGO

NO COMMITMENT YET FROM DEALER TO REPLACE DEFECTED AIRBAG. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V318

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW 530I, WHILE I WAS DRIVING I USED THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE RADIO DOWN, AFTER DEPRESSING THE BUTTON IMMEDIATELY I SMELLED AND RECOGNIZED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I TURNED THE IGNITION AND PROCEEDED TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE VOLUME CONTROLS DID NOT WORK ANY MORE ALONG WITH THE HORN DOES NOT BLOW ANYMORE. ACTUALLY WHEN I DEPRESS THE HORN IT MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL RISE UP AND DOWN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS OFF AND ON. MY RADIO WORKS SPORADICALLY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER SEEING A POSTING ONLINE ABOUT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONING. THIS SEEMED TO FIT MY SITUATION HOWEVER THE GENTLEMEN WHO TOOK MY CALLED SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL..... THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING AND MY PROBLEMS ARISES MORE AND MORE AFTER THIS. I GET A TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE WARNING ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES AND THEN STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. I GOT A WARNING TICKET FROM AN POLICE OFFICER. HE SAID IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES WHILE IN OPERATION. I GET A ENGINE FAILSAFE WARNING AT TIMES AND THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE....... *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?

WHILE SLOWLY ENTERING MY GARAGE FROM DRIVEWAY, CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. I APPLIED BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT COULD NOT STOP CAR. CRASHED INTO REFRIGERATOR AT BACK OF GARAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID, "COULD NOT REPRODUCE FAULT. CAR IS OPERATING PROPERTY. NO FAULTS ARE STORED IN THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM SAFEGUARDS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY." *LA

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW 530I, WHILE I WAS DRIVING I USED THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE RADIO DOWN, AFTER DEPRESSING THE BUTTON IMMEDIATELY I SMELLED AND RECOGNIZED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I TURNED THE IGNITION AND PROCEEDED TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE VOLUME CONTROLS DID NOT WORK ANY MORE ALONG WITH THE HORN DOES NOT BLOW ANYMORE. ACTUALLY WHEN I DEPRESS THE HORN IT MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL RISE UP AND DOWN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS OFF AND ON. MY RADIO WORKS SPORADICALLY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER SEEING A POSTING ONLINE ABOUT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONING. THIS SEEMED TO FIT MY SITUATION HOWEVER THE GENTLEMEN WHO TOOK MY CALLED SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL..... THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING AND MY PROBLEMS ARISES MORE AND MORE AFTER THIS. I GET A TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE WARNING ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES AND THEN STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. I GOT A WARNING TICKET FROM AN POLICE OFFICER. HE SAID IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES WHILE IN OPERATION. I GET A ENGINE FAILSAFE WARNING AT TIMES AND THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE....... *TR

WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR IS A 2003 BMW 530I WITH 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS RETURNED "FAULT 30", "TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING". RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER AT COST OF $2600. ONLINE RESEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE. DUE TO CONFLICTING ADVICE, THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 MONTHS AND OVER 3,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR DIMINISHED MILEAGE OR PERFORMANCE. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT THAT SWITCHES ON IN RESPONSE TO "FAULT 30" MAY INDICATE A NON-EXISTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO A COSTLY REPAIR. MEANWHILE, THE DRIVER IS LEFT WITH A VEHICLE WITH A CONSTANTLY LIT "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. THIS CAN OBVIOUSLY CREATE PROBLEMS IN SELLING THE CAR OR HAVING IT PASS A SMOG CHECK. *TR

IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" (SES) LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF ROUGHLY $2000. SINCE THE CAR WAS SHOWING NO SIGN OF ENGINE TROUBLE, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS AND 50,000 WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE SES LIGHT CONTINUES TO SHINE AND THE CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSION INSPECTION. NOW FACED WITH SPENDING $2000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE NOT SURE EXISTS OR NOT PASSING INSPECTION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?

WHILE SLOWLY ENTERING MY GARAGE FROM DRIVEWAY, CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. I APPLIED BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT COULD NOT STOP CAR. CRASHED INTO REFRIGERATOR AT BACK OF GARAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID, "COULD NOT REPRODUCE FAULT. CAR IS OPERATING PROPERTY. NO FAULTS ARE STORED IN THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM SAFEGUARDS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY." *LA

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A VERY COLD DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 6AM. I TURNED THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON. AFTER 5-10 MINUTES, I STARTED TO NOTICE A STRONG BURNING SMELL. I ALSO FELT A STINGING ON THE BACK OF MY LEFT LEG. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE CAR, AND NOTICED A SMALL HOLE HAD BEEN BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. THERE WAS SMOKE RISING UP AND OUT FROM THE HOLE ITSELF. THE EXTREMELY HOT COIL FOR THE SEAT HEATER WAS VISIBLE DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLE. MY PANTS ALSO HAVE A HOLE BURNT IN THEM FROM THE SEAT. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL PLACED REGARDING THIS BLATANT MATERIAL FAILURE, AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SIMILARLY AFFECTED AND COULD BE BURNED. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED HOLE ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT WHEN ACTIVATED AND SINGED WIFE'S JACKET WHILE DRIVING. SMALL HOLE BURNED INTO SEAT. BMW REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR DAMAGE AND CORRECT DEFECT DESPITE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WHICH THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR CABIN FIRE AND OCCUPANT BURNS. *KB

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?

INCIDENTAL FINDING OF HUGE CRACK ON LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM DISCOVERED BY MECHANIC WHO WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THE PART IN QUESTION. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO BAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CLUTCH STOPPED RESPONDING, THE TACHOMETER SOARED AND THE CLUTCH BURNED, THE CAR WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CLUTCH CONTINUED TO SMOLDER. IT APPEARS LIKE IT ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. *LA

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.

I HAVE A 2003 530I BMW WITH 100K MILES ON IT THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS BURNED THOUGHT THE SEAT, THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 7 SERIES SEATS (WHICH ARE THE SAME SEATS AND THEY WERE RECALLED.) THE ISSUE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL, RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. I ALSO HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN SAFETY CONCERN THAT THE PIXELS GO OUT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE MID. ALSO THE BACK DOORS HAVE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WHERE WATER POOLS IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

INCIDENTAL FINDING OF HUGE CRACK ON LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM DISCOVERED BY MECHANIC WHO WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THE PART IN QUESTION. *TR

PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE WITH PLASTIC PARTS AND WIRING OF VEHICLE, A 2003 BMW 530I. WIRING TO BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH WERE REPAIRED EARLY ON UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 MILES. MOST OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE 50,000 MILE MARK. I DRIVE 20,000 MILES PER YEAR TO AND FROM WORK. ANOTHER PROBLEM INCLUDED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPING ACCELERATION TO JUST A FEW MILES PER HOUR. WITH MY PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, I MADE IT UP A HILL AND PULLED OVER. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING, MY VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE UNDERWIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE. THE COST OF THIS SERVICE WAS AROUND TWO-THOUSAND DOLLARS. I'VE YET TO DO THE SERVICE AND HAVE PUT MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE SINCE. THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE FOUND TO BE CRACKED AT JUST OVER 50, 000 MILES AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD LAST LONGER. THEY'VE NEVER BEEN REPLACED THOUGH STEERING SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED. AN INTERIOR LIGHT CONSOLE SIMPLY FELL OUT OF THE BODY AND DANGLED BY ITS WIRING. THE PLASTIC AROUND THE CLIPS APPEARS TO BE DECAYED OR MELTED BY THE HEAT OF THE BULBS. I WROTE TO BMW NORTH AMERICA DESCRIBING ALL THESE ISSUES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT WOULD BE REPLACED. I ASKED FOR THIS IN WRITING. THIS WAS NEVER DONE. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CONTACTS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP WOULD BE MY CONTACT. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED COMMUNICATION THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE A FREE OIL CHANGE (ALREADY COVERED UNDER MY CURRENT EXTENDED WARRANTY). WEEKS OF MY MESSAGES AND NO RETURN CALLS MADE ME SUSPICIOUS THAT SOMETHING MORE WAS GOING ON. THE LAST MESSAGE I LEFT WAS THAT A NHTSA COMPLAINT WOULD BE FILED AND FINALLY ELICITED A RESPONSE. NO RECALLS HAVE EVER OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED HOLE ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT WHEN ACTIVATED AND SINGED WIFE'S JACKET WHILE DRIVING. SMALL HOLE BURNED INTO SEAT. BMW REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR DAMAGE AND CORRECT DEFECT DESPITE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WHICH THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR CABIN FIRE AND OCCUPANT BURNS. *KB

COLD MORNING, TURNED SEAT HEATERS ON. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER TURNED ON AND FAILED, BURNING THROUGH SEAT AND BURNED PANTS ON DRIVER. IT FAILED ONE TIME, HAD DISCONNECTED. BURNED HOLE IN SEAT. NOTHING DONE YET, TRYING TO GET BMW TO REPLACE, AS THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THERE 7 SERIES, EXACT SAME FAILURE, AS I FOUND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 7 SERIES TO REPLACE SEAT HEATER. WHY NOT ON 5 SERIES, SAME SEAT AND PROBLEM!! *TR

THE LATCH ANCHOR BARS IN THE 2003 BMW 530 WERE TOO FAR RECESSED INTO THE VEHICLES SEAT WHICH MADE INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SEAT, USING THE LATCH SYSTEM, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. (THE EVENFLO VANGUARD CHILD SAFETY SEAT, MANUFACTURED 03-25-03, CORPORAL JENNIFER S. ROSS - DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, TECH # T022421). *NLM