2003 BMW 530IA Problems

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A BMW RECALL PERSON WHO HAS CLEARD MY VEHICLE OF HAVING ANY PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. HOWEVER, I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS VIA MAIL. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THE FLOW OF PAPER TO MY MAILBOX?

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530IA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED PETER PAN BMW (2695 S E CAMINO REAL, SAN MATEO, CA 94403, (650) 349-9077) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

AT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING FUEL INJECTORS LEAK FUEL FROM WHERE THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL PLUG AND THE METAL INJECTOR BODY MEET. THIS CAUSES FUEL TO SIT ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BUILD UP OF FUEL VAPOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AND FUEL VAPORS TO ENTER THE DRIVER CABIN.

AT 96,000 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 THOUGH 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

AT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING FUEL INJECTORS LEAK FUEL FROM WHERE THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL PLUG AND THE METAL INJECTOR BODY MEET. THIS CAUSES FUEL TO SIT ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BUILD UP OF FUEL VAPOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AND FUEL VAPORS TO ENTER THE DRIVER CABIN.

I GOT INTO MY CAR. STARTED IT. I PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND TURNED ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEADED TO MY DR. APP. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I STARTED TO LOOK AROUND MY CAR WHILE STILL DRIVING. AS I LOOKED LEFT BESIDE MY SEAT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY BACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR IN THE ROAD AND UNBUCKLED MY SEAT BELT. I LEANED FORWARD AND LOOKED BACK AT MY SEAT WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. I SAW A ROUND HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE GREY LEATHER SEAT WITH A RED GLOW COMING FROM THE HOLE WITH A FLAME. I IMMEDIATELY USED MY FINGER TO TRY TO SNUFF OUT THE FLAME. I THEN NOTICED MY SHIRT WAS ALSO SMOKING WITH A HOLE BURNED THROUGH IT. I PATTED OUT MY SHIRT AND THEN REALIZED THE SEAT WARMER WAS THE PROBLEM SO I QUICKLY TURNED IT OFF. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO MAKE SURE MY SHIRT AND SEAT WERE NOT STILL BURNING. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WITH NO TURNS APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME.

AT 96,000 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 THOUGH 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

AT 84,220 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 THOUGH 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