2006 BMW 530XI Problems

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530XI. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light had remained illuminated for a month. The contact stated that two years ago he had a recall completed on the passenger’s side air bag. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 224,500.

FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER

The insulation on the internal wiring of the headlight (left and right) have fallen off the wiring leaving sections of conductor exposed creating shorts in the lighting system. This is a known problem in the BMW community (owners and BMW) since at least 2011. This is due to the use of bio-degradable wiring by BMW that breaks down prematurely. Replacement headlight assemblies (high intensity discharge Xenon) are over $1,000 each. Both halogen high beam lights are inoperable which reduces driver vision at night on suburban roadways. Re-wiring with correctly specified wiring is possible but requires specific skills and experience. This is a known problem which BMW has hoped would go away as few of their cars of this age are on the road. This risk assessment driven policy should not shield BMW from fully addressing their failures in material selection which impact safe use of their cars.

Inside headlight wiring insulation became brittle and falls off leading to potential shorts and equipment failure. Additional wiring throughout engine compart shows similar degradation and failure. Split wire housing to protect wires from engine heat also show signs of decay, exposing wires to excess heat and inducing failure of insulation. This is not a turbocharged engine and has lower engine compartment temperatures. This problem started 7-8 years ago and has gotten worse.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER

TAKATA SEAT BELTS ISSUE WITH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.

The insulation on the internal wiring of the headlight (left and right) have fallen off the wiring leaving sections of conductor exposed creating shorts in the lighting system. This is a known problem in the BMW community (owners and BMW) since at least 2011. This is due to the use of bio-degradable wiring by BMW that breaks down prematurely. Replacement headlight assemblies (high intensity discharge Xenon) are over $1,000 each. Both halogen high beam lights are inoperable which reduces driver vision at night on suburban roadways. Re-wiring with correctly specified wiring is possible but requires specific skills and experience. This is a known problem which BMW has hoped would go away as few of their cars of this age are on the road. This risk assessment driven policy should not shield BMW from fully addressing their failures in material selection which impact safe use of their cars.

Inside headlight wiring insulation became brittle and falls off leading to potential shorts and equipment failure. Additional wiring throughout engine compart shows similar degradation and failure. Split wire housing to protect wires from engine heat also show signs of decay, exposing wires to excess heat and inducing failure of insulation. This is not a turbocharged engine and has lower engine compartment temperatures. This problem started 7-8 years ago and has gotten worse.

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 12V-126: BATTERY CABLE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR THE ISSUE INVOLVES A BATTERY CABLE BOLT CONNECTION IN THE TRUNK. SPECIFICALLY, THIS BOLT CONNECTION IS SECURED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL BY AN INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL. OVER TIME, THIS CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION AND CAUSE AN OVERHEATING CONDITION - EXACTLY SAME THING HAPPEND TO ME

I DISCOVERED FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. CENTRAL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INTERIOR FIRE ESCAPING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DIFFICULT THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS. *TR

MY COMPUTER IS SHOWING : PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. I CALLED THE BMW RECALL SYSTEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER, I FOUND BMW RECALL OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR E60 (MY MODEL CAR) CAN YOU HELP AND CONTACT THE BMW RECALL CENTER. THEY NEED TO EXPAND THEIR RECALL. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH FAILED PASSENGER RESTRAINED SYSTEM. I DID SUBMIT THE INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT RECALL IN ATTACHMENT

RE: RECALL 17V-XXX FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT B65 10 17. LAST JULY 2017 MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG/SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND CAUSE WAS FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. . IT WAS REPLACED AT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE BMW DEALER ON JULY 18 2017 FOR $867.05. YET THIS 2006 MODEL IS SPECIFICALLY THE MODEL WITH THE DEFECT AND IN THE RECALL. MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING THAT I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AS OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, SINCE THIS IS THE SPECIFIC DEFECT FOR WHICH THE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, AND THIS IS THE SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODE BMW WHICH HAS THE DEFECT APPEARING. PLEASE ADVISE.

FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES/ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM AND HAS COST OVER $2000 SO FAR. I'M WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR AS IT IS THE MAIN TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS.I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED, THE TRUNK INOPERABLE AND UNCLOSEABLE, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING, THE LIGHTS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR STAYED ON PERMANENTLY AND I HAD TO DRIVE HOME ONE NIGHT WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN BECAUSE THE WIRING HAD STOPPED WORKING AND IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND MANY BROKEN GROUND WIRES, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS ETC. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RIGHT AND LEFT WIRE HARNESSES REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER FOR ABOUT $2200. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M WORRIED THAT MORE WILL COME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWING WATER TO PENETRATE THE CABIN, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

WHILE REPLACING PARKING LIGHT BULB I FOUND INSULATION TO BULB HOLDER FALLING OFF, LIKELY DUE TO HEAT INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. GIVEN THE BRITTLE INSULATION FALLING OFF, A SHORT COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED. THE INNER CV JOINT ON THE RIGHT DRIVE WAS FOUND TO BE WITHOUT GREASE. WITH NO GREASE FITTING OR MEANS OF INSPECTION, THE AXLE COULD HAVE FROZEN, CAUSING STABILITY ISSUES.

A RECENT RAIN STORM FLOODED THE SPARE TIRE WELL COMPARTMENT AND FRIED ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STORED UNDERNEATH THE TIRE. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING THE WAGON THAT DAY AND THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. OTHERWISE, THE CAR WOULD HAD SHUT DOWN IF IT WAS MOVING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT (HAPPENED TO SOMEONE AS DISCUSSED IN THE BIMMER FORUM). APPARENTLY, BMW HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE & TIRE WELL DESIGN DEFECTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEY EVEN GENERATED A TECHNICAL SERVICE/SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN (SIB54-06-06 & 61-13-06 ON SPECIAL ROOFS) FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO USE. HOWEVER, BMW KEEPS DENYING ANY DAMAGE LIABILITY AND REFUSING TO ADMIT ANY DESIGN DEFECTS. BMW NA, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE SF BMW DEALERSHIP RESPONDED TO ME THAT IT IS DUE TO "EXTERNAL FACTORS" (RAINS) AND THEREBY THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DAMAGED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD RUN INTO $15K. I AM FILING THE SAID COMPLAINT AND AM SEEKING AN ATTORNEY FOR A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST BMW NA. *TR

I HAVE A BAD BATTERY AND THE STERING WHEEL LOCKS NOW I CANT START MY CAR.

STEERING LOCK (ELV) WARNING (AMBER). *TR

AFTER A RECENT HEAVY RAIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS WERE ERRATIC, THE REAR HATCH OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED, AND ULTIMATELY THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION FAILED WITH THE CAR SITTING ON THE REAR BOTTOMING STOPS CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEVERE BOUNCING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVELED STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AND BATTERY/ELECTRICAL AREAS AT THE REAR OF THE CAR.

I BOUGHT 2006 BMW 530XI ABOUT A YEAR AGO FROM A USED DEALERSHIP, THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT A MONTH LATER IN A SUDDEN A I GOT A TRANS MALFUNCTION, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH CHARGED ME $299 TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION THEN CAME AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE SAME MESSAGE KEPT COMING BACK AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT UP, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT , THE TRANSMISSION WOULD KICK BACK SO HARD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE SO HARD TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. NOW I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO ANOTHER BMW DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TRANS MALFUNCTION STAYED AND DID NOT GO AWAY WHEN I RESTART THE CAR LIKE IT WAS DOING AND THEY TOLD ME , IT REQUIRES TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT A. BMW ADVERTISES THAT THERE CARS ARE STRONG AND LAST LONGER THAN OTHER CARS, I THINK THEY NEED TO GET SUED FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION FIR THEIR BAD CARS QUALITY. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF ONLINE THREADS WANTING TO SUE BMW FOR THE POOR TRANSMISSION ON THEIR CARS. BMW NEED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR BMW FAILED TRANSMISSION

Vehicle caught fire

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 12V-126: BATTERY CABLE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR THE ISSUE INVOLVES A BATTERY CABLE BOLT CONNECTION IN THE TRUNK. SPECIFICALLY, THIS BOLT CONNECTION IS SECURED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL BY AN INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL. OVER TIME, THIS CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION AND CAUSE AN OVERHEATING CONDITION - EXACTLY SAME THING HAPPEND TO ME

ON MAY 20 2013, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER, SUDDENLY BRAKES WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, HE FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THE MECHANIC SAW A RECALL FOR BMW 5 SERIES 2004-2010 FOR BRAKE BOOSTER, HE PROCEEDED TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE BRAKE BOOSTER OUT TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION DETAILS ARE OIL IN BRAKE BOOSTER. HE CHANGED IT, GAVE ME A BILL AND THE OLD PART, AND SHOWED ME THE OIL IN IT. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA USING THE NUMBER ON RECALL NO LUCK KEPT GETTING RECORDER WITH INFO EVERY TIME I PRESSED 0 AS INSTRUCTED TO TALK TO A PERSON I WOULD GET HANG UP ON. I FOUND OTHER NUMBERS ON THE WEB AND FINALLY ONE OF THE NUMBERS WORKED WHERE I TALKED TO A LIVE PERSON. AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO, SAME ANSWER YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE MAKE MODEL YEAR AND THE PROBLEM FIT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION, ALL I RECEIVED WAS SORRY THIS IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR YOU VIN NOTHING WE CAN DO. *TR

BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS PER DOCUMENT 10V446000 HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS CAMPAIGN. *TR

I HAVE A BAD BATTERY AND THE STERING WHEEL LOCKS NOW I CANT START MY CAR.

IN AUGUST 2013, THE STATION WAGON APPEARED TO LOWER ITSELF IN THE REAR LITTLE BY LITTLE. AS OF THIS FILING, THE REAR END HAS LOWERED ITSELF TO THE POINT IT CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO SHOCK ABSORPTION OR SUSPENSION ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT APPEARS TO BE FINE. IN JUNE 2006, THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS UNDER 06V-277 FOR 2006 BMW 5. 6 & 7 SERIES FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 5, 2006-APRIL 26, 2006. MY VEHICLE, PER BMW, WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2005. I AM ALLEGING MY VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL IS IMPAIRED DUE TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURING DATES SHOULD INCLUDE ALL 2006 BMWS. THE DEALER AND BMW IS NEGLECTING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BASED ON A TECHNICALITY ON THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURED DATES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AN EXPANSION TO THE INCLUSION. *TR