TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS METAL SHARDS STARTED TO FALL FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE COOLANT WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN HAD BECOME SEPARATED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN WAS FRACTURED AND CUTTING THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10569285
- Incident
- Dec 11, 2013
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HYDRO-LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10519549
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2013
- Mileage
- 180,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD ROARING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE RADIATOR FAN BLADES DETACHED, DENTED THE HOOD, WHICH CAUSED THE PAINT TO PEEL AND THEN FELL TO THE GROUND.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10366668
- Incident
- Nov 17, 2010
- Mileage
- 111,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 26, 2010
ENGINE FIRE: ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT WIRES OVERHEATED AND CAUSED WIRES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO BURN. SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DEGRADED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10362407
- Incident
- Oct 8, 2010
- Mileage
- 109,000 mi
WHILE DRIVING COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10073963
- Incident
- Apr 20, 2004
- Mileage
- 68,000 mi
RADIATOR FAILURE (BLOCKED). *LA
- NHTSA ID
- 10046866
- Incident
- Nov 13, 2003
- Mileage
- 62,000 mi
RADIATOR FAILURE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10045940
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2003
- Mileage
- 57,135 mi
WATER PUMP FAILURE.THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT INVOLVES A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE E39 540I BMW. THE FAILURE OF THE PUMP IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN BETWEEN 5000-60000 MILES AND CAN PUT THE DRIVER IN DANGER AND CAUSE UNNECESSARY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO BE INCURRED ON A CAR OF THIS CALIBER. THE WATER PUMP FAILURE IN MY CASE DESTROYED THE MAIN DRIVE BELT LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALTERNATOR ETC. E39 OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY DESIGN AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER PUMP AND COOLING SYSTEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10043755
- Incident
- Oct 18, 2003
- Mileage
- 58,900 mi
BMW 2000 540I, V8, FAILURE (CRACKED, LOSS OF COOLANT) OF UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTOR. I HAD 3 1/2 YRS/45,000 MILES ON THE CAR. PLASTIC COMPONENT WIDELY KNOWN AMONG OWNERS TO BE PRONE TO FAILURE. THANKS TO THEIR ADVICE ON WARNING SIGNS, I WAS ABLE TO STOP UNDER CONTROL AND GET REPAIR WITHOUT MAJOR INCIDENT; OTHER UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS HAVE BEEN, AND WILL BE, LESS FORTUNATE. TO BMW'S CREDIT, THEY REPLACED MY RADIATOR UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE A KNOWN DESIGN DEFICIENCY.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10030308
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2003
- Mileage
- 45,000 mi
RADIATOR FAILURE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10030301
- Incident
- Jul 26, 2003
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.