2006 BMW 5 Series complaints

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM ISSUED A FRENZY OF ALERTS, AND INTERRUPTED FUNCTION OF SEVERAL SUBSYSTEMS INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE SYSTEM ISSUED A MESSAGE "CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND THEN FURTHER ALERTS. THE BMW CENTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND STATED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND FLOODED THE COMPARTMENT HOUSING THE CONTROL SYSTEMS, CAUSING THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE PROTOCOL ESTABLISHED BY BMW FOR THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, I HAD THE SUNROOF DRAINS CHECKED ON OCTOBER 2009 AND WAS ASSURED BY THE BMW CENTER THAT IT WAS WORKING TO SPECIFICATION AT THAT TIME. NEVERTHELESS, BMW'S CENTER ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM BEING PARTIALLY BLOCKED. (N.B. THE SYSTEM HAD NOT BEEN CHECKED FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF USE, SO WHY WOULD IT FAIL 1 YEAR AND 1 MONTH AFTER INSPECTION?) THE DRAIN SYSTEM IS CONCEALED WITHIN THE ROOF AND IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO CAR OWNER. THE COMBINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS AT THE POINT OF WATER COLLECTION PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET TURNS UP SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON OTHER BMW MODELS EQUIPPED WITH PANORAMIC SUNROOFS SUCH AS THE X3, X5, AND 535XI AND 325.

BMW CAR CAN BE A DEATH TRAP! MY 2006 530I SMG GEARBOX WITH 34K MILES LOST POWER COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING ON THE ROAD. LUCKILY, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR BECAME UNDRIVABLE AND NEEDED TO BE TOLLED AWAY. I WAS 5 MINUTES FROM GETTING ON A HIGHWAY AND IF I WAS ON HIGHWAY, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SEALED SYSTEM WITH NO USER SERVICEABLE/INSPECTION SUPPORT AND OBVIOUSLY THE CAR HAS NO MONITOR FACILITY FOR THIS COMPONENT SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING. WITH THE HYDRAULIC FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED THE GEAR BACK TO NEUTRAL WHICH RESULTS IN COMPLETE POWER LOST AND I COULD NOT "RE-ENGAGE" IT BACK IN GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER COMPUTER CONTROL (AUTOMATIC). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530 XIT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN IT RAINED THE WATER PENETRATED THE VEHICLE SPARE TIRE AREA CAUSING DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE MAIN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WILL CLEAN THE HOSES CLEAN THE UPHOLSTERY FABRIC, REPLACED THE DAMAGED WIRING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 39,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOONROOF WAS NOT DESGINED CORRECTLY.

2006 BMW 530I - WHEN STOPPING, CAR LURCHES FORWARD FORCEFULLY. ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME - FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME. *TR

I NOTICED JUST SHORT OF 49,000 MILES ON MY 2006 BMW 530I THE BRAKES WERE VERY HARD TO PUSH AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC STOPS. THROUGH TESTS OF MY OWN AND OF BMW SERVICE, THE CAUSE IS BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THE HEAT IN THIS AREA WAS PARTIALLY TO BLAME. I'VE OWNED A LOT OF CARS IN THIS AREA AND I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDS REPLACED, BUT AS OF THIS DATE HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET. *TR

I OWN A 2006 BMW 530XIT (VIN# [XXX] ) WITH A FAILED PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MAT. BMW SAYS THAT MY VIN# IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND SO I MUST PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPLACEMENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE 20 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS LOUDER WHENEVER THE WEATHER WAS FRIGID. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FRONT CONTROL LOWER ARM BUSHING. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $312.00. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 06V187000 SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARMS;THEREFORE; THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I PURCHASED A SET OF KUMHO ESCTA SPT, SIZE 245/35-19 TIRES FROM MY RETAILER ON JAN.12 2009. ON MARCH 28, 2009, I HAD 1 TIRE REPLACED DUE TO SEPARATION OF THE SIDEWALL. ON SEPT 19TH, 2009, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TIRE FAILURE WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEED. 2 ADDITIONAL TIRES WERE REPLACED AS WELL, AS THEY WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILING. JAN 07, 2010 I EXPERIENCED A 5TH TIRE FAILURE. ALL TIRE SHARE THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. INNER SIDEWALL SEPARATION OF THE CORDS (VISIBLE). I HAVE ASKED KUMHO TO REIMBURSE MY RETAILER, WHICH THEY HAVE DENIED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE. DURING THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO BRAKE. HE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE SUFFERED MINOR BURNS ON HIS HANDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE RIM SPLIT IN HALF. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED INTO TWO PIECES. SHE PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS AT FAULT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR HER YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.

THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON E60 BMW WAGONS HAS A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE DRAINS WHICH RE-DIRECTS WATER INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR (SPARE TIRE AREA) CAUSING MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING: LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS, SPEEDOMETER, ETC. IN MY CASE, THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS. THE DEALER AND BMW NORTH AMERICA REPAIRED THE CAR AT OWNERS' EXPENSE ALTHOUGH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS IN FORCE. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY BMW BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FLAW AND REFERS TO THE FAILURE BEING CAUSED BY 'ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES'. *TR

AIR BAG / PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON MY 2006 BMW 525IX WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS REPORTED ON THE RECALL FOR 5 SERIES 2006 MODELS. HOWEVER, BMW IS STATING THAT MY VIN IS NOT ONE OF THE IMPACTED MODELS. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS PART OF THE KNOW ISSUES AND MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1,500 TO HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE WORKING. I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE MY VIN IN THE RECALL SINCE THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY AS REPORTED IN HE RECALL STATEMENT. *TR

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

THE SUNROOF DRAIN CLOGGED IN MY 2006 BMW 530XI STATION WAGON CAUSING WATER TO POOL IN THE CAR AND SHORT OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER TO THE DASHBOARD INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND 2006 BMW 530XI STATION WAGON HE HAD TOWED THAT DAY FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SUNROOF DRAINS TO GET CLOGGED BY POLLEN AND PINE NEEDLES, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW TO ME. MY HUSBAND INSPECTED THE TRUNK WHERE THE WATER WAS POOLING, WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK, THERE WERE RELAY WIRES WHERE THE WATER WAS POOLING AND HEAT AND STEAM COMING FROM THE AREA SO MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED THE WIRES, I'M FAIRLY SURE THAT IF WE HAD LEFT IT MUCH LONGER IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SZL MODULE, WHICH CONTROLLED MOST OF THE COMPUTER FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE, BUT ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE LASTED LESS THAN A MINUTE, BUT DURING THIS TIME HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR STEER THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND REPLACED THE SZL MODULE AND CLOCK SPRING, IN ADDITION TO AN ELECTRICAL REPAIR. WITHIN A MONTH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAL. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS. EVEN WITH ALL THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER IS STILL UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. HE BELIEVES THAT THE ISSUE IS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THROUGH RESEARCH, HE HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLATTENED BY A SCREW IN THE ROAD AND ALSO A POTHOLE. THE TIRE IS A RUN FLAT TIRE, WHICH MEANS THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST FIFTY MORE MILES AFTER A FLAT WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, THE WHEEL SPLIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL SHOULD NOT HAVE SPLIT AND CRACKED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, THE WHEEL, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT. THE TIRE DEPTH AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,596.

CRACKED WHEEL, CAUSED SLOW LOSS OF AIR NOT DETECTED BY TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE. WHEEL IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.. NEW WHEEL PURCHASED. DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE FAILURE ALTHOUGH SEVERAL WHEELS WERE IN DEALERSHIP EXHIBITING SIMILAR DEFECTS ACROSS SEVERAL SERIES AND YEARS. *TR

I OWN A 2006 BMW 530I WITH 37,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL SET OF BRIDGESTONE RFT TIRES 275/40 R1893Y. THESE ARE LOW PROFILE TIRES AND ON NOV 16, 07 < BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A TIRE CHECK AT THE DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RT REAR WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND HAS DAMAGED THE TIRE. THIS THEY SAID WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THEY SAY THAT IT WAS DAMAGED FROM A POT HOLE. I SAID THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS LIKE CADILLAC, MERCEDES, CORVETTE AND NEVER BROKE A WHEEL. THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND IT COST ME $900. NOW ON APRIL 11, 2008, I WENT TO MY TIRE DEALER THAT I HAVE BEEN BUYING TIRES FROM FOR 20+ YEARS. HE SAID THE LEFT REAR AND FRONT WHEELS WERE CRACKED AND ALSO RUINED THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE BMW 18" WHEELS ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S WIFE BEGAN TO FEEL DIZZY. THE NEXT THING SHE REMEMBERED IS SMOKE APPEARING UNDER THE HOOD AND SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG RECALLS, BUT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 AND 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE ENTIRE I-DRIVE (COMPUTER SYSTEM) FREEZES AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. CURRENTLY, THE STALLING OCCURS WEEKLY, WHEREAS INITIALLY, IT OCCURRED EVERY FEW MONTHS. THE DEALER KEEPS THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, AFTER A MONTH, THE FAILURE RECURS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,574.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OVER 10 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH DAMAGED ALL OF THE WIRING AND SENSORS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE WATER ORIGINATED, BUT SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY HAVE ENTERED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,859.

SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (10/12/2005) THE VEHICLE ALERTS US THAT THE OIL LEVEL IS LOW - DO NOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED EACH TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BY SOUTH BAY BMW. REPROGRAMMING, SENSORS AND OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE; HOWEVER, WHATEVER REPAIRS ARE DONE, THE PROBLEM RECURS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 2 MPH COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH VERY LOW PRESSURE, AS IF OOZING OUT. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS A SENSOR THAT DISABLES THE AIR BAG IF AN ADULT IS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT (BASED ON WEIGHT) SINCE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN. THE SENSOR IN MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ALWAYS KEEPS THE AIR BAG DISABLED, EVEN IF AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PART. I'M DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT AIR BAG PROTECTION FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. *NM

DUE TO A CERTAIN DEFECT IN THE AIRCONDITIONING AIR DUCT, THE HUMIDITY BUILDS UP TO A HIGH LEVEL CAUSING EVENTUAL MOLD FORMATION IN THE AIR DUCT. AS A RESULT OF THAT A BAD SMELL WILL PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE UNTILL IT CAN BE EASILY NOTICABLE ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST MINUTE OF STARTING THE AIR CONDITIONNER. MOLDS ARE KNOWN TO BE STRONG ALLERGENS AND CAN RESULT IN WORSENING NASAL ALLERGY SYMPTOMS, COUGH, NASAL CONGESTION, AND SNEEZING. I BELLEIVE IT IS A HEALTH HAZARD TO PEOPLE WITH MOLD ALLERGIES LIKE MY SON WHO HAD NOTICABLE WOSENING OF HIS NASAL CONGESTION AND EVENTUALLY HIS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYMPTOMS AS A RESULT OF THAT. UP ON CANTACTING THE LOCAL DEALER IN TEH AREA AND LATER THE BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM SINCE I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED TO CLEAN THE DUCTS ONCE A YEAR, WHICH IS A SHORT TERM REMEDY AND DOES NOT PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM. I BELEIVE IT IS A HAELTH RISK AND CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED UPFRONT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY MAKE A SELECTION TO BUY THAT VEHICLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE HESITATION OF THE ENGINE LASTED BETWEEN 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, WHO DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS.*AK WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUEMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS UNDERPOWERED FOR ITS WEIGHT. UPDATED 12/18/06. *JB

I PURCHASED CAR IN MAY 2005 AND WITHIN 4 WEEKS MY CAR LIGHTS AND SIGNAL WOULD JUST FLASH OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WOULD THEN BEEP ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. THEN THE COMPUTER LOCKED MY CAR. AFTER WAITED ALMOST 2 HOURS FOR ROADSIDE THE DEALER CAME TO BRING ME TO A RENTAL CAR DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THEN THE CAR WAS RE KEYED. THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED AND ALL ELECTRONICALLY DEFECTS WORKED BETTER THEN DELIVERY. *JB

AFTER NUMEROUS SERVICES FOR ELECTRONICALLY DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS, MY CARS COMPUTER SHUT DOWN. JUST SHUT DOWN. SINCE THE COMPUTER CONTROLS ALL FUNCTION I WAS LEFT WITH NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. I WAS LEFT WITH NO GPS, NO CLIMATE CONTROL, NO ENTERTAINMENT CONTROL, AND IN ORDER IN HAVE THE CAR SERVICES WITH A COMPLIMENTARY VEHICLE IT HAD TO MAKE WEEKS TO BE SERVICED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS SOLD ON THE FACT THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE PICK UP THE CAR, HOW YOU DO WAIT. THE CAR HAD TO BE SERVICED TWO TIMES AND BECAME A HUGE IN CONVINCE. *JB

CAR STARTED BEEPING UNCONTROLLABLY THAN SERVICE LIGHT REPORTED A MALFUNCTION IN THE AIR PAGES AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATS. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS DEFECTED SENSORS. HAD TO WAIT FOR PART THEN RETURN FOR ANOTHER SERVICE TRIP AND WAIT FOR COMPLIMENTARY CAR. ITS AMAZING WHEN YOUR IN A CAR SERVICE IS AN EMERGENCY THEY NEVER HAVE LOANER AVAILABLE. I DEPEND ON MY CAR, SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO WAIT FOR SERVICE. AGAIN WITH NO EXPLANATION THEY ALSO HAD TO UPDATE COMPUTER NOW MANY NEW FUNCTION THAT WERE NOT WORKING ARE NOW FUNCTIONING LIKE THE BLUE TOOTH. SIDE LIGHTS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THERE. *JB

THE TAILLIGHTS OF BMWS (MADE IN ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS), SOME LEXUS (STARTING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO) AND SOME CADILLACS (STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO) USE LEDS THAT ARE MODULATED ON AND OFF. THESE CAN BECOME A DISTRACTION AT NIGHT WHEN MOVING ONE'S EYES QUICKLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT CAN GIVE THE ILLUSION THAT THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN THERE ARE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY STUDIES INVOLVING THE BRIGHT HEAD LIGHTS AND ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THESE HEADLIGHT?. *NM

THE DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND AWD (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) MODULE ON MY CAR (2006 BMW 530XI) MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER (BUDDS' BMW IN OAKVILLE) SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD-WORTHY" AND THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER, AND THAT THERE WERE OTHER CARS BROUGHT IN WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT BMW HAD ISSUED A BULLETIN. I PHONED BMW CANADA BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME A COPY OF THE BULLETIN. *JB

I WAS DRIVING A NEW BMW M5 IN CHICAGO ON LOWER LAKE SHORE DRIVE (THE BRIDGE OVER THE CHICAGO RIVER.) AT APPROXIMATLY 30-35 MILES/HOUR THE CAR WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE AND THIS RESULTED IN TO A MAJOR CRASH WITH SIGNIFICANT INJURY, SEVERAL DEVICES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY INCLUDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR-BAGS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS AND DURING THIS TIME I DID NOT EXPERIENCE EVEN A MINOR ACCIDENT NOR DID I EVER RECEIVE A TICKET FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION. *JB

COMPUTER LOCKED KEY, ALL LIGHTS INSIDE CAR AND OUTSIDE FLICKERED OUT OF CONTROL, THEN 2 WEEKS LATER BRAKE DID NOT ENGAGE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. *JB

I OWN A 2006 BMW 525I. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS A SENSOR THAT DISABLES THE AIR BAG IF AN ADULT IS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT (BASED ON WEIGHT) SINCE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN. THE SENSOR IN MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ALWAYS KEEPS THE AIR BAG DISABLED, EVEN IF AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PART, BUT HAS NO DELIVERY DATE FOR THE PART. IN ADDITION, IT ISN'T EVEN CERTAIN THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO, I'M DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT AIR BAG PROTECTION FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. *NM