1991 BMW 525i

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.

Risk. IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Defect. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Defect. THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.

Defect. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE HOME THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE AFTER PARKING IT OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO CAME ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIGHT UP, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN MORE THAN A FEW CENTIMETERS. *TR

WHILE SITTING IN MY 1991 BMW 525I THE SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARD,AND SIDEWAYS. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT, AND ALMOST COMPLETELY DISSASSEMBLING IT SO I COULD TRY TO REALIGN THE THING LONG ENOGH TO MAKE IT HOME,I WAS ABLE TO THROUGH BRUTE FORCE PUT IT BACK IN PLACE. LATER AFTER SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT FAILURES I WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM.THE CABLES THAT GO BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTORS AND THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT GEARBOXES WERE SHEATHED IN A FAILURE-PRONE PLASTIC! THE PLASTIC THROUGH TIME WEARS AND STRETCHES UNTILL THE DRIVE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF GEARBOX ALLOWING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I JUST CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS ITEM HAD BEEN RECALLED WITH NO LUCK. *AK

TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. THE PLASTIC SOCKETS HAVE MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND NO LONGER HOLD THE BULBS IN PROPERLY. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES STAY OFF ALL TOGETHER. DEALER ADVISED ME TO BUY NEW ONES @ $320 EACH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, BMW SHOULD REPLACE THEM. DT

THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN CLUTCH FAILED WITHIN 45,000 MILES. NLM

UPPER RADIATOR "PLASTIC MALE" OUTLET CONNECTING TO UPPER RUBBER HOSE EXPLODED CAUSING EXTRIME ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING EVEN AFTER DEALER INSTALLED NEW RADIATOR CAP RECALL IN AUGUST 1999. ALMOST CAUSED A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT. CAR HAS EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD AT DEALERSHIP. REPORTED PROBLEM TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA.

REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP BUT THE NEW CAP CAUSED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. *AK

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CONTAINS A FLAW, WHEN REMOVING RADIATOR CAP CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES DUE TO CAP NOT HAVING A TWO-STAGE RELEASE, O-RINGS AT THE BASE OF THE CAP ENSURE THAT THE PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE RADIATOR UNTIL THE CAP IS FULLY UNSCREWED.

THE SRS {A SAFETY SYSTEM} LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE LOCKS.

THE SPEEDOMETER OPERATES IRRATICALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. IT FUNCTIONS OK WHEN WARM. THIS IS CAUSED BY BAD MATERIALS USED ON THE SPEEDOMETER PCB BOARD. A NUMBER OF BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND FIXES ARE SUGGESTED ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS. HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/SPEEDO/SPEEDO.HTM AND AT HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/E30/INTERIOR/E30_SPEEDO_SENDER_PROBLEM.HTML. UNRELIABLE OR LACK OF INDICATION OF DRIVING SPEED CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MANY BMW OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED AS INDICATED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED IT ON THE WEB. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $600 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *MJS

FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. RECEIVED FORM LETTER SAYING "SORRY, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY." THIS $45K+ AUTO

TRAVELING 65MPH GOING AROUND A CURB WHEN SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING & NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT BMW. STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TAPED TO BE DRIVEN. *AK

VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES, RECALL ISSUED AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURED.