I am encountering persistent issues with my 2005 BMW 525i. Despite having replaced several critical components, including the ignition coils, spark plugs, mass air flow sensor, and throttle body sensors, the vehicle continues to experience performance problems, specifically failing to advance beyond the fourth cylinder when driving uphill. After conducting numerous diagnostic tests, I have concluded that there may be an air leak in the intake manifold. Additionally, after prolonged use under these conditions, the positive battery cable from the trunk has shown signs of overheating, evidenced by smoke, which I suspect is related to repeated uphill driving. While the vehicle performs adequately on flat surfaces, it exhibits hesitation and jerking once it surpasses the fourth cylinder.
2005 BMW 525i
Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.
30 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000–150,000 miles.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags › Frontal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsThe tail-lights have gone out creating safty issue and number of warning lights to come up on the dashboard. Dealership stated that the wiring harness around ground wire has melted. They stated that this is same issue that is mentioned under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V407000. The service advisor said that his issue would be fixed by same service bulletin SIB 630613, however my date range is not included in the recall. I would like to report an issue to open a case and extend the recall to include all E60 models from 2004 to 2010. Would you please open an investigation into this matter and contact me for additional information and photos.
I PURCHASED THIS BMW 525I USED FROM A PERSON THAT OBTAINED IT FROM A WHOLESALE DEALER, IT HAD SOME MINOR FRONTEND DAMAGE FROM A FENDER BENDER (BROKEN GRILL, DING TO HOOD) SHOWING 107900 MILES. EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED OUT. I FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED A SLIGHT CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION SOUND, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES HERE IN WISCONSIN. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHILE JUST FINISHING GOING UP A SLIGHT STRAIGHT INCLINE AT AROUND 45MPH THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED DOWN INTO LIMP DOWN MODE AND A TEMPORARY NOTICE CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE CLEARED THE PROBLEM, THE NEXT DAY NEAR THE SAME SPOT IT OCCURRED AGAIN. I ASSUMED THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT BE LOW ON FLUID BUT LOOKING ONLINE BMW INDICATED THIS IS A NO SERVICE TRANSMISSION BUT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL BY ACCESSING A PLUG UNDER THE CAR. WHEN A SERVICE TECH CHECKED HE SAID THE FLUID LEVEL WAS NORMAL BUT SMELLED BURNT. HE RECOMMENDED AGAINST ANY SERVICE IN THAT IT LIKELY WOULD RESULT IN FASTER COMPLETE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED AND NO CODES SHOW IN THE SYSTEM FILE, IN THAT BMW INSISTED ON NO PROVIDING A METHOD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THEY ASSUMED THE LIABILITY FOR FAILURE IF REGULAR MAINTAINANCE (TRANSMISSION FLUSH) COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE.
MY CAR HAS A GAS SMELL EVEN IN THE INSIDE SMELLS LIKE GAS
AFTER HAVING AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SCAN MY VEHICLE WITH AN ADVANCED SCAN TOOL, THE ERROR THAT CAME UP WAS FOR THE "PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR". THIS FAULT HAS CAUSED BOTH THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT TO REMAN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD THE CODE RESET. BUT AFTER A PERSON SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ERROR CODE CAME BACK WITH THE SAME FAULT CODE.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. REAR LEFT HAND BRAKE/BACKUP LIGHT IS PROBLEMATIC AND INTERMITTENTLY WORKS, USUALLY ONLY SHOWS UP ON CAR'S DASHBOARD WHILE IN REVERSE, BUT SOMETIMES WILL STAY ON-SCREEN DURING DRIVING. FRONT ASHTRAY OUTLET/CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOESN'T WORK.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT.
SUNROOF DRAIN CLOGGED INTO TRUNK CAUSING FIRE IN BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND SPARE TIRE AREA. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN SHOP AFTER NOT BEING RUN FOR HOURS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/16/17*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,712. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ *JS
WHEN THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED IN THE CAR, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF WRECK. AN AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHT IS NOW ON. BMW SAYS IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE SENSOR IS BAD. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA CONCERNING THE VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN #08V384000, BUT THEY SAID MY SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL THAT COVERED MY MODEL, MANUFACTURE DATE AND THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 94,400 MILES.
I OWN A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHICH SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
ON APRIL 11, 2015. I WAS TAKING MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT SERVICED AFTER SITTING ALL WINTER. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER, COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE. I CONTINUED TO MY MECHANIC. ONCE THERE WE OPENED THE TRUNK, WE NOTICED AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WE TOOK OUT THE TIRE AND NOTICED WATER IN THE WHEEL WELL, WHICH MADE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SPARKING, SMOKING AND ON FIRE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW. THEY STATED THE WATER DAMAGED THE MICRO POWER MODULE. BMW PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, AND RELOCATED THE MODULE AWAY FROM THE WHEEL WELL. I FEEL WHERE IT WAS PLACED PREVIOUS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. IF I HAD ANY COMBUSTIBLE ITEM IN MY TRUNK MY BMW WOULD HAVE FULLY CAUGHT FIRE. BMW SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLE AND RELOCATION ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE DAMAGED BY WATER, POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
THE FIRST DAY I GOT MY BRAND NEW 2005 BMW 525I WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND I WAS DRIVING IT AND A EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TO PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO GET MY BRAND NEW CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A CYCLE OF EVENTS THAT NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY HONDA ACCORD, MERCEDES, ACURA, BLAZER OR SATURN. MY SCREEN LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE ALL THE TIME WITH ALL KINDS OF STRANGE WARNINGS THAT UNLESS YOU ARE AN ENGINEER MIGHT AS WELL BE IN SWAHILI. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. I HAVE HAD A FLAT TIRE LIGHT COME ON (IT'S ON RIGHT NOW) WHEN THERE IS NO FLAT TIRE. THE WOOD PANELING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS 3 HUGE CRACKS THAT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T OPEN BECAUSE THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. MY SUNROOF COVER FLIES BACK INTO THE BACK OF THE TOP OF THE CAR AND GETS LOST BACK THERE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH IT. THE LIGHTER (WHICH I NEED FOR A CHARGER FOR MY PHONE) MALFUNCTIONS AND THE WOODEN PANEL COVER DISAPPEARED INTO THE INTERIOR COMPONENT OF THE CAR AS I WATCHED HELPLESS LEAVING A BIG UGLY GAPING HOLE. I AM SO CAREFUL WITH MY CAR AND CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I GOT FOR $50,000. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT A 1972 VOLVO MIGHT DEAL WITH BUT MY 2005 BMW? THE REPAIRS AND SERVI
ACTIVE STEERING FAULT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD ABOUT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. THE SEATBELT SIGNAL AND AIRBAG SIGNAL REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. RECORDS SHOW THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS REPLACED AUG 21, 2007 AT FIRST OWNERS EXPENSE. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR OUR VIN #. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE TIME SPAN OF THE RECALL THAT BMW ISSUED IN 2008 (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AFTER THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE). WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? WHY IS THE REPLACEMENT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILING FOR A 2ND TIME? *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAIN ON. AUTO SHOP REFERRED ME TO BMW TO HAVE RECALL ON PASSENGER MAT SENSOR ERROR. BMW DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON 7/3/2009, SO IT IS NOT COVERED AND I NEED TO PAY REPAIR PRICES. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK NOW. *JS
20 of 35 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2004| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 72 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2006 | 77 | 3 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 — this page | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 84 | 0 | 17 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2002 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2001 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1993 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1992 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1991 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1990 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.