2002 BMW 530Ia

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DURING THE TIRE MOUNTING PROCESS ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH STANDARD (NON-SPORT) SUSPENSION AND EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITOURINGCONTACT CH95 ECOPLUS TIRES, SIZE 225/65R16 95H, HAVING DOT CODES 4001, 4101, OR 4201, THE OUTER SIDEWALL SURFACE OF THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN CUT BY A SHARP EDGE. OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION OF INFLATION PRESSURE.

Risk. CONTINUED DRIVING WITH LOW INFLATION PRESSURE IN THE TIRE COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, AND COULD IN SOME CASES RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FIVE TIRES FOR A POSSIBLE CUT IN THE SIDEWALL, AND IF A CUT IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530IA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530IA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

ON MAY 28TH 2012 ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BMW THREW A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. USING A SCANNER, A CODE P0741 WAS THROWN. WHEN I SEARCHED ON GOOGLE, I FOUND IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR THE E39 BMW 530IA CARS HOUSING ZF MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS TO HAVE THE TORQUE CONVERTER TURBINE SHAFT SEAL DETERIORATED CAUSING THE FAULT. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO HAVE BMW TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER $4000 FOR A SEAL THAT IS NO MORE THAN $25.00. THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE A GOODWILL REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WITH A KNOWN PART FAILURE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

AT 104,700 MILES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DIAGNOSIS WAS P0741 (BMW CODE 48) WHICH IS A FAULT WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC). THIS FAILURE, UNTIL CORRECTED, RESULTS IN LOWER FUEL MILEAGE AND A GUARANTEED FAILURE TO PASS AN EMISSIONS TEST DURING STATE MANDATED VEHICLE INSPECTIONS. CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE SINCE THE TCC LOCKUP CLUTCH IS SLIPPING, RESULTING IN DEBRIS BUILDING UP IN THE FLUID. THIS FAULT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SEAL THAT BMW HAS A HIDDEN SERVICE BULLETIN ON. SEE SI 24 03 06 DATED FEBRUARY 2008. NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON BMW FORUMS INDICATE THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES TAKING PLACE. THERE IS NO DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE THAT THE SEAL IN QUESTION HAS BEEN UPDATED, MEANING FAILURE OF THE SEAL WILL LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN DURING THE (EXPECTED) LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR

TWO FAILURES OF FUEL THROTTLE ON SAME VEHICLE: ONE NEW AND ONE REPLACEMENT: DANGER TO LIFE!!! DT