2006 BMW 530Xi complaints

I DISCOVERED FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. CENTRAL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INTERIOR FIRE ESCAPING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DIFFICULT THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS. *TR

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THE SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE IN JANUARY 2014 AND THE AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK. THE EXPECTED DATE FOR REPAIRS WOULD BE MARCH 2014. CALLED IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AND IT WOULD BE MAY 2014. CALLED ON MAY23RD AND WAS INSURED THEY HAD A SOLUTION AND RECALL FOR REPAIRS WERE BEING SENT OUT BY MAY 31ST, 2014. CALLED AGAIN ON JUNE 13, 2014 AND AM NOW TOLD THEY STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION AND ARE HOPING FOR JULY OR AUGUST OF 2014. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE JANUARY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT WITH BMW AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOT A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING CORRECTED. *JS

MY VEHICLE MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR BMW RECALL 13V564 BUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS 2 MONTHS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE BMW WILL NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT. ALL OTHER CRITERIA APPLY - MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT MAY FAIL, RESULTING IN RESULTING IN A DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM. A WARNING DISPLAY AND ISSUE WAS VERIFIED BY AN AUTHORIZED BMW REPAIR CENTER. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,661.

THE ALUMINUM HEAD BOLT NEAR THE OIL FILTER HAS SHEARED OFF CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL OIL LEAK IN THE SAME AREA AS THE SHEARED OFF BOLT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BMW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE N52 ENGINES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS THAT THE ALUMINUM BOLTS HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME RESULTED IN A NEW VALVE COVER AND GASKETS. THE RECENT CHINA BMW BOLT DEFECT RECALL (HTTP://WWW.BLOOMBERG.COM/NEWS/2014-04-02/BMW-TO-RECALL-232-098-VEHICLES-IN-CHINA-FOR-BOLT-DEFECT.HTML) SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME BOLT DEFECT AS THE N52 ENGINES. I EXPECT THERE SHALL BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON NOW MOSTLY STAYS ON AND BMW SENT LETTER IN JANUARY THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED. ITS NOW APRIL AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX WITHOUT MORE INFO THOUGH THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V564000(AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,600. ..UPDATED 05/15/14 *BF

IN AUGUST 2013, THE STATION WAGON APPEARED TO LOWER ITSELF IN THE REAR LITTLE BY LITTLE. AS OF THIS FILING, THE REAR END HAS LOWERED ITSELF TO THE POINT IT CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO SHOCK ABSORPTION OR SUSPENSION ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT APPEARS TO BE FINE. IN JUNE 2006, THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS UNDER 06V-277 FOR 2006 BMW 5. 6 & 7 SERIES FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 5, 2006-APRIL 26, 2006. MY VEHICLE, PER BMW, WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2005. I AM ALLEGING MY VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL IS IMPAIRED DUE TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURING DATES SHOULD INCLUDE ALL 2006 BMWS. THE DEALER AND BMW IS NEGLECTING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BASED ON A TECHNICALITY ON THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURED DATES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AN EXPANSION TO THE INCLUSION. *TR

A MESSAGE STATING A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION KEEPS COMING ON. DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALING AND GIVING HIM MY VIN# HE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS OVERSIGHT BY BMW AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL AND LATER STATED THAT THE PRODUCTION DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10000. UPDATED 04-23-14 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWING WATER TO PENETRATE THE CABIN, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR BACK TO HOME, SUDDEN NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE AND FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELTS WERE OFF AND SHEARED OFF SOME BOLTS AROUND THE HOLDING. AFTER THE REPAIR AT THE TIME ON 5/1/2012, ENGINE STARTS DISCOVERING OIL LEAK AROUND THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD HOUSING. KEEPING THE OIL LEVEL UP TO THE REQUIRE LEVEL FOR THE PAST YEAR. AS OF TODAY 11/21/2013, I DISCOVERED THE REASON WHY THE CYLINDER HEAD HOUSING IS LEAKING OIL IS 2 SHEARED OFF BOLTS ON TOP OF THE HEAD HOUSING. I DRIVE NORMALLY AND ALUMINUM SCREWS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR AND IT BROKE OFF THAT EASY WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

BMW OVER-TORQUED THE FOUR CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS ON ALL N52 ENGINES DURING MANUFACTURE, INCLUDING MY CAR. THE BOLT HEADS ARE POPPING OFF ON ALL THE CARS, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AT SPEED AND MINIMALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. THE ISSUE IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN HOW BMW BUILT THESE ENGINES (AFFECTING MANY, MANY 5 SERIES CARS) BUT IS TAKING ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE OR ANYTHING OWNER-RELATED -- IT'S PURELY A MISTAKE BY BMW THAT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND TO COVER REPAIR COSTS. THEY CORRECTED THE SPECS THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND DON'T TORQUE THE BOLTS AS MUCH, BUT ARE LEAVING PREVIOUS OWNERS OUT TO DRY FOR SOME $3000-5000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE BMW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO RETRO-ACTIVELY REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THIS MISTAKE OF THEIRS. THANKS. *TR

MY GIRLFRIEND GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY BMW AND AS I TOOK OFF, A WARNING CODE CAME OVER MY IDRIVE SCREEN STATING THAT MY PASSENGER RESTRAINT WAS CAUSING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION. I NOTICED AT THAT SAME TIME THAT MY AIRBAG AND RESTRAINT LIGHT WERE ON IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR

THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT AND NON FUNCTIONAL , WAS TOLD THERE IS NO OPEN ISSUE/RECALL , DEALER REFUSES TO FIX AND I AM NOT SPENDING 1200.00 TO FIX A ISSUE THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I NEED YOU TO CONTACT ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. [XXX]THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON MAY 20 2013, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER, SUDDENLY BRAKES WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, HE FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THE MECHANIC SAW A RECALL FOR BMW 5 SERIES 2004-2010 FOR BRAKE BOOSTER, HE PROCEEDED TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE BRAKE BOOSTER OUT TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION DETAILS ARE OIL IN BRAKE BOOSTER. HE CHANGED IT, GAVE ME A BILL AND THE OLD PART, AND SHOWED ME THE OIL IN IT. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA USING THE NUMBER ON RECALL NO LUCK KEPT GETTING RECORDER WITH INFO EVERY TIME I PRESSED 0 AS INSTRUCTED TO TALK TO A PERSON I WOULD GET HANG UP ON. I FOUND OTHER NUMBERS ON THE WEB AND FINALLY ONE OF THE NUMBERS WORKED WHERE I TALKED TO A LIVE PERSON. AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO, SAME ANSWER YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE MAKE MODEL YEAR AND THE PROBLEM FIT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION, ALL I RECEIVED WAS SORRY THIS IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR YOU VIN NOTHING WE CAN DO. *TR

CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY IN THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ONBOARD SYSTEMS DETECTED A PASSANGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR. AT THE TIME THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CODE DOES NOT WANT TO GO AWAY AND IT'S INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE POWER SUPPLY AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND OTHER GAUGES BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2007-2011 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT NOT FOR THE 2006 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE, FAULT LIGHT HAS STARTED SHOWING ON MY BMW, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL REPORTED ON THE SAME COMPONENT "STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008". I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING UP IN THE RECALL. DEALER SAYS ITS EXACTLY THE SAME PART BUT I AM NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. THIS IS A HUGH SAFETY ISSUE... *TR

NO ONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND FIRST THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A DAY LATER THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE SAME SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, INDICATING THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND CAUSED THE ELECTRONICS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BLINK AND NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT WATER HAD LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM A CLOGGED DRAIN THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SUNROOF. THE DEALER CLEANED THE DRAIN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

WHILE DRIVING ALONE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ABOVE THE PASSENGER SEAT WENT OFF INDICATING THE AIRBAG WAS ON, BUT NO ONE WAS RIDING WITH ME. ALSO, THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ALARM SOUNDED BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. AFTER PICKING UP A FRIEND, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE GONE UNTIL I HAD DROVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO ACT UP AGAIN. I CALLED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL AND I COULD GET THE REPAIRS DONE AND SAVE MY BMW DEALER RECEIPTS IN CASE ONE DAY IT WOULD BE COVERED. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $1200 SO MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY SAY MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL, HOWEVER I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY! PLEASE HELP! *TR

I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA BY PHONE REGARDING A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY 2006 BMW 530XI WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. YET, MY CAR EXHIBITS THE EXACT PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. THIS INCLUDES A WARNING IN IDRIVE SYSTEM STATING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT" SYSTEM ISSUE. HOW IS IT THAT OTHER 2006 5 SERIES VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED AND MY CAR WAS NOT? THE LOCAL DEALER IS SAYING THIS IS MORE THAN $1000 TO REPAIR, NOT SURE HOW THEY WOULD KNOW THAT WITHOUT SEEING THE VEHICLE. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR. WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

A RECENT RAIN STORM FLOODED THE SPARE TIRE WELL COMPARTMENT AND FRIED ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STORED UNDERNEATH THE TIRE. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING THE WAGON THAT DAY AND THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. OTHERWISE, THE CAR WOULD HAD SHUT DOWN IF IT WAS MOVING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT (HAPPENED TO SOMEONE AS DISCUSSED IN THE BIMMER FORUM). APPARENTLY, BMW HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE & TIRE WELL DESIGN DEFECTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEY EVEN GENERATED A TECHNICAL SERVICE/SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN (SIB54-06-06 & 61-13-06 ON SPECIAL ROOFS) FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO USE. HOWEVER, BMW KEEPS DENYING ANY DAMAGE LIABILITY AND REFUSING TO ADMIT ANY DESIGN DEFECTS. BMW NA, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE SF BMW DEALERSHIP RESPONDED TO ME THAT IT IS DUE TO "EXTERNAL FACTORS" (RAINS) AND THEREBY THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DAMAGED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD RUN INTO $15K. I AM FILING THE SAID COMPLAINT AND AM SEEKING AN ATTORNEY FOR A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST BMW NA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAJOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRAIN IN THE SUNROOF FAILED, CAUSING MOISTURE TO REACH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

THIS BMW 530XI WAGON SUFFERED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AFTER THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM DRAINED RAIN WATER INTO THE COMPARTMENTS WHERE THE BATTERY, FUSES, VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES AND COMPUTER MODULES ARE STORED. APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS AFTER THE RAIN STORM, THE OWNER (WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPROPERLY DRAINED WATER) ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. DURING THE DRIVE, THE CAR DISPLAYED TWO SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE MESSAGE "ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A SAFE AREA AND LATER TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE BMW DEALER CONFIRMS THAT THE SUNROOF DRAINED RAIN WATER INTO THE ELECTRONICS COMPARTMENTS, SHORTING OUT AT LEAST FOUR COMPUTER MODULES, AND DESTROYED THE BATTERY AND MULTIPLE SWITCHES, RELAYS, AND WIRING HARNESSES. CERTAIN SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INCLUDING AN AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT, SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A FIRE (PRESUMABLY DUE TO A SHORT CAUSED BY THE RAIN WATER.) THE BMW DEALER STATES THAT REPLACING ELECTRONICS MODULES AND THE BATTERY (APPROXIMATELY $4,000) ARE REQUIRED BEFORE FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS CAN BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS. *TR

ON TUESDAY MAY 29TH WE HAD A RAIN STORM, THE NEXT DAY I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN TO GO TO A SOCCER GAME. FIVE MINUTES BEFORE ENTERING THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND MY STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 25MPH AND WAS ABLE TO PULL MY VEHICLE OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL BMW DEALER WHICH FOUND THAT THE CASSETTE ON THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF TO BE DEFECTIVE....THAT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF WATER TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND GO UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE REAR WHERE ALL THE ELECTRICAL IS. I PUT A COMPLAINT INTO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA BECAUSE A. THE ELECTRICAL SHOULD NOT BE PUT UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WHERE WATER COULD GET IN AND B. I WAS ABOUT TO GET ON THE TURNPIKE WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH, I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY BECAUSE IF I WAS ON THE MASS PIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. IT WAS 2498 TO FIX THE ISSUE, BMW WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF AND RELOCATE ALL THE ELECTRICAL TO A SAFER MORE DRYER PLACE. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER BECAUSE I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BMW NEEDS TO RELOCATE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO A SAFER AREA THAN UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS EXTREMELY RUDE WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT WAS BASICALLY "NOTHING HAPPENED TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, SO WE KNOW IT"S A PROBLEM, SO WE WILL PAY FOR HALF OF IT". I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO SAFEGUARD OTHER BMW DRIVERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PRIVATE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT FOUR BOLTS WERE DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

I NOTICED MY CAR START TO JERK OR MOVING FORWARD WHEN I COME TO STOP. THIS IS VERY CONCERN FOR ME THAT I COULD CAUSE TO HIT SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU IN ADVANCED FOR YOUR UNDERSTAND. *TR

BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS PER DOCUMENT 10V446000 HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS CAMPAIGN. *TR

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS DEFECTIVE. MY CAR IS TWO MONTHS OUTSIDE THE EXISTING RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

VERY BIG LEAK ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. NO DASHBOARD SENSOR ALERTED ME TO THIS LEAK. TRANSMISSION MECHATRONICS SLEEVE WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE OIL PAN AND TRANSMISSION OIL ADDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 500 SERIES. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF DRAIN PLUG SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING WATER TO FLOW INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE BMW VEHICLES WITH PANORAMIC MOONROOFS HAVE A KNOWN FAILURE (SEE BIMMERFEST.COM) IN THE WATER SEALS AND DRAIN CHANNELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUNROOF. THE ISSUE IS THAT CLOGGED LINES PRODUCE FLOODING IN THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT. THIS FLOODING CAUSES TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. IN MY CASE, THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. HOWEVER, A READ OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS ASSOCIATED WITH BMWS SHOWS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOTAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP COMPLETELY. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO MANUALLY STEER A BMW ONCE THE ELECTRICAL GOES OFF. *TR