2006 BMW M5

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.

Risk. OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.

Remedy. BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW M5. The contact stated that while opening the trunk of the vehicle, the positive terminal on the battery was fully melted and was very hot. The contact believed that the issue was a fire hazard and was lucky to have found the issue before any other damage could occur. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V126000 (Electrical System) as a possible cause for the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was inspected in 2012 under the recall but had passed the inspection, and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,000.

CLEARANCE FAILURE ON S85 ENGINE TO ROD BEARINGS CAUSES OIL STARVATION. THIS IN TURN CAUSES ENGINE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF DRIVING THIS WILL EFFECT POWER BREAKING, POWER STEERING AND ALL COMPONENTS REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE RUNNING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, I NOW HAVE SYMPTOMS REQUIRING A CHANGE OF ROD BEARINGS. *TR

UPON STARTING MY CAR, I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE " FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAGS, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" THE MESSAGE CONTINUES TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY.. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS A RECALL IN ALL OTHER 5 SERIES MODELS FOR THIS YEAR, 2006 AND HAS A RECALL FOR THOSE VEHICLES. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE ADDED SINCE ITS THE SAME ISSUE. SEE ATTACHED.

THE EARLY M5 WITH THE SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX) 7 SPEED HAVE NUMEROUS TSB'S AND WARRANTY CAMPAIGNS. THE SHIFTING OF THE GEARBOX IS UP EXECUTED BY PRESSURE FROM THE HYDRUALIC PUMP THAT STORES AAPRX 80PSI IN THE ACCUMULATER. THIS ACCUMULATOR OR PUMP HAS A HI CHANCE OF FAILING AND WHEN IT DOES THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION JUST RECENTLY. AND I HAVE HAD THIS PUMP REPLACE TWICE OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONCE WITHIN WARRANTY. A MAJOR FLAW OF THE GETRAG SMG 7SPD. BMW DISCONTINUED THIS TRANSMISSION BUT CONTINUES TO RAISE PRICES ON THE REPLACEMENT PUMPS AS THEY KNOW THERE IS A HIGH TURNOVER OF REPAIRS. PLEASE VISIT THE BMW M FORUMS AS THIS TOPIC IS HEAVILY DISCUSSED

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONS AND KEEPS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, WILL NOT RELEASE INTERMITTENTLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BASE OF THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

THE CAR HAS AN ISSUE WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG OCCUPANCY SENSOR, WHEN SOMEONE SITS ON THE PASSANGER SEAT THE AIRBAG TURNS ON, THESE BMWS HAS MANY RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE, FOR SOME REASON MINE DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL. I HAVE SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SENSOR IS THE ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE RECALLED ON MY CAR BECAUSE THIS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THESE, I HAVE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, ON FORUMS, BUT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, I THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO DO THIS RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR MY PASSANGER, IN CASE SOME SORT OF ACCIDENT HAPPENS AND THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY.

MALFUNCTION IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE STATING "FAULT IN PASSENGER - RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" IS ACTIVATED EVERY FEW MINUTES THAT CAR IS IN DRIVE. WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDER (HENDRICKS AUTOGUARD) HAS REFUSED TO HONOR ITS OBLIGATIONS BY CLAIMING THE PART IS A NON-COVERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. *TR

WELL DOCUMENTED (ON THE INTERNET) PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE ACTIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILING, TYPICALLY DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY MAT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN ALMOST EVERY MODEL MANUFACTURED SINCE 2000, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN ADDRESSED IN A FEW, SELECT, VEHICLES. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS MODEL ON CARSAFETY.GOV AND HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. THIS PROBLEM, IN ITSELF, CAN LEAD TO A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO LED TO A LARGE MARKET OF "DUMMY SENSORS" BEING SOLD ON EBAY AND SIMILAR SITES, WHICH TRICK THE COMPUTER INTO THINKING THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS CORRECTLY FUNCTIONING. THESE DUMMY SENSORS DO NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. SYNOPSIS: AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT APPEAR IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IDRIVE SYSTEM READS: PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. SEAT SENSOR MAT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DISENGAGES WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED. THE DISENGAGING OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG POSES A GREAT DANGER FOR THE PASSENGER DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE M5 E60 SERIES, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF SAFETY. BMW CHARGES THE OWNER UP TO 5000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HE COULD SMELL STRONG FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLING THE FUEL. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK HAD A CRACK INSIDE THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. NE

SEAT SENSOR MAT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DISENGAGES WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED. THE DISENGAGING OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG POSES A GREAT DANGER FOR THE PASSENGER DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE M5 E60 SERIES, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF SAFETY. BMW CHARGES THE OWNER UP TO 5000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A CAR THAT'S UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY OR ANY PASSENGER. *TR

THE VEHICLE WARNING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT WHICH DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WITHIN ONE WEEK IS NOW PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED. A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN BY MY DEALER INDICATES A FAULT WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR(S). THIS SAME PROBLEM RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS/YEARS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT THIS ONE FOR SOME REASON. THE DEALER QUOTED $2500 FOR THE REQUIRED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE, ANY PERSON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS REPORTING A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AS REPORTED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW NA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE STATE MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. I FIND THIS VERY ALARMING AND UNSAFE. MY VEHICLE FITS ALL PARAMETERS AS STATED BY THE RECALL DOCUMENTATION BUT I AM STILL LEFT IN THIS POSSIBLY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN A PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AND RECALLED. PLEASE ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE DASHBOARD AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ACTIVATE WHENEVER ANYONE WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THEY EVENTUALLY WOULD GO OUT, BUT NOW ARE PERMANENTLY ON. THE CENTRAL COMPUTER DISPLAY ALSO PUTS OUT A SIMILAR TEXT WARNING MESSAGE WHENEVER I START UP THE CAR. IT CLAIMS THAT THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG ARE MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AND I PRESUME ARE NOW DISABLED. LOOKING INTO THIS, IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR MAT WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL (E60) IS PLAGUED WITH THIS ISSUE, AND BMW OFFERED A RECALL ON EARLY (2005 BUILD?) CARS, BUT HAS REFUSED COVERAGE FOR ANYONE ELSE ALTHOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY CAR IS A 04/2006 BUILD. THE JOB HAS BEEN QUOTED FOR SOME AT THE DEALERSHIP UP TO $3,500 IN PARTS AND LABOR AND REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW SEAT BOTTOM (WHICH CONTAINS COMPLICATED HEATING, COOLING, ADJUSTMENT MECHANISMS, AND LEATHER). A FRIEND WITH A MUCH EARLIER MODEL (1999 BMW M3 COUPE) E36 HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN < 100K MI, SO THIS IS NOT NEW TO BMW. *TR

MY FAMILY AND I WERE HEADING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE ALONG WITH A LOUD KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO CAR TOWED TO BMW OF HONOLULU. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A ENGINE WHICH THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $35K FOR A NEW ENGINE. I THEN CALLED GETZINGER MOTORWERKES WHICH IS ANOTHER SHOP THAT WORKS ON BMW'S JUST TO GET A SECOND OPINION. AFTER DIAGNOSING MY CAR THE OWNER OF THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CRANK BEARINGS AND SINCE THEY WENT BAD THE MEDAL SHAVING WENT INTO MY ENGINE AND ALSO CAUSED THE VANOS PUMP TO GO BAD, HE THEN STATED THAT HE WAS JUST READING ABOUT THAT SAME ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF 2006 M5;S DUE TO THE FACT THAT ITS A BAD ENGINE DESIGN AND THAT THOSE PARTS WOULD GO BAD EVERY 60,000 MILES. TO REPLACE THOSE PARTS IT WOULD COST $8,000 IN PARTS ALONE. SO NOW I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE. I NOW LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE AND MY CAR IS STUCK IN HAWAII BECAUSE THE SHIPPING COMPANY WILL NOT SHIP IT IN THE CONDITION THAT ITS IN. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS A LIGHT ON FOR AN AIR BAG HAVING A FAULT. AFTER VISITING THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A USUAL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM IS THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SENSOR DETECTS IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING OR THE SEAT IS VACANT. BMW HAS INFORMED ME THAT ITS A SIMPLE SENSOR, AND USUALLY WOULD HAVE A MINIMAL COST. BUT INSTEAD BMW WANTS TO CHARGE YOU FOR REPLACING THE ENTIRE SEAT. SO THE $20 SENSOR TURNS INTO A $4000 JOB. THE MOST INTERESTING THING, IS THAT BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY IT. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION 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 ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE THAT USE THE SAME AFFECTED PART ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED ON 2/06. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION 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 ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR ON OR BEFORE NO

WITH AN SMG TRANSMISSION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A LOUD THUMP IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AS IF SOMEBODY HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. IT IS VERY STARTLING AND I AM SURE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG ALL BMW M5 DRIVERS. I AM SURPRISED NOBODY PLACED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS YET. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION 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 ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,200. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SHOWING AIR BAG OFF. "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTE: FOR CURRENT RECALL JANUARY 2014, BMW STATES: "THE RECALL INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT USAGE, THE SENSOR CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG BECAME DEACTIVATED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE FRONT "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LAMP IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE ARE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME." NOTE 2: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S SHOWING. IT WAS OFF YESTERDAY AND NOW ITS ON. THE 2006 E60 M5 IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THE OTHER 2006-2007 5 SERIES ARE, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THE ERROR OCCURRING WITH THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER ITS A SEAT SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2000+. I THINK BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IN ENSURING THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR OWNERS OF THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES, BY THIS SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. CAR WAS