2004 BMW 5 Series Electrical System Problems

BATTERY CABLE - INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR

Unrepaired Recalls (1) 12V-126:79 Safety: Battery Cable - Insulated Bulkhead Connector Mar 23, 2012 OEM Code 12V-126:79 All the dealerships i contacted to fix this recall never replied to me and The battery connection has ruined my electrical components on my vehicle(Long beach BMW and Cerritos BMW California)

ELECTRICAL WIRING IN HEADLIGHTS ARE DISINTEGRATING. THE SHIELDING IS DRY ROTTING AND FLAKING OFF NEARLY EVERY WIRE IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THEM TO MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING. LIGHTS WILL CUT OFF RANDOMLY. I'D IMAGINE THE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT.

NEARLY EVERY BMW SUFFERS FROM FAILED WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALLED OINT OF FAILURE AS IT INVOLVES EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD.

THE WIRE HARNESS FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE COMPLETELY FRAYED. BARE COPPER WIRES CAN BE SEEING AND THE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION TO NIGHT DRIVEABILITY BEING AND ISSUE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE UNDER THE HOOD EXISTS. A CURSORY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL BMW MODEL YEARS, POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS.

BARE WIRES INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, THESE ARE HID LIGHTS MADE BY HELLA FOR BMW THEY ARE OEM. WHEN CONTACTING BMWNA THEY SAY THAT'S NOT HOW THEY MAKE THERE LIGHTS AND BLAME HEAT AND THE CAR NOT BEING MAINTAINED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, WELL THE REST OF THE WIRING ON THE CAR IS JUST FINE EVEN THE WIRES THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH A HIGH HEAT PRODUCING ENGINE... IT'S THE SAME EXACT ISSUE MERCEDES BENZ HAD ON THE W202 CHASSIS, WIRES THAT WOULD DEGRADE AT AN EXTREMELY FAST RATE. BUT FOR HEADLIGHTS THAT COST WELL OVER $1000 EACH. BUT MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FAMILY IS OUT AT NIGHT AND THERE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF SOMETHING BMW KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID FAMILY HAS A WRECK AND KILLS MULTIPLE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS IS MY SECOND ATTEMPT AT GETTING SOMETHING DONE THE FIRST WAS CONTACTING BMWNA WHICH EQUALED TO INSULTING SOMEONE'S KNOWLEDGE OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER ADJUST, THE ANGEL EYES NO LONGER WORK BULBS BLOW AS SOON AS THEY ARE REPLACED AND CONSTANT WARNINGS THAT PARKING LIGHTS HAVE A MALFUNCTION. TELLING SOMEONE HEAT IS THE CAUSE MAKES AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY KINDA LOOK IGNORANT ESPECIALLY WHEN WIRES TOUCHING AN ENGINE ARE NOT EFFECTED BY HEAT AT ALL AND ARE STILL 100% FLEXIBLE AND HAVE NOT LOST ANY OF THE INSULATION. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE WIRES HAVE LIQUID ELECTRICAL TAPE USED, SHOULD ANY VEHICLE WITH 119XXX MILES HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE?

ON DEC.2 MY 2004 BMW 525I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN IT COUGHT ON FIRE AT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE TRUNK ON THE RIGHT FENDER WELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 100 MILES THAT DAY. MY STEP-DAUGHTER HAD GOTTEN HOME AT MIDNIGHT AND PARKED THE CAR. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE WHEN SHE GOT HOME AT 3;30 AM MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT IT OUT AS EVER TIME WE WOULD GET THE FIRE OUT IT WOULD SPARK AND START AGAIN. THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, A NEIGHBOR NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL BMW DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

About three years ago, we filed a complaint with BMW North America. A problem with the front passenger seat. There was smoke As a result, a hole burned through. after that an error message about the airbag came on. We also didn't know that there was a recall about this problem. we made several calls to the dealership and at the end, they offered to help with only 50% Quote to repair the seat was $2300.00. The car only had 142,000 miles. all the seats were in mint condition. Thank You.

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WE NOTICED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT "A MARK" THAT LOOKS LIKE A BURNT - WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A MARK OR SOMEBODY PUT A HOT BOTTLE O CUP ON THE SEAT - BUT THIS MORNING WE TURN THE HEATING IN BOTH SEAT TO WARM UP A LITTLE BIT THEN SMELL AND SMOKE START TO COME OUT THE BURNT MARK. WE TURNED IT OFF BOTH SIDES AND OPEN THE WINDOW - NOW OUR CONCLUSION IS THE HEATING ELEMENT CAUSED THAT BURN IN THE SEAT.

DRIVER TAIL LIGHT LAMP ASSEMBLY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OVERHEATED, MELTED AND DESTROYED #1 CONTACT PIN AND WIRE. DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NO LONGER OPERATE. BRAKE AND SIGNAL LIGHTING SYSTEM DEGRADED EXPOSING VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO INCREASED RISK OF REAR-IMPACT, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE AND DEATH. NO PART OR THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY EXTREME USE CONDITIONS. NO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE TRUNK AREA WHERE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED.

MY I DRIVE OR CCC HAS MALFUNCTIONED. AT FIRST THE SCREEN WOULD TURN ON AND OFF OR FREEZE UP. FINALLY THE SCREEN WENT BLANK. THIS UNIT PROVIDE THE SAFETY INFORMATION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS UNIT ALSO PROVIDES THE COMMUNICATIONS SUCH AS BLUETOOTH AND HANDS FREE FUNCTIONS. THIS UNIT ALSO PROVIDES ALL THE SERVICE INFORMATION/ BASICALLY IT LIKE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH OUT A BRAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH OTHER BMW OWNER.

MICRO POWER MODULE (MPM) STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ERRATIC ENGINE RPM, AND CAUSING SMOKE INSIDE CABIN AND BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL. COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIO AND IDRIVE FUNCTIONALITY. MODULE IS LOCATED IN TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. NOTIFIED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. SEVERAL BMW ONLINE FORUMS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY RELOCATING THE MODULE TO A HIGHER PLACE IN THE TRUNK. MOST OF WHO OWN THESE CARS DO NOT KNOW THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS VULNERABILITY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING THE COPPER WITHIN CREATING AN ELECTRONCAL FIRE OR SHORTING OF THE SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THE E60 SERIES BMW AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

I REALLY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. MY SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS TURNING ON AND OCCASIONALLY WON'T GO OFF I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR MAYBE 35 MINUTES TOPS SINCE THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE 3 WEEKS AGO. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS TRIED TO ASSIST ME, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERS ARE EITHER BOOKED SOLID OR ARE CAPABLE OF FIXING THIS TECHNICAL A PROBLEM. THEY'VE AGREED TO FIX EVERYTHING FOR FREE & PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY RESOLVED BMW DOES NOT WANT MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDER A CAR FIRE TOP PRIORITY. THERE IS A HUGE LIKELIHOOD IT COULD CONTINUE BURNING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. I WISH BMW NORTH AMERICA WOULD ASSIST ME LIKE THEY SAID. I'VE HAD 8 BMW'S AND NEVER HAVE I HAD AN ISSUE . THAT IS WHY I'VE BOUGHT BMW'S BECAUSE AS LONG AS I DID ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (A SIDE FROM THIS ONE) MY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY RELIABLE BUT A PLEASURE TO OWN. I'VE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES WITH MY CURRENT E60 UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO. SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOTIC BORROWING VEHICLES RENTING VEHICLES AND RELYING ON OTHERS BECAUSE BMW DOESN'T PRIORITIZE CAR FIRES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS MY MINOR CHILD AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME IF IT WERE TO BECOME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PLEASE CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SO I CAN BE SAFE . MY CONTACT INFO IS [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] EMAIL [XXX] CALL ME DAY OR NIGHT I'LL BE READY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPER FACILITY FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED ALL DEALERSHIP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE . TULLEY BMW SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE. I SPOKE TO AN ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS GENTLEMAN NAME [XXX] AT TULLEY BMW NASHUA *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

WIRE ROT DETERIORATION AT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONCERN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO BARE EXPOSED WIRES. NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. PERSONALLY HAD TO PAY OVER $500 TO HE DEALERSHIP JUST TO WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. AFTER 3 MONTHS, CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HIGH BEAM FAILURE (HID ADOPTIVE PASSENGER SIDE) WHICH THE DEALER TO REPLACEMENT COST OF $2599.

THE VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WERE RECALLS RELATED TO THE BMW BUT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL WHEN I SEARCH BY VIN NUMBER. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND RESTRAINT LIGHT IS ON AND MY HEAD UNIT SAYS THERE IS A FAULT IN MY PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *TR

DRIVE MODERATELY KEEPS POPPING UP AN SERVICE ENGINE AFTER GETTING BMW TO CHECK IT AN FIX IT ALSO IT WON'T CRANK SOMETIMES BUT THE BATTERY AN ALTERNATOR IS BRAND NEW BUT AFTER IT SIT FOR HOURS IT FINALLY CRANK UP, MAYBE IT'S AN SECURITY ISSUE BUT IT'S UNNECESSARY

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 525I, MY RIGHT HIP STARTED BURNING. FOLLOWED BY AN ODOR. WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT & ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT I NOTICED A BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATER GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY BLOUSE TO THE SEAT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO BMW WHO RESPONDED THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME AFTER ASKING ME TO SEND THEM MY VIN #, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF THE SEAT. I DID SO, AND AS OF TODAY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN IN TOUCH WITH ME. (?) AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND-NEW IN 2004 THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN 2005-06. THE SEAT LITERALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY MOTHER SITTING IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MASSACHUSETTS RESPECTFULLY DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACED IT, "IMMEDIATELY" FOR ME. ~ IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE, THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS "B-M-W" IS NOT ONLY NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSUMERS TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION OF THEIR INFERIOR & DAMAGED PRODUCT. WHICH AT SOME POINT, WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM AND POSSIBLY GIVE SOMEONE THIRD DEGREE BURNS. MAYBE IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DATELINE NBC TO RUN AN UNDERCOVER PROGRAM, BEFORE BMW MANUFACTURERS SMARTEN UP & FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE WITH A FEATURE WE ALL PAID EXTRA TO HAVE... THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. ~IN CLOSING; I WAS ONCE TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO ANY OTHER CAR ONCE I OWNED A BMW. I HONESTLY CAN SAY THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED MY OPINION OF THAT. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING UNTIL THE WARRANTEES ARE GONE AND UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE RECALLS. AT LEAST AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE GOING BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WELCOMES & VALUES YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FROM SUCH A HIGH END MANUFACTURER.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRE "JACKET" IS BRITTLE AND FLAKING OFF, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS IN PARKING LAMP "HALO" DUE TO EXPOSED COPPER WIRES. ALSO, HIGH-BEAM HALOGEN LIGHT WIRING HAS EXPOSED COPPER WIRING. WIRES GET HOT TO THE TOUCH AND CAUSE A "PASSENGER PARKING LAMP MALFUNCTION" TO APPEAR INSIDE THE CAR. PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD TO SAY THE LEAST. MANY ONLINE FORUM MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BOTH THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MANUFACTURER, HELLA, AS WELL AS THE CAR MANUFACTURER, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA; BOTH COMPANIES DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PROBLEM EXPANDS OVER MANY MODELS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I HAVE EVEN HEARD OF HEADLAMPS CATCHING FIRE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. EVEN IF THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO PURCHASE A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR ~$1,500, THE WIRING WILL LIKELY STILL CAUSE THE SAME ISSUE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THE HEADLAMP BULBS ARE HIGH VOLTAGE XENON GAS BULBS THAT HAVE OVER 20K VOLTS FEEDING THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!