There are 7 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2006 BMW 5 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND FELT THE CAR LEANING TO ONE SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) I DROVE SLOWLY WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON MADE IT HOME AND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE LOOKED LIKED THE BOLT CAME OFF AND BAR CONNECTED TO TIRE WAS DROPPED HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . ANOTHER SITUATION I HAD WITH MY CAR WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM AND THE OIL I WAS BUYING BOTTLES OF COOLANT AND OIL WEEKLY TOOK IT INTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD COMPLETE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS I WAS DRIVING HOME CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT SO I STOPPED AS RECOMMENDED AND LET IT COOL MADE IT HOME THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP THEY ORDERED ALL PARTS AND HOSES FOR COOLING SYSTEM NOW MY CAR SMOKE AT THE EXHAUST WHEN SITTING IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS BIG CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE COME FROM EXHAUST. *TR
AFTER A RECENT HEAVY RAIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS WERE ERRATIC, THE REAR HATCH OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED, AND ULTIMATELY THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION FAILED WITH THE CAR SITTING ON THE REAR BOTTOMING STOPS CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEVERE BOUNCING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVELED STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AND BATTERY/ELECTRICAL AREAS AT THE REAR OF THE CAR.
I BOUGHT 2006 BMW 530XI ABOUT A YEAR AGO FROM A USED DEALERSHIP, THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT A MONTH LATER IN A SUDDEN A I GOT A TRANS MALFUNCTION, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH CHARGED ME $299 TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION THEN CAME AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE SAME MESSAGE KEPT COMING BACK AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT UP, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT , THE TRANSMISSION WOULD KICK BACK SO HARD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE SO HARD TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. NOW I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO ANOTHER BMW DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TRANS MALFUNCTION STAYED AND DID NOT GO AWAY WHEN I RESTART THE CAR LIKE IT WAS DOING AND THEY TOLD ME , IT REQUIRES TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT A. BMW ADVERTISES THAT THERE CARS ARE STRONG AND LAST LONGER THAN OTHER CARS, I THINK THEY NEED TO GET SUED FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION FIR THEIR BAD CARS QUALITY. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF ONLINE THREADS WANTING TO SUE BMW FOR THE POOR TRANSMISSION ON THEIR CARS. BMW NEED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR BMW FAILED TRANSMISSION
SELF LEVELING COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING IN REAR OF CAR. SUSPENSION STAYED "ON" AND WASN'T ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE LEVELING SYSTEM EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING THE CAR. MELTED/BURNT THROUGH WIRE HARNESS BECAUSE SUSPENSION LEVELING SYSTEM STAYED ON. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE E61 BMW SERIES. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR UNIT FOR SUSPENSION, WIRE HARNESS KIT, ETC. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR CAR TO BE SAFE AGAIN. UNLUCKILY WE WERE ON VACATION AND THE SELF LEVELING AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEM FOR SUSPENSION IS QUITE IMPORTANT FOR DRIVING SAFETY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING, WHICH FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE 20 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS LOUDER WHENEVER THE WEATHER WAS FRIGID. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FRONT CONTROL LOWER ARM BUSHING. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $312.00. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 06V187000 SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARMS;THEREFORE; THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER BUMPS. I ALSO FIND THAT I HAVE TO PERFORM WHEEL BALANCING EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION, EXCEPT FOR DIRTY BUSHINGS. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026