2000 BMW 528I Complaints

BMW 2000 MODEL 528: DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT IMPACT OR INERTIAL CAUSE. NO BUMPS, POTHOLES OR OBJECTS STRUCK THE VEHICLE. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR ~ TO 8 SECONDS AT 75 MPH.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT. UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT MOVED FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BOLT OR SCREW WAS MISSING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. *AK

WHILE IN MY GARAGE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT UNLESS THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HANDLE WAS ENTIRELY MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NIELLO BMW IN SACRAMENTO, CA FOR REPLACEMENT AT THE OWNER'S COST. OWNER HAS POSSESSION OF THE BROKEN HANDLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET BURNED OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING WAS CREATED BY THE A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK IN THE OVERFLOW PLASTIC TANK.

THE DESIGN OF THE ABS CONTROLLER ON A 2000 BMW 528I IS PRONE TO FAILURE AND WILL RENDER THE ABS FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS SERIES OF BMW AUTOMOBILES. THE FAILURE STARTS WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS THAT INDICATE THE ABS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THESE FAILURES CAN BE INTERMITTENT AND IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO HEAT AS THE CONTROLLER IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT VERY NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ONCE FAILED THE FAULTY ABS COMPUTER CAN CAUSE AND DOES CAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE SPEED SENSORS MOUNTED ON THE WHEELS. I REPLACED A BAD WHEEL SENSOR AT A COST OF $93 AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE BRAND NEW WHEEL SENSOR WENT BAD (RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BAD WHEEL SENSOR WAS 4.4M OHM WHILE THE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE NEW WHEEL SENSOR WAS 8.8M OHM. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE DASHBOARD MOUNTED WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND THE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE BRAND NEW WHEEL SENSOR WAS 4.4M OHM AND FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING INDICATED A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER). UPON OPENING OF THE ABS COMPUTER TO INVESTIGATE IT WAS DISCOVERD THAT THE DESIGN OF THE PRIINTED CIRCUIT CARD USES POOR RELIABILITY MECHANICAL DESIGN PROPERTIES FOR A UNIT THAT IS EXPOSED TO EXTREME TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS AND HIGH VIBRATION. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BUT BMW AND BOSCH (ABS COMPUTER MANUFACTURER) REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE REMEDY FOR AFFECTED OWNERS. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AS THE ENTIRE ABS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME REDUCING THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR ENTIRELY OR INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE CARS AND BY IGNORING THE PROBLEM BOTH BMW AND BOSCH ARE PUTTING DRIVERS AND PROPERTY AT RISK. *NM

NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS ONLY THERE WHEN THE SEAT HEATER IS ON. THERE IS AN ODOR THAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS THE SMELL FROM AN OVERHEATED HAIR DRYER. IT IS OBVIOUS SOMETHING IN THE SEAT IS OVERHEATING AND COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. I ALSO NOTICED VERY HOT AREAS ON THE SEAT NEAR THE LEFT SIDE WHERE MY LEFT REAR PANT POCKET WOULD REST. NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V575000 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE ON MODEL YEAR 2004 BMW 5 SERIES CARS, BUT MINE IS A 2000. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER INITIALLY AGREED TO DO THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTACT WITH THE CONSUMER. *AK BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MOUNTED AIR BAGS FRONT AND REAR DEPLOYED ALONG WITH THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM ON THAT SIDE. *SC *JB

A BUBBLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAUSED A BLOW OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PIRELLI P245/451794. *AK

ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.*AK