ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH

Oct 12, 2007 — Recall Campaign #07V479000

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 29,250 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

07V479000

Manufacturer:	BMW of North America, LLC
Recall date:	October 12, 2007
NHTSA Campaign #:	07V479000
Units affected:	29,250

Description:: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.
Consequeces:: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2007 BMW 650I Complaints
My bmw start smoking from the inside then caught on fire it was a electric fire on the light module;
2007 BMW X5 SAV Complaints
MY VEHICLE HAS THE COMMONLY AND POPULARLY KNOWN WEEP HOLE COOLANT LEAK. APPARENTLY, BMW HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS YEAR MODEL CARS, DATING BACK TO 2002. THEY HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THE REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH COSTS OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR LABOR ALONE FOR A RATHER 'INEXPENSIVE' PART. IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR FOR BMW TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO AFFECT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS OF BMWS WITH THE SAME ENGINES. THE COOLANT LEAKS ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE ENGINE THROUGH A RANDOM HOLE AROUND THE ENGINE. IT IS A RATHER COSTLY FIX DUE TO SEVERAL COMPONENTS NEEDING TO BE REMOVED BEFORE ONE CAN GET TO THE BROKEN PART TO BE REPLACED. IT IS UNFAIR FOR CURRENT OWNERS TO HAVE TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY FOR A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CURRENT UNFORTUNATE DISCOVERY. MY CAR SUDDENLY LEAKED ALL THE COOLANT OUT OF THE CAR AND INTO THE ROAD AND MY DRIVEWAY. THANKFULLY I WAS ALMOST HOME WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FREEWAY OR ON THE STREET AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RISK OF GETTING HIT BY OTHER CARS IF MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED. AND I WAS DRIVING WITH BABY ON BOARD! I SUGGEST THIS BE INVESTIGATED, AS IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S APPARENTLY VERY COMMON IN THE N62 ENGINES.;
2008 BMW 550I Complaints
Vehicle abruptly shut off while reversing out of my driveway. Vehicle restarted after a long crank and appeared to enter a reduced power mode/limp mode with a transmission fault that locked the transmission in 4th gear. Reading OBD2 codes revealed a code for the crankshaft position sensor. Inspection of the 3 terminal sensor revealed 2 of the terminal contacts on the sensor to be shorted out with melted plastic on both the sensor and the wiring connector plug. Shorted wire could be a result of a leaking coolant passage at rear of engine within bellhousing where sensor is located. Coolant intrusion into sensor connector resulted in electrical short and melted connections.;