NHTSA Complaint #10100611 — 1997 BMW 540I

(1) REPLACED WATER PUMP AND ACCESSORY BELTS. ON A FORUM THAT I READ, MANY SUGGEST REPLACING THE RADIATOR WHEN REPLACING THE WATER PUMP, AS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE DUE TO THE RADIATOR'S HIGH AND FREQUENT FAILURE. REPLACE THE RADIATOR AS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE?!? I WOULD RATHER NOT. A RADIATOR IS NOT AN OIL OR AIR FILTER. (2) UPPER NECK ON THE RADIATOR BROKE AND RELEASED MORE THAN A GALLON OF COOLANT, IN LESS THAN 50 FEET, IN THE FORM OF LIQUID AND STEAM. THE STEAM OBSCURED VISION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. (3) NO REPAIR AS OF YET. THE FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM. I MADE IT HOME AT 12:05 P.M. I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW PARTS DEPARTMENT (ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES AWAY) TO ARRANGE TO PAY FOR THE RADIATOR BY CREDIT CARD AND THEN HAVE THE PART LEFT WITH ONE OF THE SALESPERSONS, BECAUSE THE PARTS DEPARTMENT CLOSES AT 1:00 P.M. BUT THEY NO LONGER ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PURCHASES OVER THE PHONE FROM IN-STATE CUSTOMERS, EVEN AFTER PRACTICALLY BEGGING. VERY POOR PRACTICE UNLESS THEY WANT TO LOOSE CUSTOMERS. ACTUALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER I SUBMIT THIS I WILL GO ON-LINE AND TRY TO FIND AN AFTER-MARKET RADIATOR. PROBABLY OF BETTER QUALITY ANYWAY. SAD BUT TRUE. I ENCOURAGE THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE MANUFACTURER OF MY VEHICLE.*AK