NHTSA Complaint #10270232 — 2003 BMW 530I

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO BE RELEASED THEN RE-APPLIED DUE TO THE FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE OVER NUMEROUS BUMPS AT ONE TIME AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE SHAKING WOULD OCCUR. THE FAILURE WOULD NORMALLY NOT OCCUR IF THERE WERE NO BUMPS PRESENT IN THE ROAD. IT SEEMED AS IF THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD FALL APART. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY FOUND NO FAILURE. THE ISSUE WORSENED AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO NOTICED THE FAILURE NO LONGER WORKED AT THE DEALER. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC, WHO NOTICED CRACKS ON THE SUSPENSION BUSHINGS AND ASKED FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE OTHER MECHANIC NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. THE CONTACT PAID APPROXIMATELY $800 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL PARTS FROM THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.