NHTSA Complaint #10429305 — 2004 BMW 525I

JUNE 2007. WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ISSUED ALERTS, AND INTERRUPTED FUNCTION OF SEVERAL SUBSYSTEMS INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ELECTRONIC DISPLAY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REDUCED STEERING. THE DISPLAY FLASHED, "CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND THEN FURTHER ALERTS. THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN A HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WATER ENTERED THE CAR. THE BMW CENTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND STATED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH A UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER FLOOR, AND TRUNK WERE FILLED WITH WATER. THE PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS WAS IN TO BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK. THAT IS WHERE ALL THE WATER COLLECTED AND CAUSE MAJOR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. BMW STATED THAT THE ITEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTROL UNIT WAS MOVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FLOOD WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE GOING FORWARD. SECOND MAJOR INCIDENT OCT 2011 . WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A HEAVY RAIN, WATER ENTERED THE CAR AND FLOODED THE CAR. UPON ENTERING THE CAR,I NOTICED THE WET ROOF LINER. MOISTURE WAS CONCENTRATED IN ONE SPOT. I CALLED BMW TO ASK IF THE WINDOW, DOOR, OR SUNROOF COULD BE DAMAGED AND CAUSE THE FLOOD IN MY CAR. THEY SAID YES AND TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED IF THIS WAS CHECKED THE FIRST TIME THE CAR FLOODED AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH UNCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SUNROOF DRAIN LINES CLOGGING AND CAUSING THE EXACT SAME INTERAL ELECTRICAL AND WATER DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED TO MAY CAR. THE DRAIN SYSTEM IS CONCEALED WITHIN THE ROOF AND IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO CAR OWNER. THE COMBINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS AT THE POINT OF WATER COLLECTION PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE RESOLVED BY BMW. *KB