NHTSA Complaint #10543772 — 2006 BMW 530XI

BMW OVER-TORQUED THE FOUR CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS ON ALL N52 ENGINES DURING MANUFACTURE, INCLUDING MY CAR. THE BOLT HEADS ARE POPPING OFF ON ALL THE CARS, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AT SPEED AND MINIMALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. THE ISSUE IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN HOW BMW BUILT THESE ENGINES (AFFECTING MANY, MANY 5 SERIES CARS) BUT IS TAKING ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE OR ANYTHING OWNER-RELATED -- IT'S PURELY A MISTAKE BY BMW THAT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND TO COVER REPAIR COSTS. THEY CORRECTED THE SPECS THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND DON'T TORQUE THE BOLTS AS MUCH, BUT ARE LEAVING PREVIOUS OWNERS OUT TO DRY FOR SOME $3000-5000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE BMW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO RETRO-ACTIVELY REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THIS MISTAKE OF THEIRS. THANKS. *TR