NHTSA Complaint #10586915 — 2003 BMW 530I

WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR IS A 2003 BMW 530I WITH 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS RETURNED "FAULT 30", "TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING". RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER AT COST OF $2600. ONLINE RESEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE. DUE TO CONFLICTING ADVICE, THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 MONTHS AND OVER 3,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR DIMINISHED MILEAGE OR PERFORMANCE. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT THAT SWITCHES ON IN RESPONSE TO "FAULT 30" MAY INDICATE A NON-EXISTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO A COSTLY REPAIR. MEANWHILE, THE DRIVER IS LEFT WITH A VEHICLE WITH A CONSTANTLY LIT "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. THIS CAN OBVIOUSLY CREATE PROBLEMS IN SELLING THE CAR OR HAVING IT PASS A SMOG CHECK. *TR