1997 BMW 540IA Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly Problems

A FAULTY RADIATOR DESIGN (PLASTIC NECK?) CAUSED MY 97 BMW 540IA TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. *NM

RADIATOR/OVERFLOW TANK ON MY 1997 BMWS 540IA CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 85,000 MILES. THE RADIATORS IN BMWS ARE KNOWN AS A WEAKNESS AND CONTINUALLY FAIL ON OWNERS. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED!*AK

THE RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND SPLIT UNDER COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE RADIATOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE USE OF PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION RESULTED IN HEAT STRESS OVER TIME, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE STILL BEING ASSESSED AT THIS TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TOO MANY CUSTOMERS, HOWEVER, THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS ORIGINAL. THEREFORE, I CAN EXPECT TOTAL COOLANT FAILURE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEEMS IMPRUDENT, AND I HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM BMW ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD BE COMMENCED.*AK

1997 BMW 540IA RADIATOR FAILURE. UPPER HOSE CONNECTION CRACKED OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DUMP OF ENGINE COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED.*AK

AT THE PRECISE MOMENT I FULLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT, THE RADIATOR UPPER NECK BROKE OFF, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT. SIGNIFICANT STEAM WAS GENERATED FROM THE LEAK AND CAUSED A CLOUD BEHIND MY CAR THAT COULD HAVE BLOCKED THE VIEW OF A FOLLOWING VEHICLE. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH MINIMIZED THE STEAM'S ABILITY TO BLOCK MY VIEW, BUT AT LOWER SPEEDS THE STEAM MAY HAVE COMPLETELY BLOCKED MY VIEW. CONSIDERING I WAS PASSING A VEHICLE, THERE WAS A RISK THAT IF MY VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED, AN ACCIDENT WITH EITHER THE VEHICLE BEING PASSED OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE RESULTED. I WAS STRANDED UNTIL MY TEMPORARY REPAIRS ALLOWED ME TO LIMP TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE MODE FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BE INITIATED.*JB

RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, CA. CAR SHUT DOWN DUE TO FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STEAM STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMERS VISION. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE RADIATOR HAD BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED RADIATOR, AND INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TS