2005 BMW 545I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2005 BMW 545I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the contact became aware of a ball of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed crank casting and the protective crank casting valve. The contact was informed that the failure was similar to an undisclosed manufacturer's recall, however the contact's VIN was not associated with the recall. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the smoke was excessive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,195.

The wiring inside of the headlights has dried up and fallen off, leaving bare electrical wire. The resulting was both of the headlights became non operational at night. To replace the headlights in the car with all the factory features is about 3200.00 for parts alone. I know of others who have had this happen, and everyone i know who owns one, has the same exact problem. The vehicle in question barely has 125,000 miles on it. I feel the manufacturer should repair these vehicles at no cost to the owners.

The wiring inside of the headlights has dried up and fallen off, leaving bare electrical wire. The resulting was both of the headlights became non operational at night. To replace the headlights in the car with all the factory features is about 3200.00 for parts alone. I know of others who have had this happen, and everyone i know who owns one, has the same exact problem. The vehicle in question barely has 125,000 miles on it. I feel the manufacturer should repair these vehicles at no cost to the owners.

At approxamitately 1:20pm on July 13, after being parked for a little over an hour I was told that my car was burning. 911 was called immediately and the owner of the establishment went outside and called to the firemen at the station on the other side of the street. Their response was immediate. Response was so quick that damage was limited to the right rear. Which seems that the fire started in the area directly foreward and above the battery

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR IN A BUSY HIGHWAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. NO ODD SOUNDS NO SHUTTING NO CLUNKING. IT WAS LIKE SOME JUST TURNED THE KEY OFF. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO WAIT TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO SHOW UP. MOST OF THE WEEK PREVIOUS TO THIS MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT RANDOM TIMES EVEN THOUGH MY BATTERY WAS GOOD AND I HAD GAS. THE PROBLEM WAS THE DME HAD WATER INGRESS FROM A POOR LOCATION WHERE THE DME AND METRONIC COMPUTER AND THE INTERGRADED POWER MODULE ARE LOCATED AND STORED. THEY ARE IN A SEALED PLASTIC BOX UNDER THE CABIN FRESH AIR INLETS AND CABIN FILTERS AND THE FRONT HOOD COWL. I'M THE BOX THERE IS A FAN AT THE BOTTOM TO EXPELL MOISTER. IF THE INTERGTATED POWER MODULE STARTS TO GO THEN THE FAN STOPS WORKING OR THE FAN IT SELF GOES BAD. AT THAT POINT THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS WATER INGRESS INTO THE DME AND OR THE METRONIC COMPUTER CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT TO RUN OR EVEN CRANK AND WITH WATER CORROSION ON THE THE DME IT CAUSES PHANTOM PROBLEMS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR. THE DME IS ALSO NOT EASILY REPLACED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE TO ORDER A NEW DME AND ALIGN IT WITH THE BE CAS MODULE FOR THE IMMOBILIZER TO WORK CORRECTLY AND FOR YOUR CAR TO START. THIS USALLY COST IN EXCESS OF $2,000 JUST FOR THE NEW DME. THE WORST PART OF THIS WHOLE THING IS I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE I WAS 4 HOURS LATE TO WORK AFTER WAITING FOR THE TOW AND GETTING A RIDE TO WORK