2006 BMW 650I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Leak from fuel pump located under passenger rear side (right rear). Gasoline pooling next to electrical connection and excess gasoline dripping into interior and exterior. Explosion risk. Gasoline fumes.

Constant malfunctions of convertible top. Top won’t stay in locked position. Once top malfunctions windows won’t operate. This has been an ongoing problem. Has been in shop for repair of this item multiple times. Research shows many owners having same issues. Warning sign from BMW says drive slow and report to nearest BMW shop. BMW refuses to address the issue…. After spending hundreds if not thousands to get this issue resolved the latest BMW shop said replace the hydraulic system at a cost of 4400.00. The 2006 650 I convertible top has a manufacturing issue in my opinion. Please investigate.

THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM OPERATES ON AND OFF. STEERING IS NORMAL THEN THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM SHUTS OFF. STEERING BECOMES VERY HEAVY. THE WARNINGS LIGHT NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME THIS IS UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ROADS.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING FUNNY. A MINUTE LATER I FELT AN EXTREMELY HOT SENSATION ON MY LEFT LEG. I REACHED DOWN AND THE SEAT WAS SO HOT THAT IT BURNT MY HAND FROM THE BRIEF CONTACT. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT HAD BURNT A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AS WELL AS BURNT A HOLE IN MY WOOL COAT. IRONICALLY, THIS OCCURRED IN MY LAST BMW AS WELL, A 2004 3-SERIES, JUST TO A LESSER EXTENT. I DID NOT RECEIVE BURNS FROM THAT INCIDENT, IT JUST MELTED THE LEFT SIDE OF MY SEAT. *TR

PASSENGER SEATBELT/AIRBAG WARNING AS FOLLOWS: "PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM - FAULT ON PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT." NOTE: THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH A MECHANIC WHO HAS CONFIRMED THIS IS THE "PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR." I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TODAY TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND CHECK FOR RECALLS. I WAS INFORMED I SHOULD GO TO A BMW DEALERSHIP TO GET A "FORMAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER" AND TO "CONFIRM IF THE ISSUE COULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN PRIOR RECALL." NOTE: I SEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND FOUND THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WAS UNDER "INVESTIGATION" FROM JAN. 4, 2008 TO DEC. 31, 2008. THE INVESTIGATION SUBJECT IS "BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION". THE SUMMARY STATES THAT IT WAS FOR BMW MODELS FROM 2004 TO 2006 AND STATES THE 2006 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE X3 SERIES AND 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IT FURTHER STATES "BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05." THEREFORE, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED BASED ON THE LATER STATEMENT. MY INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED ON THANKSGIVING DAY, NOV. 24, 2016. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE MECHANIC FOR A LARGE UNRELATED TO THIS SENSOR MAT ISSUE. I EXPECT I WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK IN 1-2 WEEKS, AT WHICH TIME I WILL TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE BMW'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SPECIFICALLY, THE ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE MY MOM WAS TRYING TO PUT ON HER SEATBELT WHILE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ON THANKSGIVING DAY. THE WARNING HAS CONTINUED SINCE THEN WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE. *TR