1999 BMW 5 Series problems

“BMW just issued a Do Not Drive order for BMW 5 series cars from 2000 to 2006. Our car is a 1999 BMW 528I. According to your safety records, this car also has Takata air bags, but I see no indication these have been recalled. Since they are actually older than the 2000-2006 cars, shouldn't these 1999 Takata air bags be just as dangerous? What should I do about this? Thank you.”

“THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I WITH 72,579 MILES. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE DISC BMW ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ICON AND THE AMBER ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN ONE OF TWO SCENARIOS: (1) JUST AFTER A NEW IGNITION CYCLE, (2) DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ONCE THESE WARNINGS ILLUMINATED THE DSC, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE WARNINGS WOULD GO OUT AFTER 5-10 IGNITION CYCLES. NOW THEY WERE ON CONTINUOUSLY.*AK NEXT TO SEATBELTS, I STRONGLY BELIEVE ESC IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY. AS SUCH, I FIND IT VERY DISCONCERTING THE SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. RESEARCHING THE TOPIC ON THE VARIOUS BMW FORUMS HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE; THAT MANY MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 5-SERIES BMWS HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED. ESC MALFUNCTIONS CAN HAVE VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON VEHICLE SAFETY. IN JUSTIFYING THE RATIONALE FOR ITS RECENT MANDATE OF ESC, NHTSA ESTIMATES ESC WILL REDUCE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES AND ROLLOVERS BY 34 AND 71 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY. THE AGENCY ESTIMATES THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL SAFE UP TO 9600 LIVES PER YEAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V004000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,076.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER REMOVED THE BLACK BOX FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT MECHANICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/3/1017*CN”

“MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON CONNECTICUT AVE. IT WAS RAINING RATHER HARD AND VISIBILITY WAS LOW. MY SON ALL OF THE SUDDEN SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. HE HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A SERVICE STATION DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED THAT EVENING TO MY REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING SENSOR FAILED WHICH MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS AND DAMAGED OTHER ELECTRICAL SENSORS ON THE ENGINE. *TR”