2006 BMW 530XI

THIS BMW 530XI WAGON SUFFERED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AFTER THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM DRAINED RAIN WATER INTO THE COMPARTMENTS WHERE THE BATTERY, FUSES, VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES AND COMPUTER MODULES ARE STORED. APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS AFTER THE RAIN STORM, THE OWNER (WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPROPERLY DRAINED WATER) ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. DURING THE DRIVE, THE CAR DISPLAYED TWO SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE MESSAGE "ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A SAFE AREA AND LATER TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE BMW DEALER CONFIRMS THAT THE SUNROOF DRAINED RAIN WATER INTO THE ELECTRONICS COMPARTMENTS, SHORTING OUT AT LEAST FOUR COMPUTER MODULES, AND DESTROYED THE BATTERY AND MULTIPLE SWITCHES, RELAYS, AND WIRING HARNESSES. CERTAIN SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INCLUDING AN AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT, SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A FIRE (PRESUMABLY DUE TO A SHORT CAUSED BY THE RAIN WATER.) THE BMW DEALER STATES THAT REPLACING ELECTRONICS MODULES AND THE BATTERY (APPROXIMATELY $4,000) ARE REQUIRED BEFORE FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS CAN BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS. *TR

ON TUESDAY MAY 29TH WE HAD A RAIN STORM, THE NEXT DAY I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN TO GO TO A SOCCER GAME. FIVE MINUTES BEFORE ENTERING THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND MY STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 25MPH AND WAS ABLE TO PULL MY VEHICLE OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL BMW DEALER WHICH FOUND THAT THE CASSETTE ON THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF TO BE DEFECTIVE....THAT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF WATER TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND GO UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE REAR WHERE ALL THE ELECTRICAL IS. I PUT A COMPLAINT INTO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA BECAUSE A. THE ELECTRICAL SHOULD NOT BE PUT UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WHERE WATER COULD GET IN AND B. I WAS ABOUT TO GET ON THE TURNPIKE WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH, I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY BECAUSE IF I WAS ON THE MASS PIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. IT WAS 2498 TO FIX THE ISSUE, BMW WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF AND RELOCATE ALL THE ELECTRICAL TO A SAFER MORE DRYER PLACE. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER BECAUSE I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BMW NEEDS TO RELOCATE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO A SAFER AREA THAN UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS EXTREMELY RUDE WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT WAS BASICALLY "NOTHING HAPPENED TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, SO WE KNOW IT"S A PROBLEM, SO WE WILL PAY FOR HALF OF IT". I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO SAFEGUARD OTHER BMW DRIVERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF DRAIN PLUG SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING WATER TO FLOW INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.