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Engine & cooling

1997 BMW 540I Engine problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 1997 BMW 540I's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 48% of all its complaints, most recently on October 25, 2010. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Had this problem? Share itAll 1997 540I problems
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & coolingEquipment & accessories

I exchanged the lambda sensor of my car a couple of months ago. Suddenly my mileage went down and I started an error search. Since I was doing a couple of other things on the car I didn't come up with the sensors up front. Updated 11/16/10 *bf updated 03/23/11 *bf so when it came to them I recognized that they were grounded through the exhaust what they shouldn't do at my car! When I asked the manufacturer they dismissed everything as if it is not their fault. And they keep selling the lambda sensors for a...

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range of cars that definitely do not fit! Manufacturer is borgwarner beru systems gmbh! Lambda sensor is ozh 173 http://beru.Com/english/produkte/produktident.Php?S=ozh+173&eanr=0824010207&action=step02 the danger results from the implications of the grounding: this leads to a heating up of the lambda sensors which then might ignite unburned fuel in the exhaust. This fuel will definitely be there as the grounding also destroys the output stages of the engine control unit that are responsible for the fuel mixture. The car will ultimately fatten up, resulting in unburned fuel getting to the exhaust and being ignited by the heated up lambda sensors! This is what can burn down the whole car during driving and also when standing after a longer trip! So these lambda sensors destroyed my motor control unit, my catalytic converters, etc. I would be glad if you could research further into this and notify me of the status! Updated11/23/10. *Jb updated 12/01/10. *Jb *tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · EquipmentNHTSA 10362195
Engine & coolingElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

1997 Bmw 540i fuse to the fuel injector blew out.***No answer required*** *mr the vehicle would all of a sudden die when in motion due to the blown fuse(s) to the injector. The thermostat temperature sensor had an internal short which caused the wire to melt and blew the fuse. The sunroof was inoperative due to the rail lift pieces being broken. *Sc the wiper blades were not cleaning the windows properly. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 10130203
Engine & cooling

The radiator neck broke off while driving at highway speed on my 1997 540i. It is a common problem with bmw by all accounts, owners, technicians and even my own previously experienced it with an 1988 735i. Plastic parts on the radiator is unacceptable, dangerous and costly. This has been a problem for more than 10 years on these expensive luxury vehicles with no resolution by bmw.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10116922
Engine & cooling

(1) Replaced water pump and accessory belts. On a forum that I read, many suggest replacing the radiator when replacing the water pump, as preventive maintenance due to the radiator's high and frequent failure. Replace the radiator as preventive maintenance?!? I would rather not. A radiator is not an oil or air filter. (2) Upper neck on the radiator broke and released more than a gallon of coolant, in less than 50 feet, in the form of liquid and steam. The steam obscured vision on the drivers side of the...

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vehicle. Luckily I was making a right-hand turn into a parking lot. (3) No repair as of yet. The failure of the radiator occurred at approximately 11:00 am. I made it home at 12:05 p.M. I called the local bmw parts department (one hour and thirty minutes away) to arrange to pay for the radiator by credit card and then have the part left with one of the salespersons, because the parts department closes at 1:00 p.M. But they no longer accept credit card purchases over the phone from in-state customers, even after practically begging. Very poor practice unless they want to loose customers. Actually immediately after I submit this I will go on-line and try to find an after-market radiator. Probably of better quality anyway. Sad but true. I encourage the release of the information contained in this questionnaire to the manufacturer of my vehicle.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10100611
Engine & cooling

The radiator in my 1997 bmw 540i has failed twice since I have owned it. I see this as a safety issue. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10045931
Engine & cooling

My 1997 bmw 540i 6-speed had a radiator failure at 77,500 miles. The plastic radiator connection point for the top hose snapped off. This appears to be a well know issue after speaking with bmw service techs and searching bmw internet sites.*Ak I believe that the manufacture should take care of this issue.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10036982
Engine & cooling

I own a 1997 bmw 540i. Radiator broke at plastic attachment point. Coolant leaked all over the windshield and engine. This seems to be a well known defect among owners of this car due to the plastic attachment point at the junction of the hose and the radiator. *Nlm

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10023565
Engine & cooling

My 1997 bmw 540i6 radiator broke on me while driving on a highway on 5/30/03. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10020942
Engine & cooling

1997, Bmw, 540i radiator failure @ 77,500 miles (detected by bmw dealer during routine service inspection); radiator replaced at my cost.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10020931
Engine & cooling

Radiator failure on bmw 540i with only 51k miles, causing loss of traction and almost a wreck

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10002684
Engine & cooling

The upper radiator hose unexpectly separated from the radiator. Inspection showed that the plastic radiator had broken at the hose fitting. The resulting steam cloud and water deposits on windshield abruptly obscured vision, leading to a very dangerous situation. Non-reinforced plastic is an unsafe material for use in this application.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10000880
Engine & cooling

Serious safety issue complete loss of coolant at speed. Dt

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 770387
Engine & cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAILED. MJS

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 606538

BMW 540I engine complaints by year

540I engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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