BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause...
Engine & cooling
BMW 540I Engine problems by year
35 complaints filed with NHTSA about the BMW 540I's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Engine recalls
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a...
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to...
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing...
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical...
Latest 540I engine complaints
My transmission would not accelerate or move. I had the trans rebuild and 2 years later the same problem. The trans has lost gears 1-3 and reverse, multistate repaired the trans again 2013, ifor the second time, it never worked after repairs. The engine light stays on, bmw says I need new trans and engine. When I looked up recalls for 540i, it states the same trans problem and it should be replaced. When I look up engine there are known engine problems with 540i, not my vin. I also have electrical issues,...
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which have a recall on 540i, but not my vin. Also issues with coolant, which is another known issue, but not my vin. I have tried to get bmw to diagnose, but they only recommend replacing all parts at my expense, even though there is a history of these type of issues with the 540i, 1999 cars. I want bmw to replace all know issue parts at their expense and they have refused due to my vin, not willing to add vin to the issue. All issues with my car are known issues for 540i 1999 cars. *Tr
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
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
Without warning a crack appeared in the radiator housing causing a loss of antifreeze. Car was out of warranty. Had to replace the part. Same thing just happened again. *Jb
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
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
White steam was coming from under the hood onto the front windshield. The steam was fogging the windshield, and causing poor visibility while driving 50-55 mph. Consumer was able to get the vehicle to a repair shop. Dealer informed the consumer that the upper neck connector of the radiator hose broke.*Ak
2Nd catastrophic radiator failure. Not a leak, the neck breaks off causing immediate loss of cooling. 1St radiator at 45k, 2nd at 92k. Based on other's experiences, this is very common for this model (and even longer life than many). Causes loss of vision due to amount of steam released. Less experienced driver may have difficulty controlling vehicle to get to side of road quickly to shut down. No way to predict the failure. Same issue with expansion tank. Both failures are on plastic parts.*Ak
(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
(1) Normal driving conditions; noticed "steam" coming from under hood. 2) Radiator's upper hose inlet cracked (plastic); car disabled (3) car out of warranty; no remedy from manufacturer. *Ak
I was driving down a busy street one evening and as I came to a light, smoke started coming out of my hood. Fortunately it was in the evening and traffic was lighter than usual. I pulled into a parking lot off the side of the road. Having known others that this has happened to, I first checked the radiator and sure enough, there was a large crack down the side of the housing. I had the car towed home and purchased a new radiator from bmw of seattle the following morning. The new radiator was about $200, a few...
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hours of my own labor and a few more hours detailing the engine pay and headlights which had radiator fluid all over them. Also from the experience of others who own e39 bmw 540s, I fully expect this to happen again in the next 50k miles. I also expect the expansion tank to go within the next few months. *Ak
Plastic neck of radiator on my '98 bmw 540ia broke completely and suddenly on highway. White smoke came out under the hood. Saw temp gauge climb up rapidly. Pulled over immediately. Towed to dealership for repair. No one was hurt luckily. *Nm
The radiator in my 1997 bmw 540i has failed twice since I have owned it. I see this as a safety issue. *Ak
Multiple coolant defects on the 1998 540. The car has now had 3 radiators, 3 thermastats, water tube seals replaced twice, and a water pump. The costs have been over $3,500. These leaks are not just expensive, they pose a real danger to causing personal injury and damage. The failure rate is known to be very high. Http://www.Votations.Com/asp/surveyresults.Asp?Pollid=66461 .*Ak
Engine cooling radiator hose fitting broke off. Lost all coolant on highway. Dealer replaced radiator under warranty and stated it is common failure on 540i bmw due to plastic parts not stong enough to resist temperature. Well documented on private web sites.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data