Bmw 540i 1998
Model 540i made in 1998 by Bmw got 27 consumer complains there is 1 recall as well as 11 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to engine and engine cooling, latches/locks/linkages and parking brake. Technical service bulletines regarding air bags, electrical system and engine and engine cooling. There was one recall concerning power train . The car has 2 modeles with engines 4.4, 4.4, guzzler.
Model 1998
| Engine [L] | Cylinders | Transmission | Drive | Estimate MPG (city/highway/combined) | Unadjusted MPG (city/highway/combined) | Fuel | Fuel cost | Class | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | 8 | Lockup/automatic, 5 gears | R | 18/24/20 | 19.4928/30.8929/23.3743 | Regular | 938 | COMPACT CARS | |
| 4.4, Guzzler | 8 | Manual, 6 gears | R | 15/24/18 | 16.9/30.1499/21.066 | Regular | 1042 | COMPACT CARS |
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | ||||||||||||||||
| 98V142000 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE | from 11/03/1997 to 11/28/1997 | V (Vehicle) | 1100 | 12/28/1998 | MFR | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE | 06/22/1998 | 06/30/1998 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. the differential pinion shaft within the differential case assembly was produced without the appropriate surface hardening. this can result in the shaft experiencing premature wear. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This condition will cause a noise from the differential and, ultimately, failure of the shaft and loss of drive. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the entire differential assembly. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began december 28, 1998.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||||
| 72 08 97 | 02/01/1998 | 600300 | Various information regarding deactivation of airbags. *yc | 05/06/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 121999 | 06/01/1999 | 606694 | Information on programming me7.2 engine control modules with cd 18. *tt | 08/31/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 16 04 97 | 02/01/1998 | 600433 | New evaporative (charcoal) canister purge line. all e38 and e39 modele introduced into production approximately 3/97 *db*yc | 05/14/1998 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 65 02 98 | 03/01/1998 | 600877 | Engine cranks, but will not start. *yc | 06/10/1998 | |
| EQUIPMENT | |||||
| 04 17 97 | 01/01/1998 | 600527 | Situation with the tension rod test gauge. *yc | 05/20/1998 | |
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | |||||
| 651998 | 02/01/1999 | 604628 | Subject pertaining to dsp amplifier switching to | 05/07/1999 | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||||
| 16 01 98 | 03/01/1998 | 600874 | Information on evaporative emission control and fuel filler cap / filler door labels. *yc | 06/10/1998 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DISC - PADS | |||||
| 62 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 600431 | Condition with brake pad warning stays illuminated after brake pad replacement. *yc | 05/14/1998 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||||
| 34 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 34 03 97 | 600434 | Experiencing an intermittent momentary event where the brake pedal does not immediatlely return. models built prior to 3/97 *db*yc | 05/14/1998 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||||
| 66 02 97 | 01/01/1998 | 600531 | Information and procedures on the garage door opener. *yc | 05/20/1998 | |
| 04 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 600226 | Subject on tank ventilation leak couplers. *yc | 04/30/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 60139 | 6 | 10/20/1997 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/29/2002 | 39787 | 1 | 08/27/2001 |
| Engine idles rough and stalls while driving. dealer replaced faulty camshaft sensor under warranty. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 60139 | 6 | 10/20/1997 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/08/2001 | 2 | 12/01/2000 | |
| Second radiator failure at 56,254 miles in 10/19/2001 caused poor visibility. dt | |||
| 10/14/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2002 | |
| Radiator failed without warning. steam obscurred vision. dt | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE | |||
| 54385 | 1 | 07/01/2001 | |
| Technicians told me this was a common problem since manufacturer switch to plastic radiators. the upper hose fitting broke off the radiator. *ph *jb **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**762585 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/24/2005 | 86000 | 1 | 12/24/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 02/12/2004 | 92801 | 2 | 06/15/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/02/2004 | 49000 | 1 | 06/20/2003 |
| 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 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 | |||
| 10/20/2003 | 61000 | 1 | 03/31/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 60139 | 6 | 10/20/1997 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/26/2003 | 50339 | 1 | 08/27/2001 |
| 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. | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 67000 | 1 | 01/02/1998 |
| Radiator neck sheared off without warning while my wife was driving on freeway. caused immediate loss of coolant and emergency stop. car had to be towed. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 1 | |||
| Engine entermittently stalled when the clutch is depressed while driving and is related to an intermittent low rmp engine malfunction. yh | |||
| 08/20/1999 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Drastic engine power loss 4-5000rpm. this problem is well documented on http://www.bimmer.org/5series/messages/. dealer has no knowledge. | |||
| 01/10/1998 | |||
| Consumer may be drving at any given speed. when he begins to slow down or if he downshifts and turns, engine will shut down, causing loss of steering and braking control. bmw dealerships cannot find a cause. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | |||
| 11/19/2002 | 45838 | 1 | 08/27/2001 |
| Engine doesn't rev up above 4500 rpms and misfires. engine check light on. dealer replaced one of two catalytic converters under warranty. according to private clubs abd web sites of bmw owners, 540i cat converters last 50kmiles only. | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1996 | |
| Catalytic converter system failed. *yc | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - TRUNK LID - LOCK | |||
| 03/05/2002 | 38288 | 1 | |
| Trunk latch failed. trunk stays open. dealer repleced actuator. | |||
| 07/01/1998 | 1 | 05/10/1998 | |
| Trunk latch failed. *yc | |||
| PARKING BRAKE - CONVENTIONAL - MECHANICAL | |||
| 09/24/2001 | 33224 | 3 | |
| Both sun visors cracked along weld seam. replaced by dealer. temperature control switche covers broken. replaced by dealer. noticed the design of new covers is different and eliminates risk of failure. parking brake doesn't hold. dealer admits bad desin and tried different shoes without success in past. deler couldn't fix, resulting in safety hazard. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/16/1998 | 1 | 06/16/1998 | |
| I have drive standard transmissions for over 40 years, i have never had a clutch problem until a purchased a '95 540i (know for poorly designed clutches, particularly the pressure plate). i bought this new '98 with hopes the problem was solved, no such luck. if i had the failure on a major highway or crowded road i easily could have been in an accident the time for the clutch to stop working entirely was very short. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 05/01/1998 | 05/01/1998 | ||
| Steering wheel column adjustment fails. making adjustment of steering wheel and vehicle safe to operate. steering wheel and front seat adjuments fail to operate forcing operator to drive without ability to adjust steering wheel or seat. has forced me to abandon vehicle. | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 2 | 10/01/1997 | ||
| Handles (2 incidents) broke off in the normal action of opening the door. nothing extraordinary about the situation. seems a very cheap component on a very safety conscious vehicle. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Interior door latch/handle broken and fell off of door, must be opened from the exterior. mjs | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 07/02/2003 | 51488 | 1 | 08/27/2001 |
| Driver-side front wheel bearing makes noise when wheel spins freely. this was reported several times to dealer in past. dealer replaced passenger-side front bearing ! driver-side beraing still noisy. waiting for complete failure to prove dealer wrong. front wheel bearings are marginally designed for bmw 540i, this is well documented on various web sites of bmw owners. bearings last 75,000 miles! | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 11/28/2001 | 36000 | 3 | 08/27/2001 |
| Sunroof failed and moving up and down on bumps. dealer replaced sliding mechanism. still rattles and doesn't function properly. dealer declines to fix under warranty. door seals squeek. dealer lubricated them. sill squeek after a few days. all cup holders broken. dealer replaced them. | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | SAN DIEGO | 92111-2101 | BMW OF SAN DIEGO | 858-560-550 |
| CA | SAN JOSE | STEVENSCREEK BMW | ||
| CA | SIMI VALLEY | 93063 | RUSNAK WESTLAKE | 805-496-6500 |
| CA | THOUSAND OAKS | 91362 | RUSNAK WESLAKE | 805-496-6500 |
| IL | WESTMONT | LAUREL BMW | 630 654 5400 |