1991 BMW 525I Problems & Recalls

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE HOME THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE AFTER PARKING IT OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO CAME ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIGHT UP, BUT THE STEERING WHEE...

Mileage: 167,446

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE HOME THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE AFTER PARKING IT OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO CAME ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIGHT UP, BUT THE STEERING WHEE...

Mileage: 167,446

WHILE SITTING IN MY 1991 BMW 525I THE SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARD,AND SIDEWAYS. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT, AND ALMOST COMPLETELY DISSASSEMBLING IT SO I COULD TRY TO REALIGN THE THING LONG ENOGH TO MAKE IT HOME,I WAS ABLE TO THROUGH BRUTE FORCE PUT IT BACK IN PLACE. LATER AFTER SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT FAILU...

Mileage: 108,000

TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. THE PLASTIC SOCKETS HAVE MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND NO LONGER HOLD THE BULBS IN PROPERLY. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES STAY OFF ALL TOGETHER. DEALER ADVISED ME TO BUY NEW ONES @ $320 EACH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINC...

THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN CLUTCH FAILED WITHIN 45,000 MILES. NLM

RADIATOR FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

THE DOOR PADDING ON BOTH REAR DOORS IS SEPARATING. NLM

CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS POOR DESIGNED BECAUSE IN ORDER TO REPAIR A BROKEN HEADLIGHT THE DEALER HAD TO REMONE THE ENTIRE GRILL RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE REPAIR COST. NLM

THE TRUNK APPEARS TO BE CLOSED AND CAN STILL BE UNLOCKED WITH THE TRUNK LIGHT ON CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN, WHICH IN TURN UPSET THE DOOR LOCK PROGRAM WHICH IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. NLM

THREE BMW BATTERIES HAVE FAILED WITHIN THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. NLM

UPPER RADIATOR "PLASTIC MALE" OUTLET CONNECTING TO UPPER RUBBER HOSE EXPLODED CAUSING EXTRIME ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING EVEN AFTER DEALER INSTALLED NEW RADIATOR CAP RECALL IN AUGUST 1999. ALMOST CAUSED A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT. CAR HAS EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD AT DEALERSHIP...

REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP BUT THE NEW CAP CAUSED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. *AK

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CONTAINS A FLAW, WHEN REMOVING RADIATOR CAP CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES DUE TO CAP NOT HAVING A TWO-STAGE RELEASE, O-RINGS AT THE BASE OF THE CAP ENSURE THAT THE PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE RADIATOR UNTIL THE CAP IS FULLY UNSCREWED.

THE SRS {A SAFETY SYSTEM} LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE LOCKS.

THE SPEEDOMETER OPERATES IRRATICALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. IT FUNCTIONS OK WHEN WARM. THIS IS CAUSED BY BAD MATERIALS USED ON THE SPEEDOMETER PCB BOARD. A NUMBER OF BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND FIXES ARE SUGGESTED ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS. HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BM...

FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS....

FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS....

FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS....

TRAVELING 65MPH GOING AROUND A CURB WHEN SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING & NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT BMW. STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TAPED TO BE DRIVEN. *AK

VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES, RECALL ISSUED AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURED.