1997 BMW 540IA Problems & Recalls

I HAVE A 1997 540 BMW WITH 180,000 MI. INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A FLAT DRIVER SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE I DISCOVERED THE FRONT SPRING STRUT PLATE WAS CRACKED AND ALLOWED ITSELF AND THE COIL SPRING TO CONTACT AND CUT DOWN THE TIRE. FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V183000 DESCRIBING EXACT CONDITION. TOWE...

Mileage: 180,500

1. BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED - WORK COMPLETED BY FIRESTONE - 2-5 DAYS LATER WENT TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW TO HAVE COOLANT RESEVOIR REPLACED WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT (JUST REPLACED AT FIRESTONE) AND WATER PUMP AND T...

A FAULTY RADIATOR DESIGN (PLASTIC NECK?) CAUSED MY 97 BMW 540IA TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. *NM

Mileage: 44,000

RADIATOR/OVERFLOW TANK ON MY 1997 BMWS 540IA CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 85,000 MILES. THE RADIATORS IN BMWS ARE KNOWN AS A WEAKNESS AND CONTINUALLY FAIL ON OWNERS. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED!*AK

Mileage: 88,000

THE RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND SPLIT UNDER COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE RADIATOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE USE OF PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION R...

Mileage: 65,000

RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD ...

Mileage: 69,718

RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD ...

Mileage: 69,718

1997 BMW 540IA RADIATOR FAILURE. UPPER HOSE CONNECTION CRACKED OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DUMP OF ENGINE COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED.*AK

Mileage: 101,932

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHT SYSTEM. *NLM *SCC *JB

Mileage: 88,000

AT THE PRECISE MOMENT I FULLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT, THE RADIATOR UPPER NECK BROKE OFF, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT. SIGNIFICANT STEAM WAS GENERATED FROM THE LEAK AND CAUSED A CLOUD BEHIND MY CAR THAT COULD HAV...

Mileage: 37,000

RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C...

Mileage: 28,000

RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C...

Mileage: 28,000

RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C...

Mileage: 28,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STEAM STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMERS VISION. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE RADIATOR HAD BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED RADIATOR, AND INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PRO...

Mileage: 54,361

UPPER RADIATOR NECK BROKE OFF FROM RADIATOR DURING NORMAL DRIVING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WITH IDENTICAL COMPONENT. I EXPECT THE RADIATOR WILL FAIL AGAIN WITHIN 80,000 MILES FROM TIME OF INCIDENT. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO OBSCURED VISION FROM ...