2008 BMW 550I Electrical System Problems

Vehicle abruptly shut off while reversing out of my driveway. Vehicle restarted after a long crank and appeared to enter a reduced power mode/limp mode with a transmission fault that locked the transmission in 4th gear. Reading OBD2 codes revealed a code for the crankshaft position sensor. Inspection of the 3 terminal sensor revealed 2 of the terminal contacts on the sensor to be shorted out with melted plastic on both the sensor and the wiring connector plug. Shorted wire could be a result of a leaking coolant passage at rear of engine within bellhousing where sensor is located. Coolant intrusion into sensor connector resulted in electrical short and melted connections.

Vehicle abruptly shut off while reversing out of my driveway. Vehicle restarted after a long crank and appeared to enter a reduced power mode/limp mode with a transmission fault that locked the transmission in 4th gear. Reading OBD2 codes revealed a code for the crankshaft position sensor. Inspection of the 3 terminal sensor revealed 2 of the terminal contacts on the sensor to be shorted out with melted plastic on both the sensor and the wiring connector plug. Shorted wire could be a result of a leaking coolant passage at rear of engine within bellhousing where sensor is located. Coolant intrusion into sensor connector resulted in electrical short and melted connections.

I was driving and came to a stop and noticed smoke and an odd smell coming from under the hood. The heater control valve and the wire connector started to smolder and melt the plastic. If it wasn’t for me disconnecting the connector wire to the heater control valve, it would have definitely would have caught on fire.There was no warning other than the smoke and smell coming from the car. I am in the process of the car getting inspected from a bmw service center

I was driving and came to a stop and noticed smoke and an odd smell coming from under the hood. The heater control valve and the wire connector started to smolder and melt the plastic. If it wasn’t for me disconnecting the connector wire to the heater control valve, it would have definitely would have caught on fire.There was no warning other than the smoke and smell coming from the car. I am in the process of the car getting inspected from a bmw service center

The wiring in my headlight assembly is crumbling and the headlight is shorting out. The coating on the wiring is trash. I own a 08 Bmw550i. BMW should be ashamed. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The wiring in my headlight assembly is crumbling and the headlight is shorting out. The coating on the wiring is trash. I own a 08 Bmw550i. BMW should be ashamed. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

VEHICLE PARKED FOR DAYS, NOTICED SMOKE FROM PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY, INSPECTION FOUND POSSIBLE FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING OR OIL LEAK ONTO ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSING SMALL FIRE ON ENGINE FLOOR. DISCONNECTED NEGATIVE TERMINAL TO BATTERY.

VEHICLE PARKED FOR DAYS, NOTICED SMOKE FROM PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY, INSPECTION FOUND POSSIBLE FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING OR OIL LEAK ONTO ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSING SMALL FIRE ON ENGINE FLOOR. DISCONNECTED NEGATIVE TERMINAL TO BATTERY.

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FOR 8 WEEKS. MY 2008 BMW 550I CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STATIONARY AT A GAS STATION AT THE GAS PUMP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR AND THE FIRE CHIEF BOTH STATED THAT IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE. I HAVE THE FIRE REPORT. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE ON FEB. 5, 2018 AND WAS TOLD THERE 'LOOKS LIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN'WORK DONE TO THE WIRING OF THE CAR. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2017 (7 MONTHS) AND HAVE NOT DONE ANY WORK TO THE WIRING. I ALSO PULLED A CARFAX REPORT BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT SHOWED 0 ACCIDENTS AND 0 MAJOR MECHANICAL WORKING. I ASKED BMW FOR A COPY OF THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT AND WAS DENIED. THAT REALLY MADE ME SUSPECT SOMETHING FOUL FROM BMW.

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FOR 8 WEEKS. MY 2008 BMW 550I CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STATIONARY AT A GAS STATION AT THE GAS PUMP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR AND THE FIRE CHIEF BOTH STATED THAT IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE. I HAVE THE FIRE REPORT. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE ON FEB. 5, 2018 AND WAS TOLD THERE 'LOOKS LIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN'WORK DONE TO THE WIRING OF THE CAR. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2017 (7 MONTHS) AND HAVE NOT DONE ANY WORK TO THE WIRING. I ALSO PULLED A CARFAX REPORT BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT SHOWED 0 ACCIDENTS AND 0 MAJOR MECHANICAL WORKING. I ASKED BMW FOR A COPY OF THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT AND WAS DENIED. THAT REALLY MADE ME SUSPECT SOMETHING FOUL FROM BMW.

I RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING FUSES BLOWING ON MY RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT UNITS. ERRORS WOULD INDICATE IT WAS THE 'RIGHT DAYLIGHT PARKING UNIT' AND THEN WOULD CLEAR OR STAY CONSTANT. WHEN IT WAS CONSTANT, IT WAS DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. IT TURNS OUT WHEN I HAD A BMW CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE ISSUE HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING INSIDE THE FRONT HEAD LIGHT. THE WIRING HAD INSULATION THAT WAS STARTING TO FLAKE OFF ALLOWING CONTACT OF THE TWO WIRES GOING TO THE BULB AND WAS EVEN APPARENT ON OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IF I HIT A BUMP OR WENT OVER RUMBLE STRIPS THESE WIRES COULD TOUCH AND SHORT CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND/OR ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER 3 FUSES AND BUYING AN UNNECESSARY SET OF H8 BULBS, THE TECHNICIAN FIXED THE WIRING WITH SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE BUT SUGGESTED THAT A FILE A COMPLAINT HERE SINCE THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL FOR THIS COMMON ISSUE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM WITH WIRE INSULATION FALLING OFF WAS VERY COMMON ON BMW'S THAT WERE 5-7 YEARS OLD. I COULD SEE BURN MARKS ON THE WIRE AN INSTALLATION FROM WHERE THE SHORT OCCURRED AND WAS SHOCKED THAT ALL THE WIRING WITHIN THE HEAD LAMP ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SHOWED THESE FLAKING AND CRACKING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE AT SEVERAL BMW FORUMS I FOUND MANY SIMILAR ISSUES AND IMAGES ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MY TECHNICIAN TOOK. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO BE ISSUED BY BMW TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES OR INTERNAL WIRING WITH WIRES THAT HAVE A BETTER/PROPER INSULATOR THAT DOESN'T FLAKE OFF. I'VE NOT HAD THE BACK LIGHTS CHECKED, BUT FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON ON MOST IF NOT ALL BMW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FRONT/BACK FOR A FEW ONLINE RESEARCH QUERIES. ALSO WHERE CAN I SEND THE DIGITAL PICTURES MY TECHNICIAN TOOK OF THE WIRING?

I RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING FUSES BLOWING ON MY RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT UNITS. ERRORS WOULD INDICATE IT WAS THE 'RIGHT DAYLIGHT PARKING UNIT' AND THEN WOULD CLEAR OR STAY CONSTANT. WHEN IT WAS CONSTANT, IT WAS DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. IT TURNS OUT WHEN I HAD A BMW CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE ISSUE HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING INSIDE THE FRONT HEAD LIGHT. THE WIRING HAD INSULATION THAT WAS STARTING TO FLAKE OFF ALLOWING CONTACT OF THE TWO WIRES GOING TO THE BULB AND WAS EVEN APPARENT ON OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IF I HIT A BUMP OR WENT OVER RUMBLE STRIPS THESE WIRES COULD TOUCH AND SHORT CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND/OR ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER 3 FUSES AND BUYING AN UNNECESSARY SET OF H8 BULBS, THE TECHNICIAN FIXED THE WIRING WITH SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE BUT SUGGESTED THAT A FILE A COMPLAINT HERE SINCE THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL FOR THIS COMMON ISSUE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM WITH WIRE INSULATION FALLING OFF WAS VERY COMMON ON BMW'S THAT WERE 5-7 YEARS OLD. I COULD SEE BURN MARKS ON THE WIRE AN INSTALLATION FROM WHERE THE SHORT OCCURRED AND WAS SHOCKED THAT ALL THE WIRING WITHIN THE HEAD LAMP ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SHOWED THESE FLAKING AND CRACKING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE AT SEVERAL BMW FORUMS I FOUND MANY SIMILAR ISSUES AND IMAGES ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MY TECHNICIAN TOOK. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO BE ISSUED BY BMW TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES OR INTERNAL WIRING WITH WIRES THAT HAVE A BETTER/PROPER INSULATOR THAT DOESN'T FLAKE OFF. I'VE NOT HAD THE BACK LIGHTS CHECKED, BUT FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON ON MOST IF NOT ALL BMW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FRONT/BACK FOR A FEW ONLINE RESEARCH QUERIES. ALSO WHERE CAN I SEND THE DIGITAL PICTURES MY TECHNICIAN TOOK OF THE WIRING?

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DRIVETRAIN WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE DISPLAYS NO STRANGE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING AND SHUTS OFF AS IF IT WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER AT ALL OR MAKE ANY INDICATION THAT IT IS ATTEMPTING TO START. THE VEHICLE RESPONDS AS THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS NOT ACTIVATED AND WAS NEVER INSTRUCTED TO START. AFTER A RANDOM TIME INTERVAL FROM 5 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS THE CAR WILL START AS IF NO PROBLEMS WERE EVER ENCOUNTERED. NO ERRORS ARE LOGGED IN THE ECU. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO FIND ANY ISSUES WHICH THEY CLAIM ARE REPAIRABLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 DAYS OF SHOP TIME AND WELL OVER 100 OCCURRENCES. *TR

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DRIVETRAIN WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE DISPLAYS NO STRANGE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING AND SHUTS OFF AS IF IT WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER AT ALL OR MAKE ANY INDICATION THAT IT IS ATTEMPTING TO START. THE VEHICLE RESPONDS AS THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS NOT ACTIVATED AND WAS NEVER INSTRUCTED TO START. AFTER A RANDOM TIME INTERVAL FROM 5 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS THE CAR WILL START AS IF NO PROBLEMS WERE EVER ENCOUNTERED. NO ERRORS ARE LOGGED IN THE ECU. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO FIND ANY ISSUES WHICH THEY CLAIM ARE REPAIRABLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 DAYS OF SHOP TIME AND WELL OVER 100 OCCURRENCES. *TR

BMW 528I - IF YOU CARRY LIQUIDS WHICH SPILL IN YOUR TRUNK, THE LIQUID CAN SEEP THROUGH AND BURN THE WIRES, OR THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING (PER SERVICE DEPARTMENT), WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON 7-5 MY CAR HAD A LOW TIRE LIGHT GO ON. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY MIGHT NEED TO "RESET" SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR IN &WAS TOLD TO RETURN ON 7-7 AS THEY COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. ON 7-7 WE TOOK THE CAR IN.THE SERVICE REP. CALLED &ASKED ME IF I HAD SPILLED WATER IN THE TRUNK.I TOLD HIM ON 7-4 A WATER BOTTLE SPILLED.HE TOLD ME DUE TO THE WATER SPILL, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.HE SAID THEY RAN TESTS AND WIRES WERE BURNT 3 TO 4'. HE SAID THERE IS A CHANCE WHEN YOU PUT WATER BOTTLES IN TRUNK & THEY ARE NOT SEALED TIGHTLY THE HEAT CAN CAUSE THEM TO EXPAND,& OPEN UP & SPILL. HE SAID HE WARNED HIS WIFE OF THIS. I WAS NOT WARNED THE WIRES ARE DOWN THERE & NOT TO CARRY LIQUID IN THE TRUNK. I ASKED IF I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID NO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHEN THE WIRES ARE BURNED. I CAN'T USE THE TRUNK FOR GROCERY SHOPPING FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING WILL 'LEAK' AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO 'BURN' AGAIN,CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. IF THERE IS NO FIRE DUE TO THE BURNT WIRES, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR 'SHUTTING DOWN', CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER PARTY. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED THE BMW TRUNK CAN'T HANDLE TRANSPORTING LIQUID STORED IN CONTAINERS.THE WIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM WATER DAMAGE DUE TO THEIR LOCATION AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE BY LIQUID. THESE WIRES ARE SOMEWHERE UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA, WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I WOULD FEEL BAD IF ANYONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE WIRES PLACED WHERE THEY ARE & THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM LIQUID. *TR

BMW 528I - IF YOU CARRY LIQUIDS WHICH SPILL IN YOUR TRUNK, THE LIQUID CAN SEEP THROUGH AND BURN THE WIRES, OR THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING (PER SERVICE DEPARTMENT), WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON 7-5 MY CAR HAD A LOW TIRE LIGHT GO ON. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY MIGHT NEED TO "RESET" SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR IN &WAS TOLD TO RETURN ON 7-7 AS THEY COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. ON 7-7 WE TOOK THE CAR IN.THE SERVICE REP. CALLED &ASKED ME IF I HAD SPILLED WATER IN THE TRUNK.I TOLD HIM ON 7-4 A WATER BOTTLE SPILLED.HE TOLD ME DUE TO THE WATER SPILL, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.HE SAID THEY RAN TESTS AND WIRES WERE BURNT 3 TO 4'. HE SAID THERE IS A CHANCE WHEN YOU PUT WATER BOTTLES IN TRUNK & THEY ARE NOT SEALED TIGHTLY THE HEAT CAN CAUSE THEM TO EXPAND,& OPEN UP & SPILL. HE SAID HE WARNED HIS WIFE OF THIS. I WAS NOT WARNED THE WIRES ARE DOWN THERE & NOT TO CARRY LIQUID IN THE TRUNK. I ASKED IF I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID NO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHEN THE WIRES ARE BURNED. I CAN'T USE THE TRUNK FOR GROCERY SHOPPING FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING WILL 'LEAK' AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO 'BURN' AGAIN,CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. IF THERE IS NO FIRE DUE TO THE BURNT WIRES, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR 'SHUTTING DOWN', CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER PARTY. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED THE BMW TRUNK CAN'T HANDLE TRANSPORTING LIQUID STORED IN CONTAINERS.THE WIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM WATER DAMAGE DUE TO THEIR LOCATION AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE BY LIQUID. THESE WIRES ARE SOMEWHERE UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA, WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I WOULD FEEL BAD IF ANYONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE WIRES PLACED WHERE THEY ARE & THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM LIQUID. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER STORED IN THE TRUNK LEAKED. THE LEAK CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH BURNED THE WIRES AND MODULATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER STORED IN THE TRUNK LEAKED. THE LEAK CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH BURNED THE WIRES AND MODULATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.