1999 BMW 540i Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

5 complaints

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

Dec 12, 2007

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

Mar 20, 2006

(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

Jul 08, 2004

RADIATOR FAILURE AT 54,000 MILES. *AK

Aug 25, 2003

THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURENCE. ON THE ROADFLY BULLETIN BOARD OF FELLOW OWNERS, FAILURE RATE IS ALMOST 40% OF RESPONDENTS! TYPICALLY AFTER ONLY 40 - 50K MILES! DT

Nov 07, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V004000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,076.

Jul 08, 2015

DURING A DOWN SHIFT, MY CAR SOMETIMES JUMP FORWARD A FOOT OR SO AND MAKES A THUMP DOWN SHIFTING NOISE. THIS FORCES ME TO APPLY THE BREAK QUICKLY. JUST A WEEK AGO, I HIT A CURVE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND THE BOTTOM BUMPER COVER OF THE CAR GOT HIT AND BECAME CRACKED! LUCKILY THIS PROBLEM IS RARE. THIS IS ABOUT 4TH FAILURE IN A SPAN OF 10 MONTHS. FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS, MY CAR ALSO STALLS (ENGINE LOSES POWER) DURING A SLOWDOWN. USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN I SLOW TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT FEW TIMES THIS MONTH BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION DURING A TURN. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 0-2 TIMES PER MONTH AND EACH TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, IM INFORMED THAT THEY SEE NO PROBLEMS OR THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. IVE REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEYVE TOLD ME NO.

Apr 13, 2004

Crash: 1

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/3/1017*CN

Mar 27, 2015

ON OCCASIONS WHEN SLOWING, TRANSMISION DOWNSHIFTS "HARD" MAYBE 2-1OR 3-2-1 AND EVEN A THUMB??AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT THAT TIME??*AK

May 10, 2002

STEERING

2 complaints

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55-60MPH) AND A LOUD METALLIC 'THUNK' NOISE WAS HEARD AS IF SOMETHING STRUCK OR BOUNCED OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE COME OFF THE DRIVE PULLEYS, AND UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DISCOVERED TO BE LOOSE. THE UPPER MOUNTING EAR WAS BROKEN, AND THE LOWER MOUNTING BOLT WAS MISSING ENTIRELY. IT APPEARS THE BREAK IN THE UPPER MOUNTING EAR CAUSE THE LOWER BOLT TO VIBRATE LOOSE, AND IN TURN THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT WAS DISLODGED. THE RESULT WAS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT LOW SPEED DUE TO SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.

Mar 26, 2011

STARTED MY CAR AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND FOUND OUT IT WAS MY BELT BEING CHEWED UP BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKETS BROKE. *TR

Aug 21, 2010

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Nov 18, 2010

MY 1999 BMW 540I HAS HAD INTERMITTENT DOOR UNLOCKING FAILURES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE ANY OF THE FOUR DOORS MAY SUDDENLY BECOME DOUBLE LOCKED SO THAT NEITHER THE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS OR ANY MANUAL EFFORTS WILL UNLOCK/OPEN THE DOORS. FORTUNATELY NOT ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, SO OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLIMB OVER AND BETWEEN SEATS TO EGRESS THE CAR. MECHANICS SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELAYS IN THE GENERAL MODULE (GM III) WHICH CONTROLS ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS. IN THE PAST THE PROBLEM WOULD SELF-CORRECT IN A FEW HOURS OR DAYS. TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE BACK DOOR FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER LOCKED AND WON'T UNLOCK. APPARENTLY, THE CRASH SENSOR WHICH TELLS THE GM TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WILL NOT WORK. THIS FAILURE TRAPS OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR. *TR

Sep 07, 2009

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2 complaints

I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE 60,000 DOLLAR BMW 5 SERIES WITH DSC AND ABS CONTINUALLY HAVE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURES. THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND THE COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE MODULE FAILURE CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS TO FAIL. THIS IS COMMON IN MODEL YEARS 98,99,AND 2000. *NM

Jan 14, 2006

ABS WARNING AND DSC LIGHT IS ON INDICATING FAILURE OF ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE. ABS AND DSC IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WILL NO LONGER HAVE ABS AND DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN OPERABLE CONDITION. IT IS UNKNOWN IF BRAKE COULD BE RANDOMLY ACTIVATED BY THE FAILED ABS MODULE WHILE DRIVING. COMMON FAILURE ON 1999 OR PLUS 5-SERIES BMW BASED ON USER DISCUSSION ON INTERNET. THE FAILURE IS TEMPERTURE RELATED. THE HIGHER THE TEMPERTURE, THE QUICKER THE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. *NM

Nov 28, 2005

AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

MY 1999 BMW 540I WAS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WE HEARD A LOUD THUD. I WALKED OUT TO THE BMW AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

Mar 20, 2015

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

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, 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

May 13, 2014

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE CAUSING ACCESSORY BELT TO BE THROWN FROM ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND POWER. *TR

Nov 27, 2013

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

AT APPROXIMATELY 75K MILES THE BOSCH ABS/TRACTION CONTROL UNIT FAILED ON MY 1999 BMW 540I. A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER CONFIRMED THIS TO BE TRUE. A NEW UNIT WAS INSTALLED AT THE APPROX COST OF $600. WHAT IS TROUBLING IS THAT EVERY OWNER OF A BMW 5-SERIES FROM 1999-2000 SEEMS TO HAVE HAD THIS PART FAIL ON THEM. ACTUALLY, I HAVE YET TO MEET OWNER WHO STILL HAS THEIR ORIGINAL PART. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS LESS THAN HELPFUL AND DENIED A WARRANTY CLAIM (CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY) AND DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS INTEGRAL CONTROL UNIT SHOULD BE RECALLED DESPITE STATISTICS THAT SHOW OTHERWISE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THIS FAILURE LEAVES THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SUDDENLY INOPERATIVE. *TR

Nov 03, 2008

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I WITH 72,579 MILES. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE DISC BMW ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ICON AND THE AMBER ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN ONE OF TWO SCENARIOS: (1) JUST AFTER A NEW IGNITION CYCLE, (2) DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ONCE THESE WARNINGS ILLUMINATED THE DSC, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE WARNINGS WOULD GO OUT AFTER 5-10 IGNITION CYCLES. NOW THEY WERE ON CONTINUOUSLY.*AK NEXT TO SEATBELTS, I STRONGLY BELIEVE ESC IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY. AS SUCH, I FIND IT VERY DISCONCERTING THE SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. RESEARCHING THE TOPIC ON THE VARIOUS BMW FORUMS HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE; THAT MANY MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 5-SERIES BMWS HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED. ESC MALFUNCTIONS CAN HAVE VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON VEHICLE SAFETY. IN JUSTIFYING THE RATIONALE FOR ITS RECENT MANDATE OF ESC, NHTSA ESTIMATES ESC WILL REDUCE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES AND ROLLOVERS BY 34 AND 71 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY. THE AGENCY ESTIMATES THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL SAFE UP TO 9600 LIVES PER YEAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU.

May 10, 2007

TIRES

1 complaint

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH REAR TIRES. THE CAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL TIRES. *AK *NM

Apr 01, 2004

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO REPLACE AIR BAG.*AK

Mar 02, 2001

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4.9/5.0

92 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1999 BMW 540i have?

The 1999 BMW 540i currently has 22 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1999 BMW 540i?

The most common problems reported for the 1999 BMW 540i are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1999 BMW 540i problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1999 BMW 540i comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.