2000 BMW 540i Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature was not extremely hot or extremely cold. The previous several times I had driven the car there was no indication of an SRS light and the car started perfectly every time.

Aug 20, 2023

I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car. I have not contacted anyone about this. It happened a few hours ago. It is about 93 degrees with very high humidity. I am sending this report because someone could have been killed.

Jul 06, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ROAD DEBRIS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE IMPACT FROM THE DEBRIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mar 18, 2011

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

BOUGHT A BMW WITH THE AIRBAG SIGN ON FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. *TR

Feb 19, 2011

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mar 10, 2005

+ 2 more complaints for this component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

7 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD ROARING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE RADIATOR FAN BLADES DETACHED, DENTED THE HOOD, WHICH CAUSED THE PAINT TO PEEL AND THEN FELL TO THE GROUND.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

Nov 18, 2010

WHILE DRIVING COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

May 20, 2004

RADIATOR FAILURE (BLOCKED). *LA

Nov 13, 2003

RADIATOR FAILURE. *AK

Nov 11, 2003

WATER PUMP FAILURE.THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT INVOLVES A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE E39 540I BMW. THE FAILURE OF THE PUMP IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN BETWEEN 5000-60000 MILES AND CAN PUT THE DRIVER IN DANGER AND CAUSE UNNECESSARY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO BE INCURRED ON A CAR OF THIS CALIBER. THE WATER PUMP FAILURE IN MY CASE DESTROYED THE MAIN DRIVE BELT LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALTERNATOR ETC. E39 OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY DESIGN AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER PUMP AND COOLING SYSTEM. *AK

Oct 28, 2003

+ 2 more complaints for this component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 complaints

LIKE 80% OF OWNERS OF BMW 540I, 740I, 740IL, X5 OWNERS FROM YEARS 1999-2003 SUFFER FROM FACTORY DEFECT VARIABLE VALVE TIMING UNITS OR AS BMW CALLS IT VANOS. THE PARTS ON THE INSIDE CAUSE TERRIBLE DIESEL TYPE NOISES. I'VE TALKED TO MANY CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHO HAVE TOLD ME IF AFFECTS HOW THE ENGINE RUNS AND PERFORMS. *TT

Oct 27, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FLAMES. AN ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED BY BMW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,900. UPDATED 12/11/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/11/08

Oct 27, 2008

I HAVE A 2000 BMW 540I (E39). MY CAR WAS IN A PRISTINE CONDITION, AND ALL OF SUDDEN, THE "ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG" MESSAGE CAME UP, AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT WAS BURNED BADLY, CAUSING THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND DME BURNED AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS QUOTED $3500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE, AND CURRENTLY IT'S BEING REPAIRED AT BMW SEATTLE. *TR

Apr 04, 2008

I WAS MOVING MY CAR IN ORDER TO PARK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE CAR STARTED THEN COMPLETE FAILURE. THE CAR CUT OFF, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO GET STOPPAGE. THE THERMOSTAT SHORTED OUT AND BURNED OUT THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED OUT AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRONIC PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE ALUMINUM THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS MELTED AND WAS REPLACED! TOTAL OF OVER $5,000 WAS REQUIRED TO FIX. IF A FUSE HAD BEEN THERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS AND IF THIS HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD AS SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

Nov 26, 2007

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 complaints

The audio suddenly stops and my turn signals also stop working. When this happens when I'm in traffic, this is very frightening because I cannot signal lane changes or turns. Turning off the ignition and restarting the car always fixes the turn signals but only sometimes fixes the audio. It usually takes several restarts before the audio works. When in the failed condition with no audio and no turn signals and the engine running, disconnecting the Dynavin D9 "ibus box" from the vehicle instantly fixes the turn signals but not the audio. It has not been reproduced or confirmed nor has it been inspected. There is never any warning before the problem appears. I have been in continuous contact with the manufacturer in California. They sent a new ibus box, hoping that would fix the problem but it did not.

Oct 05, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT AND MELT THE CASING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V048000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,021.

Nov 14, 2013

Fire: 1

ENGINE

2 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS METAL SHARDS STARTED TO FALL FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE COOLANT WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN HAD BECOME SEPARATED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN WAS FRACTURED AND CUTTING THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mar 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HYDRO-LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

Jun 12, 2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

WIRING HARNESS IN LOOM AT CONNECTION BETWEEN BODY AND TRUNK LID IS SHOWING CRACKED WIRES WHICH CAN LEAD TO A VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS WHEN WIRES SHORT. TRUNK WILL ONLY OPEN MANUALLY WITH KEY. KEY FOB REMOTE AND INSIDE VEHICLE TRUNK RELEASE DO NOT WORK. TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED WHEN DOORS ARE UNLOCKED USING TRUNK HANDLE. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE MANY FALSE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATORS RANGING FROM LOW COOLANT, TRUNK LID NOT CLOSED, ETC. WIRING SHORT COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. MANY EXAMPLE CASES CAN BE FOUND HERE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=397245. *TR

Dec 16, 2012

STEERING

1 complaint

LUCKY I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY ENGINE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE AND CUT OUT. I WENT TO RESTART MY ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT ALL MY INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON. I WENT TO DRIVE AND MY POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY SHOT. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE WITH NO REAL WARNING. IF I HAD BEEN AT A HIGH SPEED THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

Dec 02, 2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

ENGINE FIRE: ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT WIRES OVERHEATED AND CAUSED WIRES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO BURN. SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DEGRADED. *TR

Oct 26, 2010

Fire: 1

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE TRACTION DID NOT HOLD OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE ABS FAILED. THE BMW MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

Mar 09, 2010

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. SHE STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL UNDISCLOSED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NINE TIMES TO CORRECT THE FAULTY BATTERY ISSUE, TO NO AVAIL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE THE FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO SHATTER. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THE BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FROM A THIRD PARTY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 36,206.

Jan 26, 2010

TIRES

1 complaint

BRIDGESTONE TIRE EQUIPMENT UNRAVELED ON VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. *MR WHILE DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND FOUND THAT THE INSIDE OF TIRE HAD GONE BALD AND PART OF THREAD HAD COME LOOSE. *SCC *JB

Jun 04, 2003

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY RAN OVER A PIECE TIRE. CONSUMER HEARD TIRE STRIKE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. NEXT DAY UPON ENTERING GARAGE THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL LIKE GAS, AND GAS WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER COULD SEE TANK WAS MOIST AFTER LOOKING UNDERNIETH. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY WILL REPLACE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER FELT A PIECE OF TIRE SHOULD NOT PUNCTURE A FUEL TANK.*AK

Aug 14, 2001

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

May 10, 2001

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

CUP HOLDERS DO NOT HOLD CUPS. CUPS GO FLYING AND SPILL HOT COFFEE ON PASSENGERS OR DRIVER. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR A BURN TO EITHER PERSON. BMW COULD CARE LESS. *AK

Nov 08, 2000

Injuries: 1

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4.5/5.0

56 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2000 BMW 540i have?

The 2000 BMW 540i currently has 31 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 2000 BMW 540i?

The most common problems reported for the 2000 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 2000 BMW 540i problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2000 BMW 540i comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.