Bmw 540i Engine Problems
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across 3 model years.
Complaints by Year
Worst year: 2000. Best year: 2001.
Owner Reports
A representative sample of complaints filed with NHTSA.
M62 V-8 ENGINES USED IN THE E-39 540 AND E-38 740 ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. AT AROUND 125,000 THE PLASTIC CAN DISINTEGRATE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO SKIP A TOOTH. ONCE A TOOTH IS SKIPPED THE VALVES ARE CRUSHED AND THE ENGI...
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
Vehicle has severely poor quality coolant hoses made from poor quality material that cannot withstand the flow of pressure within the coolant system process. Leading to the hoses deteriorating from internal pressure thus causing the cool...
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 EXPERIENCE...
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, DENT...
RADIATOR FAILURE (BLOCKED). *LA
BMW 2000 540I, V8, FAILURE (CRACKED, LOSS OF COOLANT) OF UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTOR. I HAD 3 1/2 YRS/45,000 MILES ON THE CAR. PLASTIC COMPONENT WIDELY KNOWN AMONG OWNERS TO BE PRONE TO FAILURE. THANKS TO THEIR ADVICE ON WARNING SIGN...
as per [XXX] RE: Recall 22V-xxx: Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Heater – B11 01 22 This should be covered by BMW but they charges us and not refunding review charges below [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FRE...
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 L...
WHILE DRIVING COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
RADIATOR FAILURE. *AK
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 T...