1997 BMW 528

I BOUGHT THE 1997 BMW 528I OFF LEASE. IT WAS MY SECOND BMW. THE PRIOR BMW HAD VIRTUALLY NO PROBLEMS. I GUESS THE SECOND ONE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIRST ONE. IF I ONLY HAD A NICKLE FOR EVERY TIME I WISHED I HADN'T TRADED FOR THE SECOND ONE. 1. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO KEEP ONE EYE ON THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AT ALL TIMES (IT WOULD HEAT UP VERY FAST). THE BMW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY CHARGED ME OVER $2,000. WELL, THAT AND A COUPLE OF BOLDFACE LIES ENDED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT DEALERSHIP. 2. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME FRAME. AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MOVING IN AND OUT REPETITIVELY AND WOULDN'T STOP ALONG WITH MY SEAT (IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MEMORY SWITCHES IN THE DOOR). THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO. 3. THE RADIO (FM) AND CD PLAYER QUIT IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH THE SUN ROOF... I AM AN ENGINEER AND I HAVE MANAGED TO FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS MYSELF BUT I AM ASHAMED TO RELATE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIPS HERE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER AUTO-REPAIR FACILITIES. OH, I MIGHT ADD THAT NONE OF MY FIVE CHILDREN, WHO ARE ALL ENGINEERS OR DOCTORS, OWN A BMW AND I'M SURE NONE OF THEIR KIDS (15) WILL EITHER.

THE THIRD/MIDDLE REAR BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING HAS MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WHEN USING BRAKES FOR EXTENDED TIME PERIODS (E.G., WHEN STUCK IN VERY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC). THIS HAS CAUSED THE RED LENSE TO MELT OVER THE BULB, THEREBY POSING A RISK OF FIRE AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING INSPECTED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT USING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE (I HAVE SMELLED THE BURNING PLASTIC). THE HOUSING AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL NOT FIX THE SAFETY HAZARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (AND IT WILL COST $550 FOR ME TO REPAIR IT). THIS DEFECT ALSO PERMITS WHITE LIGHT TO SHINE FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, THEREBY POSING AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

WHILE GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK THE SEVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE CAR HAD RUN HOT. I HAD NOTICED NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY SUGGESTED A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUGGESTED THE THERMOSTAT BE REPLACED FIRST. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TEMPATURE PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT AND BACK BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE BAD. VEHICLE ALSO DIDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. DEALER WILL ONLY TAKE $200.00 OFF FOR SERVICE. CINSUMER SAID THAT THERE WAS ONLY 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER. *AK