2009 BMW 535I

WITHIN 15 MIN OF ARRIVING HOME IN SAID VEHICLE, WIFE STARTED CAR IN DRIVEWAY TO GO SHOPPING. IMMEDIATELY, DENSE BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE DASH. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT LEFT KEY FOB IN COLUMN. SHE SUMMONED ME FROM INSIDE OUR HOUSE AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE SMOKE WAS STILL POURING OUT FROM UNDER CENTER TO DRIVER SIDE OF DASH. I REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM COLUMN AND APPROX. 1 TO 2 MIN LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED - WAS GOING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, BUT SMOKE STOPPED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO OPEN GARAGE AND GATHER TOOLS. NO FLAMES WERE EVER SEEN AND ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD AREA - ALL INSIDE CAR. MANY WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOW ILLUMINATED - AWD SYS, DSC, ABS, 4X4, LIGHTING SYS (CHECK DISPLAYS, TURN SIGNALS, HIGH BEAMS, HEADLAMP FLASHER AND FOG LAMPS). NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS SEEM TO FUNCTION. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND FORTUNATELY HAPPENED WHILE STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED RECALL LOG ON NHTSA FOR VIN AND FOUND "0" RECALLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO INCLUDES "X-DRIVE" (ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68000.