2008 BMW 535XI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND TOUCHING THE HANDLE TO LOCK THE DOORS VIA THE KEYLESS ENTRY FEATURE, THE CONTACT FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD NOT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND REMAINED TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE DRIVER CAME BACK TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT WHAT THE CONTACT PERCEIVED AS A FAILURE WAS A SECURITY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH NOT CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND WITH NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION" ABOVE MY HEAD. IT WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SHOT. BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL OVER, THE SHATTERED GLASS OF THE SUNROOF BLEW OFF THE ROOF ONTO THE ROAD BEHIND ME. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COME OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND I WAS NOT GOING UNDER A BRIDGE OF ANY KIND. IT WAS AS IF THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. HAD THE SUNROOF CURTAIN NOT BEEN CLOSED, ALL THAT GLASS WOULD HAVE COME INTO THE CAR AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY. *TR

I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE SEVERED WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REAR WIPER AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRES, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS." *TR