general problems of the 2011 BMW 550

My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in damage to my BMW z4. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone regarding this matter. For your reference, the last seven digits of my VIN are [xxx] . You can reach me at [xxx] or via email at [xxx] . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle displays transmission malfunction & dsc and xdrive malfunction, this vehicle is available upon request for inspection. Currently been to two dealerships and all I got from the first dealership is to replace transmission at 59k mile. I purchased a used transmission same problem exist in the replacement transmission. As I was driving on highway, the transmission began displaying message above and caused the vehicle suddenly slow down without warning lights causing me to avoid an accident by pulling over to avoid being rear ended. The problem has been reproduced by dealer: tech and service advisors manager( authorized to drive) and he charge me for a tow even after I mention to him I have aaa if he needs it. Service manager stated that it may need the mechatronics unit which $4k for part but they’re unsure because they didn’t take it apart but it’s a known issue. They mention that it’s a known problem for the tcm (mechatronic valve throttle body control module to go bad). Manufacturer has not inspected vehicle. So currently it’s at BMW of owings mills get a second opinion.

Vehicle was parked while running errands, returned to leave and it would not start. Went to trunk to check battery connection and found that the positive battery cable had burnt in two where it connects to cable that runs to the engine compartment. Carpet cover and sound deadening coating had burnt and cable fell through trunk floor on top of gas tank. Car was towed and insurance refused to replace what caused fire, only what burnt from source ie. Carpet cover and floor but not wiring. BMW dealer reports they don’t know what caused cable to overheat.

Door opening defect. The driver side door would lock and not open from inside and outside posing a serious safety hazard as one cannot get out of vehicle in emergency. This is noted when vehicle is in stationary or parked position.

This car has been in the shop many times since I purchased it in 2014. First, it was unknown issues that resulted in the injectors, spark plugs, and battery being replaced. That did not fix the problem and it went back to them several more times before they eventually brought an engineer in that determined that it was a stretched timing chain. This resulted in a new timing chain and all parts associated at 60,000 miles. Since then we have had recall work a couple of times. We have had to have turbo coolant lines replaced and we had to have a new water pump put in at 80,000 miles because ours apparently fell apart. The car needs a quart of oil every 500-700 miles (this has been an issue since the beginning but it has progressively gotten worse) and the newest problem is that it threw a drivetrain malfunction error driving up a hill. This error is related to a complete lack of compression in cylinder 3. The car has 125,000 miles. This car should have been bought back as a lemon but BMW always has some excuse.

During driving on the street, I started to smell like toxic burning like rubber and/or antifreeze burning and when I stop at home I could see little steam coming from the hood area and also oil leak at the bottom of the engine-transmission region. I stopped driving the car now.

Vehicle stationary for over 3 hours, parked in a parking lot (work location) and burst into flames under the engine compartment. 8-22-18; 12:30 pm. Beaverton, oregon fire department responded and put fire out. See fire department report.

This vehicle has had multiple recalls. The latest one was campaign no. 18v-248. BMW has yet to do anything for my vehicle, even after it burnt itself to the ground and a portion of my home. They did not add any explanation or attempt to investigate this situation. It is still undefined how this vehicle lit itself on fire as it was parked and turned off sitting in my garage, after just being driven 5-10 minutes before the fire started.

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 BMW 550i series. The contact stated while driving at 35 mph the warning illuminated: drive train malfunction. The contact stated while driving on the highway and he decelerates off the gas to coast over to a different lane. When pressing the gas pedal to accelerate the car looses power and the vehicle starts shaking violently and the engine light illuminated along with the drive train malfunctioned light. The contact put on his hazard lights to coast over to the shoulder. He turned the vehicle off and back on the warning light is illuminating to drive moderately so he drove to his residence and had the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure has reccured several times and the remedy has not resolved the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 49500. Am.

I am currently having problems with my vehicle and the local authorized dealer/service center, I believe they have been negligent with their actions to multiple problems that have occurred, including the repair and inspection pertaining to a recall of the n63 engine vehicles. The vehicle has had multiple issues in the past, including several "drivetrain malfunctions" for which I believe have the dates and service records they relate fuel injectors, battery, pumps, ect. . Since January 2015 I have contacted the service center, autogermana BMW of puerto rico, to request an inspection and repair of the vehicle due to recurrent issues and concerns, the representative initially told me that the dealer had received no information about the "recall" or service bulletin "b001314". In March the vehicle was serviced again and the "recall" was included in the service order but they alleged that they did't have the parts available and that they would contact me as soon as they became available. The representative even recommended against extending the vehicle warranty for repairs until the vehicle was repaired and/or inspected as it related to the recall. The vehicle is now past the 50k mile warranty and the issues have not been resolved, and again it is at their service center because of a new "drivetrain malfunction". The service representative called me and told me that they would again inspect the vehicle to determine if the malfunction had any relation to the previous issues and /or the recall, if it has no relation they would have to be repaired without the warranty coverage. I believe this to be systematic negligence or quite possibly intentional irresponsibility. At this point legal action is the next logical step. I appeal to the NHTSA for responsible assistance with these service issues and a resolution of the problems.

Have to add oil evey 500 miles, and I did notice theres a recall on the car but BMW does not want to call it a recall. I think ti may effect car 5 years from now, timing chain is not always good news. I think BMW should offer extended warranty.

I bought the car on may 6, 2015 with about 53k miles on it. Drove it for only about 45 days and while driving the car the drivetrain malfunction and other lights came on and the car lost power and stopped immemdiately. At first, I thought it was the battery and had the car jumped but that didn't work. The care engine was totally dead, no sound no anything other than the engine light that popped on before it stopped. I had purchased an extended warrantly from gwc at the purchase of the car so informed them. I had the car towed to a place (lmc auto in norcross georgia) that gwc was willing to pay for repairs. Lmc said the engine was locked and needed to be replaced. Gwc refused to replace the engine because of the expense and instead had lmc auto repair the engine. Needless to say, lmc is still repairing the engine almost 5months later. I had called governor's office of consumer protetion, clark howard, etc. . Trying to get help with getting the car fixed. When I talked to BMW of north America they said they warranty is up at 50k miles so they cannot commit to do do anything. I am at my wits end and the car still does not seem to be any closer to getting fixed.

I was driving on a residential street and shifted into 3rd gear. The car began to buck violently. I pushed in the clutch to stop the bucking. I was approaching an intersection. I attempted to accelerate and the gas pedal was non-responsive. The vehicle then indicated that it had a drivetrain malfunction. I was able to pull over, turn the car off and back on and drive 0. 5 miles to my destination. While parked, the parking brake also malfunctioned and I was unable to turn it off. The car was towed to the dealership. There is a significant design deficiency with this vehicle. The problem with my car had to do with a broken plastic part on the water channel that leads around the trunk. The plastic cover is supposed to snap into a grommet that is in a hole, thus sealing the hole from water. In my situation, the grommet was missing. Given the design of the plastic part, there is no way to know that there is an issue without removing the plastic part. The hole that the plastic piece snaps into leads directly into the trunk. In the bottom of the trunk are sensitivite electronic modules that control the fuel management system and the parking brake. There is no drain in the trunk that would allow water to leave the vehicle. My vehicle was parked in a parking lot during a rain storm. As a result of the design, I got water in the trunk, which ruined these two modules, resulting in the vehicle becoming disabled while driving. I believe that this is a significant safety issue for the following reasons: I) as a consumer, I had no idea that the electronics that enable the vehicle to manage fuel were located in the trunk; ii) the design of the water channel around the trunk seems inadequate given that any failure of the plastic shield / grommet combination would lead to water in the trunk and expose these critical components.

My 2011 BMW 550igt driven for 43200 miles was parked in my driveway with ignition turned off (for at least 45 minutes). Noticed smoke coming out from the trunk, where the battery is located.

Since Jan 2014 the fuel injectors failed and replaced 2 times and the veh is currently at the position of crtiz BMW dealership in GA since Feb 12/2015 to replace the fuel injectors for the 3rd time and also to repair the seat belt malf on the front passenger side that were failed to work since Feb of 2014. On Feb of 2014 I have reached out to critz BMW service department and explained the issue to [xxx] and also contacted BMW in June of 2014 to cust care individuals and [xxx], [xxx]the customer relation mgr many times from over 6 months about the seat belt malf safety issue since then to have this issue fixed but I was told that BMW couldn't duplicate or repair the seat belt. 3 passengers including my wife were at risk and saw the light for seat belt malf warning light turned on in this veh while setting on the front passenger seat and I also have photos dated since Feb 2014. The warning indicated that the air bag won't deploy in case of any accident and I had to stop the veh while driving on the highway for the passenger's safety and I also contacted BMW emergency assistance and I was told to take the vehicle to the dealership for inspections. [xxx] at critz BMW mentioned that the service dept and BMW are aware of the issue with the seat belt and that they are in contact to replace the seat mat on the passenger side and that there is an issue with the sensor. I was offered by BMW to trade this vehicle and I told [xxx] that I will not trade this vehicle until its fixed since I don't want to put someone's life in danger due to the seat belt issue that BMW couldn't fix and I told them that they can simply repurchase, replace or repair this vehicle. On March 12/2015 [xxx] told me over the phone that the BMW couldn't duplicate or repair the seat belt malfunction on the passenger side seat. I told [xxx] over the phone that I will not risk the life of my wife or any other person driving this vehicle. BMW simply told me that they couldn't do anything else about it and that they will be closing my case. I was told by BMW to pick up my vehicle from thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have prepared a pdf document that I would like to submit as well. I can supply it at any time. Here is the short version. 10/17/I have the family come with me for a ride and then the vehicle begins to malfunctions and the check engine light comes back on. The vehicle is struggling to even drive at this point and I am on the freeway trying to make it to an exit. The hesitation becomes worse and worse I start to fear that I may become stranded on a busy roadway. I make it off the exit and home. 10/18/(d/o vehicle mileage: 29,375) I take the vehicle to concord BMW for inspection; [xxx] is the service consultant at BMW of concord. 10/19/(p/u vehicle mileage: 29,379) [xxx] telephones me to inform me that it was a quick fix and the vehicle was ready to be picked up. I come to sign for the vehicle and release the rental. Not even 10 minutes after I am in possession of the vehicle it malfunctions identically again. I call back to tell them I am dropping it off, once again. Returned the vehicle with (d/o 29,392 miles) 10/20/continued. . . 10/21/continued. . . 10/22/continued. . . 10/23/continued. . . 10/24/continued. . . . 10/25/continued. . . 10/26/continued. . . 10/27/continued. . . 10/28/continued. . . 10/29/continued. . . 10/30/continued. . . 10/31/continued. . . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).