Body problems of the 2004 BMW 525

Two problems related to body have been reported for the 2004 BMW 525. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Body problem

Failure Date: 12/02/2018

On Dec. 2 my 2004 BMW 525i was sitting outside my house when it cought on fire at the fuse panel in the trunk on the right fender well. The car had been driven over 100 miles that day. My step-daughter had gotten home at midnight and parked the car. She said the car was fine when she got home at 3;30 am my neighbor knocked on my door to tell me the car was on fire. The fire department was called to put it out as ever time we would get the fire out it would spark and start again. They reported that it was a mechanical problem that caused the fire.

2 Body problem

Failure Date: 07/02/2007

June 2007 when starting the car, the vehicle's electronic system issued alerts, and interrupted function of several subsystems including the windshield wipers, electronic display, environmental, and reduced steering. The display flashed, "continued driving not possible" and then further alerts. The car was parked outside in a heavy rain when the water entered the car. The BMW center examined the car and stated that water had entered the car through a unknown location. The rear right pasanger seat, rear right passanger floor, and trunk were filed with water. The placement of the electronic control systems was in to bottom of the trunk. That is where all the water collected and cause major electrical damage. BMW stated that the items were not covered under warrany and I had to pay for the repairs. The control unit was moved from the bottom of the trunk to prevent this issue in the future. The cause of the flood was not identified. Car parked in garage going forward. Second major incident oct 2011 while the car was parked in a heavey rain, water enderd the car and flooded the car. Upon entering the car,I noticed the wet roof liner. Moisture was concentrated in one spot. I called BMW to ask if the window, door, or sunroof could be damaged and cause the flood in my car. They said yes and to bring the car in for diagnosis. I asked if this was checked the first time the car flooded and the answer was no. Additional research uncovered numerous complaints of the sunroof drain lines clogging and causing the exact same interal electrical and water damage that happened to may car. The drain system is concealed within the roof and is not accessible to car owner. The combination of the defective drainage system and the placement of the electronic control systems at the point of water collection presents a safety hazard. These items need to be resolved by BMW.


Other Structure related problems of the 2004 BMW 525

Body problems
2
Hood problems
1


525 Service Bulletins
525 Safety Recalls
525 Defect Investigations