BMW 525 owners have reported 4 problems related to wiring (under the electrical system category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Headlight wiring insulation rot lead to failed high and low beams on driver side and intermittent failures of both beams on passenger side. See photo for exampole of disintegrated wiring on driver high beam wiring harness. Only known option is to buy a complete new headlight assembly ($1250+ per side) or attempt diy. This problem is well-known and has long been reported by other BMW e60 (5 series 2004-2010) owners at bimmerfest. Com and 5sriest. Net. . Read more...
See
all problems of the 2007 BMW 525
🔎.
Because of poor quality of fiber optics wiring used on the headlight they tend dry rot resulting in a burnt out headlight. Which can become a safety hazard.
See
all problems of the 2006 BMW 525
🔎.
Driving down the road and smelled a burning smell. Turned off the seat heater. The seat felt very hot on my lower back. When I got to work noticed that the leather was burned through on the drivers left side. You can see the exposed wiring. Very dangerous. BMW would not replace. In searching on line, I saw that this is a common situation on the seat heater element.
See
all problems of the 2004 BMW 525
🔎.
Upon turning on the manufacturer installed drivers seat heater, the drivers seat heater shorted out causing extreme heat and smoke to rise from the left side of the seat. Although this did not cause a fire, it was extremely close to causing a fire. The heater was turned off, and the smoke and heat subsided. There was a significant electrical burning smell. Contacted a BMW mechanic who stated that this was a common occurrence and a known issue with BMW. He cited a case which caused a customers leather seat to burn and also burned his sports coat. The mechanic stated that this problem happens overtime do to the breakdown of the wiring which is caused by the driver getting into and out of the vehicle. Over time, the wires rub bare causing the deterioration of the wiring and the insulation. The wiring in turn builds resistance with the in ability of the electricity to pass through the damage wiring, which causes the excessive heat.
See
all problems of the 2003 BMW 525
🔎.