Eight problems related to wiring have been reported for the 2007 BMW 530. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Wiring on headlights flaking apart leaving bear expose wires !!!.
Headlights internal wiring geta so hot it melts and cracks and deteriorates and causes short circuit eventually leading to both or single high beam malfunction.
The left front parking bulb was no working, took the vehicle to BMW dealership in columbia, s. C. To have bulb replaced. Upon picking up the vehicle, the warning indicator for the same bulb and the left front high beam warning both lights were not functioning correctly appeared. I returned to the service department to inquire why the warning was on, which they stated it was probably left loose. The service adviser returned to bring me into the shop to show me the wiring for the light assembly was cracking and falling off, exposing bare wire causing the short and blowing the bulbs. The service department at BMW stated a new assembly would be required which would be about $1500 each for the parts. After replacement of the bulb while in the service department, there was another electrical short causing the bulbs to blow immediately. I have read the wiring was coated with a soy based product, which is why the wiring coating is prematurely cracking and exposing bare copper wire, creating an electrical and fire hazard. Due to the inadequate material utilized by the manufacturer, it should be rectified by the manufacturer prior to serious injury or death.
Replacing the daytime running light bulb that failed, I removed the headlight assembly from the vehicle to have easier access to the bulb recessed deep inside the headlight housing. Upon opening the access panel, I discovered the wiring insulation of most of the inner wiring harness of headlight brittle and flaking off, exposing the bare wires. The short circuit probability is high with the exposed wires in close proximity.
All active xenon headlight wiring protective coating is/has flaked off exposing wires, making it vulnerable to electrical short, lose of driving lights and potential fire hazard .
The sheating on my headlight's wiring is flaking off which could lead to potential fires. I was quoted $1500 per headlight to replace them with the same crappy headlight housings that are made with the same material that will eventually do the same thing. All I need is to have the car parked in my garage and it causing a fire that could burn down our home or worst injure my family.
The headlights, driving lights are all shorted out. This was a dangerous situation as it happened at night. When taken to my mechanic, he told me that it is a common fault on BMW's. That the wiring for all the lights is made from recycled plastic and with the heat from outside and the engine the insulation completely deteriorates. He showed my bare wires everywhere and if you touch the insulation it just crumbles away. How could a $55,000 car have such poor wiring that is can create a dangerous and possibly fatal accident. To me there should be a complete recall of affected vehicles.
I discovered failures of multiple 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 remote lock/unlock using the key fobs failed. As I investigated I found the broken wire, along with several others with broken insulation, some with broken copper strands.