Table 1 shows one common suspension related problems of the 2013 BMW 535.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Suspension problems |
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535i. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Soon after hearing the noise, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the passenger’s side cv joint was replaced out of pocket. Recently, the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that the driver’s side cv joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Driver side rear air spring failure.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535xi. While driving approximately 45 mph, a clicking noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. After parking the vehicle, it was discovered that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the universal joint failed and punctured the oil pan. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000. Updated 10/02/jb.
Air suspension. Car leaned left after sitting, but the air spring pumped up on vehicle start-up. Car was taken to the dealer, who identified a leaking left rear air suspension spring. Identified technical bulletin (si b37 01 15) noting faulty installation during assembly. The bulleting recommends replacing left air spring (BMW to supply labor and parts) on cars manufactured through Feb 2, 2013. My car was manufactured Feb 17, 2013 and the BMW customer relations department refuses to cover the cost of replacement since it is outside the bulletin dates. Car has 40,500 miles and the failure was exactly as described in the technical bulletin. Hence, this is evidence that the vehicle defect exceeds the assembly dates and the date of manufacture should be extended. Further, the air spring was defective, but a warning light was not activated because the air bag was inflated during the vehicle start up process. This may have led to a catastrophic failure of a defective air shock while the car was in motion, and is therefore a safety hazard.