Underhood Wiring problems of the 2000 BMW 540

I have a 2000 BMW 540i (e39). My car was in a pristine condition, and all of sudden, the "engine failsafe prog" message came up, and the car shutdown. I took it to a dealership, and I was told the thermostat was burned badly, causing the engine wiring harness and dme burned as well. I believe this is a big safety concern for those that own this vehicle. I was quoted $3500 to fix this issue, and currently it's being repaired at BMW seattle.