The heated seats start fires and BMW refuses to acknowledge that my car should've been a part of the federal safety agency Recall 04V‑575. The dealership denies any issue with the car despite knowing about the hole it burned in my seat.
The worst 2004 BMW 530I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags49
- Seats29
- Electrical28
- Transmission11
- Engine10
- Steering9
- Seat belts8
- Body5
- Fuel system4
- Lights3
- Tires3
- Visibility3
- Brakes2
- Suspension2
- Acceleration1
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 BMW 530I
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Bmw airbag light illumination
Bmw is conducting a safety recall campaign on approximately 200,000 my04 through my06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05 to correct the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The specific vehicles included in the recall aremy04- 06/ 5-series with standard and sport seats, my04-06/ x3-series and my06/ 3-series with sport seats. In addition, bmw will extend the warranty coverage of the passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat to 10-year/unlimited mileage on approximately 120,000 remaining my04-06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05. The specific vehicles included in the extended warranty are my 06/ 6 series, my 06/ 3-series with standard seats, my04-05/ z4, my04-06/ 7 series, my 06/ x5, and my04-06/ 5-series with comfort seats.the average frequency of failures among the extended warranty groups was less than 1/7th of the recall vehicle groups.please see bmw's 08v‑384 recall notification for further detailsdepending on seat configuration and vehicle geometry, the occupant detection mat can fatigue during use depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit.specifically, over time, micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat causing a broken circuit.a brokencircuit can lead to the deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light.
EA08001
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 BMW 530I 51
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Condensation is present in the inner surface in one or both (inner and/or outer) taillamps.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- Engine will crank but not start
- Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle
- Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may...
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal...
- Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been...
- Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The "Service Engine Soon"...
- Navigation system: reporting missing or incorrect road map data
2004 BMW 530I fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17-18 | 26-27 | 20-21 |
What 2004 BMW 530I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Battery cable - insulated bulkhead connector
Unrepaired Recalls (1) 12V‑126:79 Safety: Battery Cable - Insulated Bulkhead Connector Mar 23, 2012 OEM Code 12V‑126:79 All the dealerships i contacted to fix this recall never replied to me and The battery connection has ruined my electrical components on my vehicle(Long beach BMW and Cerritos BMW California)
About three years ago, we filed a complaint with BMW North America. A problem with the front passenger seat. There was smoke As a result, a hole burned through. after that an error message about the airbag came on. We also didn't know that there was a recall about this problem. we made several calls to the dealership and at the end, they offered to help with only 50% Quote to repair the seat was $2300.00. The car only had 142,000 miles. all the seats were in mint condition. Thank You.
Nearly every bmw suffers from failed wiring in the headlights. This should be addressed as a recalled oint of failure as it involves everybody on the road.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw 530i. The contact stated after driving the vehicle for two hours there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The vehicle was taken to bmw of nashville (1568 mallory ln, brentwood, tn 37027(615) 928-2541) however, the mechanic was unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was not repaired however, the fuel tank cover was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,810.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 bmw 530i. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, when the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the front passenger side axel separated from the body which resulted in the contact crashing the vehicle. Contact stated all air bags deployed and a police report was filed. The contact stated that there was a loud pop before the failure occurred. 1 person was injured which resulted in back soreness, no medical treatment was needed. The vehicle was towed to mobile maintenance & towing llc (2014 w gardner ln, tucson, az 85705 (520) 900-1196) the vehicle was destroyed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, the federal safety agency campaign number: 19e058000 (steering) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Smell burning or exhauste fume in the cabin during the first two miles of driving the car!
Heated seating is burning my leg passenger side. Even on low.
The wire harness for both headlights in this vehicle are completely frayed. Bare copper wires can be seeing and the lights are inoperative. In addition to night driveability being and issue, the potential for a short circuit and fire under the hood exists. A cursory internet research shows that this is common issue with several bmw model years, potentially affecting thousands of drivers.
Compare the 2004 BMW 530I
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Questions about the 2004 BMW 530I
Is the 2004 BMW 530I reliable?
Owners have filed 129 complaints about the 2004 BMW 530I, 5.0 times a typical 530I model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2004 BMW 530I year score?
The 2004 BMW 530I scores 15 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 530I: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 BMW 530I?
Airbags, with 49 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles. Next is seats (29).
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 530I have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the BMW 530I have bad airbags?
The BMW 530I model years with the most airbags complaints are 2004 (49 complaints), 2005 (37 complaints) and 2006 (32 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW 530I get?
Official estimates for the 2004 BMW 530I range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17-18 city and 26-27 highway.
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