I have a 1999 540i and the reverse has stopped working completely. The forward gears work perfectly but the reverse suddenly stopped working. I have read many similar stories.
The worst 1999 BMW 540IA problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine6
- Transmission2
- Brakes1
- Lights1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine6
- Transmission2
- Brakes1
- Lights1
Recalls 2
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The thickness of the main positive electrical cable (generator to starter) insulation is less than specified, making it susceptible to being abraded or cut by the clip that secures the cable to the generator.
- Risk
- The cable insulation can be worn away, exposing the wire. The wire could contact the clip or a short circuit could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will apply a thickness of insulating tape to the cable in the area of the clip, and install a revised clip.
Recall number 99V004000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 5hp24 automatic transmission. Premature wear of the ring gear can occur, leading to the loss of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears.
- Risk
- If this problem occurs, the car may no longer operate in reverse, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gears.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the automatic transmission.
Recall number 99V005000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 BMW 540IA 8
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs
- Takata class action settlement
- Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
- For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?)...
- In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has...
- Experiencing an occasional hard 3-2 downshift or clunk when slowing on vehicles with M62TU produced 9/98 -...
What 1999 BMW 540IA owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 1999 bmw 540i sport caught fire 12/19/08 while it was sitting in the driveway of my home. I noticed flames about 1:30 am coming from the sides of the hood. I had driven the car to dinner that night and it was parked and locked in my driveway. I just happened to notice the flames through the window of my house. Called fire department and car was totally burned and melted. Only the rear trunk area was left. I could find no mention of this type of fire occurring on the websites of consumer complaints. No recalls that I could find. My car was well maintained while I had it. The previous owner had good records also. I had only owned it about 6 months. It was bought from the previous owner.
Tl*- the contact owns a 1999 bmw 540ia with failure mileage of 100,000 miles. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH he began having problems with the transmission. The contact stated that the gears began to function improperly, and could not be operated in 1st through reverse gears. The contact took the vehicle to the bmw dealer, where they stated that there was nothing that they would do to fix the recall. They refused to repair the vehicle without cost because the recall was issued by the federal safety agency and not by them. The contact stated that as of 4-13-07 the dealer has had the vehicle for over a month, and wanted to charge him $5,000, even though the failure was due to the recall. The current mileage was 140,000.
I had troubles with my ABS module unit that is attached to my bmw 1999 540ia. I have become aware that this is a common problem that disables the ABS control of my car and many other same model cars as mine. I had to replace the part myself due to no recall or acceptance from bmw that this is a major problem with a safety feature on my and many other bmw's similar to mine. The failure occured out of the nowhere and the resulting problem is that the unit would go off after car would warm up then eventually over time the unit completely fails and disables the cars anti braking system. The unit was replaced by me after numerous times to get bmwna or anyone from bmw to do anything about the problem with my unit. The new part cost me about $700 and the labor was about $60 to get it installed and programmed from teh bmw dealer around here. I have my old part if that helps but it is of no use. Thx michael d. Karr.
Radiator cracked at top hose inlet causing loss of coolant
1) check coolant level warning light came on twice in 1 week. Kuni bmw conducted my factory inspection ii service only 2 months before this occured. ) radiator cracked where the upper hose enters the radiator, leaking fluid into the engine bay and ground. 3) replace the radiator. This is a well know defect on this vehicle - why doesn't bmw do something about this?
Radiator failed on my 1999 bmw 540 at 54,700 miles. I believe this to be a safety problem that bmw needs to address. This safety problem: - disables the vehicle no matter where you are from rush hour traffic where the panic could endanger other drivers, to the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter by yourself. - steam from failed radiator blocks vision of the road, or whatever else is in the drivers side front corner of the vehicle. - failure can not be predicted by visual inspection of the radiator.
Crack in radiator - needs replacement.
Headlamp internal adjusting rods (brittle plastic material) fail prematurely causing headlamp bean to deflect and lamp beams to shudder or wiggle. This tends to reduce the field of vision for drivers and to blind oncoming motorists.
No summary. Dt
Compare the 1999 BMW 540IA
Other model years
Questions about the 1999 BMW 540IA
Is the 1999 BMW 540IA reliable?
Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1999 BMW 540IA, 1.4 times a typical 540IA model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 BMW 540IA?
Engine and cooling, with 6 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles. Next is transmission (2).
How many recalls does the 1999 BMW 540IA have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system and power train.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 BMW 540IA?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history