The contact owns a 2006 BMW 550I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 184,000.
The worst 2006 BMW 550I 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.
- Airbags13
- Electrical3
- Engine3
- Brakes2
- Steering2
- Wheels2
- Fuel system1
- Lights1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 BMW 550I
Recalls 3
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
- Risk
- Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V428000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
- Risk
- Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 13V564000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles equipped with v8 engines, in conditions of below freezing temperatures combined with low humidity, it is possible for electrostatic discharge to occur at the fuel rails. If this were to occur, the engine electronic control unit (ecu) could be affected so that engine stalling could result.
- Risk
- If stalling were to occur, the driver may not be able to maintain vehicle speed or accelerate and the power steering could fail increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will attach two ground cables in the engine compartment free of charge. The recall began on october 29, 2007. Owners may contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 07V479000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2006 BMW 550I
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 2006 BMW 550I 52
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.
- 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
- 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"...
- Various Electrical Problems Caused by Water Ingress
- Navigation system: reporting missing or incorrect road map data
- Front passenger seat occupancy (OC3) mat for SRS: limited warranty extension to 15 years/unlimited miles
2006 BMW 550I 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14-15 | 20-23 | 16-18 |
What 2006 BMW 550I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving home and felt the car leaning to one side (passenger side) I drove slowly with hazard lights on made it home and checked under vehicle looked liked the bolt came off and bar connected to tire was dropped had it towed to shop and was told control arm needed to be replaced . Another situation I had with my car was the cooling system and the oil I was buying bottles of coolant and oil weekly took it into shop and was told complete cooling system needed to be replaced as I was driving home car started to overheat so I stopped as recommended and let it cool made it home then had vehicle towed to shop they ordered all parts and hoses for cooling system now my car smoke at the exhaust when sitting idle for a few minutes then when I push on the gas big clouds of white smoke come from exhaust.
Nexen tires n5000 plus sidewall on all tires are starting to crack and split with less than 30,000 miles and 24 months of use. Going to replace tires with another brand and remove these due to unsafe and potential catastrophic failure of tires coming apart or blowout at highway speeds..
Headlight wire insulation flaking off and wires are shorting causing headlight to go off. Wires short and arcing. The headlight went off while driving on highway at night.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 550i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v564000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to bmw of las vegas (6900 w sahara ave, nv 89117, (702) 570-0279), but the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
There is fuel leaking from the main fuel line to the fuel rail. Extremely dangerous upon research I have found that this is a common problem with my model which explains why bmw's catch fire. Does someone have to die before they fix this problem?
Altough my 2006 bmw 550i v8 is hard to stop and falls under bmw brake vacuum pump recall released november 2010, for some reason my VIN doesnt bring up the recall. Bmw refused to fix.a wasted 1 hour trip and day.
Front passenger air bag light warming on I-drive and air bad light lit on dash. Passenger restraint failure. Fault in passenger restraint system affecting air bag,belt tensioner or belt-force limiter.fasten and continue to wear belts. On 24-7. From the moment you start the car till the moment you shut it off.
Defective elv steering lock prevents the car from starting. The lock can't be disabled. This should be a recall. The lock is unnnecssary for safe operation of the vehicle. The lock can't be disabled. At the very least, the owner should be able to disable it.
My 06 bmw 550i is having an electric wheel lock fault just like thousands of others this as you know could possibly lead to an accident. It is my understanding that bmw has issued a service bulletin acknowledging the issue. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Compare the 2006 BMW 550I
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Questions about the 2006 BMW 550I
Is the 2006 BMW 550I reliable?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2006 BMW 550I, 1.5 times a typical 550I model year.
What is the 2006 BMW 550I year score?
The 2006 BMW 550I scores 54 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 550I: 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 2006 BMW 550I?
Airbags, with 13 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles. Next is electrical (3).
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW 550I have?
3 recalls, covering air bags and engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 2006 BMW 550I airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 17V428000, 13V564000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What gas mileage does the 2006 BMW 550I get?
Official estimates for the 2006 BMW 550I range from 16 to 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.8L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 14-15 city and 20-23 highway.
VIN decoder
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