KnownCarProblems2000 BMW 540i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 540i, most often about the engine (32% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles). It is the most complained-about 540i model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2000 BMW 540i problems
Engine
10 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
Water pump failure.this is a known defect that involves a high percentage of the e39 540i BMW. The failure of the pump is known to happen between 5000-60000 miles and can put the driver in danger and cause unnecessary expensive repairs to be incurred on a car of this caliber. The water pump failure in my case…
BMW 2000 540i, v8, failure (cracked, loss of coolant) of upper radiator hose connector. I had 3 1/2 yrs/45,000 miles on the car. Plastic component widely known among owners to be prone to failure. Thanks to their advice on warning signs, I was able to stop under control and get repair without major incident; other…
Air bags
8 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2000 BMW 540i. She stated that the battery continued to fail on the vehicle which caused several undisclosed electrical failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer nine times to correct the faulty battery issue, to no avail. On a separate occasion, while the vehicle was sitting idle the frontal…
The contact owns a 2000 BMW 540i. The contact was driving approximately 60 MPH when road debris crashed into the front driver side door and the front driver side air bag deployed. The vehicle was pulled over and shut off. A police report was not filed but the contact sustained minor injuries from the air bag…
Electrical
8 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel.
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…
Tl contact owns a 2000 BMW 540i. When the brakes were depressed, the traction did not hold or control the vehicle. The instrument panel gauge also failed to function properly when the ABS failed. The BMW manufacturer was called and informed the contact that his warranty had expired and he would be responsible for the…
Lights
3 complaints · 10%Wiring harness in loom at connection between body and trunk lid is showing cracked wires which can lead to a variety of symptoms when wires short. Trunk will only open manually with key. Key fob remote and inside vehicle trunk release do not work. Trunk cannot be opened when doors are unlocked using trunk handle.…
The contact owns a 2000 BMW 540i. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated, causing them to overheat and melt the casing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 00v048000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 BMW 540i recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began march 14, 2019. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i sedan, 530i sedan, 540i sedan, 2001-2003 525i sports wagon and 540i sports wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 x5 sav 3.0i, x5 sav 4.4i, and x5 sav 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Lights: switch
Risk: If this happens, the brake lamps either will not operate or will be continuously illuminated, regardless of brake pedal position.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamps in these vehicles are controlled by a switch activated by the movement of the brake pedal. This switch could fail internally, causing it to remain either in the "brake lamps off" position or in the "brake lamps on" position.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2000 BMW 540i
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW 540i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (10 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); air bags (8 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles); electrical (8 complaints, typically around 97,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 BMW 540i have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 14, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the BMW 540i?
- It is the most complained-about 540i model year since 2000, with 31 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other BMW 540i years
- 2000
- 2018