1994 BMW 540i Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

1994 BMW 540i recalls

Most common 1994 BMW 540i problems

Problem areas named in the 8 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Power Train	4
Engine And Engine Cooling	4
Seats	2
Vehicle Speed Control	1
Interior Lighting	1

What owners report

2006-04-12, Power Train
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVING GEAR INTO OTHER GEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT INTERNAL PIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A PARTS CO

2003-09-09, Power Train
I BOUGHT A BMW 540I IN 1996 USED AT 45,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DELAYED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ENGAGING. NOW I WAS NOT INFORM THE OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOW AT 90,000 MILES THIS CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE , SHIFTER WOULD SLIDE, AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NOW THERE IS A IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN OTHER CONSUMER CASE# 889281 WITH THE NHTSA. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR OTHER RECALLS NOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY FAILED TO DO THERE PART AND IN MAKING SURE THAT THE TRANSMISSON PROBLEM FLUID OR OTHER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WAS TO BE TAKEN CAR OF BY THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT BECAME AN ISSUE. *AK

2003-01-05, Engine And Engine Cooling
TO WHOM IT MIGHT CONCERN. MY BMW 540I WAS DIAGNOSED FOR COMPRESSION LOSS BY THE LOCAL BMW AUTHORIZED DEALER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE CAUSE IS EXTENDED SULFUR CONTENT USED IN THE US GASOLINE. THE SULFUR CAUSES A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE USED ENGINE BLOCK ALLOY (NIKASIL) AND ERODES PREMATURELY. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99'000 MILES. THIS IS FAR BELOW ANY SERVICE LIFE EXPECTANCY STANDARD FOR A QUALITY MAKE/BRAND CAR (ENGINE). BMW WANTS TO HOLD THEIR CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW. BMW MISSED TO PROPERLY TEST AND EVALUATE THIS CAR PRIOR TO EXPORTING IT INTO THE US MARKET. BMW CONFESSES TO THE PROBLEM BY EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FROM 4 TO 6 YEARS. I FE

2002-07-31, Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE FOR THIS CAR, THE FIRST WAS REPLACED AT 38,228MI ... THIS ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE CAR, NOT THE NEWER BLOCKS ... THIS WILL BE THE THIRD ENGINE IN 142,00MI AND I AM GETTING NO HELP HERE ... VERY DISAPPOINTING ... I WANT SATISFACTION ... I SHOULD NOT BE ON A THIRD ENGINE, PERIOD!!!*AK

2001-06-20, Engine And Engine Cooling
BMW WITH M60B30 AND M60B40 V'8 FROM 93-95 ENGINES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SUFFER DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER BORES FROM EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SULPHER IN US FUELS. THE BLOCKS WERE MADE OF NIKASIL. THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS ITSELF AS AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH IDLE WHICH MY CAR HAS. BMW INITIATED AN ENGINE WARRANTY, COVERING ALL INTERNAL LUBRICATED PARTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE SHORT BLOCK FOR 100,000, OR 6 YEARS. I TOOK MY CAR TO BE CHECKED AND THIS IS WHEN I DISCOVERED( BASED ON A COMPRESSION TEST) IT HAS THE PROBLEM BMW KNEW ABOUT. THE PROBLEM IS MY CAR IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 100,000.00 MILES BMW WILLNOT REPAIR MY PROBLEM ALLTHOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TH

1994 BMW 540i questions

Does the 1994 BMW 540i have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 1994 BMW 540i: Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System; Vehicle Speed Control; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 1994 BMW 540i?

Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (4), Engine And Engine Cooling (4), Seats (2).

How do I check if a recall on my 1994 BMW 540i has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.