Model year record

1994 BMW 530i recalls & problems

The 1994 BMW 530i has 3 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingAug 4, 1998

Cooling system

Recall 98V178000340,000 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Risk: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Vehicle speed controlAug 19, 1997

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V131000410,000 vehicles

Problem: THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Exterior lightingJul 1, 1996

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 96V111000180,000 vehicles

Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

530i

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

530i Touring

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

530i

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

530i

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.1 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

530i

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.1 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

530i Touring

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.1 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	6	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	2	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers	2	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	1	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
1994 BMW 530I ENGINE'S FAN CLUTCH SEIZED CAUSING THE FAN TO SHATTER VIOLENTLY. *NJ THE FAILURE OF THE FAN CLUTCH CAUSED EXTENSIVE AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MANY COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. *JB
Mar 28, 2009
Electrical system
DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT A BMW. SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON 4-26-05 SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT STARTED SMOKING. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SOMEONE GOT IT STARTED. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE TURNED IT OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. SHE CALLED THE DEALER, AND HE PROMISED FIX I, BUT IT NEVER WAS FIXED. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW. IT TOOK BMW 4 WEEKS TO CHECK THE CAR. SHE WAS TOLD BY BMW THE CAR WAS ONLY WORTH $1,500 AND THERE WAS $8,000 IN MINOR DAMAGES , AND OVER $10,000 IN MAJOR DAMAGES. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO GIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. SHE CLAIMED THE DEALER WAS TRYING TO SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE. *AK
Aug 16, 2005 · 12,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE BLOCK FAILS ON ALL M60 BMW V8'S FROM 1993-1995 CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS. *AK
Jan 1, 1994
Seats
SEAT ROCKS ON RAILS NOTICEABLY. *AK
Sep 21, 1998
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THERMOSTAT WAS CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO OVERHEAT. ALSO NEEDED A RADIATOR CAP. *AK
Jun 30, 1999
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WHERE SULPHER FROM US FUELS WAS CAUSING THE CYLINDER WALLS OF THE M60 V8 MOTOR TO DETERIORATE. APPARENTLY THEY USED A NEW METAL CALLED NIKASIL (ALUMINUM IMPREGNATED WITH NICKEL AND SILICONE). ONCE THE CYLINDER WALLS BECOME DAMAGED, THE PISTON RINGS CAN NO LONGER SEAL PROPERLY, CAUSING "LEAKDOWN" OR AIR TO ESCAPE PAST THE PISTON AS IT ATTEMPTS TO COMPRESS AIR INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ALTHOUGH BMW KNEW OF THE DEFECT, THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED. THROUGH REASEARCH, AND TALKS WITH BMW MECHANICS, I FOUND THAT BMW HAS REPLACED THOUSANDS OF THE EFFECTED MOTORS. BMW EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE ENGINE TO 100K MILES. I OWN A BMW 530I WITH THE 3.0 LITRE M60…
Aug 1, 1999
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, THE FUSE WOULD BLOW. NO INTERIOR LIGHTING OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS, IF RAINING. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD BE OUT. TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING WRONG THE FIRST 2 TIMES. FINALLY, THE 3RD TIME, THE PROBLEM (ELECTRICAL) WAS FOUND & REPAIRED. *AK
Aug 9, 1998
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
ENGINE FAILED.
Oct 16, 1997

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.