Model year record
The 1998 BMW 540i has 1 safety recall and 26 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (18 complaints).
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.
| City / highway | 16 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
| City / highway | 14 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/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.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Engine › Gasoline | 18 | 60,139 mi |
| Latches/locks/linkagesTrunk lid › Lock | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 2 | — |
| Power trainClutch assembly | 1 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar | 1 | — |
| Parking brakeConventional › Mechanical | 1 | — |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly | 1 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing | 1 | — |
| Air bags | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
While stopped (engine still running) at a gas station, the driver side airbag and driver side side curtain airbag both went off. The battery disconnect feature was also triggered. Very lucky I wasn't driving when this occurred.
WHITE STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ONTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE STEAM WAS FOGGING THE WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER NECK CONNECTOR OF THE RADIATOR HOSE BROKE.*AK
2ND CATASTROPHIC RADIATOR FAILURE. NOT A LEAK, THE NECK BREAKS OFF CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF COOLING. 1ST RADIATOR AT 45K, 2ND AT 92K. BASED ON OTHER'S EXPERIENCES, THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS MODEL (AND EVEN LONGER LIFE THAN MANY). CAUSES LOSS OF VISION DUE TO AMOUNT OF STEAM RELEASED. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD QUICKLY TO SHUT DOWN. NO WAY TO PREDICT THE FAILURE. SAME ISSUE WITH EXPANSION TANK. BOTH FAILURES ARE ON PLASTIC PARTS.*AK
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET ONE EVENING AND AS I CAME TO A LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY HOOD. FORTUNATELY IT WAS IN THE EVENING AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHTER THAN USUAL. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAVING KNOWN OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, I FIRST CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND PURCHASED A NEW RADIATOR FROM BMW OF SEATTLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE NEW RADIATOR WAS ABOUT $200, A FEW HOURS OF MY OWN LABOR AND A FEW MORE HOURS DETAILING THE ENGINE PAY AND HEADLIGHTS WHICH HAD RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THEM. ALSO FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS WHO OWN E39 BMW 540S, I…
PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR ON MY '98 BMW 540IA BROKE COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY ON HIGHWAY. WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SAW TEMP GAUGE CLIMB UP RAPIDLY. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. NO ONE WAS HURT LUCKILY. *NM
MULTIPLE COOLANT DEFECTS ON THE 1998 540. THE CAR HAS NOW HAD 3 RADIATORS, 3 THERMASTATS, WATER TUBE SEALS REPLACED TWICE, AND A WATER PUMP. THE COSTS HAVE BEEN OVER $3,500. THESE LEAKS ARE NOT JUST EXPENSIVE, THEY POSE A REAL DANGER TO CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE. THE FAILURE RATE IS KNOWN TO BE VERY HIGH. HTTP://WWW.VOTATIONS.COM/ASP/SURVEYRESULTS.ASP?POLLID=66461 .*AK
DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MAKES NOISE WHEN WHEEL SPINS FREELY. THIS WAS REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER IN PAST. DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT BEARING ! DRIVER-SIDE BERAING STILL NOISY. WAITING FOR COMPLETE FAILURE TO PROVE DEALER WRONG. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE MARGINALLY DESIGNED FOR BMW 540I, THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES OF BMW OWNERS. BEARINGS LAST 75,000 MILES!
ENGINE COOLING RADIATOR HOSE FITTING BROKE OFF. LOST ALL COOLANT ON HIGHWAY. DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR UNDER WARRANTY AND STATED IT IS COMMON FAILURE ON 540I BMW DUE TO PLASTIC PARTS NOT STONG ENOUGH TO RESIST TEMPERATURE. WELL DOCUMENTED ON PRIVATE WEB SITES.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.