1999 Bmw 540iat problems

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The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972, succeeding the New Class Sedans, and currently in its eight generation.

The 5 Series was initially available as a sedan, with a wagon/estate body style (marketed as "Touring") added in 1991 and a 5-door fastback configuration (marketed as "Gran Turismo") available from 2009 to 2017. Each successive generation carries a distinct internal E- designation.

The first generation of 5 Series was powered by naturally aspirated four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol engines. Following generations have been powered by four-cylinder, six-cylinder, V8 and V10 engines that are either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Since 1982, diesel engines have been included in the 5 Series range.

The 5 Series is BMW's second-best-selling model after the 3 Series. On 29 January 2008, the 5 millionth 5 Series was manufactured, a 530d sedan in Carbon Black Metallic.

BMW's three-digit model naming convention began with the first 5 Series, thus the 5 Series was BMW's first model line to use "Series" in the name.

Since the E28, all generations of 5 Series have included an "M" model, called the BMW M5.

1999 Bmw 540iat

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Common 1999 Bmw 540iat problems

The BMW 540iAT 1999, part of the E36 generation, is known for several common problems based on complaints from owners. These issues are primarily related to the lighting system, which has been the subject of multiple recalls and complaints.

  • Lighting System Issues: The most common problem with the BMW 540iAT 1999 is related to the lighting system. This includes issues with headlights, tail lights, and interior lighting. The largest recall of the model came in 1998, with 87,745 cars affected, addressing various lighting issues.

The lighting issues can manifest as non-functioning or malfunctioning headlights, tail lights, and interior lights. These problems can lead to safety concerns, especially during nighttime driving, and can also lead to failed inspections in regions where vehicle safety inspections are required.

  • OBD II Port Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics) port, which is used for emissions testing and diagnostics. In some cases, the port may be non-existent or non-functional, making it difficult or impossible to perform emissions tests or diagnose issues with the vehicle's systems.

This issue can be particularly problematic for owners in regions where emissions testing is required for vehicle registration or renewal. If the OBD II port is not functioning properly, the vehicle may fail the emissions test, leading to additional costs and inconvenience for the owner.

  1. Weak Points and Problems with V8 Engines: While not explicitly mentioned in the search results, it is worth noting that the BMW 540iAT 1999 is equipped with a V8 engine, which may have its own set of weak points and common problems. These can include issues with the engine's timing chain, spark plugs, and other components.

Owners of the BMW 540iAT 1999 are encouraged to research and be aware of these potential issues, particularly if they plan to purchase a used vehicle or maintain an existing one. Regular maintenance and inspections can help identify and address these problems before they become more serious and costly to repair.

1999 Bmw 540iat engine

1999 Bmw 540iat car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw 540iat problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Power train problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Bmw 540iat vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1999 Bmw 540iat complaints

The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Bmw 540iat.

2004-03-17

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-03-10
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: COMPLETE ABS FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONTROLLED EACH WHEEL DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES, CAUSING THE CAR TO BUCK WILDLY AT HIGHWAY SAFE SPEEDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CONTROLLER WENT BAD (WAS REPORTED TO DEALER PREVIOUSLY AND TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS - CHANGED AND STILL HAD ISSUE) , LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS, CAUSED SLIDING CONDITION IN TRAFFIC, NEARLY COLLIDING WITH OTHER CARS AND UNDERPASS BARRICADE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIME AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER (NONE AT SPEEDS - 10 MPH OR UNDER - CONTROLLABLE AT THOSE SPEEDS). *NM
2003-11-10

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-10-30
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: RADIATOR FAILURE ON 1999 540 TOURING - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. *AK - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. - FAILURE CAN NOT BE PREDICTED BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE RADIATOR.
2001-02-14

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: WBADR6349XG
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL HARD DOWNSHIFT OR CLUNK WHEN SLOWING MY VEHICLE AND THEN BRISKLY ACCELERATING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 240300.*AK

1999 Bmw 540iat recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1999 Bmw 540iat.

1999-01-04
  • Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
  • Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
  • Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5HP24 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR CAN OCCUR, LEADING TO THE LOSS OF 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND REVERSE GEARS.
  • Consequence: IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
1999-01-04
  • Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
  • Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.
  • Consequence: THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1999 Bmw 540iat problems:

Advice on E39 manual purchase
Advice on E39 manual purchase
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2443429-Advice-on-E39-manual-purchase

Jan 24, 2021 ... The 528i had the M52 engine ... 1999 540iAT Glacier Green / Black 2003 525iT ... failure, but my sense is that all of the timing chain issues ...

2003 540i M Sport Advice : r/e39
2003 540i M Sport Advice : r/e39
https://www.reddit.com/r/e39/comments/wivvcv/2003_540i_m_sport_advice/

Aug 8, 2022 ... I was thinking about buying it, but my background is with Nissan and I do not know anything about BMWs. I know there are some common rust ...

Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum
Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2436320-Not-sure-what-these-errors-mean

Sep 18, 2020 ... Pretty common problem given the location of ... 2002? 1999 540iAT Glacier Green / Black 2003 ... Bimmerforums.com is not affiliated with BMW NA or ...

~*(PiC)* Look what I did last night! (S/C 540i at high speed ...
~*(PiC)* Look what I did last night! (S/C 540i at high speed ...
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/pic-look-what-i-did-last-night-s-c-540i-at-high-speed.8753/

Jun 28, 2002 ... Probably one of the ones otherwise known as SoCal freeways. : ... 2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black 1999 323i KP/GTS2 Alpinweiß ... We ran into some ...

Bad idea to buy 2017 bmw 540i? : r/whatcarshouldIbuy
Bad idea to buy 2017 bmw 540i? : r/whatcarshouldIbuy
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/comments/l9hatm/bad_idea_to_buy_2017_bmw_540i/

Jan 31, 2021 ... any known problems, or is that mileage too high for that sort of car and should be avoided? r/whatcarshouldIbuy - stock '99 Impreza GT Turbo ( ...

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