The grounding wire in the connector to the tail light bulb holder melted and melted parts of the connector. This resulted in no signal, brake and running rear lights. A recall has been called for BMW E46 3 series for this exact problem (see below). The recall should be expanded to cover the 5 series as well.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

Currently have a 2009 BMW 550I. Vehicle has had an ongoing and unidentifiable electrical issue causing the vehicle to often and without initial notice "loose power" and go into a "safety mode" operating at a reduced power by not going above 30mph and/or 3000rpm's. vehicle with often start "bogging" and "shuttering(shaking)" and will often attempt to "surge" forward while sitting in traffic often trying to cause a rear end accident with the vehicle infront. The driver of the BMW often has to "stand" on the brakes in order to prevent the vehicle surges from allowing the vehicle to shot forward at stops. Issues started in January of 2011, took it to fairfax BMW where they determined the vehicle had some sort of electrical issue with the battery. No fix was provided in the shop for 3 days. Issues persisted through January and took it to BMW of alexandria where they replaced a transmission solenoid and a intake sensor, in the shop for roughly 7 days. Electrical issue reappeared in March in with the same problems. Vehicle was in the shop for over 7 days and had the entire vehicle wiring harness replaced. Vehicle issue resurfaced several weeks later and a engineer from NJ came down and determined a faulty oil sensor was causing the vehicle to often "think? it was out of oil vehicle was in the shop for 7 days. Vehicle potentially was flooded with oil from service tech's adding more oil each time the vehicle "thought" it was out of oil. Vehicle as of 5-21-2011 suffered again from the same issue and was dropped back off at BMW of alexandria with vehicle engine light identifying ?engine malfunction". sent several emails to BMW corporate with little response.

- Alexandria, VA, USA