The information panel in front of the stering column in the dash is so pixalated the information such as the odometer and other necessary safety information is unreadable. The dealer where the car was purchased as a certified BMW, 18 months after the purchase in 2004 the car had approximately 60,000 miles at the time (now 75,000 miles), said it would cost approximately $1500 to $2000 to replace and it was our responsibility. We have lived with it for some years now and try to avoid driving at night. The car has always been used sparingly because of this problem. There was no condition that we know of that caused the problem. Only hearsay, but the BMW service person told us that this happens sometime and they could not explain why. We know that there were others with the some problem but of course the dealer would not say in their protective conversation. I do not blame them but I do blame them, the dealer, and BMW for not giving the benefit of the doubt and full didclosure that it was not normal and was a defect. Thanks to a neighbor I learned of this site. I hope people buying a new BMW extends their warrenty to include the instrument panel.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

On Saturday, June 4, my daughter was driving my 2000 BMW 740I. She had been driving for about 4 blocks and the passenger seat broke out in flames. It began when the car filled with smoke. She did not know what was going on so she pulled over and got out of the car and when she stepped back from the car, she saw flames coming from the seat of the car. The car has heated seats -- but the fire seemed to come from the panel of controls that is on the side of the seat. The fire department was called and they put out the fire in the seat of the car. The menlo park, ca fire department took a report.

- Atherton, CA, USA