Car was parked. I tried to unlock my car with the key fob and nothing happened. I unlocked the door with the key and after getting in the central locking system would not work. After researching the problem I found that the gmiii controls the central locking as well as other items like the windshield wipers, interior lights, sun roof, and rear upper and lower hatch. I orders a new one and when I took the old one out to replace it I found that it had caught on fire and blew fuse 14. It appears a thyristor or tiac got to hot and set the board and case on fire. I had smelt a plastic smell earlier while driving so it may have been burning before I parked. I am attaching photos.

- Maryville, TN, USA

Was driving home and my dash lights started to flash on and off after I shut the car off my and pulled the keys out my left rear tail light stayed on the next morning my battery was dead. So I pulled the battery and charged it now when I connect the battery all my lights flash randomly with no key in it. I have not driven the car for 3 months it is not safe and the nearest BMW servies is 40 miles away. I have a recall for the air bag, but not taking a chance on driving it to get fixed

- Freeport, IL, USA

The dashboard went dark, only gauge that worked was the tachometer which I couldnt see because I had no dashboard lights. Stopped vehicle and took the keys out couldnt turn my lights off had no turn signals, the 3rd brake light was on all night long killing the battery I tried every fuse. Also my headlights wouldnt turn off the lighting controls were useless, and just kept smelling an electronic burning smell. I managed to disconnect all the lights except the 3rd brake light. Couldnt disconnect the battery because the lift gate to get into the back wouldn't work and the center console hazards stuck on and door locks didn't work I had to remove the glove box and all the paneling and track down the smell. Turns out the problem with this vehicle is that the rain manages to work itself down the inside of the a frame on both driver and passenger sides of the vehicle on driver side it destroys the obd module but on the passenger side it trickles directly into the lcm lighting control module which completely takes your eyes off the road when you cant see the dashboard your headlights start strobing on and off and then half get stuck on and half just dont work but when you spend the hours getting to the lcm to find out it has melted right into the side of your vehicle and you can tell it was on fire !! and this has happened to numerous people on the BMW forums im just happy my 3 year old son wasn't with me. And the real kicker is that I have no vehicle now and it cost 600$ for a new lcm that has to be programmed to your vehicle which will cost another 300$ when I could have hurt someone else or myself when you cant see but you can smell somethings burning its a hazard to everyone on and off the road.

- West Salem, WI, USA

I drive a 2002 BMW X-5. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by the failure of a basic component of my auto. On three separate occasions there have been electrical shorts in both front turn signals and one of the brake lights. At 58,315 miles the right turn signal bulb and socket burned at contacts and was replaced for $126.25. At 85,549 miles the left turn signal bulb and socket burned out and was replaced for $133.89. At 88,685 miles the left brake light is shorted out. The dealer did not have the part in stock but the repair was quoted to be $239. The second failure actually happened as I was driving in a heavy rain storm. The other two failures just showed up on the car's diagnostic self check at start up. It seems the light fixtures and wiring are prone to water exposure that results in the electrical short. Perhaps it is faulty design or substandard materials.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

I drive 3,000 miles per month and I'm tired of being blinded by BMW's hid lights. No matter if they are coming towards me or behind they are too bright! other manufacturers do not seem to have this problem. I have noticed that the X5 SUV is the absolute worst vehicle made to drive in front of at night. I have had to pull over to avoid being blinded.this problem has occured in the three different vehciles that I drive, so height of my vehicle is not a contributing facor. I feel that these lights are dangerous and should be redesigned

- Deptford, NJ, USA