The Electrical Machine ELectronics (EME) all of a sudden completely shut down all power to the vehicle. No start, no panel lights, no warning messages, no power steering, shift gears etc. Complete shut down. Had to call to tow it to the BMW Service Department. The car is no longer under warranty and was told that the EME is not active even though a new 12V battery was installed and it cost $14,999 to replace the EME as per the BMW Service Department. The issue is that there was a Service Action Bulletin number B12 15 19 dated May 2019 indicating that the EME must be replaced on the affected vehicle Model BMW X5 xDrive 40e produced from August 11, 2015 to March 14, 2018. My car was delivered on January 1, 2018 which indicated that my car was affected. The BMW Service Department states that my car VIN number does not pop up. However this Service Action Bulleting is from May 2019 which could mean it is no longer in effect and for this reason my car VIN does not pop up since Service Reports are just Technical Bulletins and not like Recalls which do not have an expiration date. The Service Action reports that there is a Production fault on a printed circuit board of the Electrical Machine Electronics (EME) which can cause an EME failure therefore the EME must be replaced for these affected vehicles.
I asked why the Service Department did not comply with the Service Action when I took the vehicle for its scheduled maintenance each year since 2018 until last month scheduled maintenance. Even though the vehicle warranty expired in 2021, I purchased an extended maintenance program which is still good until March 2024 although the extended maintenance program only covers wear and tear (i.e. pads, oil change, spark plugs, filter, etc.). In addition, I have observed that this component, the EME, has a history of issues in other models as well and even a recall for the EME to be replaced for the exact same issues but on the BMW model I3, I8 coupe. Complete shutdown can cause very dangerous safety issues that can endanger not only to oneself but to other drivers. I already reported this to the NHSTA, also contacted BMW corporate and manufacturer office. I inform the NHSTA that the Service Action Bulletin published in May 2019 should have been a Recall and not a Technical Report since a complete shutdown of the EME is a very serious safety issue that can cause injury or death. Why would they issue a Recall for replacing the EME on the I3 and I8 models due to safety and just issue a Service Action Bulletin for the very same faulty component EME on the BMW X5 xDrive 40e requiring replacement of the EME because of the same Production fault of the printed circuit board of the EME. If you read both reports, both indicate the same issue and the same correction action.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The Electrical Machine ELectronics (EME) all of a sudden completely shut down all power to the vehicle. No start, no panel lights, no warning messages, no power steering, shift gears etc. Complete shut down. Had to call to tow it to the BMW Service Department. The car is no longer under warranty and was told that the EME is not active even though a new 12V battery was installed and it cost $14,999 to replace the EME as per the BMW Service Department. The issue is that there was a Service Action Bulletin number B12 15 19 dated May 2019 indicating that the EME must be replaced on the affected vehicle Model BMW X5 xDrive 40e produced from August 11, 2015 to March 14, 2018. My car was delivered on January 1, 2018 which indicated that my car was affected. The BMW Service Department states that my car VIN number does not pop up. However this Service Action Bulleting is from May 2019 which could mean it is no longer in effect and for this reason my car VIN does not pop up since Service Reports are just Technical Bulletins and not like Recalls which do not have an expiration date. The Service Action reports that there is a Production fault on a printed circuit board of the Electrical Machine Electronics (EME) which can cause an EME failure therefore the EME must be replaced for these affected vehicles.
I asked why the Service Department did not comply with the Service Action when I took the vehicle for its scheduled maintenance each year since 2018 until last month scheduled maintenance. Even though the vehicle warranty expired in 2021, I purchased an extended maintenance program which is still good until March 2024 although the extended maintenance program only covers wear and tear (i.e. pads, oil change, spark plugs, filter, etc.). In addition, I have observed that this component, the EME, has a history of issues in other models as well and even a recall for the EME to be replaced for the exact same issues but on the BMW model I3, I8 coupe. Complete shutdown can cause very dangerous safety issues that can endanger not only to oneself but to other drivers. I already reported this to the NHSTA, also contacted BMW corporate and manufacturer office. I inform the NHSTA that the Service Action Bulletin published in May 2019 should have been a Recall and not a Technical Report since a complete shutdown of the EME is a very serious safety issue that can cause injury or death. Why would they issue a Recall for replacing the EME on the I3 and I8 models due to safety and just issue a Service Action Bulletin for the very same faulty component EME on the BMW X5 xDrive 40e requiring replacement of the EME because of the same Production fault of the printed circuit board of the EME. If you read both reports, both indicate the same issue and the same correction action.
- station1, Bayamon, US