2004 BMW 525I electrical system problems
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2004 BMW 525I — 25% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“On dec.2 my 2004 bmw 525i was sitting outside my house when it cought on fire at the fuse panel in the trunk on the right fender well. The car had been driven over 100 miles that day. My step-daughter had gotten home at midnight and parked the car. She said the car was fine when she got home at…”
filed Dec 3, 2018
“Tl* the contact owned a 2004 bmw 525i. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, a neighbor noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The fire department stated that the fire was due to a faulty battery cable. The contact stated that the…”
filed May 25, 2018
“Micro power module (mpm) started smoking while driving, causing erratic engine rpm, and causing smoke inside cabin and burnt electronics smell. Complete loss of radio and idrive functionality. Module is located in trunk under the spare tire. Notified bmw of north america, and they just said that the car was out of…”
filed Jul 26, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2024The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information…
B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 11, 2024Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâ  s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the…
B653423 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 22, 2023
Electrical System problems in other 525I years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 525I | 14 | 19% |
| 2006 525I | 7 | 9% |
| 2005 525I | 4 | 11% |
| 2003 525I | 8 | 25% |
| 2002 525I | 5 | 18% |
| 2001 525I | 6 | 27% |
| 1995 525I | 4 | 17% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2004 BMW 525I
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.