1998 BMW 540i Common Problems
| Brakes |
No common problems reported. |
| Drive Train |
No common problems reported. |
| Engine |
- Leaks are known to develop in the cooling system and it is common to see more than one part recommended for
repair/replacement due to overlapping labor and the use of many plastic
parts in the system.
- Valve cover gasket, intake manifold, and PCV plate oil leaks are common after 60,000 miles.
|
| Exhaust & Emissions |
No common problems reported. |
| Electrical & Lights |
No common problems reported. |
| Miscellaneous |
A creak or squeak can be heard from the top of the front or rear doors.
This noise is most noticeable when the windows are fully up. The noise is
caused by the decay of the flocking material on the door seals. New
door seals, Teflon tape, special lube, or a combination of all of these
may be needed to eliminate the noise. |
| Suspension & Steering |
- The front thrust rod bushings—also referred to as tension strut
bushings—are known to fail occasionally. The oil-filled rubber mounts
weaken and crack over time, causing a mushy road feel and shuddering in
the steering wheel when going over bumps.
- The rear lower ball joints occasionally fail. Alignment and tire wear issues arise from excessive play in these joints.
- Power steering hoses are known to fail occasionally, and it is not uncommon for multiple hoses to be leaking at the same time.
|
| Heating & Air Conditioning |
The blower final stage fan resistor is known to fail. Symptoms are the heater fan
speed varies regardless of the setting, the fan will not turn off when
the car is switched off, or the fan will not switch on at all. |
|
