BMW X5 M Recalled for Side Marker Lamps

[LeMansX5]

Common sense goes that if you put something into a car when building it, that something is meant to work. 'Cause if it doesn't, US law kicks in... Take BMW, for instance. The German carmaker built the X5 M complete with side marker lamps, but forgot to fit the car with power supplies leading to the lamps. Really, the lamps are there, but there's no wiring...

Meaning the lamps don't work, hence they violate the requirements of Federal Motor vehicle safety standard no. 108: "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."

Meaning BMW will recall the affected models (an unknown number so far) to fix the glitch and make the damn things work. BMW will notify owners of a recall schedule and fix in due time.

So, they forgot a cable. Big deal. They didn't forget to place under the hood a new V8 Twin Scroll turbocharged engine which develops 555 horsepower and 680 Nm of torque.

We reckon that when you go naught to sixty in 4.7 seconds (in a SUV!!!) and reach a top speed of 250 km/hour (155 mph), you don't give much thought to the damn side lamps which don't illuminate.

On the other hand, the M-badged X5 has a base price of $85,400 in the US, so you'd expect to get all the features the car has to offer, including the wiring which makes lamps work.

BMW X5 M Recalled for... Side Marker Lamps - autoevolution

[DWill]

I wonder if they can get the voice commands for my telephone working along with the 6FL wire/interface. That would be nice.

The only thing is I'd have to stop driving the car long enough for them to fix it.

[RTC]

The side marker lamps are...lamps??? I thought these are some sort of reflectors only, not real lamps. Wow.

[MFL101]

Are we talking about the m chrome things?

[998M]

Which side marker? The chrome vent looking thing? If so, mine works. Or are they talking about the one at the front corner just under the headlamp? If so, it is the one I am about to paint over.

M

[///MB]

They must mean the orange reflector on the front bumper? If so, do the X6 ones light up? Because we have the same front as the X6. The side marker is horizontal vs. the vertical one on the other X5's. Also, I don't recall the other X5's lighting up.

[X5 Meister]

So what's the recall number?

[bmwman3241]

I am pretty sure it is the ///M chrome vents on the fender. I think they are used for turn signals. The reflectors on the bumper are not supposed to be self-illuminated, but illuminate when light reflects off them (same as the red ones in the rear).

[///MB]

Originally Posted by bmwman3241

I am pretty sure it is the ///M chrome vents on the fender. I think they are used for turn signals. The reflectors on the bumper are not supposed to be self-illuminated, but illuminate when light reflects off them (same as the red ones in the rear).

Right, so the chrome gill "vents" don't light up on some X5Ms? Mine is an LED tube that lights up and looks nice.

[MFL101]

I think this was bogus...