2004 BMW 5 Series Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 9%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,655miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2004 BMW 5 Series, 9% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,655 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My wife started the car and the headlights and hazard lights began flashing and turn signals did not work. Shut off and restarted the car multiple times with same effect. Drove car to Bmw dealer. Dealer technician saw same results. He disconnected battery, restarted car, rebooting the I-drive computer, and could not recreate problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10095682, filed 2004-10, 10,000 miles“Warning notice on I drive system that there was an emergency with the lighting system and the car should be stopped immediately. Directional signals no longer worked, emergency flashers were inoperative and headlights not operating properly. Brought car to dealer the next day and the problem was corrected with an update to the I drive software leading me to believe that Bmw is aware of this very serious safety issue but has chosen to ignore it until owners experience the problem and then the owner has to pay for the update to correct the software glitch. My cost was $320.92.”
NHTSA complaint #10438980, filed 2011-12, 89,655 miles“Wire rot deterioration at the headlight assembly. Concern electrical fire due to bare exposed wires. Notified the dealer and manufacture without resolution. Personally had to pay over $500 to he dealership just to wrapped with electrical tape. After 3 months, currently experiencing high beam failure (hid adoptive passenger side) which the dealer to replacement cost of $2599.”
NHTSA complaint #10945526, filed 2017-01, 101,000 miles“I want you to know I strongly object to the new high intensity headlights and to vehicles with four headlights. It's hard enough to drive at night without all the additional light polution!”
NHTSA complaint #10065860, filed 2004-04Related service bulletins
- 10040057Aug 1, 2011Bmw: wiring on the headlights may have deteriorated due to environmental conditions and the cover not being secured properly. E60/e92. *rm updated 9/30/11.
- 10035244Oct 1, 2010Bmw vehicle: adaptive headlights. A check control (cc) message is displayed for the adaptive headlights. The headlamps no longer turn with steering wheel movement. Fault code…
- 10037025Aug 1, 2010Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
- 10025983Jun 1, 2008Bmw: headlamp moisture: fault diagnostics. Water or condensation in one or both headlamps. Models 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, x5, x6, 1 series, and 3 series. Model years…
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 BMW 5 Series
29 complaintsSeats
11 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 BMW 5 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology