2018 BMW 540I Technical Service Bulletins

286 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2018 BMW 540I. TSBs are notes manufacturers send to dealers about repair procedures for issues seen in the field. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault.

• 10201148Jul 1, 2021Equipment. The BMW key card cannot be activated. The activation menu in the BMW iDrive is missing.
• 10201146Jul 1, 2021Electrical system. BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective June 9, 2021) on certain Model Year 2021 BMW vehicles that were produced between May 7, 2021 and May 21, 2021. The Receiver Audio Module (RAM) will need to be added to the affected vehicles. Most of the vehicles are at the VDCs and will be repaired before delivering the vehicle to the dealer.
• 10200248Jun 1, 2021Electrical system, Equipment. BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective June 9, 2021) on certain Model Year 2021 BMW vehicles that were produced between May 7, 2021 and May 21, 2021. The Receiver Audio Module (RAM) will need to be added to the affected vehicles
• 10200247Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Electrical system. SiriusXM satellite radio is not working and does not display a channel list.
• 10200241Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Exterior lighting. One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
• 10200240Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Electrical system. The total electrically driven miles are lost/reset after the vehicle is programmed. This does not affect the total vehicle odometer reading.
• 10200239Jun 1, 2021Electrical system, Equipment. Some of the vehicles listed above which were initially identified as requiring Recall Campaign 20V-601 - HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY to be performed and completed are now no longer included in this Recall.
• 10200237Jun 1, 2021Electrical system, Engine, Equipment. The customer may complain of a check control message stating "Safe share detected" (CCM-ID 953). Check control message can be verified by checking key reader information or performing the Check control message history service function.
• 10200235Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Seats. The driver's seat and/or passenger seat rattles ("cracking" noise) during load reversal. There is a slight movement in the seat that is most noticeable when moving forwards and backwards.
• 10200234Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Seats. Front seat will not calibrate/initialize, and the stored faults cannot be deleted
• 10200232Jun 1, 2021Equipment, Engine. Upon visual inspection, the passenger side upper active air flaps are either stuck open or closed, and they will not move.
• 10200228Jun 1, 2021Engine cooling, Equipment. On rare occasions during an engine oil service, the BMW Original (Genuine) engine oil filter insert is either difficult to remove or breaks apart in the oil filter housing.
• 10200488May 1, 2021Equipment. REMOTE 3D VIEW NOT AVAILABLE: Remote 3D View cannot be launched In the BMW ConnectedDrive App.
• 10200486May 1, 2021Equipment. BMW CONNECTEDDRIVE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE: The BMW ConnectedDrive services are not available for an extended period.
• 10200484May 1, 2021Equipment. REMOTE CONTROL IS NOT DETECTED: Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle maynot start when placing the key against the steering column.
• 10200483May 1, 2021Equipment. DELIVERY STOP: RADIO REMOTE CONTROL M SPORT: Vehicles were delivered with the wrong radioremote control (without motion sensor) whichdecreases the theft-proofing against rangeextenders.
• 10200482May 1, 2021Equipment, Electrical system. HU-H3 MGU RESETS DUE TO BLUETOOTH CONNECTION WITH SAMSUNG ANDROID 11 : The head unit resets when using various apps (e.g., YouTube, Spotify, etc) on the connected mobile phone. This affects Samsung mobile phones (e.g., Galaxy S20 / S21) with the Android 11 operating system.
• 10199292May 1, 2021Equipment, Engine. B58 ENGINE: ENGINE OIL FILTER REMOVAL PROCEDURE AND TOOLS . A. For the B58 engines, a BMW Oil Catch special tool for use in conjunction with removing the engine oilfilter insert is now available.
• 10198899May 1, 2021Seats. B58 ENGINE: ENGINE OIL FILTER REMOVAL PROCEDURE AND TOOLS . A. For the B58 engines, a BMW Oil Catch special tool for use in conjunction with removing the engine oilfilter insert is now available.
• 10194311Apr 1, 2021Equipment. RETROFIT SATELLITE RADIO (OPTION CODE SA655): The affected vehicles were produced with Preparation BMW Satellite Radio (option code SA 693) instead of with Satellite Radio (option code SA 655).
• 10194298Apr 1, 2021Equipment, Brakes. Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.
• 10190867Mar 1, 2021Back-over prevention (rear camera). TOP VIEW CAMERA IMAGE IS MISALIGNED: The top view image of the vehicle is misaligned when observed in the Control Information Display (CID).
• 10190866Mar 1, 2021Electrical system. REMOTE-CONTROL PARKING FAILS AFTER ENGINE START: When trying to park the vehicle using remote-control parking, the function fails after engine start.
• 10190863Mar 1, 2021Exterior lighting. AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM DOES NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY: The automatic high beams may not automatically dim to low beams.
• 10190861Mar 1, 2021Exterior lighting, Air bags. REAR LIGHT FAULTY CHECK CONTROL MESSAGE: The CID displays "Left brake light faulty.
• 10190860Mar 1, 2021Electrical system. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY SHAKES-SHIFTS TO THE LEFT: The Instrument cluster intermittently flickers, shakes and has shifted to the left.
• 10190846Mar 1, 2021Back-over prevention (rear camera). BMW REMOTE SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS NOT OFFERED FOR INSTALLATION: The customer complains that the BMW Remote Software Upgrade (RSU) is not possible in his/her vehicle, though the Remote Software Upgrade menu is available in the vehicle and a download was performed by the vehicle or the BMW Connected App.
• 10188953Feb 1, 2021Equipment. SPORADIC FAILURE OR CRACKING NOISE IN BASS SPEAKERS: No Bass or a cracking noise can be heard from the bass speakers.
• 10188950Feb 1, 2021Exterior lighting. REAR LIGHT FAULTY CHECK CONTROL MESSAGE: The rear brake light will continue to work without error.
• 10188949Feb 1, 2021Exterior lighting. BRAKE LIGHT REMAINS LIT AFTER BRAKE PEDAL RELEASE: The trunk-mounted brake light remains lit for several seconds after the brake pedal is released.
• 10188948Feb 1, 2021Electrical system. VOLT BATTERY MAINTENANCE: 48 V battery may become totally discharged, and possible replacement needed if: a) The vehicle has been charged using a 12 V charger with the hood closed during a long stationary period.
• 10188945Feb 1, 2021Seats. SEAT FAILS TO INITIALIZE DUE TO MISSING END STOP: Front seat will not calibrate/initialize.
• 10188938Feb 1, 2021Engine cooling. COMBUSTION CONTROL VALVE LIFT AT IDLE: The vehicle will run rough or hesitate when accelerating from a stationary position.
• 10187480Jan 1, 2021Electrical system, Equipment. CHECKING THE JUMP START POINT COVER AND REWORKING IF NECESSARY: It is possible that the jump start terminal point cover was not installed, or not properly installed on the affected vehicles.
• 10187478Jan 1, 2021Body and structure, Electrical system. BATTERY DOES NOT CHARGE WITH EXTERNAL CHARGER AND CLOSED HOOD: After the vehicle has been charged using a 12 V charger with the hood closed during a long stationary period, the 48 V battery may be totally discharged, and possible replacement is needed.
• 10187475Jan 1, 2021Electrical system, Electronic stability control. DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC) UNIT DOES NOT RESPOND AFTER PROGRAMMING: After programming the vehicle using ISTA, the DSC control unit does not respond. Or: In the case of a BMW Remote Software Upgrade, the customer gets a Check Control message: "BMW Remote Software Upgrade failed. Vehicle is not operational. Please call BMW Roadside Assistance."
• 10186895Dec 1, 2020Steering. REMOTE CONTROL IS NOT DETECTED: Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
• 10186894Dec 1, 2020Electrical system. ?GESTURE CONTROL UNINTENDED OPERATION: The Gesture camera inadvertently detects movement and performs unintended operations.
• 10186892Dec 1, 2020Equipment. ?PROGRAM HEAD UNIT: Satellite radio content is not available over IP, this does not affect channels received over satellite.
• 10186890Dec 1, 2020Equipment. ?AIR CONDITIONING COOLING IS INSUFFICIENT: There is insufficient or no cooling from the air-conditioner during high ambient temperatures. There also may be irregular A/C air flow from vents.
• 10186233Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Engine, Electrical system. REMOTE CONTROL IS NOT DETECTED: Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
• 10186232Dec 1, 2020Electrical system, Equipment. ?GESTURE CONTROL UNINTENDED OPERATION: The Gesture camera inadvertently detects movement and performs unintended operations.
• 10186230Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. ?PROGRAM HEAD UNIT: Satellite radio content is not available over IP, this does not affect channels received over satellite.
• 10186228Dec 1, 2020Electrical system, Equipment. ?AIR CONDITIONING COOLING IS INSUFFICIENT: There is insufficient or no cooling from the air-conditioner during high ambient temperatures. There also may be irregular A/C air flow from vents.
• 10186226Dec 1, 2020Exterior lighting. ?DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS DIM OR DISCOLORED: One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored. The connection between the LED module and light tube inside the headlight is damaged.
• 10186225Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. ?INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY SHAKES-SHIFTS TO THE LEFT: The Instrument cluster intermittently flickers, shakes and has shifted to the left. The fault is resolved once the vehicle goes into sleep mode. The fault can reoccur at any point.
• 10186224Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ILLUMINATED WITH FAULT MEMORY CDC152: The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated in the instrument cluster. The vehicles has no operating failures; only the MIL is illuminated.
• 10186223Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. ?BMW DIGITAL KEY CARD IS NOT DETECTED WHEN PLACED ON THE NFC TRAY: The customer may have the following complaints: The Digital Key Card cannot be activated on the NFC (near field communication) charging tray (the activation pop-up does not appear although the Digital Key menu is present), Or the Digital Key Card is not detected when placed on the NFC tray.
• 10186222Dec 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. REMOTE CONTROL KEY OR BMW DISPLAY KEY BUTTONS NOT WORKING: The buttons on the remote-control key or BMW display key are not working, not allowing to unlock the vehicle and the tailgate or trunk compartment. Also, the buttons on a spare key do not work either.
• 10186214Dec 1, 2020Electrical system, Equipment. REPLACE ALL THE IGNITION COILS: The ignition coils may not have been produced to specifications which could lead to irregular running of the engine. A manufacturing defect affecting the ignition coil insulation.

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