2021 BMW 540IService bulletins
2021 BMW 540I Technical Service Bulletins
167 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2021 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.
- 11032731May 6, 2026Engine. The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
- 10252031Mar 14, 2024Exterior lighting. One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
- 10252038Mar 4, 2024Engine cooling. Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive. Odor from the engine…
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 10249027Jan 11, 2024Electrical system. The 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 for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
- 10249018Jan 8, 2024Steering. At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.
- 10249032Jan 5, 2024Electrical system, Equipment. The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHU-H: ResetÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàwill be stored in the HU-H3.
- 10249017Jan 4, 2024Steering. SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming noise while steering column extends in the axial direction. The sound is only heard when the steering column is extended…
- 10247567Dec 20, 2023Fuel system, Engine cooling. Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
- 10245422Nov 22, 2023Equipment, Electrical system. Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÂÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.
- 10245365Nov 13, 2023Engine cooling. Pressure control valve (pcv) extended ltd wty 15 years/150,000 miles
- 10245367Nov 9, 2023Engine cooling. Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive. Odor from the engine…
- 10242698Aug 1, 2023Body and structure, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). ?The sunroof will not operate in either direction.
- 10242694Aug 1, 2023Seats. ?The front seat will not calibrate/initialize, and the stored faults cannot be deleted.
- 10242691Aug 1, 2023Steering. ?Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction.
- 10242688Aug 1, 2023Transmission and drivetrain, Engine cooling. ?A software error may cause an unwanted pressure pulsation in the transmission during a "Remote Engine Start."
- 10239614Jun 1, 2023Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). The air conditioning cycles from cold to warm air while driving or while at a stand still. The vent outlet temperatures vary by 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more (38 F to 60 F +) without changing any climate control settings.
- 10239611Jun 1, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lighting. Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed. The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded
- 10239604Jun 1, 2023Steering. A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment.
- 10239603Jun 1, 2023Transmission and drivetrain, Electrical system. BMW AG has issued an Emissions Recall (effective March 17, 2023) on a certain Model Year 2021 - 2023 BMW vehicles that were produced between June 16, 2020, and December 13, 2022. Due to a software failure, there is the possibility that the transmission does not go into "sleep mode" if the car is turned off.
- 10239602Jun 1, 2023Fuel system. A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system (NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). For this condition, the following fault is stored in the DME: 190302 - fuel tank ventilation and scavenging air system, micro-leak: leakage more than 0.5 mm.
- 10239601Jun 1, 2023Equipment. BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles that were produced between October 26, 2022 and May 8, 2023.
- 10239599Jun 1, 2023Electrical system. With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service Pack 15 vehicles may receive new functionality or modifications in their features.
- 10238090May 1, 2023Electrical system. After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
- 10238083May 1, 2023Electrical system. Due to a software error, the vehicle sporadically does not achieve sleep mode. As a result, the 12-volt battery becomes discharged and may cause a no-start condition.
- 10238081May 1, 2023Body and structure. Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator.
- 10236236Apr 1, 2023Electrical system. Issues with the various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (KAFAS system) can possibly lead to following customer complaints: KAFAS camera system deactivates itself, due to system restrictions that are not clear to the customer KAFAS camera system cannot be activated due to system restrictions that are not clear to the customer Road signs are sporadically not detected.
- 10235206Mar 1, 2023Equipment, Lane departure. Customer is shown an incorrect GPS location in the vehicle (i.e., Nav Map, coordinates).
- 10235205Mar 1, 2023Equipment, Electrical system. The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration.
- 10235203Mar 1, 2023Equipment. Customer states there is no audio playback (telephony, navigation, radio) and system sounds (PDC, turn indicators, acoustic signals) may also have failed.
- 10235200Mar 1, 2023Exterior lighting. One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
- 10235191Mar 1, 2023Electrical system. Due to a software error, the vehicle sporadically does not achieve sleep mode. As a result, the 12-volt battery becomes discharged and may cause a no-start condition.
- 10235181Mar 1, 2023Steering. A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment.
- 10235179Mar 1, 2023Engine cooling. There is a howling or whistling noise from under the vehicle at 30 -37 mph (50 -60 km/h) when driving after a cold start, when the outside temperature is 32 F (0 C) or lower.
- 10235178Mar 1, 2023Transmission and drivetrain. BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: Due to a software failure, there is the possibility that the transmission does not go into "sleep mode" if the car is turned off.
- 10236387Feb 6, 2023Engine. Engine Variants Updated.
- 10233157Feb 1, 2023Transmission and drivetrain, Engine cooling. There is a howling or whistling noise from under the vehicle at 30 -37 mph (50 -60 km/h) when driving after a cold start, when the outside temperature is 32 F (0 C) or lower. The noise goes away as the vehicle/driveline reaches operating temperature.
- 10230740Dec 1, 2022Equipment. Customer is shown an incorrect GPS location in the vehicle (i.e., Nav Map, coordinates).
- 10230734Dec 1, 2022Equipment. Due to a software error, Remote Software Upgrade (RSU) and Remote Support are currently not possible. Additionally, the Integrated Owner's Handbook cannot be displayed.
- 10230732Dec 1, 2022Steering. The saved steering column positions, vertical and horizontal, are not stored long term.
- 10230726Dec 1, 2022Engine cooling. There is a howling or whistling noise from under the vehicle at 30 -37 mph (50 -60 km/h) when driving after a cold start, when the outside temperature is 32F (0C) or lower.
- 10230725Dec 1, 2022Body and structure. A cracking, metallic noise from under the center of the vehicle.
- 10230724Dec 1, 2022Engine cooling. Coolant leaking from the engine compartment. Traces of coolant leaking from the expansion tank of the low temperature cooling system.
- 10228433Nov 1, 2022Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). The sunroof will not operate in either direction. There are NO faults stored related to the sunroof. If the vehicle has any faults stored related to the sunroof, this bulletin does not apply.
- 10227575Oct 1, 2022Equipment. The customer complains that the radio stations change by themselves.
- 10227568Oct 1, 2022Air bags, Other or unknown, Seats, Back-over prevention (rear camera), Lane…. According to the customer, the airbag warning light was on, but it may not be illuminated when the vehicle arrives in the workshop. 1. ACSM fault code "930A60 - Seat occupancy detection, front passenger; malfunction" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present. Or 2. ACSM fault code "930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault(moisture)" is stored. The fault may or may not…
- 10227566Oct 1, 2022Other or unknown, Electrical system. After programming, the customer may complain that the Sport Mode display is not fully displayed in the instrument cluster. Instead of a red background in sport mode, the background is displayed in blue (like ECO PRO mode).
- 10227558Oct 1, 2022Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). After opening the vehicle with the radio remote control and changing the profile, the exterior mirror settings are lost.
- 10225126Sep 1, 2022Equipment. 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.
- 10224210Aug 1, 2022Equipment. The sound output intermittently drops out entirely. This can be reproduced with all audio sources as well as telephone and voice output.
← All problems reported for the 2021 BMW 540I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.