# 2006 BMW 530I — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `1135140` · 2014-11-30 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BMW
- **Model:** 530I
- **Year:** 2006
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 96,900
## Narrative
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE IDRIVE DISPLAYED THE "INCREASED BATTERY DISCHARGE" MESSAGE.  I THEN SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF SMOKE AND MELTED PLASTIC, AND THE IDRIVE STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER.  I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SEARCHED THIS WEBSITE AND SEVERAL BMW DEVOTED MESSAGE BOARDS TO DISCOVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE TRACED TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN RELATED TO THE MICRO PROCESSOR MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE IDRIVE.  APPARENTLY, BMW THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO INSTALL THE MPM, AN IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, IN THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL-WELL WHERE LIQUID CAN GATHER EASILY.  A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER SPILLED IN MY TRUNK, AND THE MPM BURNED AND MELTED ALONG WITH THE ATTACHED WIRING HARNESS.  OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT.  AND MINE IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS HAPPENING - WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN REQUIRED?  IT ALSO SEEMS THAT BMW ISSUED AT LEAST ONE SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND DIRECTED ITS DEALERS TO RELOCATE THE MPM TO A SAFER LOCATION.  MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED - AT LEAST TWICE FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BUT THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THE BULLETIN OR SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD RELOCATE IT.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*