TSB: BMW 135I COUPE, 325I, 325XI, 325XIT, 328, 328I, 328XI, 330I, 330XI, 335, 335I, 335XI, 525I, 525XI, 528I, 530I, 530XI, 535I, 545I, 550I, 645CI, 650I, M5, M6 (2004–2008)

Bulletin B612906 — May 1, 2016

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDB612906
ManufacturerBMW
Models135I COUPE, 325I, 325XI, 325XIT, 328, 328I, 328XI, 330I, 330XI, 335, 335I, 335XI, 525I, 525XI, 528I, 530I, 530XI, 535I, 545I, 550I, 645CI, 650I, M5, M6
Model Years2004–2008
Date IssuedMay 1, 2016
Date Added to NHTSADecember 10, 2018
ComponentSTEERING
Vehicles Affected42 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

ELV Does Not Release. The customer complains of a no-crank, no-start situation. The condition may be intermittent. The ELV (Electric Steering Lock) warning is shown in the Instrument Cluster.

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
BMW 528I 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW 535I 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW 550I 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW 650I 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW M5 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW M6 2008 010000 STEERING
BMW 135I COUPE 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 328 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 328I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 328XI 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 335 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 335I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 335XI 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 525I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 525XI 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 530I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 530XI 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 550I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 650I 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW M5 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW M6 2007 010000 STEERING
BMW 325I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 325XI 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 325XIT 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 330I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 330XI 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 525I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 525XI 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 530I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 530XI 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 550I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 650I 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW M5 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW M6 2006 010000 STEERING
BMW 525I 2005 010000 STEERING
BMW 530I 2005 010000 STEERING
BMW 545I 2005 010000 STEERING
BMW 645CI 2005 010000 STEERING
BMW 525I 2004 010000 STEERING
BMW 530I 2004 010000 STEERING
BMW 545I 2004 010000 STEERING
BMW 645CI 2004 010000 STEERING

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized BMW dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (B612906) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.