Major fire in 2004 X5 3.0i Sport

[Tumphy]

My 2004 BMW X5 burst into flames on Sunday 22nd September 2013 in the Lake District in the UK. We were stopped at lights. I set off and noticed a burning smell, followed by black smoke coming out of the passenger air vents. I pulled over straight away and saw loads more smoke coming out. Got wife, two small kids and two 4mth old puppies out of the car. The smoke smelt odd...faintly electrical and my lungs felt awful afterwards.  I took the out keys to switch off engine, but more and more smoke was filling the car. I opened the bonnet (hood) and saw no smoke at all...all was inside. Headlights came on, water squirted at high pressure from headlight and windscreen washers, wiper blades went at full speed and car alarm went off. Heard popping from inside the car - probably the airbags going off. Rang the Fire Brigade and, as luck would have it a police car saw the smoke and stopped. He immediately closed the road. I grabbed my wallet from the car having just got off the phone with the fire brigade - I couldn't see or breath in car due to the amount of black smoke. Saw flames from inside the car and ran. Looked back to see the entire car engulfed in fire. It even exploded at one stage with sparks flying everywhere - likely the gear box going in the heat. Definitely electrical in origin. Just glad my wife, kids and dogs got out in time. I can't imagine how much damage it would have done to us or others if on the motorway (freeway).

Took loads of pics and video. Police were there even before the flames started so could see the state of the car before and after. Also had other witnesses who stopped as the smoke was bad before the fire started.

Has anyone got anywhere with BMW? My car is with the insurance team of investigators but am covered for fire, although will likely only get a fraction of what I paid 5months ago.

Happy to be contacted at Stephen.mcghie@gmail.com.

Interested at what recourse there is against BMW??

Read a few threads on this on another site and there seem to be a lot of identical issues with stories of people being killed in such fires,

As you can see from the pics the car is a total write off. Gutted as I loved the car and only had it for 5 months....

[shadrack]

Bloody hell!!!!

[Lee4.8is]

Holy moly that must have been very frightening glad you all got out but gutted for you regards the motor.

[graemeX5]

Glad to hear you and your family and dogs got out ok. Sorry to see the car go but it can be replaced a lot easier than people.

Ive not heard of any others on here having same prob, but you said there are a few on another website , I would be interested to know more.

[Sanj]

Bloody hell! Glad you and the family are all safe.

Let the insurance company investigate first. They're may have been a 'mod' done by a previous owner that caused this. Then you'll have no leg to stand on with BMW.

Damn that's a first for this forum.

[Grommit]

Blimey, that was serious, glad you were all Ok.

I must admit my first thought was similar to RAJ ,  Modded wiring. Did you buy it from a BMW dealer?

[X5Sport]

Holy Sh!t!!  I'm glad everyone got out and was not hurt.  Very nasty experience.

In terms of your questions, you would have to prove BMW were at fault and that the fault had always been there.  As above, if the car had any modifications or even servicing not carried out by a BMW Dealer in an 'approved' way then they have an 'out'.

Given the age of the car, they could claim wear and tear, deterioration with age etc.  The limit in the UK is six years after original sale for warranty claims - and even then the claims are limited.  Be interesting to see what the investigators find and there are a lot of electrical systems in these cars.

BMW GB are not the easiest people to deal with and you will have to fight them all the way.

Good luck and let us know.

BTW - as Sanj says, yours has to be the most unusual 'newbie' first post we've ever seen......

Richard

[pvr]

The same happened to an X5 in the airport car park here. Was nobody near it either, just burned out.

[paddy wright]

Scary!  Glad you and your family are ok!

[AW8]

Firstly & importantly I hope you & family are o.k.

As per post by graemex5 please tell us more if you know of any other alleged incidents.

Generally speaking & NOT relating to your specific incident or vehicle..........Any contract re a used car is between buyer & seller. In a private sale there is very little recourse unless seller knows a defect is both present & it is dangerous. If a used car is purchased from a motor trader or dealer then any contractual issues would be with that seller........Essentially a used car bought from a motor trader or dealership should be fit for purpose at point of sale. Typically there is legal acceptance that any defect found on a used car purchased from a retailer (dealer or other trader), shall be deemed to have been present at point of used sale if typically found within 6 months, (this sometimes varies depending on specifics), of used purchase. Onus is on seller to prove any cited alleged defect was not present at point of used retail sale.

Allegedly there was a TSB re auxillary fans fitted to some earlier models but I believe your car would NOT be within that campaign. Be mindful that any list of bulletins you may find for cars sold in other markets may not relate to cars 1st sold in the UK.......Allegedly, (& regardless of specific manufacturers), certain other markets legally attract greater liability than compared to the U.K.  Procedures & specs can sometimes vary depending on market sold.

All used cars have electrics, fuel & most have had accessories, service , repair or replacement parts fitted at some point. Throughout a cars lifetime various persons of varying skill levels can work on a vehicle and depending on a cars past it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint who has done what in the event of later issues.   

I appreciate the above is somewhat clinical but I am focusing on the legals here & thus wording things somewhat carefully.

It may be wise to see what the assessor says and go from there but do be aware there might be remit & skill differences between an insurance assessor and say an automotive fire examination expert. Once you have a better idea as to any possible cause then you can perhaps decide what if any action you may wish to seek from others whether based on legal obligation or goodwill.

I appreciate this may not be what you want to read but on basis of info given thus far I feel this is realistic  advice for now at least.


Good Luck

[Sanj]

[quote="Grommit"]
I must admit my first thought was similar to RAJ ,  Modded wiring. Did you buy it from a BMW dealer?
[/quote]

Wanna slap!?! Raj my arse - he's the ugly one!  >:(

[Grommit]

oooops!    :-[

[markda]

Crikey! 

I'm glad your all safe, if you purchased the car as a BMW AUC car then I am sure if nothing else the supplying dealer would be willing to assist in passing through some stock with neutral margin to them to assist you bridging the gap between what you paid and your claim settlement, for a quiet life if nothing else!  But I am not sure an '04 vehicle qualifies as AUC, that said if it holds a full BMW service history you may have a case. 

BUT

If the car has been serviced anywhere other than BMW then I'm fairly sure they'll wash their hands of it unless the insurance assessor comes up with something pretty damning or there is a recall or similar that hasn't been completed.  In which case I am sure they'll want to keep it low profile.

Until the insurance assessors report is final, I'm guessing there is little more you can do.  Keep us posted though.

[jaynana]

:hypo:

glad you and your fam and the pups are all ok. as said - the non-replaceable! good timely action!

not heard of this before..

sound advise by AW8


[quote="Sanj"]
[quote="Grommit"]
I must admit my first thought was similar to RAJ ,  Modded wiring. Did you buy it from a BMW dealer?
[/quote]

Wanna slap!?! Raj my arse - he's the ugly one!  >:(
[/quote]

Sanj - i hope you have not been doin any more reverse light wiring mods 

[Drpellypo]

Oh my goodness me!! That must have been absolutely terrifying! Thank goodness it was slow enough to spread so you could get the kids and wife and dogs out. Make sure you haggle with insurance company!