BMW recalls 156,137 units for possible engine damage!

The German luxury car manufacturer BMW is recalling 156,137 luxury cars and SUVs because bolts holding a component on their six-cylinder engines can fail and cause engine stalling or damage.

The Munich-based company said it would check whether bolts in vehicles with six-cylinder engines were prone to loosening or breaking.

The recall includes some of BMWs most popular models, including the BMW 3-Series sedan, the BMW 5 series, the BMW X3, the X5, the X6, the Z4 and the 1 series. The 2012 BMW 6 Series is also included in the recall.

The company's shares fell 1.47% in Frankfurt shortly after the recall was announced.

BMW says it has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that in "rare" cases, bolts holding the housing for the variable camshaft timing unit can loosen or break, causing the engine to go into "safe mode," where engine performance is limited.

The "check engine" or "service engine soon" light also will illuminate. Continued use can lead to stalling, engine damage and inability to restart.

"In very rare cases, the bolts holding the variable camshaft timing (Vanos) unit housing may become loose or, in extreme cases, break," the company said in a statement.

A BMW spokesperson told media reports that the company has no knowledge of any accident or injuries as a result of the recall.

BMW says owners should contact a dealer for service immediately. If the car stalls, BMW says, the driver should try to get it to the side of the road and call for a tow.

The recall covers these vehicles with the in-line six-cylinder engine:
• 1 Series
• 3 Series
• 5 Series
• 5 Series Gran Turismo
• 6 Series
• X3 crossover
• X5 crossover
• X6 crossover
• Z4 sports car

BMW recalled 232,000 cars in China earlier this month for the same reason. The recall began in China and was later expanded globally. BMW says the issue can be fixed and vehicle owners should contact a dealer immediately for service.

BMW Middle East and BMW representative Bavarian Auto Group (BAG) in Egypt have not announced yet how many cars are affected in those markets.

The recall follows moves by several other car manufacturers around the world.

Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, said a couple of days ago it would recall more than six million vehicles worldwide over five separate issues. Some 3.5 million Toyota vehicles alone are being recalled to replace a spiral cable attached to the driver's side airbag.

US authorities have also fined the car manufacturer General Motors for failing to respond to requests for information about faulty ignition switches linked to 13 deaths.

More updates about those and other new recalls can be found daily updated in our recall-section!

MS
17.04.2014
Munich – Dubai - Cairo