BMW recalls hundreds of thousands of cars worldwide due to starter defect

BMW has announced a recall of hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide. Around 200,000 units in the US and nearly 136,500 in Germany have fallen under the service campaign due to a starter defect that could lead to a fire. BMW has not released a worldwide figure, but the actual number is expected to be much higher as the recall covers models manufactured between September 2015 and September 2021 for different global markets.

Here's What We Know

In the U.S., 194,886 BMW units produced from 2019 to 2022 are under recall, ranging from the 2-Series compact coupe and 3-Series sedan to the 4-Series and 5-Series, as well as the X3 and X4 crossovers. With the Z4 also included in the list, 1,469 examples of the technically close Toyota Supra are under recall.

The common feature of these very different sized and classed models is the 3.0-litre B58 six-cylinder engine under the bonnet. BMW has found that water can come in contact with the starter relay, which over time can cause corrosion to build up. Corrosion inside the Valeo-manufactured starter relay can affect the electrical connections, preventing the starter from working and, in the worst case, creating a short circuit leading to a fire, or "thermal event" in the language of recall campaigns.

While BMW's U.S. dealers have reported a few instances of starter problems, it took the company's engineering teams a while to get to the root of the problem. Investigations of the 3-Series and 5-Series last year suggested that previous damage to the cars from an accident or shoddy repairs could be the cause - a theory later rejected when BMW concluded that water intrusion was to blame.

Toyota, for its part, says it is not aware of any cases where the Supra has suffered damage, which may be due to the low number of cars produced. But the Japanese company is participating in the recall campaign anyway. Both manufacturers will replace the defective part at their own expense.

Source: Carscoops