BMW to recall 268,000 diesel cars over fire risk
Safety recall involves 12 different models and is to remove a potential fire risk that could be caused by a leaking part...
The German car maker says an internal investigation has highlighted the issue, and that 1.6 million cars worldwide are being recalled as a result. In the UK, 268,000 vehicles are affected.
BMW recall - what’s the problem?
The exhaust gas recirculation cooler could leak glycol liquid and “in combination with typical soot particles and the high temperatures normally present in the EGR module, this might result in smouldering particles”. “In very rare cases”, these particles could melt the engine’s intake manifold and “in extremely rare cases” this could result in a fire risk.
An earlier worldwide recall, launched in August 2018, was aimed at rectifying 480,000 vehicles, and this has now been extended to cover 1.6 million diesel-engined vehicles.
BMW recall - which models are involved?
Twelve BMW models are being recalled: they are all four- and six-cylinder diesel-engined cars built between 2011 and 2017.
The four-cylinder models affected include the 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, X3, X4, X5 and X6 manufactured between December 2014 and August 2016.
The same models with six-cylinder engines produced between July 2012 and June 2015 are also affected.
The latest models added to the recall list include the 1 Series, 2 Series, 7 Series and X1. These relate to four-cylinder models built between March 2011 and January 2017 and six-cylinder cars made between August 2010 and June 2015.
A BMW spokesperson commented on the increase in the number of vehicles recalled: “During further examination of engines with a similar technical set-up, the BMW Group analysed individual cases that were not included in the original technical campaigns.
“These individual cases posed no significant risk to our customers. Nonetheless, the BMW Group decided to further reduce even this minor risk by expanding the country-specific technical campaigns.
“It is the goal of BMW Group to support the trust and confidence of our customers in our products.”
BMW recall – what to do if your car is affected?
BMW is writing to the owners of all the cars being recalled, advising them to book their car in with their local dealer for remedial work. However, if you are concerned and haven’t received a letter yet, you can get in touch with a BMW dealership: email customer.service@bmw.co.uk or call 0370 5050 160.
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The safest new family cars in the UK
Safety standards have risen dramatically, even in the last 10 years, but crash tests conducted by the independent safety assessors at Euro NCAP show that there are still sizeable differences between the best and worst performers. Below we count down the 10 family-friendly cars that received the highest scores.
= 10. Land Rover Discovery
Total Euro NCAP score: 318 (out of 400)
The new Land Rover Discovery is one of the best family SUVs you can buy, achieving a five-star What Car? rating as well as a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It can genuinely seat seven adults and combines a fantastic, elevated driving position with a very comfortable ride, plus it's as capable off the road as it is on it.
Read our full Land Rover Discovery review
= 10. Subaru Levorg
Total Euro NCAP score: 318
This practical, four-wheel-drive estate car earned the same Euro NCAP score as the Discovery, but it's nowhere near as impressive in other areas: it's expensive to buy, the ride is poorly controlled and the interior feels cheap.
Read our full Subaru Levorg review
9. Audi Q2
Total Euro NCAP score: 319
Adults will feel a bit cramped in the back of Audi's smallest SUV, but children will be fine and the interior is beautifully finshed. The Q2 is great fun to drive, too, and it has a slightly higher overall safety score than the larger Audi Q5.
