Class action suit alleges BMW N54 turbo engine unsafe, causes Unintended Deceleration

[martinbo]

Great investigative erm... moderation(?) there Giannis. I just loved those clips.

The evidence is overwhelming - BMW have a major stuff up on their hands with this issue. Now, instead of naffing about with some lame internet strip-tease of a certain coupe why don't we see BMW using the 'Net as a tool for setting the record straight:

a) Admitting to the nature, cause and extent of the problem
b) Describing how the problem has been rectified on later engines
c) Explaining the process to either repair failed, or, upgrade pre-failure models
d) Provide an extended warranty on the superceding HPFP unit

Ironically, I often get ridiculed for sticking with "Jap-scrap" Subaru. I can live with looks, I can live with Tupperware plastics. I can't - categorically can't - live with mechanical failures. Two separate German manufacturers found that out about me - much to their inconvenience.

 

[south]

Great investigative erm... moderation(?) there Giannis. I just loved those clips.

The evidence is overwhelming - BMW have a major stuff up on their hands with this issue. Now, instead of naffing about with some lame internet strip-tease of a certain coupe why don't we see BMW using the 'Net as a tool for setting the record straight:

a) Admitting to the nature, cause and extent of the problem
b) Describing how the problem has been rectified on later engines
c) Explaining the process to either repair failed, or, upgrade pre-failure models
d) Provide an extended warranty on the superceding HPFP unit

Ironically, I often get ridiculed for sticking with "Jap-scrap" Subaru. I can live with looks, I can live with Tupperware plastics. I can't - categorically can't - live with mechanical failures. Two separate German manufacturers found that out about me - much to their inconvenience.

From an enthusiast's point of view, I wholeheartedly agree. From BMW's point of view, a)-c) just can't happen. Admitting and explaining these things is not only costly, but also a product liability nightmare.


Best regards,
south

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Admitting and explaining these things is not only costly, but also a product liability nightmare.

Bingo! The closest thing you'll get to them admitting fault is a recall...but that would be as large a PR nightmare as the recent Toyota 'pedal-gate' drama.

I'm not too sure what BMW in South Africa are doing, but here in the States, BMW North America offer a 120,000 mile warranty on any HPFP failure. That doesn't mean that the replacement pump will last to that time (more than likely to fail again), but rather that you can get your pump replaced as many times up to that mileage limit. So over here they have taken some steps in the right direction...but I don't think there is a permanent fix yet.

It could well have to do with the quality of fuel over here..specifically the ethanol concentration! Over here the EPA has now allowed a 15% concentration of ethanol in gasoline!! Nightmare! Even crappier fuel...

 

[Mr Robert]

Here, BMW will follow procedure and ignore the fault. Mainly because here it is not an issue and partly because that is what always happen.

The PSA-engine fiasco is, however, very much an oopen issue here. That problem will not be corrected, as the FL cars have a very different engine and the older cars will soon be out of warranty.

 

[Kowalski]

Great investigative erm... moderation(?) there Giannis. I just loved those clips.

The evidence is overwhelming - BMW have a major stuff up on their hands with this issue. Now, instead of naffing about with some lame internet strip-tease of a certain coupe why don't we see BMW using the 'Net as a tool for setting the record straight:

a) Admitting to the nature, cause and extent of the problem
b) Describing how the problem has been rectified on later engines
c) Explaining the process to either repair failed, or, upgrade pre-failure models
d) Provide an extended warranty on the superceding HPFP unit

Ironically, I often get ridiculed for sticking with "Jap-scrap" Subaru. I can live with looks, I can live with Tupperware plastics. I can't - categorically can't - live with mechanical failures. Two separate German manufacturers found that out about me - much to their inconvenience.

Indeed they do. It's the NIKASIL fiasco all over again.

I haven't heard any story of HPFP failure in the UK, but there might be some unlucky (likely very angry) 335i owner out there. But then again most of BMWs on British roads these days are diesel, so it's difficult to know whether the HPFP issue also affects the cars sold in the country.

a) Will never happen.
b) N55 powered cars also have the HPFP and one N55 powered 335i owner reported HPFP failure.
c) Maybe.
d) They already offer a 10 year or 120.000 mile (whichever comes first) warranty for the pump.

And I assume the two German brands you mentioned are Opel and VW, Am I right?

 

[Kowalski]

This just in:

ABC aired a story segment on this morning's Good Morning America (video) on the BMW high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) issue as well as a full-length piece on tonight's Nightline. This has helped prompt BMW to take the following action.

BMW to Conduct Voluntary Emissions and Safety Recalls

* 26.10.2010
* Press Release

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 26, 2010... BMW of North America has notified the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its intent to conduct a voluntary recall of some model year 2007-2010 BMWs equipped with twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines, all of which feature BMW’s High Precision Injection direct fuel injection system. It has also asked for approval from the California Air Resources Board to conduct this action. Affected vehicles may experience a failure of the high-pressure fuel pump.

Symptoms include long-crank engine starting times along with the illumination of the “Service Engine Soon” light. In certain cases, the driver may experience reduced engine performance in a Safe Mode accompanied by a tone and the illumination of the “Engine Malfunction” light.

Based on the individual service history of the vehicle, the action will entail replacement of the high-pressure fuel pump and/or a software update.

Approximately 130,000 vehicles are potentially affected with about 40,000 expected to require a new high pressure fuel pump. Affected BMW models include:
MY 2007–2010 335i models.
MY 2008–2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i Sports Activity Coupes
MY 2009 – 2010 Z4 Roadster sDrive35i

In a separate action, BMW has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will voluntarily recall approximately 20,800 MY 2008 X5 Sports Activity Vehicles equipped with normally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engines to replace the low-pressure fuel pump. In this case, should the fuel pump experience a failure, the engine will stop running and the driver will lose power assist for the steering and brakes although both the steering and the brakes remain operational.

Letters will be sent by First Class mail to owners of affected vehicles in the coming weeks, requesting the scheduling of a service appointment with an Authorized BMW Center to have the update performed.

No injuries have been reported with either of these issues.

In the case of either issue, if the customer experiences a problem, they should contact their authorized BMW Center. Customers with additional questions should contact BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-563-4269 or email customerRelations@bmwusa.com.

 

[martinbo]

Indeed they do. It's the NIKASIL fiasco all over again.

I haven't heard any story of HPFP failure in the UK, but there might be some unlucky (likely very angry) 335i owner out there. But then again most of BMWs on British roads these days are diesel, so it's difficult to know whether the HPFP issue also affects the cars sold in the country.

EVO's long termer 335i Touring gave Peter Tomalin trouble. Exact nature of the fault I can't recall.

a) Will never happen.
b) N55 powered cars also have the HPFP and one N55 powered 335i owner reported HPFP failure.
c) Maybe.
d) They already offer a 10 year or 120.000 mile (whichever comes first) warranty for the pump.

And I assume the two German brands you mentioned are Opel and VW, Am I right?

Well, looking at your post above it does seem like someone at BMW is taking the correct course of action.

As to your question yes, and I can tell you that as a result of how it was handled I am and always will be a VW fan. Of Opel, in this country... not on my life.

 

[Kowalski]

EVO's long termer 335i Touring gave Peter Tomalin trouble. Exact nature of the fault I can't recall.

This is what I found:

[...]

But in 2007 you don’t expect a nearly new BMW 335i to go wrong, do you? I certainly didn’t, so you can imagine me blinking in disbelief a few weeks ago when an engine warning symbol illuminated on the dash and the engine appeared to go into ‘limp home mode’. There were no nasty noises, vibrations or pongs, so I pulled over and had a quick check under the bonnet for any signs of overheating or leakages. The car had only recently been serviced, so the oil was, as you’d expect, up to the mark on the digital readout. All seemed fine, so I limped to the office and called Wollaston BMW of Northampton, who asked me to leave the car with them overnight.

[...]

Anyway, next day Wollaston called to say they suspected a turbo failure. They’d ordered parts from Germany but it could take a few days [...] The days went by, and Wollaston phoned regularly to keep me up to date with developments. In fact the car wasn’t ready until exactly a week after they started looking at it, but then they did have to remove not only the exhaust system but also the engine. Andy in Service told me they’d had to replace a turbo. Apparently the wastegate was prematurely worn, resulting in it sticking open. All the work was done under warranty, of course, and the car’s now performing with its customary brilliance, but it’s still more than a little worrisome.

OK, I’ve done a couple of trackdays in the 335i and it’s often been driven in a spirited manner, but as anyone who knows me will testify, I’m hardly a car-killer. And I’ve always been careful to warm the car up properly and keep it running for several minutes after it’s been extended, always with those turbos in mind. So I’m more than a little perplexed. If you’ve experienced – or heard of – anything similar, please drop me a line at the usual.

Well, looking at your post above it does seem like someone at BMW is taking the correct course of action.

Well, if the recall consists of basically replacing the defective pump with another pump that's likely to fail again, then it's pointless.

"Voluntary recall" HA! You've got to love BMW's marketing department. Voluntary recall basically it's just a way of saying "We are just way too smug to admit that we *effed* up".

As to your question yes, and I can tell you that as a result of how it was handled I am and always will be a VW fan. Of Opel, in this country... not on my life.

Thilo Sarrazin, the managing director of the Deutsche Bundesbank, once said: "No one needs an Opel".

Whenever I go to Germany, I always see taxi drivers in Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, Audis, Passats, Skodas even Toyotas. But I don't see any Opel... Why is that? Is it because they have the worst CO2 emissions and fuel mileage in its class? Or is it because their rust proofing steel is absolutely pants and gives up after just two years?

Considering the fact that the Vauxhall dealer technician, which my old Vectra was always serviced at, used to have an E39 BMW 525d, the broken down new Astra I saw on the motorway last night and four Insignia owners, who are now C220, 250 CDI, 320d and Superb 2.0 TDI owners, I guess herr Sarrazin was right. Even though their cars are looking good these days.

Unfortunately, though, he made the terrible mistake to voice his opinion when Angela Merkel was lending money to Opel in order to "save jobs" (win more votes, actually) and as a result, he is about to be sacked.

 

[Mr Robert]

I so hope this blows up in BMW's face, costing them an arm and a leg. The handling is so arrogant towards the costomers, that I don't know wat to say.

BMW, face it, you screwed up and built a really bad engine. Admit it, give the customers a permanent fix or a substantial wad of green - I'm thinking somethimg like a third or fourth of the price of the car when new, or buy it back.

That is punishment enough. No more, no less.

 

[Merc1]

Reading all this, I can't tell you how nervous I am about Mercedes finally going DI in the U.S. market. I wonder what, if anything that Mercedes has done differently? Anyone know? Audi is having problems with their 3.0 SC V6 too now. Last thing any of these companies needs are engine troubles.


M

 

[Tarek]

Wow how did i miss this thread? anyway is this applies to new F10 535i? i have a friend who is deciding between it and a 528i..should i recomment the NA option to him?

Does this also applies to TT V8s? man imagien the X5/6 or upcoming M5/6 with this crap? or 760li? damn!

Reading all this, I can't tell you how nervous I am about Mercedes finally going DI in the U.S. market. I wonder what, if anything that Mercedes has done differently? Anyone know? Audi is having problems with their 3.0 SC V6 too now. Last thing any of these companies needs are engine troubles.


M

As long as MB V6s are still NA for now i guess all should be just fine..did u guys get the 350 CGI yet? on any model?

 

[Yaz]

So they're recalling them to do what? Replace them and off they go to fail again? Isn't that what they've been doing so far?

Anyway, here's that Nightline investigation by ABC:
BMW Investigation: Flawed Fuel Pump - ABC News

Wow how did i miss this thread? anyway is this applies to new F10 535i? i have a friend who is deciding between it and a 528i..should i recomment the NA option to him?

Definitely the 528i for now. Is it even out yet?

Reading all this, I can't tell you how nervous I am about Mercedes finally going DI in the U.S. market. I wonder what, if anything that Mercedes has done differently? Anyone know? Audi is having problems with their 3.0 SC V6 too now. Last thing any of these companies needs are engine troubles.


M

Maybe this why it took them so long to go the DI route?

 

[NarutoRamen]

Damn. I didn't think this was an issue seeing as my friends was fixed. But something ain't right.

 

[Tarek]

Definitely the 528i for now. Is it even out yet?

Yeah..BMW Egypt is locally producing the 523i,528i and 535i.

I'm definitely gonna tell him to save the extra cash and future engine failures and opt for the NA 528i.

 

[rollo]

My car is scheduled for service next Wednesday. I'll let you know what story I get. I was informed they may need the car for more than one day.

 

[Kowalski]

Yeah..BMW Egypt is locally producing the 523i,528i and 535i.

I'm definitely gonna tell him to save the extra cash and future engine failures and opt for the NA 528i.

Tell him to buy a 530d.

 

[Tarek]

Tell him to buy a 530d.

We don't get diesels here unless u specially order it to come straight from Germany..they only produce petrol variants of 3,5,7 and X3 models,everything else they import from Germany.

 

[Mr Robert]

Very strange. You should only get diesel versions
Well, I would never buy a FI petrol BMW today. BMW denies all knowledge of the major failure, so why should I chip in? No, diesel or NA. Nothing else.

 

[Tarek]

^Yep i'd definitely get a NA petrol these days..btw my friend just went with a silver 528i.

 

[MaxNix]

There must be different ways to meassure octane, right? Because here in Sweden, you can't get less than 95 and most manufacturers recommend using 98. I have heard before that these issues could be down to fuel quality but I'm not sure.

Research Octane vs. Motor Octane

In the USA, Pump Octane = (R+M)/2

Most countries post only the higher Research Number.