BMW issues recall for all 1-series sold between 2008 and 2010 for potential fire risk

[Lucky1]

Heh. So you're driving at night on the highway and you have a spontaneous fuel pump failure causing you to lose speed and go into limp mode. Guy behind you doesn't see you cause your tail lights are out due to the gas emitted by the seals not to mention the lack of a third brake light. Guy crashes into you and you explode into a ball of fire. Wow BMW, you thought of everything with this car. It's like you got the screenwriter from Final Destination to design this thing.

That said I don't think this one is a big deal. At least they issued a recall; they could have just tried to bury it and let us figure it out on our own like much like they've handled just about every other problem with this car.

[hotrod182]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Sorry to continue this off topic...topic, but....

Believe it if it makes you feel better, but the N55 is a more technologically advanced turbo engine.
Twin scroll turbo's are a more advanced and more efficient turbo design compared the the common turbo design of the turbo's used in our N54.
The exhaust manifold in the N55 is also a more advanced design, made to take advantage of better scavenging of exhaust pulses to drive the twin scroll.
Valvetronic is a more advanced and more efficient intake design.
All those things taken together translate into a very modern and more advanced turbo engine, even compared to the N54.

If being able to build a more advanced engine, that actually costs less to produce, results in being perceived as a negative, or lesser in design or quality, then that is the fault of a person's perception and bias.
That said, no one has yet to post the actual cost of an N55 compared to an N54. Lots of people make this claim, but to date no one has any real data to prove it. Plus, if BMW starts using the basic N55 design in more models, then the actual cost of building each unit can result in lower cost, simply through economy of scale.
BTW, you called the N55 the "entry level" turbo engine?
That's a rather silly comment, considering the "HO" N54 is still simply the N54 with a bit more boost/altered software.

It takes MILLIONS of dollars to create a new engine design and get it into production. If the N54 were the end all be all of turbo engine design, BMW would have kept using it much longer.
Greater EPA regs have resulted in all auto producers having to redesign their engine ideas to make them more efficient.
BMW will meets those regs with the N55 while maintaining the same level of performance. I don't see how that translates into a lower level of technology.

Using the N54 in a higher state of tune, at a monetary premium is actually a smart move on BMW's part. They are taking a now "older" engine and simply bumping the boost to get a bit more power, and are selling it at a premium. Some people then think that that means the N54 must be the "better" engine. It's a very safe bet that the N54 will soon be phased out, and higher output N55 engine designs will take their place.

The N54 isn't even based on the newest 3.0 inline 6 with the magnesium block. The N54 is a nice engine for sure, but the N55 is the newest and most modern turbo engine in a 1 or 3 or 5 series.
The TT in the "iS" engines is simply the N54 tuned for a bit more power, which anyone can achieve for much less cost with a simple JB+.
BMW is simply milking the last drops of profit from it as they continue to work on the N55.

The N55 has taken over the N54's position as being the major/primary engine used in the larger line of cars. The N54 came to market in 2007.
4 years later it has been replaced by an all new N55, only 4 years later.
I'll bet the N55 will be around much longer than that, and we'll see gradual power increases along the way, while the N54's older turbo tech goes the way of the Dodo bird.

The HPFP may be the same as the newest N54 HPFP, but the fuel system in the N55 is different. So, if the N54 HPFP's are failing simply due to a problem with the HPFP design, then it will probably occur in the N55 as well. But, if the N54 HPFP issue is being caused by something else in the fuel system, then the N55 may not have the failures of the N54.

People have stated that HPFP's in the N55 have occurred. But, I haven't seen any posts about that.
Can someone please post a link where someone with an N55 has had an HPFP failure? I don't mean to say there aren't any, I just haven't seen/read anything about it.

I believe the N54 engine was the newer design over the partially magnesium blocked 325/328 engines. Unfortunately there are more headbolt, valve cover, and lifter problems with that engine compared to the N54.

You can still get the N54, but only in the top of the line Z4 and 335is models.
I tried my hardest to get the last 2010 335i on the lot, but the dealer sold it to someone else! So as far as the N54 being inferior.....such a deal for BMW to surcharge you for one now!

[MOCKBA]

I can confirm that 1 has issues ther. I hear terrible noises from seat bealt connections, like a car is about breaking on small parts. Certainly in case a crash the noise will be increased and spark a fire. I hope BMW addresses the issue soon.

[fatjoez]

why only in america??? what happens to bmw australia/new zealand

[993 911]

Originally Posted by rsjean

Porsche is recalling...

J.D. Power Overall Quality Rankings, 2009:
1. Porsche
16. Saturn
17. BMW

[persianbmw91]

conspiracy to boost domestic sales...

[xquizit]

Originally Posted by persianbmw91

conspiracy to boost domestic sales...

chee megee??

[wolfe]

I wonder if 'halt the sales of new cars' only applies to cars that haven't already been ordered?

[Bimmer//135]

Great, my car has been sitting in NYC since 5/18 waiting for the backordered power seat module......now THIS!!!

I read where the fix is to remove the insulation...I guess they'll do this at the port also.

[danno2]

I've heard BMW's solution is to remove the B pillar.

[oasis3582]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Heh. So you're driving at night on the highway and you have a spontaneous fuel pump failure causing you to lose speed and go into limp mode. Guy behind you doesn't see you cause your tail lights are out due to the gas emitted by the seals not to mention the lack of a third brake light. Guy crashes into you and you explode into a ball of fire. Wow BMW, you thought of everything with this car. It's like you got the screenwriter from Final Destination to design this thing.

That said I don't think this one is a big deal. At least they issued a recall; they could have just tried to bury it and let us figure it out on our own like much like they've handled just about every other problem with this car.

[TMR013]

Jeez what a bunch of whiners!
Quit worrying and enjoy these cars!
If you want uber reliability and safety, go buy a Toyota!

Oh, wait a minute...

[Barry45RPM]

I subscribed to NHTSA to get all recalls sent to me for the cars I own. This came this morning:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...e&refurl=email

Note that you have to crash first with sufficient severity before the device may cause the fire.

...a recall none the less.

[Tochenzo]

I just subscribed as well.

So as of now there is nothing we can do but wait until BMW comes up with a solution correct? Then once they do I assume they will be contacting us via mail on scheduling an appointment for the recall?

[EHDEN]

Originally Posted by TMR013

Well, so it seems that BMW is joining the never ending litany of safety recalls.

Are we making more unsafe cars? Or is everybody so afraid of lawsuits we are hyper sensitive?

+1 ... i think its getting ridiculous!

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by EHDEN

+1 ... i think its getting ridiculous!

What is also equally ridiculous are the corners that are being cut to shave a couple pennies. Just look at Toyota. It's about time that NHTSA stop taking bribes and start doing what they are supposed to do.

BTW...nice avatar.

[sunking420]

BFD...Simple fix. I'm still a Bimmer customer for life...My 1er gets better with every mile, and I'm just short of 25k miles......

[Tom K.]

Why does the recall affect "certain convertibles"? We have no B pillars.

[jmunro]

Yeah, I love my 1er too... It's like a sexy little petite bitch that's great in bed but likes to get in an occasional tiff

[jayparry]

I just ordered my 2011... is this recall going to stop the sales of those? Sounds like they are stopping sales of 2010s not 2011?

[wolfe]

I believe it affects 2011 cars, because they're going by build date not model year designation.

[hppypaul]

whats amazing is that they do a full recall for this, but won't do one for the HPFP, despite all the problems people are having. for that they let you keep coming back for diagnosis, getting stranded, etc.