2012 BMW 535i Gran Turismo

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Risk. If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SMOOTH ROAD (FM1488) ON A SUNNY DAY AND HEARD AN LOUD "POP". AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I DISCOVERED THAT MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD BURST IN AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTION. LUCKILY, MY SUN SHADE CAUGHT THE GLASS SO NONE OF IT CAME DOWN INTO THE INTERIOR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS THAT HIT THE GLASS, IT JUST SEEMED TO BURST SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT A SUNROOF THIS LARGE IS NOT LAMINATED, ESPECIALLY IN A BMW.

ON 8/24 MY 2012 535I WITH ONLY 17K MILES HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY ONTARIO BMW DEALER. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LOCKING BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING, RIGHT WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE. TODAY, 9/14 EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE ONTARIO BMW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FWY , IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR BECAME WEAKER IN POWER UNTIL IT LOST ALL POWER AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEAR AGAIN. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED. I WAITED OVER 50 MIN FOR AN OPERATED INSIDE THE CAR WITH A TEMP OVER 115 FOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR TO LOCATE A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WILL BE TOWED AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 90 MIN. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE ME TO A SAFE PLACE, WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING PICK UP FROM THE SIDE OF THE FWY. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER NOW. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AT ALL PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS RECURRING ISSUE . *TR