Bayerische Motoren Werke: Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Bayerische Motoren Werke reported this defect to federal regulators on Jun 22, 1998 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 1,100. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.
The risk
THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.
5 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 BMW 540i | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 BMW 540Ia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 BMW 740Ia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 BMW 740Ila | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 BMW 750Ila | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 98V142000.
Full record for the 1998 BMW 540i → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →