BMW's Recent Recall Poses Problems for Toyota Owners, Particularly Those Who Park in Garages | Carscoops

      A defective starter motor relay is associated with a fire hazard in six-cylinder BMWs and the Toyota Supra 3.0.

      BMW is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles in the US to address issues with some faulty starter motors.

      This recall affects sedans, SUVs, and sports cars equipped with BMW’s 3.0-liter B58 six-cylinder engine. Additionally, 1,469 Toyota Supra coupes, which share a platform with the BMW Z4, are also involved.

      The phrase "fire her up!" took on new significance when BMW announced a recall impacting hundreds of thousands of vehicles globally. Approximately 200,000 models in the United States and about 136,500 in Germany are included, all due to a starter motor malfunction that could potentially lead to a fire. While BMW hasn't provided a total count worldwide, the actual number is likely much higher since the recall encompasses models manufactured between September 2015 and September 2021 across Europe, Asia, and other regions.

      Furthermore, nearly 1,500 Toyota owners are affected by this safety initiative due to a collaborative development program, which advises drivers to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings.

      From Coupes to SUVs

      In the US, 194,886 BMWs produced from 2019 to 2022 are impacted, including the compact 2-Series coupe and 3-Series, the sporty 4-Series, mid-size 5-Series, as well as the X3 and X4 SUVs. The Z4 is also involved, thus affecting 1,469 units of the closely related Toyota Supra.

      A common aspect linking these diverse models is the B58 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine under the hood. BMW found that water could contact the starter motor’s relay, potentially resulting in corrosion buildup over time.

      Corrosion within the Valeo-produced starter can disrupt electrical connections, preventing the starter from functioning and, in a worst-case scenario, causing a short circuit that might lead to a fire, or a ‘thermal event’ as referred to in recall terminology.

      BMW/Toyota Affected Models

      While BMW's US dealers have reported several instances of starter-related issues, it took time for the company's engineering teams to identify the root cause. Investigations on a 3-Series and 5-Series last year pointed to prior damage to the vehicles, either from accidents or subpar repairs, but this theory was later disregarded when BMW concluded that water ingress was the actual cause.

      Supra Joins In

      Toyota, for its part, states that it is unaware of any cases where a Supra has been affected, attributing this to the limited number of cars produced rather than any exceptional quality from having a Toyota badge. Nonetheless, Toyota is participating in the recall.

      Starting in mid-November, the automakers will begin notifying owners about the need for starter motor replacements, advising them to park outside and away from structures until the replacements are completed.