If you own a 2010 – 2012 Bimmer with an inline six, get ready to take it to your closest roundel dealer’s service department.
BMW is recalling 156,137 vehicles of the above ages and engine type in the United States. Specifically, “A wide variety of models, including the 3 Series and 5 Series sedans, 5 Series Gran Turismo, X3, X5, and X6 crossovers, Z4 sports car, and the 1 Series coupe and convertible.” The bolts that keep the VANOS variable-camshaft timing unit housings in position can potentially loosen or break.
Keep your eyes open for a “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light and a dashboard message … that means the bolts have failed. You can still drive your car if those pop up, but doing that might worsen the condition. Should your engine’s diagnostic systems determine its VANOS hardware to be at risk, they’ll reduce the I6’s power output by putting it into “safe mode.” The longer you drive your BMW with this malfunction, the higher your risk for your car stalling, not starting or damaging its engine.
You’ll be getting a recall notice from BMW in the mail. A second one will arrive when the necessary replacement parts are available. Don’t sweat a bill, though. The German automaker will replace the bolts gratis.
In the meantime, you can call BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-525-7417, or email the department at customer.relations@bmwna.com.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
