The BMW Group has issued a recall for approximately 1.5 million vehicles globally as a result of signalling problems in their integrated braking systems (IBS), including those sold under its Mini and Rolls-Royce sub-brands.
The following models are potentially affected:
- BMW X1
- BMW X2
- BMW X5 and X5 M
- BMW X6 and X6 M
- BMW X7
- BMW XM
- BMW 5 Series Sedan
- BMW 7 Series Sedan
- Mini Cooper
- Mini Countryman
In South Africa, around 3,700 BMW and Mini vehicles are implicated by this recall, the automaker’s domestic arm confirmed in a statement to TopAuto.
The spokesperson said Rolls-Royce is not included in the local market operations of the BMW Group, and they could therefore not provide any details on the number of Rolls-Royce vehicles affected by the recall in South Africa.
Full braking capability guaranteed
On discovering the root cause of the recall, BMW said it performed internal quality checks which revealed that in some vehicles it was possible for signalling problems in the IBS electronics to occur.
“It is important to note the brake system itself is not ‘faulty’,” said BMW.
“While the system regulating the brake assist functions is potentially affected, customers will still have full braking capability.”
The company first issued a safety-related recall for the IBS in February, however, several cases occurred outside the scope of the recall measures at the time, leading the automaker to expand its efforts.
To address the problem, BMW has developed a Diagnosis Software that detects such a fault well before it occurs, and generates a specific message on the central screen of the vehicle, prompting the driver to visit a dealer partner as soon as possible.
“This partner will then replace the brake system free of charge, regardless of the vehicle’s age and mileage,” the automaker told TopAuto.
Some of the potentially affected vehicles are already equipped with this Diagnosis Software.
“For potentially affected vehicles that do not yet have the Diagnosis Software, the BMW Group has decided on a safety-related recall to install the software on the vehicles,” it said.
“Appropriate measures before handing over the vehicles to customers have already been agreed with local authorities.”
In the event that the malfunction occurs despite the Diagnosis Software or early warning, it would be necessary for the driver to increase the force required to brake.
At the same time, other brake control functions such as Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) will not be available.
“In any case, the driver would be informed before or during the journey if this signal fault occurs by lighting up the brake warning lamps in the dashboard and by displaying a check control message on the central screen,” said the company.
“The brake system is then in safe mode, which will continue to provide a high level of safety.”
The company said that the legally required standards for braking performance are still met in the case of an IBS malfuction, hence, braking can always be carried out.
Legal trouble brewing
The potentially dangerous IBS are supplied to the BMW Group by Continental, a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company.
As a consequence of the recall, the BMW Group released a statement in which it announced that it expects a decrease in vehicle deliveries and revenue for the 2024/2025 financial year.
“The delivery stops for vehicles that are not already in customers hands will have a negative worldwide sales effect in the second half of the year,” read the statement.
“The IBS-related technical actions impact over 1.5 million vehicles and result in additional warranty costs in a high three-digit million amount in the third quarter.”
It noted that these developments will impact its third-quarter financial performance much more than the fourth quarter.
Due to the scale of the issue, which early indicators suggest could be attributed to Continental, the BMW Group is weighing compensation claims against the tyre giant, as per Automotive News Europe.
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