If you own a BMW you better get it checked out soon:
Two more diesel vehicles, a 730Ld model, left, and a 320d, right, caught fire on Korean highways on Thursday. The former is not included on a recall list announced by BMW Korea last month. [YONHAP]Two more BMW diesel cars caught fire Thursday morning, less than an hour apart, as Korea’s Transport Ministry mulls banning the fire-prone BMW vehicles from Korean roads.
This makes 36 cases of BMWs bursting into flames in Korea this year, eight in the last nine days.
As some of the vehicles that caught fire in recent weeks are not even included in BMW’s official recall list, industry analysts are raising new doubts about the company’s description of the cause of the fires.
On Thursday, a 730Ld model caught fire on the Namhae Expressway in South Gyeongsang.
The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes, according to the local fire station. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but BMW is saying the fires are being caused by an exhaust gas recirculation issue.
If you have a BMW and want to collect on the insurance…now is a good time.
Gerald Zolli
5 years ago
Only in Korea?????
Observer
5 years ago
I tried to post earlier but failed. It seems to be a dual blame issue. Yes, it is only Korea. A modern diesel needs some highway or high load (full throttle) use to keep the DPF (diesel particulate filter) and EGR valve clean. I suspect that BMW’s global driver profile (some say SOB fast drivers in many other countries) made them assume harder use than in Korea. Audi’s and others will clog but so far have not caught on fire.
Observer
5 years ago
P.S. Now is the time to BUY one used. Just make them change the DPF and EGR and drive it like it was meant to be driven,
setnaffa
5 years ago
Too hard to park, too easy to find train, bus, taxi…
This sounds more like people having trouble with car payments looking to arson as a way out… Any naver, daum, or youtube how-to videos?
J6Junkie
5 years ago
Probably all on BMW and their poor quality subcontractors.
guitard
5 years ago
Wonder if any of these were BMWs made in South Carolina?
Car Nut
5 years ago
No. The only ones made in SC are SUV’s and the Z4 which has been discontinued I think.
Another observation as Setnaffa noted: I drive a premium gas car in Korea. I have almost never seen anyone else in a station with a premium gas car, S Class Mercedes, SLK, etc. buying premium. All regular. Those cars can not perform to optimum spec on lower octane fuel but people save costs. Payments. Like feather footing a small diesel engine in a big car until its exhaust system gets clogged.
setnaffa
5 years ago
Car Nut, thanks.
I know about car payments. I’ve been upside down on a couple cars in the past.
Lately, I’ve been more cautious. The 140,000 mile service on my “paid off” 2002 Buick Century was gonna cost about $1,500 (and probably need to change out the spark plug wires–which are no longer in the single digits each). I’d already changed the transmission twice, so the wife was unhappy spending more money on it. By the grace of God, I found a used 2009 Lucerne with under 35,000 miles and a clean “Carfax” report. With trade-in and ridiculous bolt-on warranty I still paid under $10,000.
I guess even I deserve a break every now and then.
I take it you are not in the ROK with those car models! I actually have found a well maintained Korean car (2010 made and forward anyway) to be really trouble free. Front wheel drive larger US car and eating transmissions has been a tradition from the beginning. Its what made cars like Chevy Celebrities totally gone from roads despite big numbers sold.
setnaffa
5 years ago
Car Nut, right on all counts.
I had a ’96 Kia Sephia but the Texas sunshine warped the dashboard, the replacement dashboard, and had started on the third when I traded it in for the Buick. I was sad to have only gotten about 16 years out of the Century; but it protected me very well when some lady in a small Dodge SUV hit me. Flattened the left front fender on the Buick and literally knocked the front end off the Dodge. I only gave it up when maintenance was more than “real” car payments.
If you have a BMW and want to collect on the insurance…now is a good time.
Only in Korea?????
I tried to post earlier but failed. It seems to be a dual blame issue. Yes, it is only Korea. A modern diesel needs some highway or high load (full throttle) use to keep the DPF (diesel particulate filter) and EGR valve clean. I suspect that BMW’s global driver profile (some say SOB fast drivers in many other countries) made them assume harder use than in Korea. Audi’s and others will clog but so far have not caught on fire.
P.S. Now is the time to BUY one used. Just make them change the DPF and EGR and drive it like it was meant to be driven,
Too hard to park, too easy to find train, bus, taxi…
This sounds more like people having trouble with car payments looking to arson as a way out… Any naver, daum, or youtube how-to videos?
Probably all on BMW and their poor quality subcontractors.
Wonder if any of these were BMWs made in South Carolina?
No. The only ones made in SC are SUV’s and the Z4 which has been discontinued I think.
Another observation as Setnaffa noted: I drive a premium gas car in Korea. I have almost never seen anyone else in a station with a premium gas car, S Class Mercedes, SLK, etc. buying premium. All regular. Those cars can not perform to optimum spec on lower octane fuel but people save costs. Payments. Like feather footing a small diesel engine in a big car until its exhaust system gets clogged.
Car Nut, thanks.
I know about car payments. I’ve been upside down on a couple cars in the past.
Lately, I’ve been more cautious. The 140,000 mile service on my “paid off” 2002 Buick Century was gonna cost about $1,500 (and probably need to change out the spark plug wires–which are no longer in the single digits each). I’d already changed the transmission twice, so the wife was unhappy spending more money on it. By the grace of God, I found a used 2009 Lucerne with under 35,000 miles and a clean “Carfax” report. With trade-in and ridiculous bolt-on warranty I still paid under $10,000.
I guess even I deserve a break every now and then.
I take it you are not in the ROK with those car models! I actually have found a well maintained Korean car (2010 made and forward anyway) to be really trouble free. Front wheel drive larger US car and eating transmissions has been a tradition from the beginning. Its what made cars like Chevy Celebrities totally gone from roads despite big numbers sold.
Car Nut, right on all counts.
I had a ’96 Kia Sephia but the Texas sunshine warped the dashboard, the replacement dashboard, and had started on the third when I traded it in for the Buick. I was sad to have only gotten about 16 years out of the Century; but it protected me very well when some lady in a small Dodge SUV hit me. Flattened the left front fender on the Buick and literally knocked the front end off the Dodge. I only gave it up when maintenance was more than “real” car payments.