A faulty starter motor relay is being linked to a fire risk on six-cylinder BMWs – and the Toyota Supra 3.0
The phrase ‘fire her up!’ took on a new meaning this week as BMW issued a recall affecting hundreds of thousands of cars worldwide. Around 200,000 models in the United States and nearly 136,500 in Germany are included, all due to a starter motor fault that could lead to a fire. BMW has not released a global total, but the real number is expected to be far higher as the recall covers models built between September 2015 and September 2021 across Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Not only that, but due to a shared development program, almost 1,500 Toyota owners are also caught up in the safety campaign, which is urging drivers to park outside and away from structures.
From Coupes to SUVs
In the States, 194,886 BMWs built between 2019 and 2022 are affected, ranging from the little 2-Series coupe and 3-Series compact to the sporty 4-Series and mid-size 5-Series, as well as the X3 and X4 SUVs. And because the Z4 is also part of the haul, so are 1,469 examples of the Toyota Supra, which is closely related.
Also: You Keep Buying Manual Z4s So GR Supra Might Stick Around A Bit Longer Too
A common thread linking those very differently sized and shaped models is the B58 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine under the hood. BMW discovered that water could come into contact with the starter motor’s relay, which might lead to a buildup of corrosion over time.
Corrosion inside the Valeo-made starter has the potential to affect the electrical connections, preventing the starter from working and, in a worst-case scenario, creating a short circuit resulting in a fire. Or a ‘thermal event’ in recall-speak.
Although BMW’s US dealers have reported several instances of starter-related problems, it took the company’s engineering teams a while to get to the root of the issue. Investigations on a 3-Series and 5-Series last year suggested that previous damage to the cars, either by accident or shoddy repair work, might have been to blame, a theory later dismissed when BMW switched to the idea that water ingress was the culprit.
Supra Joins In
Toyota, for its part, says it knows of no cases where a Supra has been affected, which can only be down to the small number of cars built, rather than any spooky quality-enhancing effects of having a Toyota badge on the nose. But it’s going along with the recall anyway.
The automakers will start notifying owners that their starter motors need to be replaced from mid-November, and they’ll be told to park outside and away from structures until the swap is completed.
Google News
MSN Start
Chris is a seasoned automotive journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked… Read full bio

source