BMW is adding almost 185,000 vehicles to a 2017 recall for potential engine fires.
Two years earlier the company recommended that the vehicles be parked outdoors until issues have been resolved.
The recall expansion concerns a dozen 3 Series, 5 Series, and Z4 models from the 2006 model year.
BMW states in documents submitted with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that moisture can get into the vehicles’ positive crankcase ventilation valve heater and result in plastic parts to degrade. That can lead to an electrical short and potential fire even when the engine is off.
The expansion brings the total amount of vehicles recalled for the concern to about 925,000.
Dealers are going to replace the heater at no cost to owners. The recall is set to start May 28.
BMW monitored reports from the field and discovered “several field incidents” involving 2006 3-Series vehicles, so the automaker decided to add to the recall from November of 2017, as per the documents posted Thursday. It was unclear if those incidents were fires. Documents state that BMW is not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.
Vehicles added to the recall consists of the 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si from the 2006 model year.
The PCV valve heater is made for preventing the valve from freezing in cold temperatures, BMW stated. But irregularities in manufacturing can result in corrosion and can result in overheating.
