XSeries-forum

This affects the X5 E70, E71 and E72 4.4 V8 petrol (50i) models.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bmw-n63-customer-care-package-a-recall-that-bmw-refuses-to-call-a-recall-ar166918.html

It's a very recent US article,  but I guess applies to all cars globally where this engine variant was available?

Whilst there are not too many in Europe, if you do own one it is a pretty MAJOR amount of service/replacement work required and your car could be in the garage for days!

More indication of cars made to a budget and PR sensitivity.

Cheers.
Brewer

Certainly are rarer model in the UK, unless you have and X5(M) or X6(M) which has that engine.

The problem is that unless driver/passenger safety is affected then they don't gave to call anything a recall, even though just about and other person would call it just that!  Loss of engine power with a broken timing chain in lane 4 on a motorway is going to affect everyone's safety on that but if road.....isn't it?  To me that means it should be a 'recall' but none of the regulators we rely on chose to force the issue simply because it's 'bad PR'.

It does as you say point out that the minute cost savings being sought across a production car's life can go too far though.  BMW might have saved a few cents on a timing chain etc but the repair is going to pretty much wipe that out isn't it?

Richard