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I was notified by chance that as at 8th Nov 2017 there is a quality enhancement for 2012+ models to inspect and replace the universal joint. I assume this is the same issue that has affected 2011 models where the joint breaks and causes catastrophic damage to the engine and the repair bill is HUGE! There is a recall notice in USA for 2012-14 MY X5/X6 for same issue but in UK it’s defined as a QE.

The work is free so I advise others to contact main dealer ASAP. Please pass this message onto other E70 owners since main dealers don’t always communicate these notices to owners.

Very sound advice - get it checked and badger your local BMW Dealer.  As said above, the repair bill will be significant and there have been a number of failures reported on this site.

It also applies to any X6 (E71) Owners too.  Mine was replaced under the QE back in 2011 when backlash in the joint was found.

It also highlights the ongoing differences between the US (who are very strict on recalls) and the ‘softer’ European approach.  We saw the same thing with VW and Dieselgate where they got hammered in the US and simply had a finger of admonition waved at them this side of the Atlantic.

I had mine checked last week under a recall, luckily it seemed to be ok.

This recall/quality enhancement in UK is a joke.
Mine is November 2010 40d model

Bought it 3 months ago and started reading about recently.

Decided to ring bmw today.
Customer service told me there were 3 recalls on my vehicle, all completed, one is related to propeller shaft.
So I've asked if it was replaced or just checked and seemed fine.
They gave me a dealer info who should tell me all.

Forget about it.

Rang dealer Ocean Plymouth, only to be told that it was not a recall but quality enhancement and they won't tell me what was done to the vehicle.
All they can say is that it was completed in 6/2014 but no info on what exactly was done.

So I'm a bit worried now that what seemed ok 3 years ago may be going to break now.

That’s the issue with being a used car Owner.  I only know what happened with mine because I am the original owner and have a very good relationship with both the Service Team and can talk the right language to the ‘Technicians’.

BMW GB might be able to shed more light, but you usually have to pay for it.  The QE was a simple backlash check in my case.  My propshaft moved too much so it was replaced.  The service record simply said the QE was carried out and the shaft was ‘out of tolerance’ and was changed.

I don't think being a used car owner matters here
More likely the dealer trying to be a pain.

BMW uk said there should be no problem to get those answers.

When I speak to my local dealer in Bristol I have no issues in finding out all the info.

Woman on a phone claimed that recalls/ quality enhancements are nothing to do with the owner and are being done in discretion lol

So even the original owner would not be able to find out with her...


At least you know yours was replaced...

Never mind, mine was checked and hopefully will be fine either way.

OK, I missed the bit about BMW GB playing nicely.  In that case it was a Dealer not playing nicely...unfortunate and frustrating but increasingly common across the trade!

Probably means cr@p record keeping!!

At least one of the failures on here was for a checked one and I think I’ll ask for a quick check when mine is in having the winter tyres fitted.  It’s beginning to feel like BMW are charging premium prices for poor hardware specification and quality.

Yeah must admit

I still don't understand how they check the shaft, tell customer its fine, and than when failure occurs not taking responsibility for it?

Also how can a car maker like BMW fail on such a simple part
Its a bloody shaft
Bit of turning, milling, hardening and two spider bearings.

I've recently been under my mates 1986 Toyota 4x4 and checked his original looking prop shaft.
Feels Solid as a rock comparing to ours

I couldn't resist and just went under my car.
Took the cover off and inspected my shaft.

First of its the old version part number ending 649
There is no rotational play, neither I can see any rust on any end of it.

However old part number indicates that it was only inspected but not replaced in 2014.

Should I worry? Or if its in good nick since 2010 it should be fine?

Is it a shaft design that causing it to die or ac water dropping on it?

Not sure what to think now.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/R ... 8-1965.pdf
Guess this is a USA recall
NHTSA, American VOSA, ( Except they get results from car manufacturers )

I've been looking in to this too and thanks to the OP for posting this. Mine's a Nov 2010 build and according to what I've read would have been affected.

So far I've emailed BMW customer services asking for a list of recall work or QE's, that was 6 days ago not had a reply yet.

Emailed previous owner, who had always had the car serviced at a main dealer but he was unaware of any notification, check or remedy.

Trawled the web and found a list of VIN's indicating vehicles requiring the QE, mine wasn't listed.

http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/con ... 0413_e.pdf

Whilst reading up I did find something that mentioned the failures related to the positioning of the air con condensate pipe allowing water to leak on to the UJ joint causing corrosion.

Not sure how long to give BMW to respond but I think 7 days is long enough to pull my records unless anyone else has any experience of time scales that can shed any light.

My car went to bmw Parklane yesterday for recall and I got a printout saying that recall had been carried out and part was within tolerance so it wasn’t changed. Fair play but what happens now if part breaks next year and smashes the engine....car over 6 yrs old and out of auc warranty ?

Are there any warning signs that the UJ May break other than inspection from under the vehicle?

[quote="DavetheBlade"]
I've been looking in to this too and thanks to the OP for posting this. Mine's a Nov 2010 build and according to what I've read would have been affected.

So far I've emailed BMW customer services asking for a list of recall work or QE's, that was 6 days ago not had a reply yet.

Emailed previous owner, who had always had the car serviced at a main dealer but he was unaware of any notification, check or remedy.

Trawled the web and found a list of VIN's indicating vehicles requiring the QE, mine wasn't listed.

http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/con ... 0413_e.pdf

Whilst reading up I did find something that mentioned the failures related to the positioning of the air con condensate pipe allowing water to leak on to the UJ joint causing corrosion.

Not sure how long to give BMW to respond but I think 7 days is long enough to pull my records unless anyone else has any experience of time scales that can shed any light.
[/quote]

Hi

Yours is same production date as mine.

I wouldn't wait for the email tbh.
Just give them a ring like I did yesterday.

They will be happy to tell you there were 3 recalls done on our cars.
In my case all are marked as completed.
One of them was propeller shaft check.
They than were able to give me all the service dates and dealer names to ring and ask for details.
Unfortunately dealer didn't want to play nice and just informed me it was done.

But as I mentioned before, even the original owner was not aware of any work done.
This is how they deal with qe recalls.
They do it quiet while doing oil service.
And than when you ask about your own car, they tell you to piss off....

Good luck

Ps. My vin Is not on that list either mind...

[quote="bubbabear"]
My car went to bmw Parklane yesterday for recall and I got a printout saying that recall had been carried out and part was within tolerance so it wasn’t changed. Fair play but what happens now if part breaks next year and smashes the engine....car over 6 yrs old and out of auc warranty ?

Are there any warning signs that the UJ May break other than inspection from under the vehicle?
[/quote]

Same situation and same question here.
Car 7 years old, shaft checked in 2014 - within tolerance, all good.

I believe their approach is that if it would be faulty and prone to failing it would show up by now(than) when checked.
If after all this time - yours 6 years later, mine 3.5y later - its all good within tolerance, than it should stay fine.
I hope so and want to believe in them...

Thinking about it

It would be really great to know what is the cause of those failures.
Is it the shaft design?
Is it manufacturer fault on some of them using different material?
Is it AC dropping water on it?

If all shafts with 649 part number are affected they should all be changed otherwise it's just waiting for disaster to happen.
If its AC causing the problem as some suggest why some shafts failing on front U joint and others on rear U joint?

I'm trying to find some reassurance I guess

If we would only know that bmw will cover any damage that occurs, If the car was previously checked and signed as all good, than I would stop worrying.

For now I'm not sure what to think.