BMW said Friday it is recalling 720,796 vehicles due to a risk of fire while cars are parked and turned off. The vehicles were previously recalled in 2024 for a water pump issue and must be repaired again, NHTSA said, adding that owners “should park your vehicle outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the vehicle is repaired.”
NHTSA said the following vehicles should be parked outside until repairs can be made:
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2012-2016 BMW 3 Series
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2012-2016 BMW 5 Series
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2012–2015 BMW X1
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2012-2016 BMW Z4
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2013-2017 BMW X3
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2014-2016 BMW 2 Series coupe
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2014–2016 BMW 3 Series sportswagon
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2014-2016 BMW 328xi Gran Turismo
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2014-2016 BMW 4 Series convertible
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2014-2016 BMW 4 Series coupe
No one ever said gas cars don’t catch fire.
The difference is that conventional firefighting will put the fire out.
A massive battery will keep reigniting.
If that happens in a subterranean garage, where it’s already difficult to get firefighting equipment in, what are you going to do? Roast hotdogs on the smouldering embers of an apartment tower?
The argument is typically that gas cars don’t spontaneously catch fire. Yes EV batteries are self sustaining. However they also don’t tend to literally explode.
Pros and cons.
Gas doesn’t explode, either. You watch too many movies.
If a gas pump is stuck, you at least need a spark or open flame for a gas fire. The fuel vapor will then catch fire. Liquid gasoline itself doesn’t catch fire (nevermind explode). If you’re quick, you can put a match out in a cup of gas.
All it takes for a Li-ion battery to catch fire is for the BMS to crash while charging is enabled. See: Samsung phones and the PowerBook 5300.
Ditto damage to a gas tank vs a battery.
cars don’t typically explode from fire too. in my 20+ years of putting them out, i have yet to see one explode. or really even hear of one. meh. there’s still hope.
S’mores as well.