[KamikazeNY]

Just had my car into the dealership today for an unrelated issue and they told me that there was an open recall for the brake force issue that was reported last fall. I hadn't received a recall notice yet but they said it would be coming soon. The fix is software based.

Just a heads up for anyone in the US looking to have this taken care of. My production date is 08/2013.

[bimmer_newbie_13]

Just checked the BMW site for recall for my vehicle and also saw the recall notice. This wasn't there till few days back.
(Haven't gone to the dealer yet.)


January 2014 | Recall Campaign No. 13V-454
Vacuum Pump Oil Supply

Dear BMW Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

BMW AG has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain model year 2012-14 BMW 3 Series Sedans, 3 Series Sports Wagons, 5 Series Sedans, X1 SAV, X3 SAV and Z4 models. Our records indicate that you are the owner of a potentially affected vehicle.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM

This Recall involves the power assist braking system. In rare cases, the power assist braking system may not function properly. A loss of power assist braking would require you to provide greater brake pedal force. Although hydraulic braking (braking without power assist) remains available, a longer distance would be needed to stop the vehicle, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

DESCRIPTION OF REPAIR

The power assist braking system will be inspected and, if necessary, the sealing cap will be secured, which will ensure the brake vacuum pump is lubricated properly.

The actual repair will require approximately two hours; however, additional time may be required depending on the BMW center’s schedule. This work will be performed free of charge by your authorized BMW center.

Contact your authorized BMW center immediately to have the necessary repair performed as soon as possible.

[kent11202]

Originally Posted by KamikazeNY

Just had my car into the dealership today for an unrelated issue and they told me that there was an open recall for the brake force issue that was reported last fall. I hadn't received a recall notice yet but they said it would be coming soon. The fix is software based.

Just a heads up for anyone in the US looking to have this taken care of. My production date is 08/2014.

I went through all this with BMW months ago and was repeatedly assured there was NO problem with our car - none! Did I, do I, feel 100% comfortable with what they told me? Not really. I say that because they did quite a tap dance when responding. There's a another thread on this issue somewhere.

ETA Here's the thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=934949

Oh, and as noted below, this is NOT just a software fix. They have to tear into the engine - just what I want, some guy at a dealership, with unknown expertise, tearing into my engine.

DESCRIPTION OF REPAIR

The power assist braking system will be inspected and, if necessary, the sealing cap will be secured, which will ensure the brake vacuum pump is lubricated properly.

[KamikazeNY]

Originally Posted by kent11202

Oh, and as noted below, this is NOT just a software fix. They have to tear into the engine - just what I want, some guy at a dealership, with unknown expertise, tearing into my engine.

Interesting. It can't be that invasive because they replaced one of my xenon assemblies which requires removing the bumper, replaced my low frequency horn and performed this recall work in under 3 hours.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by KamikazeNY

Just a heads up for anyone in the US looking to have this taken care of. My production date is 08/2014.

Wow. That's fast.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by kent11202

I went through all this with BMW months ago and was repeatedly assured there was NO problem with our car - none! Did I, do I, feel 100% comfortable with what they told me? Not really. I say that because they did quite a tap dance when responding. There's a another thread on this issue somewhere.

ETA Here's the thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=934949

Oh, and as noted below, this is NOT just a software fix. They have to tear into the engine - just what I want, some guy at a dealership, with unknown expertise, tearing into my engine.

Right. Much better to lose your brake assist.

[KamikazeNY]

Originally Posted by raleedy

Wow. That's fast.

Sorry! I meant 08/2013, MY2014.

[kent11202]

Originally Posted by raleedy

Right. Much better to lose your brake assist.

Nobody said to ignore the fix if it's necessary - jeeez!

[KamikazeNY]

Originally Posted by kent11202

Nobody said to ignore the fix if it's necessary - jeeez!

Hehe. I told my SA to only worry about it "if there was time" (I would come back otherwise) and they were actually pretty adamant that the fix be performed while the car was there. The SA told me the dealership gets in trouble with BMWNA if a car with an open recall slips through their fingers.

[Jamesons Viggen]

My car does not show up on the BMW site as having any recall and I have been given no letter.

But I have a July/2012 build N20, shouldn't I be in the center of affected models?

[KamikazeNY]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

My car does not show up on the BMW site as having any recall and I have been given no letter.

But I have a July/2012 build N20, shouldn't I be in the center of affected models?

I just checked my recall status on the website and it says no recalls either. Not sure if that's because they didn't generate a notice for me yet or if it's because my car is already in the database as being fixed this morning.

[kapkanimd]

Mine is now showing the recall on the BMW website, guess I need to call and schedule

[hollandog]

I got the recall notice letter in late December but it wasn't listed on the website for my car.

I took it in for service last week the SA told me there's a brake recall for my car in the database. But at the moment they don't have the parts and instruction from BMW yet.
They are expecting to get more info in March and will contact me.



Update: Just checked the website. It's now in the database.

January 2014 | Recall Campaign No. 13V-454
Vacuum Pump Oil Supply

[kent11202]

I sent an e-mail to the dealership asking if "they" had any info on the vacuum pump for our car - it seems their info is more up to date than the BMW site.

Anyway, here's what they said, "Your car does fall within the production range. But keep in mind they have not issued a recall for this on your vin. You do however have an open campaign for programming."

I then inquired about what's involved in the "open campaign" for the programming issue and does it have any effect on smoothing out the ASS and got this, "The programming will update the whole cars software, and yes from what I understand start/stop will be smoother, but I have not noticed a difference."

So, if it updates the "whole cars software," does anybody know exactly what that means and what kind of changes I should expect?

[Slagish]

I got my car in January 2014, should I be worried about this? Where on the bmw site would I find this recall info?

[kent11202]

Originally Posted by Slagish

I got my car in January 2014, should I be worried about this? Where on the bmw site would I find this recall info?

Just enter the last 7 digits of your VIN

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...er/Recall.aspx

[Slagish]

Originally Posted by kent11202

Just enter the last 7 digits of your VIN

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...er/Recall.aspx

Thanks for that info, seems theres nothing for my vehicle. *woot*

[pz619]

I just got my car back. Apparently there were 2 recalls. One for the brakes, the second was for reprogramming the car's computer. SA stated it resolves the service intervals for the brakes. For instance, the computer thought I needed new brakes by 10K miles.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Slagish

Thanks for that info, seems theres nothing for my vehicle. *woot*

I wouldn't rely too heavily on that website. On the other hand, there was a delivery stop on all cars with N20/N26 engines in late September 2013 in the U.S. so anyone who took delivery after that has a car that, if it needed fixing, got fixed before delivery. There's a round sticker on the driver door jamb of any car that's had this issue addressed post-manufacture.

[legaleye3000]

I have a 2014, build date is Nov. 2013, and the site shows no recalls for my car...

[bavarianride]

The recall is on N20/N26 engine produced May 2012 to August 2013. In my case(N26) the 1st recall letter was received Dec, and the 2nd one first week of Feb. The website only showed recall info after the 2nd letter. The recall work was done last week, the tech did not put the label on the door jam, but SA said the info is online and the label is not mandatory. BTW the DME update was also done, the SA said it was emission-related.

[swamy]

Mine isn't listed yet but the two VINs preceding mine with build dates a couple of days before me are! Any one has info on what the software update is?