BMW urges 12,633 owners to stop driving immediately, following fatality

[aussiblue]

https://www.smh.com.au/business/cons...07-p538h6.html

BMW has taken the unprecedented step of asking owners of 12,663 of its 3 Series models made from 1997 to 2000 to stop driving immediately because their cars may have faulty airbags linked to a fatality and a serious injury in two separate crashes in Australia.

A safety bulletin issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Thursday afternoon says: "Owners of affected vehicles should stop driving their vehicle immediately and urgently contact their local BMW dealership or call BMW Australia’s Takata hotline directly on 1800 243 675 to organise their free vehicle inspection.
"Vehicles will be either towed to the place of inspection or a mobile technician will come to inspect the vehicle at the [owner’s] home or the vehicle’s location," the notice says.

If the vehicle does contain a suspected faulty airbag, BMW will offer to arrange a loan or rental car or "reimbursement for alternative transport costs" until parts are available for an airbag replacement, or until other arrangements can be made.

Customers may also discuss "the vehicle being purchased by BMW", the ACCC says.

CarAdvice understands the replacement airbag parts may not be ready for up to 18 months, potentially leaving thousands of motorists stranded, hence the offer of a rental car, loan car, taxi fares or a vehicle buyback.

Authorities are yet to reveal in which states and when the fatality and serious injury occurred. The fatality is still before the coroner.

However, CarAdvice understands both incidents happened in the past three months.

If the death is found to have been a result of a faulty airbag, it will be the second on Australia roads due to a defective Takata safety device, which can spray shrapnel when deployed in a crash. The serious injury would also be the second of its type in Australia linked to Takata. ......

Also for those that can bear John Cadogan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W-iVrcyGXc

[Citroënbender]

The loaner E46 I had some months back, was in this group. Owner is yet to replace the front airbags - it’s mostly driven by his wife.

Aside, I do wonder how these recalls address competent DIY people. Can you present your old airbags and receive new ones to fit? I can’t see how it can be mandated that a BMW agent work on your car.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The loaner E46 I had some months back, was in this group. Owner is yet to replace the front airbags - it’s mostly driven by his wife.

Aside, I do wonder how these recalls address competent DIY people. Can you present your old airbags and receive new ones to fit? I can’t see how it can be mandated that a BMW agent work on your car.

A dealership will insist on installing it correctly so that they can take it off the list.
The liability is on the manufacturer and if you change it yourself, there's no record
that it has been done properly and checked to procedure.

[lra]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Can you present your old airbags and receive new ones to fit? I can’t see how it can be mandated that a BMW agent work on your car.

and why would you want to do it yourself ?

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by lra

and why would you want to do it yourself ?

Probably because after you book it in!then turn up to be told,you will have to wait 6 hours as the workshop is busy.Too bad that you have driven for over an hour to get there on time.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Probably because after you book it in!then turn up to be told,you will have to wait 6 hours as the workshop is busy.Too bad that you have driven for over an hour to get there on time.

I timed mine with a service and Mazda gave me a loaner car for the day
but that was like more than two years ago.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Ira

and why would you want to do it yourself ?

My impression of service agents from personal experience, has been one of slackness. I bought one (European) car with a full service history that had not received a pollen filter change from when it left the factory. It was then fourteen years old.

Other cars, under dash work has reliably resulted in misaligned foam seals, damaged wiring or retainer clips, fasteners lost into the carpet or console, items over or under tightened.

I have no irrational fear of pyrotechnics, they deserve to be treated with care and safety but that’s all. And yes, if you want me to be blunt about it I trust my work fitting them more than that of someone under the squeeze by an employer.

[CyberWasp]

How many other vehicles are in same basket that companies are keeping quiet about?

[Citroënbender]

Probably none. The chain of liability is well clear by now.

Fortunate any of my airbag equipped cars are either Autoliv or whatever Ford Oz used.

[jpd80]

Major auto companies had to support Takata so that it wouldn't collapse,
so there's a lot of industry good will to ensure that all faulty bags are changed.

I think it's a first in the industry where a supplier hasn't been buried in bankruptcy by
vengeful manufacturers. Getrag could be another after Ford took all the heat for DPS6.

[jpd80]

For a recall item, you have to take it to them and have your vehicle taken off the register.

In some states, Govco is now talking about not re-registering vehicles or preventing sale
with registration until owners have the air bag changed and manufacturer confirms it done.

They've got you by the nuts with this one. gotta love Euro marques and their crappy dealers.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by jpd80

For a recall item, you have to take it to them and have your vehicle taken off the register.

In some states, Govco is now talking about not re-registering vehicles or preventing sale
with registration until owners have the air bag changed and manufacturer confirms it done.

They've got you by the nuts with this one. gotta love Euro marques and their crappy dealers.

Pretty sure Pickles will not auction a vehicle under recall,unless the recall sticker is fitted.

[Citroënbender]

What if I take the old airbags into Service NSW and hand them in at the counter?

[Citroënbender]

“Eet ees a berm.”

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/192003281871

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

“Eet ees a berm.”

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/192003281871

Is that a Takata airbag ?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Is that a Takata airbag ?

It's a used one, that's almost criminal to sell it on Ebay....

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

What if I take the old airbags into Service NSW and hand them in at the counter?

Good luck with that.
You have to get them to take your vehicle off the register.

[aussiblue]

Watching some of the BMWs on the road today I think many of their drivers have forgotten how to drive anyway and for many of them it's about image and posing rather than driving :-)

[happy1]

Hurry go purchase an old E46, and enjoy 6 months or more of free loan car while they are trying to get parts ;-)

[EDManual]

Originally Posted by happy1

Hurry go purchase an old E46, and enjoy 6 months or more of free loan car while they are trying to get parts ;-)

haha, yes you can by e46's for $1000! then what BMW give you a new loan BMW for 6 months because you refuse they buy back your car for $1000!

[Adamz Ghia]

I wish the police had a system where if they read your number plate it came up as not being repaired and they could pull you over and force you to have it towed. The fact that there are still thousands of Takata airbags around despite the blanket coverage is disgraceful.

Rego should be cancelled as well.