Photo: BMW
According to the recall, the 956 examples affected by the potential problem risk a failure of the driveshaft. BMW believes that 2% of the cars targeted by the recall have an improper weld on their driveshafts, and that it could break.
If this happens while driving, the car could lose power to the wheels and become stranded. BMW thinks that the failure is most likely to occur between 35 and 50 miles per hour (56-80 km/h), because of the load on the component during the shift from second to third gear.
No injuries or accidents have been linked to this issue. However, a total of nine M5 and M6 cars have suffered from the malfunction, and BMW got the first report in August 2015, when two M5 sedans suffered from the same problem.
Since then, the automaker has decided to investigate the matter, so that its clients are fully satisfied with the high-performance products developed by the M division.
The first documented driveshaft failure occurred this January. As BMW notes, two other incidents were identified on 2015 M5 sedans, but in countries outside the United States of America. With this in mind, BMW requested dealers to return all replaced driveshafts for analysis.
Engineers studied them with stereo-microscopy and electron microscopy, as well as more traditional methods, like metallurgical and material studies, along with bending and bulging tests.
BMW had found that there was a consistent damage pattern throughout the failed driveshafts. One of its suppliers then suggested that there was a potential manufacturing error at a welding station, which was the moment when BMW decided to consider a recall action.
BMW will notify all known owners of the M5 and M6 models of the 2015 model year through high priority mail. The owners will be requested to schedule an appointment to their preferred dealers, where they will receive a free inspection of the driveshaft.
If the technicians find that the components do suffer from the problem that is the cause of this voluntary recall, it will be replaced free of charge. The BMW service campaign for the 2015 M5 and M6 models will begin on September 6, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured between September 3, 2014 and December 5, 2014.
If this happens while driving, the car could lose power to the wheels and become stranded. BMW thinks that the failure is most likely to occur between 35 and 50 miles per hour (56-80 km/h), because of the load on the component during the shift from second to third gear.
No injuries or accidents have been linked to this issue. However, a total of nine M5 and M6 cars have suffered from the malfunction, and BMW got the first report in August 2015, when two M5 sedans suffered from the same problem.
Since then, the automaker has decided to investigate the matter, so that its clients are fully satisfied with the high-performance products developed by the M division.
The first documented driveshaft failure occurred this January. As BMW notes, two other incidents were identified on 2015 M5 sedans, but in countries outside the United States of America. With this in mind, BMW requested dealers to return all replaced driveshafts for analysis.
Engineers studied them with stereo-microscopy and electron microscopy, as well as more traditional methods, like metallurgical and material studies, along with bending and bulging tests.
BMW had found that there was a consistent damage pattern throughout the failed driveshafts. One of its suppliers then suggested that there was a potential manufacturing error at a welding station, which was the moment when BMW decided to consider a recall action.
BMW will notify all known owners of the M5 and M6 models of the 2015 model year through high priority mail. The owners will be requested to schedule an appointment to their preferred dealers, where they will receive a free inspection of the driveshaft.
If the technicians find that the components do suffer from the problem that is the cause of this voluntary recall, it will be replaced free of charge. The BMW service campaign for the 2015 M5 and M6 models will begin on September 6, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured between September 3, 2014 and December 5, 2014.
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