BMW 2,3,4,5,7 Series (G12, G2x, G3x, G42) , X3 (G01) , X4 (G02), X5 (G05), Z4 (G29) (2020–2023)
What the hazard is
A vehicle fire or the driver being unable to restart the engine could increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants, and/or damage to property.
What to do
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by BMW requesting they schedule an appointment with their preferred authorised BMW dealer for the free of charge starter motor replacement. Note: BMW recommends that the vehicle is not left unattended while the engine is running and refrain from using any Remote Engine Start function. The short circuit could lead to local overheating of the starter motor, and the driver may see or smell smoke while driving or exiting the vehicle.
Defect
Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit. If this occurs, the driver may be unable to start the engine, and in the worst case, the overheating can lead to a fire during vehicle operation.