BMW recall: Replace the Engine Starter Motor
- What's wrong
- The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of…
- What to do
- Contact a BMW dealer to book the free repair. On the affected vehicles the starter motor will be replaced with a variant by another supplier with a different design. Until the repair has been completed it is recommended to…
What’s wrong
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
The fix
On the affected vehicles the starter motor will be replaced with a variant by another supplier with a different design. Until the repair has been completed it is recommended to not leave the vehicle running unattended after starting the engine.
Vehicles affected
| Model | Built from | Built to | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| X3 | 28 Sep 2020 | 29 May 2024 | 1,540 |
| X4 | 26 Apr 2021 | 6 Oct 2022 | 4 |
| X5 | 7 May 2021 | 19 Jun 2021 | 2 |
| 3 SERIES SALOON | 18 Sep 2020 | 29 Apr 2025 | 17,128 |
| 3 SERIES TOURING | 18 Sep 2020 | 9 Apr 2025 | 6,876 |
| 4 SERIES COUPE | 18 Aug 2020 | 25 Apr 2025 | 5,987 |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE | 23 Sep 2020 | 25 Apr 2025 | 3,766 |
| 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE | 16 Apr 2021 | 5 May 2025 | 5,743 |
| Z4 | 2 Sep 2020 | 16 Apr 2025 | 2,495 |
| 5 SERIES SALOON | 30 Oct 2020 | 2 Jun 2023 | 9 |
| 6 SERIES GT | 28 Jul 2021 | 19 Jan 2023 | 3 |
| 2 SERIES COUPE | 18 Dec 2020 | 29 Apr 2024 | 7,500 |
How to check your vehicle
Use the official DVSA checker with your registration number to see if your exact vehicle is included. If it is, the manufacturer should have written to the registered keeper. The repair is free, even if you bought the vehicle second-hand.
Updated 2 March 2026. This page summarises an official notice. Details can change – always follow the official notice.