Following a series of recalls related to airbags by other carmakers, BMW said: ‘Potential problems with gas generators that may rupture in vehicles produced by our competitors using similar systems from the same supplier have become evident in rare cases. BMW is not aware of a case involving a BMW vehicle. The replacement campaign is a voluntary precautionary measure that aims at minimising the risk of faulty airbag activation.’ 

The recall is actually a voluntary extension of last year's recall campaign, with the airbag supplier now having extended the production period during which potentially faulty gas generators were installed in the airbags. Previously, BMW recalled 240,000 E46 3 Series vehicles, which are exempt from the latest action.

BMW added: ‘In order to ensure maximum safety of our customers, BMW has decided to replace the passenger airbags in the vehicles from the suggested production period, and additionally, as a voluntary precautionary measure, the passenger airbags in all BMW 3 Series models (E46) of the pre-predecessor generation equipped with this airbag module. The 240 000 E46 units already recalled worldwide last year are excluded from the current replacement campaign.’

Affected customers will be informed by BMW, which will pay the replacement costs. The replacement takes about one hour.