Recall - 86V-138 Steering Column Modification
86BMW01November 1986
RE: Recall Campaign No. 86V-138
Dear BMW Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
BMW-AG has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1985-86 BMW 3-Series automobiles. Our records indicate that you are the owner of a potentially affected vehicle.
The steering column of your vehicle contains a disengagement element which can reduce the amount of steering wheel rearward travel in a frontal crash. Such a reduction can in some cases reduce the likelihood or degree of injury to the driver in such a crash.
This element is designed to allow the lower portion of the steering column (when subjected to a significant impact) to slide rearward relative to the upper column. In the extreme case, the two portions of the column will disengage from each other. When this occurs, the vehicle can no longer be maneuvered via the steering wheel.
Please note that this disengagement cannot occur during even the most extreme driving conditions and front suspension loadings, but only when a significant force is applied directly to the steering gearbox itself as a result of certain frontal crash conditions or front end contact with an object in the road.
Thus, your ability to avoid a crash or object in the roadway is not impaired by this condition. However, post-crash maneuverability could be affected. Since pre-impact vehicle performance is not affected, no prior warning of post-impact disengagement and resulting loss of steering maneuverability will occur.
IMPORTANT
Please make an appointment as soon as possible with your Authorized BMW Dealer for repair of your vehicle.
The repair will consist of bolting two plates to the disengagement element on the steering column. This will insure that, even if the steering gear is subjected to a significant impact, the element will not completely disengage, thus allowing steering capability to be retained.
This repair will require approximately one to two hours and will be performed by your Authorized BMW Dealer free of charge.
If you are no longer the owner of this vehicle, we would appreciate your furnishing us with the name and address of the new owner, using the enclosed return postagepaid card.
We appreciate your confidence in our product and we wish to do everything we can to retain that confidence. Should you have any questions about this campaign, please contact your Authorized BMW Dealer, or our regional Customer Relations Departments at:
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
535 East Crescent Avenue 12541 Beatrice Street
Ramsey, NJ 07446 Los Angeles, CA 90066
Telephone: (201) 934-4000 Telephone: (213) 305-2913
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
1002 E. Algonquin Rd. 2300 Valley View Lane
Schaumburg, IL 60195 Suite 300
Telephone: (312) 397-5713 Dallas, TX 75381
Telephone: (214) 484-4840
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
6160 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Suite A-100 6606 Owens Drive
Atlanta, GA 30328 Pleasanton, CA 94566
Telephone: (404) 399-0070 Telephone: (415) 463-0690
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. 1861 Wiehle Avenue Suite 300 Reston, VA 22090
Telephone: (703) 478-2800
If the dealer upon inspection finds the described defect but is unable to remedy the defect without charge or within a reasonable period of time, you may notify the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nassif Building, 400 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393 (Washington, DC area residents may call 426-0123).