BMW completes 94% of EGR replacement

A BMW logo is pictured before the annual news conference of German premium automaker BMW in Munich March 19, 2014. Reuters

BMW Korea has replaced more than 100,000 units of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) component in affected vehicles since a recall started five months ago, the company said Tuesday.

A total of 100,090 BMW vehicles have had the EGR component replaced so far, which translates into a completion ratio of 94 percent. The EGR is one of the principal devices used to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines.

In late August, BMW began the recall of 106,000 vehicles following dozens of engine fires, mostly in its 520d sedan.

BMW started a second recall in late November, in which the faulty part was replaced in nearly 32,700 vehicles, a completion ratio of more than 50 percent.

The company said it is making all-out efforts to contact owners of unrecalled vehicles to have EGR components replaced as early as possible.

In late December, South Korea's transportation ministry fined BMW 11.2 billion won (US$10 million) for allegedly trying to hide faulty parts and belatedly recalling its vehicles after some engines caught fire.

The move came after an investigative panel made up of civilian experts and government officials found that the fires were caused by faulty EGR valves. (Yonhap)