The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'

  • 3

    SHINee launches first Japan tour in 5 years

  • 5

    S. Korea wins 1st table tennis gold in 21 yrs

  • 7

    Heavy traffic jams mostly eased on 5th day of holiday

  • 9

    LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic

  • 11

    Samsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businesses

  • 13

    Korea picks up 2 medals in table tennis as gold drought continues

  • 15

    Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations

  • 17

    Shin-Hanul No. 2 nuclear reactor begins testing for full operation next year

  • 19

    4 injured in rockfall at tourist attraction on eastern island of Ulleung

  • 2

    Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

  • 4

    Distraught roller skater apologizes for costly premature celebration

  • 6

    Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan

  • 8

    Consumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after Chuseok

  • 10

    Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week

  • 12

    No regrets for roller skaters after taking silver in relay

  • 14

    National Assembly speeds up efforts to outlaw dog meat consumption in Korea

  • 16

    'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office

  • 18

    Internet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivity

  • 20

    Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
Wed, October 4, 2023 | 16:24
Companies
BMW apologizes for engine fires; cause 'not Korea specific'
Posted : 2018-08-06 19:25
Updated : 2018-08-07 10:17
Nam Hyun-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon reads an apology during a press conference at the Westin Chosun hotel in Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon reads an apology during a press conference at the Westin Chosun hotel in Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Nam Hyun-woo

BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon apologized Monday for the escalating scandal in which more than 30 BMW diesel cars, including its best-selling 520d sedan, have caught fire over the past few months.

In a hurriedly-arranged press conference in Seoul, Kim issued an apology, vowing to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of BMW vehicles and ease growing anxiety among drivers.

"We would like to extend our deep apology to our Korean customers and the government for causing concerns with the fire cases," Kim told reporters. "Headquarters is also taking this issue seriously, and management has been briefed on the updated situation."

The risk of BMW diesel vehicles catching fire came to light in recent months as fires continued in its 520d sedans. The company announced a voluntary recall July 26 which will affect 106,317 cars of 42 models from Aug. 20.

BMW drivers here send letters to Merkel, Trump, calling for probe into engine fires
BMW drivers here send letters to Merkel, Trump, calling for probe into engine fires
2018-08-27 14:29  |  Companies
BMW faces a wave of lawsuits after 32 sedans engulfed in flames
BMW faces a wave of lawsuits after 32 sedans engulfed in flames
2018-08-06 15:41  |  Companies
BMW faces full-fledged probe into 'engine fires'
BMW faces full-fledged probe into 'engine fires'
2018-08-05 14:31  |  Companies
BMW under fire
2018-08-06 16:59  |  Editorial
BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon reads an apology during a press conference at the Westin Chosun hotel in Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
BMW Group Vice President for Quality Johann Ebenbichler speaks during a press conference at the Westin Chosun hotel in Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Several technical officers from the German headquarters said they found "a leaky cooler" in the engine was the root cause of BMW diesel vehicles catching fire, which unnerved the public in recent months.

During the press conference, BMW Group Vice President for Quality Johann Ebenbichler said coolant leakage in the cooler in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module in the engine was the root cause of the fires.

According to Ebenbichler, oily ingredients in the coolant create sediment in the EGR pipe, which causes a spark to start a fire.

"As we found a leaky cooler was the root cause of the fires, we will begin replacing the EGR cooler and cleaning the EGR pipe during the recall," Kim said, adding more than 6,000 BMW Korea employees and dealers will do their utmost to dispel customer concerns.

Despite Kim and BMW Group's apology, the German automaker stressed that the problem was "not Korea specific," with Ebenbichler saying EGR systems in all BMW diesel vehicles were "the same."

Ebenbichler said "the overall failure rate related with EGR issue is 0.1 percent of the total diesel volume in a year in Korea and similar rates were observed in other jurisdictions." However, the company did not explain why EGR-related fires were concentrated in recent months.

To the question that why the company took time before announcing the recall, Ebenbichler said: "The company became aware of the EGR problems in 2016 but only identified the root cause in June this year."




Emailnamhw@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week
2Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations
3Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW
4Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff
530 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member 30 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member
6Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar
7Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales
8Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct
9Dong-A Socio Group’s honorary chairman passes away at 96Dong-A Socio Group’s honorary chairman passes away at 96
10Returning home from Chuseok holiday Returning home from Chuseok holiday
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map
2Two artists' windows to light and serenity Two artists' windows to light and serenity
3Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October
4Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport
5[INTERVIEW] Ahn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You' INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group