Emissions Recall ?

[Jetmart]

I received a recall notice stating my 2011 35is needs to be reprogrammed in order to pass an emissions test. It was suppose to take 1hr. BMW has had the car 3 full days now going on 4 and has not been able to install the update.

Anyone have a similar recall notice or problem?

[Mick70]

No recalls here.

But update issues are likely to occur if you have modified your car:
- Tuning, such as Cobb AP etc.?
- Roof Access Module such as smart top?
- Satellite radio retrofit?
- Retrofit of non-oem bluetooth devices?
- Any other retrofit with changes in the so-called "Fahrzeugauftrag" (list of originally installed options that is connected to your car's VIN) or any retrofitted options where the "Fahrzeugauftrag" should have been changed?

You should always remove such modifications or at least indicate that such modifications have taken place. I know that otherwise BMW may charge much money for update attempts that fail due to car modifications.

Best regards

Mick

[fmorelli]

Originally Posted by Jetmart

I received a recall notice stating my 2011 35is needs to be reprogrammed in order to pass an emissions test.

So it has passed emissions for the past 5 years. Why would it suddenly start failing the emissions test? Doesn't seem to make any sense.

Filippo

[t612]

I have a 2016 35is and have not recieved or made aware of any recalls.

Maybe this recall is specific to Canada.

In California, we are not required to perform an emissions (smog) test for the first 5 or 6 years of the car. My wife has a 2010 535i and only had to do our first smog check for her vehicle registration this year.

[bigendbob]

All this emission stuff is nonsense.
How can you test a vehicle that is stationary and not under proper load in motion.

One of my customers was a former VW employee.
He said he lost his job several years ago re the VW emission scandal.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

All this emission stuff is nonsense.
How can you test a vehicle that is stationary and not under proper load in motion.

...

In California they run the tests on a dyno that simulates those loads. They recently changed the rules for model year 2000 and newer though so they only get an OBD and visual check instead of the full sniffer on the dyno test.

[Jetmart]

As an update after 9 business days of trying to program the update they finally got it done. They had to replace the radio module. I have lost all my settings, contacts, music, etc, for the entire car.

[fmorelli]

Radio module for an emissions update, eh? Sounds like someone fried something.

Emissions tests for cars is a fiscally ridiculous policy. The number of cars off emissions is round-off error, yet everyone pays the price of time and money to perform the tests. In states like Virginia, we double down with having to spend money with a certified emissions center - they don't know crap about the cars they work on - but you get to burn a bunch of money while they throw parts at it. I bought an E46 for my son for peanuts because the owner couldn't get an emissions fault cleared. Let's see ... a functioning car with an emissions issue, or 3,400 lbs of garbage in a landfill ... seems like any tree hugger could figure out the former is more benign than the latter. Instead we spend bazillions of dollars making sure we push perfectly operational cars into landfills.

Filippo

[paris1]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

All this emission stuff is nonsense.
How can you test a vehicle that is stationary and not under proper load in motion.

One of my customers was a former VW employee.
He said he lost his job several years ago re the VW emission scandal.

Uhhh, the VW emissions scandal only came to light last September....

[murgins]

I got the same recall notice last week as well. Have not gone to BMW yet.
Have you got yours resolved?

[bigendbob]

Originally Posted by paris1

Uhhh, the VW emissions scandal only came to light last September....

So the public were told September, then becomes a scandal, but insiders have known for years.

Problem here in the UK cars are sold on their emissions status and the basis for road fund license.
If someone cheats, they get their car into a lower cheaper band and likely sell more cars.

[Frank Costanza]

I got this notice. Haven't taken it in yet. I don't see how it can't affect performance if it pertains to emissions standards.

You notice the car driving any different since the update? Does it feel any slower to you?

[Jetmart]

Originally Posted by Frank Costanza

I got this notice. Haven't taken it in yet. I don't see how it can't affect performance if it pertains to emissions standards.

You notice the car driving any different since the update? Does it feel any slower to you?

I have not noticed a difference in performance. With that said the car was relatively new to me and I don't have a lot of experience at the high end of the performance curve. I agree with you that if emissions were too high anything they did likely would impact performance. I would like to hear from others.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by Jetmart

I have not noticed a difference in performance. With that said the car was relatively new to me and I don't have a lot of experience at the high end of the performance curve. I agree with you that if emissions were too high anything they did likely would impact performance. I would like to hear from others.

it wouldn't be performance i would be worried about it would be fuel consumption. Most of the cheats that i have read about for emissions would save you a few miles per gallon while still giving you the same HP. And after recoding the vehicles did not perform well in the MPG area. i suppose HP coule be affected too but it is MPG that is most worrisome.