How do I get my car repaired due to BMW Service Action?

Auto manufacturers are responsible for producing vehicles that meet safety standards. When a component has a factory defect, the manufacturer is obligated to provide a free repair. Find out what Service Actions are and how to get your BMW repaired for free.

What are BMW Service Shares?

Service Actions, or otherwise known as Technical Actions, are organized by all car corporations. Their purpose is to correct design flaws detected by drivers during operation. We identify vehicles qualified for a specific Technical Action by their VIN body number.

Where to find a current list of all BMW Service Actions?

BMW does not publish such a list. You can check your vehicle’s eligibility for a particular Action through BMW’s service platforms at any Authorized Service Center.

We write about the most important BMW Technical Actions on our blog. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay informed about new posts. Here are the most important articles:

• Faulty Takata airbag in BMW – how to check if I am at risk of explosion?
• Faulty EGR in BMW – how to check if I’m at risk of a fire?
• Action Smog – Is my BMW at risk of being stopped due to exhaust gas quality?

What legal grounds should I invoke to get my car repaired due to BMW Service Action?

A European directive called the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC protects consumers from defective toys, clothing, as well as cars. It is the one that requires manufacturers to recall/repair defective components.

As a BMW owner, all you have to do is contact any Authorized BMW Service Center by phone, email or in person. After providing your vehicle’s VIN number, you will schedule an appointment. Every BMW Authorized Service Center is required to perform a Technical Action. If you have any problems, you can always contact BMW Poland Headquarters in Warsaw for additional assistance.

Can a BMW be serviced under manufacturer’s warranty at BM Cars?

Yes, you can. Servicing your vehicle during the warranty period outside the Authorized Service Network is permitted and may not result in a limitation of your warranty rights.

However, performing a free Technical Action is only possible within the ASO network.

We wrote more about repairing cars under warranty at independent service centers in our article:

• Can a BMW be serviced under manufacturer’s warranty at BM Cars?

What is the difference between an Authorized Service Organization (ASO) and an independent service?

Until a few years ago, the differences between ASOs and Independent Services were significant. The manner of customer service, access to specialized tools and to technical documentation and knowledge meant that independent services were mostly used by customers of older models.

Our independent service BM Cars is an example that it is possible to offer ASO-level repair quality with lower repair rates and broader access to proprietary replacement parts. We wrote more on this topic in the article:

• What is the difference between an Authorized Car Service (ASO) and an Independent Service?

How do I check if my car is covered by a Service Action?

BMW notifies vehicle owners when a Technical Action is due. A condition of the notification is that the ASO has addresses or contact numbers for owners. If you bought the car abroad or it was imported privately, Authorized Service Centers are not able to notify owners.

At BM Cars, when accepting a vehicle for repair, we carefully check whether your car is covered by any Technical Action. We then provide expert technical advice and explain which components are replaced by BMW AG as part of the Action, and which you should repair on your own.

If you cannot come to our service center, we offer a remote BMW AG Database Extract. All you need to do is provide us with the last 7 characters of your VIN number, and we will send you a response within one business day with a recommendation for further action.