Our BMW exploded and BMW won't take responsibility

[edensparkles]

Hello,

Our 2019 X5 caught fire, and exploded taking out one of our house windows along with it. I'm certain it was a manufactures fault, and not arson. We have CCTV and ring footage showing no one was around it.

BMW have said because it's burnt beyond recognition they can't inspect the engine or the car to confirm it was their fault.

Any ideas?

Are there any specific forums for this you can get advice on? I was driving to stay with a friend at Christmas and passed a BMW with engine on fire on the motorway. I told my friend, also a BMW owner and the same had happened to her. She got into such a fight with the dealer she’ll never go back there but her car was replaced. It may be a common occurrence?

If you Google this you read many similar stories.
This is a fault with the car.

Surely it’s for your insurer to deal with BMW?

you’ve suffered a loss (well, 2 if you count the house damage) and so that’s when they step in? Send them the footage and they can argue with the manufacturer.

Well you don't actually know what's caused it. As PP said leave it to the insurers. I'm guessing it's just out of warranty.

I would be glad that none is hurt.

I've just googled BMW car fires as we are thinking of getting one and wow there have been loads and a huge recall for this reason in the US and elsewhere. Was it a diesel?

Have a look at this, OP, its not a one off
Fire risk recall

Further googling and it looks likes there were also recalls for the electric and hybrid BMWs for the same reason.

How terrifying.

Maybe search for class actions?

www.carscoops.com/2022/02/british-police-forces-sideline-diesel-bmw-models-over-fire-concerns/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64283859

an exploding BMW engine caused the death of a police officer driving it. It's been in the news very recently due to his inquest.

That was a totally different scenario that can only happen in a running engine.

From a legal perspective, with a car of this age the onus is on you to prove it was a manufacturing fault or a design flaw rather than due to misuse, failure to maintain properly or whatever. You don't have to prove it beyond reasonable doubt, but you do have to convince the court that, on the balance of probabilities, it was BMW's fault. Evidence of other cars of the same model and age exhibiting the same issue would clearly help.

Unfortunately, whilst the link to some US cases lists the X5, it is talking about vehicles manufactured from 2007 to 2011, so is not relevant to your car. The recent case involving a police vehicle is also not relevant as the problem only occurs when the vehicle is driven at high speed after a prolonged period idling.