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<E30> 1991 318 recalls from www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/

LONG MESSAGE...sorry, this is to help make a point about the NHTSA web
site.  This is the output from searching for recall summaries about the
1991 318, 318i, and 318is (only the first one is specific to the 'is').
I didn't even touch the Technical Service Bulletins or Consumer
Complaints for these cars.  All I can say is "try it, you'll like it"
though reading about your car's problems may make you want the product
that line advertised.
This started out as someone asking about recalls for the steering column
on his 318is.  No mention of a rattle or of parts falling off, so I'd
say there was no "hit" on that problem; however...
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 91V054000 
Make: BMW 
Model: 318IS 
Year: 1991 
Causing Fault : DOES NOT MEET SPECS,MATERIAL,HEAT TREATMENT 
Resulting Fault : INFORMATION,WARRANTY,REGULATION,STANDARD,FOIA 
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS 
Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE 
Year of Recall: 1991
Type of Report: Vehicle 
Potential Number of Units Affected: 13,500
Summary:

SYSTEM: OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION; FMVSS 208. 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. 

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE
KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED
TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY. 

CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CHEST DECELERATION EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
LIMIT WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN A SUDDEN
STOP OR ACCIDENT. 

CORRECTIVE ACTION: REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID
IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT. 

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 91V219000 
Make: BMW 
Model: 318 
Year: 1991 
Causing Fault : ASSEMBLY,IMPROPERLY INSTALLED,LOCATION,PREPARATION 
Resulting Fault : ENGINE RUNAWAY,SUDDEN ACCELERATION(5-83) 
Component: FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL 
Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE 
Year of Recall: 1991
Type of Report: Vehicle 
Potential Number of Units Affected: 15,200
Summary:

SYSTEM: THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM, VENTED INTO THE
INTAKE TRACT OF THE ENGINE AT THE BELLOWS BOOT AHEAD OF THE THROTTLE
HOUSING, ALLOWS WARM WATER VAPOR FROM THE CRANKCASE VENT TO CONDENSE AND
FREEZE IN THE COLDER BELLOWS BOOT WHEN THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE IS 15
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LESS. THE BUILD UP OF ICE CAN DISLODGE AND MOVE
INTO THE THROTTLE HOUSING, PREVENTING THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM FULLY
CLOSING WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL. 

CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE THROTTLE PLATE IS PREVENTED FROM CLOSING,
THERE IS AN INCREASE IN IDLE SPEED AS WELL AS SLOWER THAN NORMAL
DECELERATION, WHICH OCCURS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN AN
ACCIDENT.

CORRECTIVE ACTION: REPLACE THE THROTTLE HOUSING WITH A VERSION
CONTAINING A MODIFIED HEATING SYSTEM ALONG WITH REROUTING OF THE CVS
HOSE. THIS WILL PREVENT ICE BUILD-UP IN THE INTAKE TRACT. 

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 93V015000 
Make: BMW 
Model: 318 
Year: 1991 
Causing Fault : BURNED,OVERHEATED,BURNT OUT,MELTED 
Resulting Fault : FOGGED,POOR VISIBILITY 
Component: HEATER:WATER:DEFROSTER:DEFOGGER:HEATER CORE:WATER 
Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE 
Year of Recall: 1993
Type of Report: Vehicle 
Potential Number of Units Affected: 375,000
Summary:

SYSTEM: COOLANT SYSTEM. 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. 

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM
COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A
RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE. 

CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING
SYSTEM PRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE
COOLING SYSTEM SUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF
THE RADIATOR OR EXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE
OR A FITTING, AND (4) CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN
COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES, BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER
RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING IN BURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN
THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPOR FOGGING OF THE INTERIOR
SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY. 

CORRECTIVE ACTION: BMW IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION
TO THE PROBLEM OF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. 

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 94V066000 
Make: BMW 
Model: 318 
Year: 1991 
Causing Fault : IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED OR ROUTED,MISALIGNED 
Resulting Fault : FIRE, FLUID,ELECTRICAL,GAS(LPG),GASOLINE,OTHER 
Component: FUEL:FUEL LINES FITTINGS:METALLIC 
Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE 
Year of Recall: 1994
Type of Report: Vehicle 
Potential Number of Units Affected: 116,300
Summary:

SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL LINE FITTINGS; METALLIC. 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES; MODELS 318I, 318SI, 318IC,
325I, 325IS, 325IX, 325IC, 525I, 535I, 735I AND 735IL. 

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME,
ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE
ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE
TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE. 

CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE
ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH
COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. 

CORRECTIVE ACTION: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE
INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE. 

NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED
UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE
TIME AND FREE OF CHARGE, OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT OR
NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. ALSO, CONTACT THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT
1-800-424-9393. 

- -- 
Pat Donahue
Vienna, VA
'91 M5 4GTFUL
'72 MGB 8LYFGR&