BMW starts recall amid concerns of parts shortage

It's the biggest ever recall in South Korea by a foreign automaker.As BMW Korea kicked off the mass recall on Monday,... it faces a slew of lawsuits from local consumers after their vehicles turned into flaming infernos.While safety inspections rumble on nationwide, BMW is sending over replacements from its HQ in Germany for the engine part believed to be the root of the problem.Choi Si-young reports. BMW Korea announced on Monday that it will initiate a recall of around 106-thousand vehicles with faulty engine parts.It is the largest recall ever by a foreign carmaker in Korea.The faulty component, called EGR or Exhaust Gas Recirculation, is what BMW has said is 'the cause' of the recent series of engine fires. The German carmaker said the recall normally takes one to two years,... but it is trying to shorten that period and finish the recall within this year... by shipping the engine parts from its headquarters in Germany.However, some owners said that they received a notice from the automaker's service centers saying their recall is feasible 'next year.'BMW said a parts shortage might have caused such a change in the recall schedule. Meanwhile, the automaker said that as well as the recall, it will continue its safety checks.According to the company, out of around 106-thousand vehicles subject to recall, 98-thousand vehicles have finished their safety examinations... with about five-thousand cars waiting in line for the checks.But some owners questioned whether the tests could actually guarantee car safety. "I went through the safety checks last week, but since then the smell of diesel has been so strong." At a press briefing held on Monday, the head of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said he is looking into documents BMW submitted to transport and environment ministries... to determine whether the company intentionally hid the engine defects.Choi Si-young, Arirang News.