BMW to recall nearly half a million cars worldwide over defective engine bolts

German luxury carmaker BMW is recalling nearly half a million cars worldwide over defective bolts that could lead to engine damage.

The Munich-based carmaker said it is recalling 489,000 cars with 6-cylinder engines that were manufactured between September 2009 and November 2011.

The recall affects 232,000 cars in China, around 156,000 in the US, 20,000 in Canada, 10,800 in Germany and 8,600 in Japan.

The recall involves vehicles powered by N55 inline six-cylinder gasoline engines equipped with VANOS and Valvetronic technologies. It includes the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and 5 Series Gran Turismo, X3, X5, X6, and X6 models.

BMW said, in rare cases one of four bolts holding the cover on the engine's variable camshaft timing system breaks causing other bolts to fail and then lead oil leaks from the unit.

This will result in the timing system to become sluggish and eventually lead to complete engine failure.

BMW said that no accidents have been reported due to the fault.

Earlier in May 2013, the luxury car maker had issued  a global recall for about 220,000 of its 3 Series models made in 2002-2003 over defective air bags supplied by Japanese auto safety-parts supplier Takata Corp, which had supplied the same faulty air bags to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and General Motors, (See: German luxury car maker BMW to recall 220,000 cars over defective air bag)

Prior to that in February last year, it was dorced to recall 30,265 of its popular X5 luxury SUV in the US over a brake vacuum pump oil leak that can hinder the braking efficiency of power brakes.   (See: BMW to recall 30,265 X5 luxury SUV over faulty brake vacuum pump).