German authorities find emissions cheat device on older BMW X3 models

Germany’s federal transport watchdog claims it has discovered an emissions cheat device on diesel BMW X3 SUVs built between 2010 and 2014.

In a statement published online, the German authority known as Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) claims BMW fitted X3 models with 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines which produce emissions higher than is legally mandated in certain circumstances.

As reported by Drive in January 2024, the KBA announced it was opening an investigation over allegations the mandatory emissions systems deactivated on X3 models when the air conditioning was turned on in the car – with the air conditioning typically disengaged when laboratory emissions tests were being conducted.

Now, the KBA has says it has found software which allows the X3 models – specifically the sDrive 18d and xDrive 20d – to produce nitrogen oxides outside of legal limits when the air conditioning is on.

The KBA says approximately 33,000 German vehicles are affected, with estimates of up to 150,000 vehicles suspected of having the emissions defeat device fitted across Europe.

“BMW has been working for some time on a hardware and software measure to remove the complained about functions,” the German transport authority said in a translated statement.

“The hardware and software measure is expected to be put into the field in June 2024.”

It’s been almost a decade since the so-called ‘Dieselgate’ saga became public, in which it was discovered that Volkswagen Group brand had deliberately used software to cheat emissions tests conducted in laboratory conditions.

When outside of those test conditions, the vehicles produced significantly greater volumes of harmful tailpipe emissions, in order to deliver better performance to drivers.

The scandal ended up costing Volkswagen Group more than $AU46.5 billion in fines, compensation, and vehicle buybacks.

“More than seven years after the [Dieselgate] scandal became known, we find the highest nitrogen oxide emissions we have ever measured in diesel vehicles during real driving and discover defeat devices in the engine control software,” said Jürgen Resch, CEO of Germany’s environmental watchdogs, Deutsche Umwelt Hilfe.

Despite cooperating with the KBA – which has yet to make a final decision on the matter – BMW has told German media it intends to keep its legal options open.

Drive has contacted BMW Australia about whether locally-delivered cars are affected.