BMW bulletin B520418
BMW filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jul 1, 2018, received Oct 9, 2018, about the seats. It names 3 model years (2016–2018). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationCREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT SEAT CUSHION: A creaking noise, as demonstrated in video https://tinyurl.com/V520118 , can be heard from the vicinity of the front seat cushion (Foam padding).
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| B520418 | Service bulletin | Jul 1, 2018 | 10145334 |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is BMW B520418 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the B520418 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does B520418 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 3 model years: 2018 BMW i8, 2017 BMW i8, 2016 BMW i8. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.