Could You Be Eligible for BMW Diesel Compensation?

Munich-based BMW is one of the carmakers involved in the Dieselgate diesel emissions scandal.  Like most major manufacturers, BMW is accused of using cheat devices to manipulate emissions testing. They denied the allegations and said that they did not fit their vehicles with such devices.

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority or KBA investigated the allegations upon the orders of the transport ministry. According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), the exhaust cleaning mechanism of BMW diesel vehicles is triggered once the engine goes beyond 2000 rpm (revolutions per minute). When the engine is over 3500 rpm, the mechanism is immediately shut down. DUH considers this an illegal act as normal driving conditions are affected.

In 2019, BMW, along with two other German carmakers, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler, were caught colluding on limiting the effectiveness of and delaying technology intended for reducing toxic emissions. Daimler was not fined as they reported the existence of the cartel, but BMW and Volkswagen weren’t as lucky. The European Commission set BMW’s fine at S442 million or approximately £371 million, while VW (including Audi and Porsche) has a $590 million fine (around £495.7 million).

With three German carmakers implicated in the diesel emissions scam and other issues linked to it, Germany’s car market has been greatly affected. The 2015 Dieselgate scandal saw the Volkswagen Group thrust into the spotlight and their admission of using the cheat devices had quite a negative effect on German vehicle sales.

The VW Dieselgate scandal

When US authorities discovered defeat devices in Audi and VW vehicles, there wasn’t any indication that it would be the start of a scandal that would spread globally. VW initially denied that they used defeat devices on their vehicles but eventually admitted they knew about them.

A defeat device is used to artificially reduce emission levels in vehicles when it is in testing. It keeps emissions within the WHO-mandated limits so the vehicle would appear environment-friendly, and emissions-compliant.

However, once the vehicle is driven on a real road, the defeat device stops working. As a result, the vehicle releases exceedingly high amounts of nitrogen oxide or NOx, a dangerous gas that can destroy the environment and a person’s overall health. What Volkswagen did was deceive their customers by lying about the vehicles’ performance quality and efficiency. They lied so they can profit.

Authorities required VW to pay fines and fees, and the carmaker has been doing so for years. They’ve also had to recall thousands of affected vehicles so these could be fitted with emissions-compliant engines.

A few years later, US authorities focused their attention on another German carmaker allegedly using defeat devices in their vehicles – Mercedes-Benz. Other carmakers followed, including BMW.

These carmakers are not only contributors to air pollution; they also exposed their customers to various health impacts. NOx emissions are known to have serious effects on human health.

The dangers of NOx explained

NOx or nitrogen oxide is a group of gases that has nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide as primary components. It is highly reactive, forming other pollutants when it mixes with other chemicals. These pollutants come in various forms including smog, acid rain, and ground-level ozone. These have negative effects on vegetation – exposed plants get weak and become susceptible to damage and frost. Their growth is stunted as well.

When exposed to nitrogen oxide, regardless of the frequency or volume, you are bound to suffer its health impacts.

If you’ve had mental health issues, NOx emissions can trigger episodes of depression and anxiety – and they could happen more frequently.

Cognitive abilities are also affected, so the possibilities of you developing dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease, are higher.

The devastating effects of NOx emissions exposure are on your health:

• Frequent asthma attacks
• Fluid gets into your lungs
• Breathing problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Respiratory issues such as emphysema and bronchitis
• Asphyxiation
• Vocal cords spasm (or laryngospasm)
• Increased risk of cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Premature death

These impacts are the primary reasons why you should hold your carmaker responsible for their deceit, for exposing you to NOx emissions. Bringing an emissions claim against them will give you the opportunity to receive compensation for all the inconveniences they have caused you (including your vehicle’s sub-standard performance).

Are you qualified to receive BMW emissions compensation?

If you have proof that you wouldn’t have purchased the vehicle if you knew it wasn’t emissions-compliant, you may be eligible to receive compensation.

If you believe that you paid a premium (higher than the usual) price for a low-emission vehicle that’s equipped with a defeat device, you can get receive BMW diesel compensation.

These are not the only things you should consider, though, if you’re thinking of making a claim against your carmaker. For example, only BMW diesel vehicles that were leased or owned beginning September 2009 may have been fitted with defeat devices.

There are other things to consider once you’ve decided to make a BMW emissions claim, so your first task is to determine if you are eligible to do so. Get in touch with Emissions.co.uk to get all the essential information you need before you can start the claims process.