PRIVATE PARTS
One major announcement to come out of BMW’s February Certified Collision Repair Centre (CCRC) conference was the OEM’s decision to expand its restricted parts program in Canada to include select aluminum and carbon fibre components. The decision is in line with BMW North America’s parts restrictions in the United States market, BMW Collision and Wholesale Manager Chris Castagna told Collision Repair mag. This move aims to ensure the highest standards of repair and maintenance for BMW vehicles, maintaining the brand’s commitment to safety, quality, and performance. By controlling the distribution of critical repair materials, BMW seeks to further enhance the integrity of repairs done within the CCRC network.
A SPONTANEOUS TAILGATE
General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for 222,490 vehicles in Canada and over 300,000 vehicles worldwide due to tailgates that can spontaneously unlatch and spill cargo.The vehicles specifically affected include the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra from the 2020 to 2023 model years. Some heavy duty models from 2024 are also affected. The issue stems from improper sealing that can allow water to leak into the exterior tailgate switch, causing it to unlatch and open unexpectedly. To fix the issue, GM dealers will need to replace the exterior tailgate switch with a new material that improves resistance to “water intrusion.” Currently, GM has also ordered a stop-sale for current possibly affected trucks on dealer lots until they can be repaired. Owner letters for drivers with affected vehicles began arriving in mid March.
