The BMW Emissions Class Action Settlement: Key Facts

The $6 million BMW Emissions Class Action Settlement involves allegations that BMW equipped certain vehicles with "defeat devices" that reduced emissions during regulatory testing but turned off during regular driving. This lawsuit, filed against BMW of North America LLC, claimed that the company misled consumers about the environmental impact of their vehicles.

The plaintiffs were a group of 18 individuals who filed the lawsuit against BMW of North America LLC. These plaintiffs alleged that BMW equipped certain vehicles with emissions defeat devices that allowed the cars to pass regulatory emissions testing while emitting illegal levels of pollutants during regular driving.

The lawsuit claimed that BMW misled consumers about the environmental impact of their vehicles, causing financial harm to the plaintiffs and other affected owners. The plaintiffs sought compensation for the alleged deception and the diminished value of their vehicles due to the emissions issues.

Settlement Details

  • Settlement Amount: $6 million

  • Eligibility: Owners or lessees of 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d or 2009-2011 BMW 335d vehicles before February 28, 2024.

  • Claim Submission Deadline: December 18, 2024.

  • Proof of Purchase Required: Yes.

  • Potential Individual Reward: Varies based on the length of ownership or lease.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a cash payment from the settlement, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. Vehicle Ownership or Lease: You must have purchased or leased a 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d or a 2009-2011 BMW 335d vehicle.

  2. Purchase or Lease Date: The vehicle must have been purchased or leased on or before February 28, 2024.

  3. Current or Former Owner/Lessee: Both current owners and former owners or lessees are eligible.

  4. Individuals and Businesses: Both individual purchasers and business purchasers or lessees are eligible.

Proof of Purchase Details

To submit a valid claim, you need to provide specific documentation to verify your eligibility. Here's what you'll need:

  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): This unique identifier for your vehicle is crucial for verifying eligibility.

  • Vehicle Model and Year: Clearly state the model and year of your BMW vehicle.

  • Proof of Ownership or Lease: Depending on your status, you'll need to provide one of the following:

    • Current Owners: Current vehicle registration, driver's license or other government-issued photo identification, proof of purchase (such as a bill of sale, title, registration from the time of purchase, DMV registration history, financing agreement, or insurance document listing the vehicle purchase date).

    • Former Owners: Proof of when your lease began (such as proof of first lease payment or lease agreement), vehicle registration, driver's license or other government-issued photo identification, proof of purchase (such as a bill of sale, title, registration from the time of purchase, DMV registration history, financing agreement, or insurance document listing the vehicle purchase date).

Claim Submission Process

  1. Complete the Claim Form: Fill out the claim form with all required information, including the VIN, vehicle model and year, and proof of ownership or lease.

  2. Submit Supporting Documentation: Attach the necessary documents to verify your eligibility.

  3. Submit Electronically or by Mail: You can submit your claim form and supporting documents electronically through the official settlement website or mail them to the provided address.

Potential Individual Reward

The amount each class member receives will be a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the length of ownership or lease of their vehicle. Longer ownership or lease periods will result in larger payments, while shorter periods will yield smaller payments.

Additional Payment

If there are unclaimed funds due to uncashed checks or other reasons, class members who accepted or cashed their initial checks may receive a secondary distribution.

Settlement Benefits

  • Cash Awards: Class members will receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the amount of time they owned or leased their vehicles.

  • Second Payment: If any unclaimed funds remain due to uncashed checks or other factors, class members who accepted or cashed their initial checks may receive a second payment.