Highs and lows for German automaker BMW as they celebrate ramped up vehicle production at their US assembly plant....while issuing a major recall on one of their most popular compact nameplates.

The world's largest maker of luxury cars recently announced plans to expand its X-model line at their Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. Over the next 3 years, the company is pouring close to 900 million dollars into the factory in order to build the new X-4 SUV--adding to the X3 and X5 and X6 models that are already assembled there. The expansion will create 300 new jobs, increasing the plant's workforce to more than 7,000. Last year close to 300,000 vehicles were built at the Palmetto State plant, but with the additional capacity BMW will be able to produce 350,000 units in the mid-term. Since opening in 1994, more than 2 million vehicles have  rolled off the Spartanburg assembly line, and more than 70% of the factory's vehicles are exported to 130 markets around the world. 

While BMW is beaming over its automotive manufacturing prowess- the company is taking its lumps regarding a not-so-mini underhood glitch. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and BMW have issued a recall of nearly 90,000 Mini Cooper models because of electrical problems. The circuit boards which control the water pump-that cools the turbochargers could possibly malfunction and cause an engine fire. The recall includes certain mini coopers manufactured from November 2006 to January 2011 including popular models like the Mini Cooper s, Mini Cooper s Clubman, Mini Cooper s Countryman and Mini John Cooper Works Clubman. Affected owners will be notified beginning this month. The water pump will be replaced free of charge at local dealerships.