The cars' engines could slow, shake or turn off as a result, according to a statement on the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine's website.

The recall affects xDrive20i, xDrive28i and xDrive35i X3 models produced between October 2011 and December 2013.

A BMW spokesman in Germany said the recall only affected China.

(Reporting by Jake Spring in BEIJING and Edward Taylor in FRANKFURT; Editing by Pravin Char)