STAR WATCH CONSUMER BMW CABLE PROBLEM PROMPTS RECALL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday said BMW is recalling more than 367,000 of the cars in the U.S. from the 2004 to 2010 model years. A battery cable connector can loosen in the trunk and overheat. In extreme cases, it could lead to a smoldering fire in a trunk floor mat, according to documents posted on NHTSA’s website.

The U.S. recall is part of a larger one announced Monday by the German automaker that affects 1.3 million cars worldwide. BMW spokesman David Buchko says the company knows of only one fire in the U.S. related to a loose battery cable. The recall affects 5-series sedans and sports wagons, as well as the 6-series coupe and convertible.

Internet food service

Online deals site LivingSocial on Thursday unveiled an Internet food-ordering service. Hungry customers will be able to use it to order tacos, burgers or Pad Thai from participating restaurants over the Internet for pickup or delivery. Aptly called “Takeout & Delivery,” the service replaces LivingSocial’s instant-deals site, which offered real-time discounts with tight time constraints. LivingSocial says that service was a testing ground for its new, food-focused offering.

The service links customers to more than 2,700 restaurants in 26 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and San Francisco. The two largest, Los Angeles and New York, are coming later, along with the rest of the markets that LivingSocial serves.

Mortgage rates dip

The average rate for a 30-year mortgage declined to 3.99 percent in the week ended Thursday, from 4.08 percent, which was the highest since Oct. 27, according to Freddie Mac. The average 15-year rate decreased to 3.23 percent from 3.3 percent.

Nike wins round in Tebow dispute

Nike Inc. won a judge’s order temporarily blocking Reebok International from using quarterback Tim Tebow’s name on New York Jets-related clothing. A federal judge in New York granted Nike’s request for a temporary restraining order, a day after the company filed a lawsuit. Reebok’s licensing agreement with the National Football League ends Saturday and Nike is to become the official supplier of licensed NFL apparel.

Privacy help coming

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jonathan Leibowitz said he expects companies to develop a mechanism by the end of the year that allows people to say they don’t want their online browsing behavior collected.

Leibowitz said the creation of a so-called do-not-track option for Internet users should help the online economy expand because it would build user trust in the Web.

“Online advertisers, major web browsers and an international consortium have all made great strides on do-not- track,” Leibowitz said in testimony Thursday to a panel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

A 2004 BMW 5-SERIES SEDAN. BMW IS RECALLING MORE THAN 367,000 5- AND 6-SERIES CARS IN THE U.S. FROM THE 2004-10 MODEL YEARS. / BMW

PARK CARS OUTSIDE UNTIL BATTERY CABLE FIXED, BMW

U.S. safety regulators and BMW say owners of some 5- and 6-series cars should park them outside until a battery cable problem can be fixed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that BMW is recalling more than 367,000 of the cars in the U.S. from the 2004-10 model years. A battery cable connector can loosen in the trunk and overheat. In extreme cases, it could lead to a smoldering fire in a trunk floor mat, according to documents posted on NHTSA's website.

The U.S. recall is part of a larger one announced Monday by the German automaker that affects 1.3 million cars worldwide. BMW spokesman David Buchko said the company knows of only one fire in the U.S. related to a loose battery cable. No injuries have been reported from the problem, he said, adding that the recommendation to park the cars outside is merely a precaution.

"We've got one known case of actual fire here in the U.S., having sold 367,000 cars," he said.

The recall affects 5-series sedans and sports wagons, as well as the 6-series coupe and convertible. Most of the cars in the recall are 5-series sedans. In 2010, the last model year affected by the recall, BMW sold almost 39,000 of the cars, according to Autodata.

According to NHTSA documents, BMW found out there was a problem in 2006 when unspecified incidents were reported in Germany and Sweden. The company said in a letter to NHTSA that it investigated but couldn't identify a cause. There were incidents in the U.S. in April and November 2009 and May 2011. Those were investigated and no cause was found.

In April last year, a task force was set up to investigate further. On March 12, tests pointed to a connector in the trunk that links battery cables.