Editorial & Evidence Standards | AutoDefect
AUTODEFECT.ORG BMW HVAC EVAPORATOR REGISTRY · INDEPENDENT
MY RECORD REPORT A FAILURE
Evidence before accusation
Source classes and case evidence levels are tracked separately. Every material claim states what it does — and does not — establish.
OPEN THE EVIDENCE CENTER →
Symptom ≠ diagnosis
Uneven vents, hissing or temporary post-recharge improvement are diagnostic clues — not proof the evaporator is the source.
READ THE DIAGNOSIS GUIDE →
Three cost layers, never blended
External benchmarks, documented estimates and completed invoices answer different questions — the registry keeps them separate.
SEE COST INTELLIGENCE →
Public record, plainly labeled
Recalls, settlements and complaints are different kinds of records. Each entry links its primary source and states its scope.
OPEN THE PUBLIC RECORD →
Statistics describe submitted records
They do not establish manufacturer-wide incidence or failure rates. Read how records are reviewed before publication.
VISIT THE DATA CENTER →
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Prototype — search binds to Supabase full-text in the production build (see handoff-v4).
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Editorial & Evidence Standards

AutoDefect.org publishes technical and consumer information only to the extent supported by identified sources or reviewed records. This page is the standard every page on this site is held to.

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Published: August 8, 2026Last reviewed: August 8, 2026Compiled by: AutoDefect.org Registry EditorSources last checked: August 8, 2026CorrectionsManufacturer right of reply
THE CORE STANDARD

Evidence before accusation

Owner reports are labeled as owner reports. Manufacturer communications are evaluated for exact applicability. Government databases are not treated as automatic verification of the underlying allegation. Secondary cost and parts sources are distinguished from OEM or government records.

When evidence changes, the record changes with it. Corrections, alternative diagnoses and favorable manufacturer outcomes are part of the evidence base rather than exceptions to it.

THE EDITORIAL RULE

Evidence before accusation. Primary sources before secondary sources. Documents before anecdotes. Contradictory evidence must be retained rather than suppressed.

LANGUAGE DISCIPLINE

Words this site uses — and avoids

PREFERRED

“reported” · “documented in the submitted repair order” · “registry records” · “among approved AutoDefect cases” · “external commercial estimate” · “manufacturer communication” · “catalog-listed supersession” · “the evidence does not establish…” · “final determination pending”

AVOIDED UNLESS DIRECTLY SUPPORTED

“known defect” · “BMW knows” · “widespread defect” · “systemic failure” · “cover-up” · “BMW admitted” · “factory defect” · failure rates derived from voluntary submissions

ACCOUNTABILITY ON EVERY ARTICLE

What every significant page shows

Author or compiler, published date, last-reviewed date, sources-last-checked date, a corrections link, and a manufacturer right-of-reply link where relevant. No legal, engineering or statistical review is claimed that did not occur.

BMW of North America may respond to any published record; responses are published verbatim alongside the record.

CORRECTIONS & RIGHT OF REPLY →

Hold this site to its own standard.

Spot an unsupported claim, a mislabeled source or a stale date? The corrections channel is the fastest way to fix it.

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