German top-of-the-range carmaker BMW has recalled almost 80,000 of its vehicles in China due to flaws in their engines, China's quality regulator said Wednesday.

Some 53,310 X3 vehicles produced between October 2011 and December 2013 have been recalled, according to a statement from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (ASDIQ).

Flawed wiring in the engines could cause the power supply to short-circuit and result in accidents, ASDIQ said.

In a separate statement the regulator also announced the recall, starting July 8, by BMW and its local partners of another 26,418 vehicles produced between June 2012 and March 2014.

There could be problems with their feed pumps and a possible fire danger, it said.

Last month Jaguar Land Rover recalled more than 36,000 cars from China after it was criticised by state television over allegedly faulty gearboxes.

Foreign auto manufacturers are already under pressure in China, the world's largest car market, following a sweeping investigation into alleged monopoly pricing for parts and complete vehicles.

Last year China fined 10 Japanese auto parts firms more than $200 million in total for price-fixing.