Can I reject my car?
Discussion
I purchased a new 520d auto and collected it on the 31st of March 2014, since then I've had three "drivetrain fault" error messages come up when I have tried to start the vehicle and the car wouldn't go into gear without having to turn all the electrics off and try again.
Bmw diagnosed the vehicle today and have said they think it's a software problem, however, the updated software will only be released in the later part of July, the dealer expects to have it sometime in August. This means I have to use the car with its error for the next 3 months and they're still not sure that if it will be fixed after the update.
Do I have the right to reject the car? I wanted to swap it for a 528i, but the dealer might not accept the 520d as a p'ex because of it's fault.
Bmw diagnosed the vehicle today and have said they think it's a software problem, however, the updated software will only be released in the later part of July, the dealer expects to have it sometime in August. This means I have to use the car with its error for the next 3 months and they're still not sure that if it will be fixed after the update.
Do I have the right to reject the car? I wanted to swap it for a 528i, but the dealer might not accept the 520d as a p'ex because of it's fault.
surveyor said:
Sounds wrong to me. Either it's a bug affecting all software in which case they sound like solutions that are taking a very long time, or it seems odd that you've got faulty software....
Perhaps a chat with BMW customer service encouraging them to lend you a car until they can make yours work. I'm not convinced of that diagnosis myself.
The service department have told me it's a "unique" case according to the technical department of BMW UK. He then said, it may have affected 1 or 2 other cars in the UK. I haven't yet heard of anybody else with a similar issue to mine.Perhaps a chat with BMW customer service encouraging them to lend you a car until they can make yours work. I'm not convinced of that diagnosis myself.
They've basically told me it's a computer glitch, which doesn't really fill me with confidence in the rest of the computer systems in my car.
edo said:
Not good enough - did you buy it from BMW?
Fix the issue, or lend me a car until you can, or give me my money back would be my request.
Yep, bought it "brand new" from BMW, collected on the 31st of March.Fix the issue, or lend me a car until you can, or give me my money back would be my request.
I was pondering on the lend me a car option, but surely having my car lying around for 3 months isn't going to be beneficial to it.
Dave Hedgehog said:
the germans do seam to have a habbit of making the odd lemon, my current RS had a raft of faults on it (like the recent 911 guy) incl not starting, locking the gearbox, locking the key in the ignition, foot rest coming loose and rattling when up to temp and lots of other things (at least 10 visits to dealer), audi (who where bloody superb) agreed to swap it for a new car and gave me a loaner till it turned up and this one has been pretty much faultless so far
That sounds like great service, my dealer have been very friendly and helpful having already arranged me a car without having to ask and lending me a Z4 until Thursday, but they aren't sure if I will be able to swap my car for a new one. SpeckledJim- I mean cycle the ignition after 1 or 2 tries it will start and go into gear
Mondeo Man- I haven't had a guarantee that it is the software that's at fault, the service department thinks that this is the case. As you say I'm concerned with it sitting for 3 months too.
Muzzer- They've given me a Z4 which as nice as it is, it's not practical as the 5 series is my family car. I have this until Wednesday/Thursday when BMW UK supposedly will supply me with a vehicle, however, the dealer does not know if they can supply a like for like vehicle.
MP3 manager- The car will be sitting at the dealers yard for the 3 months until the software becomes available.
Mondeo Man- I haven't had a guarantee that it is the software that's at fault, the service department thinks that this is the case. As you say I'm concerned with it sitting for 3 months too.
Muzzer- They've given me a Z4 which as nice as it is, it's not practical as the 5 series is my family car. I have this until Wednesday/Thursday when BMW UK supposedly will supply me with a vehicle, however, the dealer does not know if they can supply a like for like vehicle.
MP3 manager- The car will be sitting at the dealers yard for the 3 months until the software becomes available.
I've just been told that BMW won't allow me to reject the vehicle until they've been given a chance to resolve the error. I've also been told that I will be supplied with a brand new 5 series of a "high specification" which is nice.
I'm not quite sure I'll want my car back after 3 months of sitting about, but have been told that it should be fine to p'ex it for another vehicle.
So far so good, hopefully they'll keep their word and let me get a 528
I'm not quite sure I'll want my car back after 3 months of sitting about, but have been told that it should be fine to p'ex it for another vehicle.
So far so good, hopefully they'll keep their word and let me get a 528
Pferdestarke said:
I had a similar issue with my new 320d 8sp auto after a few thousand miles.
It began as an intermittent lumpy idle which was diagnosed as a faulty fuel rail pressure sensor. They replaced it and it did it again. They tried again and still no luck. At this stage that's when it went into limp mode with this message:
It took me another attempt and the insistence that the Master Tech oversee the work before they finally fitted the part correctly. It may be something totally unrelated but I know that they said this part was difficult to install. It's been fine since.
I know a PUMA case was established over it but of course I never got any feedback at all.
Let us know what happens and if you need any further info.
Hi Pfederstake, I appreciate the help It began as an intermittent lumpy idle which was diagnosed as a faulty fuel rail pressure sensor. They replaced it and it did it again. They tried again and still no luck. At this stage that's when it went into limp mode with this message:
It took me another attempt and the insistence that the Master Tech oversee the work before they finally fitted the part correctly. It may be something totally unrelated but I know that they said this part was difficult to install. It's been fine since.
I know a PUMA case was established over it but of course I never got any feedback at all.
Let us know what happens and if you need any further info.
My car doesn't have any noticeable physical problems, it idles and drives just fine as far as I'm aware, so I do believe that it's a software problem.
edo said:
Hurrah. Where is it sitting? 3 months is fine, I'd just run it once a week and keep it on a trickle charger.
You put 3 months mileage on their car, so I'd be ok with this so long as replacement is as good or better.
The car will be stored underground apparently, according to my dealers its where they keep their new cars. I've been told the car will be maintained and will be fully fixed/ready when I come to pick it up after repair. You put 3 months mileage on their car, so I'd be ok with this so long as replacement is as good or better.
I've been told my replacement car will be a "high specification" brand new 5 series which is pretty great on BMW's part. I'm quite pleased with how quickly this was all resolved, my dealer has been really great so far, I'm hoping it will continue that way!
I've also been told that there shouldn't be any issue with p'ex the 520d for a 528i while the 520d is being repaired.
Crafty_ said:
Alarm bells ringing here. They don't fix the car, you demand p/ex, they agree and you've just stumped for 3 months depreciation.
If you want to go this way I'd get some assurance of the p/ex price otherwise they can offer you a p/ex of pretty much any price.
"We'll offer you x for your car"
"But I've hardly driven it! I want y"
"Sorry sir, no can do"
They know you won't want the car with a defect, got you over a barrel.
If you want a 528 or 530 I'd look to do a deal now, rather than have your car sat around for three months and run the risk of it not being fixed when the software update is available. If you like the loan car, call them up and say you'd like to keep that and go from there....
Yep, I'm planning to do a deal when I go to pick up the courtesy vehicle. All I know is that I'm pretty sure I don't want my car back after it's been sitting around for 3 months out of my care.If you want to go this way I'd get some assurance of the p/ex price otherwise they can offer you a p/ex of pretty much any price.
"We'll offer you x for your car"
"But I've hardly driven it! I want y"
"Sorry sir, no can do"
They know you won't want the car with a defect, got you over a barrel.
If you want a 528 or 530 I'd look to do a deal now, rather than have your car sat around for three months and run the risk of it not being fixed when the software update is available. If you like the loan car, call them up and say you'd like to keep that and go from there....
Small update-
Still no news on whether I can reject or swap my car for a vehicle of equivalent specification.
I'm still stuck in the Z4 until Tuesday 20th of May, which is no good for me or my family
I'll be getting a 520d Tourer as a courtesy car for the next 3 months without any options, which is a shame as I specced mine with the Harmon Kardon audio system which is really quite important to me and a few other toys. Overall, I'm not too happy if I'm going to be paying for the next 3 months for a car with a lower spec than mine.
How would I go about rejecting the vehicle?
I'm not keen on having it back after 3 months sitting without any idea what's happening to it
I don't want an "inferior" vehicle for 3 months, if it was a few weeks, there would be no issue but 3 months really is taking the piss.
They don't know for sure that the car will be fixed via the software update.
Still no news on whether I can reject or swap my car for a vehicle of equivalent specification.
I'm still stuck in the Z4 until Tuesday 20th of May, which is no good for me or my family
I'll be getting a 520d Tourer as a courtesy car for the next 3 months without any options, which is a shame as I specced mine with the Harmon Kardon audio system which is really quite important to me and a few other toys. Overall, I'm not too happy if I'm going to be paying for the next 3 months for a car with a lower spec than mine.
How would I go about rejecting the vehicle?
I'm not keen on having it back after 3 months sitting without any idea what's happening to it
I don't want an "inferior" vehicle for 3 months, if it was a few weeks, there would be no issue but 3 months really is taking the piss.
They don't know for sure that the car will be fixed via the software update.
Jakdaw said:
Sounds like they're only suggesting parking it up because OP is making a fuss. Given the description of the fault thus far seems to be that once a fortnight the car doesn't start properly, but having been turned off and turned back on again is tickety boo: I don't think anyone could make a decent case for the goods not being fit for purpose. It must take an addiotional 20 seconds out of the OPs day... sheesh...
Not saying that BMW shouldn't fix it, and it sounds like they are making efforts to do so - but grounds to reject the car? What planet would you need to be on?
It's essentially a brand new car, would you have much confidence in a car if it kept bringing up messages and immobilising the car. Would you be happy if you were in my position? Not saying that BMW shouldn't fix it, and it sounds like they are making efforts to do so - but grounds to reject the car? What planet would you need to be on?
As far as I'm concerned, I don't expect a brand new car to develop a reoccurring fault within a month, that for some reason isn't fixable for 3 months. As others have said, I've given BMW the chance to fix it but 3 months is a bit ridiculous don't you think?
At the end of the day, I'm paying for a fully working car and in return I expect just that. Nothing more, nothing less.
SpeckledJim said:
If the problem is literally as described above, you're being a bit precious.
They'll fix the car. Be a bit patient.
I know I might be acting a bit precious, but this is the first time I'm spending such a huge amount of money on a car and I was expecting it to go fairly decently. Secondly, I suspect it's more than a software fault. If it were, why not replace the faulty computers instead of making me wait 3 months for a software update that *MIGHT* fix the car?They'll fix the car. Be a bit patient.
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