Help! BMW struggling to fix my M6..what should i do??
Discussion
I have a M6 E63, c40k miles (55 plates), still under extended warranty (with BMW FSH).
Car has been with them BMW franchise dealer 6 weeks now and I am getting angry with the level of service etc,as not really progressing on trying to fix my car- anyone got any advice on how to handle this?
Please excuse, but i am not very proficient in tech details regarding cars, plus i get wishy washy messages that are imprecise from some members of the garage (but not all)!
1. The car was leaking oil and came up with warning msg's regarding both this and cornering lights.
2. Car taken to BMW franchise garage, oil cooler was changed, along with a new head lamp (leakage from former had damaged the latter). On a side point, the first garage i took it two tried to charge me £3k, claiming the oil cooler had been damaged in a collision, hence not warranty viable, but a second did both jobs under warranty! Good to know!
3. Post installing the new head lamp, the garage was "coding" the PC, which apparently means updating the onboard software to tell it there is a new headlamp. This apparently also involves a remote download from BMW during this process.
4. During the second part of Point 3. above (the remote connection to BMW) the garage suffered a power cut and had to be reattempted post power being restored.
5. Coding is completed, but car now reading as having a clutch/SMG fault (initially i was told SMG, but now the garage claim clutch- but clearly both are related and they may be relaying in lay man terms). Garage confirm this was not present when the car came in.
6. BMW try to charge me to inspect the clutch, claiming it is not a warranty item, but I had a new clutch installed via BMW 8k miles ago and thus whilst not covered by the extended warranty, they accept it was by the parts warranty.
7. Gearbox removed, and clutch checked visually- no faults seen. BMW then toing and froing for a whole week where now work was done, telling them to replace the clutch, but then before they can do it asking them to check something else first (there were two points like this, but details not given to me)...anyway garage did as asked, but could not find any faults.
8. Clutch replaced (at BMW's expense)- error still present.
9. garage then changed another part (3 staff members called it three different things: 1. flywheel, 2.splicer, 3. cylinder)- I am not sure if these terms are used interchangeably and i thought the flywheel had to be changed with this clutch (from prior experience), but I suspect the people relaying messages on the phone dont really know the tech details (I certainly do not). Anyway, whatever they replaced, error still present.
10. BMW now asking to change a control unit, but rather than ordering a new one, want the garage to find a used one from another M6, to check if this solves the problem, before forking out for a new replacement! Garage now telling them this is not viable (car to rare to find a donor part to test with)...requesting to proceed with a new order
What should i do?
Car has been in the garage 5-6 weeks now, even allowing for the initial work, few extra days for the power cut and xmas break...they seem to be dragging their heels. Also, they dont let the BMW garage make decisions on what to check next, as BMW paying the bill, so everything has to be approved, very slowly...I am starting to feel a fair bit peeved, especially when they are cheap about not just letting them order in a new control unit etc.
BMW look like taking the piss to me- not really a ringing endorsement to buy and keep servicing your car via BMW!
Only good news is a i got a replacement clutch, but then the last one did cost me £3.5k!
Any advice on what the problem may be or how i should handle this with BMW much appreciated- must stress it is the central BMW team, rather than the garage i am annoyed with, rather than the franchise garage.
Thanks again guys and apologies i cannot describe in more proficient detail!
Car has been with them BMW franchise dealer 6 weeks now and I am getting angry with the level of service etc,as not really progressing on trying to fix my car- anyone got any advice on how to handle this?
Please excuse, but i am not very proficient in tech details regarding cars, plus i get wishy washy messages that are imprecise from some members of the garage (but not all)!
1. The car was leaking oil and came up with warning msg's regarding both this and cornering lights.
2. Car taken to BMW franchise garage, oil cooler was changed, along with a new head lamp (leakage from former had damaged the latter). On a side point, the first garage i took it two tried to charge me £3k, claiming the oil cooler had been damaged in a collision, hence not warranty viable, but a second did both jobs under warranty! Good to know!
3. Post installing the new head lamp, the garage was "coding" the PC, which apparently means updating the onboard software to tell it there is a new headlamp. This apparently also involves a remote download from BMW during this process.
4. During the second part of Point 3. above (the remote connection to BMW) the garage suffered a power cut and had to be reattempted post power being restored.
5. Coding is completed, but car now reading as having a clutch/SMG fault (initially i was told SMG, but now the garage claim clutch- but clearly both are related and they may be relaying in lay man terms). Garage confirm this was not present when the car came in.
6. BMW try to charge me to inspect the clutch, claiming it is not a warranty item, but I had a new clutch installed via BMW 8k miles ago and thus whilst not covered by the extended warranty, they accept it was by the parts warranty.
7. Gearbox removed, and clutch checked visually- no faults seen. BMW then toing and froing for a whole week where now work was done, telling them to replace the clutch, but then before they can do it asking them to check something else first (there were two points like this, but details not given to me)...anyway garage did as asked, but could not find any faults.
8. Clutch replaced (at BMW's expense)- error still present.
9. garage then changed another part (3 staff members called it three different things: 1. flywheel, 2.splicer, 3. cylinder)- I am not sure if these terms are used interchangeably and i thought the flywheel had to be changed with this clutch (from prior experience), but I suspect the people relaying messages on the phone dont really know the tech details (I certainly do not). Anyway, whatever they replaced, error still present.
10. BMW now asking to change a control unit, but rather than ordering a new one, want the garage to find a used one from another M6, to check if this solves the problem, before forking out for a new replacement! Garage now telling them this is not viable (car to rare to find a donor part to test with)...requesting to proceed with a new order
What should i do?
Car has been in the garage 5-6 weeks now, even allowing for the initial work, few extra days for the power cut and xmas break...they seem to be dragging their heels. Also, they dont let the BMW garage make decisions on what to check next, as BMW paying the bill, so everything has to be approved, very slowly...I am starting to feel a fair bit peeved, especially when they are cheap about not just letting them order in a new control unit etc.
BMW look like taking the piss to me- not really a ringing endorsement to buy and keep servicing your car via BMW!
Only good news is a i got a replacement clutch, but then the last one did cost me £3.5k!
Any advice on what the problem may be or how i should handle this with BMW much appreciated- must stress it is the central BMW team, rather than the garage i am annoyed with, rather than the franchise garage.
Thanks again guys and apologies i cannot describe in more proficient detail!
Get onto them and tell them to stop faffing with donor parts to simply test as it's wasting your time. I hope you have had a courtesy car throughout all of this?
At times some dealers are not worth s
t!
Ask them to raise a PUMA case if this is beyond their technical expertise and have someone remotely connect to your car and diagnose the problem.
At times some dealers are not worth s
t!Ask them to raise a PUMA case if this is beyond their technical expertise and have someone remotely connect to your car and diagnose the problem.
Well at the end of all that it sounds like BMW think its this control unit, but they are really expensive so just buying bit if time to get it authorised. I'm sure they will end up having to replace it.
Only way sometimes with dealers is to ring up 4 times a day and just annoy them until they do their job.
Only way sometimes with dealers is to ring up 4 times a day and just annoy them until they do their job.
Thanks guys!
Yes, I think they are now working with BMW trying to diagnose remotely, but i will check if it is a full PUMA- much appreciated for this tip!
Was offered a courtesey car, but i underestimated how long it would be out of action and so initially declined, asking them to give it to me as credit instead off my bill (i.e. warranty excess).
Last clutch was replaced as it was worn out, not defective, but the one they have just put it was under the parts warranty of the replacement i paid for.
Yeah, I hound them daily, multiple times as they never ring me..but I am happy with them as they saved me £3k putting the initial jobs down as warranty, whereas, another franchise dealer tried to charge me, saying they were not covered!
Yes, I think they are now working with BMW trying to diagnose remotely, but i will check if it is a full PUMA- much appreciated for this tip!
Was offered a courtesey car, but i underestimated how long it would be out of action and so initially declined, asking them to give it to me as credit instead off my bill (i.e. warranty excess).
Last clutch was replaced as it was worn out, not defective, but the one they have just put it was under the parts warranty of the replacement i paid for.
Yeah, I hound them daily, multiple times as they never ring me..but I am happy with them as they saved me £3k putting the initial jobs down as warranty, whereas, another franchise dealer tried to charge me, saying they were not covered!
It's Cooper Cobham.
And Berry Chiswick is the dealer who originally tried to charge me £3k for the oil cooler and headlamp whereas Cooper Cobham did it under warranty.
Thanks I will document everything and prepare a dossier!
Latest is they have authorised the replacement control unit and Cooper Cobham trying to get authority to proceed with some degree of delegated discretion if it doesn't solve the problem.
Cheers guys
And Berry Chiswick is the dealer who originally tried to charge me £3k for the oil cooler and headlamp whereas Cooper Cobham did it under warranty.
Thanks I will document everything and prepare a dossier!
Latest is they have authorised the replacement control unit and Cooper Cobham trying to get authority to proceed with some degree of delegated discretion if it doesn't solve the problem.
Cheers guys
Reading that it seems like the dealer are having to do what BMW's technical department want to do and what BMW warranty want to pay for.
I don't read that as the dealer trying to mug you off. Just them having to jump through the hoops of someone else. I'm sure the main concern for the dealer is to fix the car first time and not have you come back in 2 days for the same problems. No dealer in teh country wants to piss it's customers off (unless they are right dheads 
)
I have bought parts from Cobham in the past, but that was 8+ years ago now. But I'm not connected to them
I don't read that as the dealer trying to mug you off. Just them having to jump through the hoops of someone else. I'm sure the main concern for the dealer is to fix the car first time and not have you come back in 2 days for the same problems. No dealer in teh country wants to piss it's customers off (unless they are right d
heads )I have bought parts from Cobham in the past, but that was 8+ years ago now. But I'm not connected to them
The business of phantom collisions causing damage (I apparently had two independent, immaculate ones six months apart, each of which damaged headlights internally without any external damage whatsoever!!) would appear to be quite common.
This whole episode is shameful and an embarrassment to BMW UK.
A more dignified solution would be for them to replace the car, at no cost to you, covering the new car with a warranty for two years.
This would earn them some respect for intervening to end this protracted nightmare.
So come on BMW, you know what's required: DO THE RIGHT THING!
This whole episode is shameful and an embarrassment to BMW UK.
A more dignified solution would be for them to replace the car, at no cost to you, covering the new car with a warranty for two years.
This would earn them some respect for intervening to end this protracted nightmare.
So come on BMW, you know what's required: DO THE RIGHT THING!
Yes, I must say its not really an inspiration to buy another car to keep ersvices and warrantied via BMW at a hefty premium to indy rates!
Jazzer: Interesting to know this phantom collision tactic- something everyone should bear in mind- we should all take heed and get a second opinion if you get it thrown at you!
So latest (as of speaking with them today) is that the control unit mentioned above was ordered, installed and did not fix the problem. Another control unit (person on the phone could not give more details as part was written in German) has been ordered, but its coming from Germany- estimated 6 day turn around.
Clock strikes 7 weeks this coming wednesday since drop off!
Jazzer: Interesting to know this phantom collision tactic- something everyone should bear in mind- we should all take heed and get a second opinion if you get it thrown at you!
So latest (as of speaking with them today) is that the control unit mentioned above was ordered, installed and did not fix the problem. Another control unit (person on the phone could not give more details as part was written in German) has been ordered, but its coming from Germany- estimated 6 day turn around.
Clock strikes 7 weeks this coming wednesday since drop off!
I must admit I see mine going into the second week already and I don't hold much hope. These cars are a nightmare and It reminds me why I used to take mine to a specialist when I had the Audi!
Thinking more and more about performance cars I actually don't think there is such a car where you can run something like we do without any problems or ruinous running costs. Maybe I'm living in a blinkered and dreamworld but running cars like Audi's, BMW's and Merc's is just mental!
Thinking more and more about performance cars I actually don't think there is such a car where you can run something like we do without any problems or ruinous running costs. Maybe I'm living in a blinkered and dreamworld but running cars like Audi's, BMW's and Merc's is just mental!
UPDATE
More parts on order- due in tomorrow according to head of servicing this morning.
Also claims this has been raised to highest level of enquiry with both tech services and custoemr services at BMW.
Apparently, now discussing giving me a replacement vehicle....anybody have experience with how this works?
More parts on order- due in tomorrow according to head of servicing this morning.
Also claims this has been raised to highest level of enquiry with both tech services and custoemr services at BMW.
Apparently, now discussing giving me a replacement vehicle....anybody have experience with how this works?
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