ECU failed - should I expect dealer contribution?
Discussion
Long story short: Seven months (and 3k miles) after purchase, the ECU on my 2006 BMW 330d failed due to water damage caused by blocked one-way value in ECU housing. Cost to repair is going to be substantial. Local, trusted specialist has quoted for the ECU at £1175.
There's no warranty on the vehicle (the dealer supplied an after-market 3 month jobby).
Longer version: Car had to be jump started a couple of weeks back due to a flat battery. Hadn't been run much recently, and only on short trips so not totally unexpected. Jump started without issue and continued to run okay for 24 hours.
Whilst in Maccy D's drive through (I know) the car cut out completely and took an age to restart; starter turning over but not firing. After much cursing and many threats it started and continued to run until I got home.
Next day I tried to start it and once again, turned over but would not fire. I was away for the weekend so did not look at it for three days.
Went to try and start it on the Tuesday with the intention of dropping off at the local specialist and the battery was completely flat; not even enough juice to unlock from the remote.
Tried using the key but as I turned it I heard a crack and the lock dropped down inside the door! So now I'm left with a locked car, zero power and completely locked out!
Breakdown cover does not cover me if they have to use "specialist equipment" so I had to pay £110 for the local firm to drag the car off the drive on skids, attach dollies to the rear wheels and onto the flat bed - off to the specialist.
Spoke to the specialist today and he's diagnosed a failed ECU due to water damage. The water was pooling in the casing because all the drains were blocked. Cost for the ECU is £1175 - no mention of labour/diag costs yet, but he's pretty reasonable. No idea how much the door will cost to fix.
Obviously, I'm blinded by self interest so would love to hear others' opinions on whether I should expect a contribution from the dealer?
The car is on 75k, FSH. Paid £10k in May. Dealer is reputable national firm.
There's no warranty on the vehicle (the dealer supplied an after-market 3 month jobby).
Longer version: Car had to be jump started a couple of weeks back due to a flat battery. Hadn't been run much recently, and only on short trips so not totally unexpected. Jump started without issue and continued to run okay for 24 hours.
Whilst in Maccy D's drive through (I know) the car cut out completely and took an age to restart; starter turning over but not firing. After much cursing and many threats it started and continued to run until I got home.
Next day I tried to start it and once again, turned over but would not fire. I was away for the weekend so did not look at it for three days.
Went to try and start it on the Tuesday with the intention of dropping off at the local specialist and the battery was completely flat; not even enough juice to unlock from the remote.
Tried using the key but as I turned it I heard a crack and the lock dropped down inside the door! So now I'm left with a locked car, zero power and completely locked out!
Breakdown cover does not cover me if they have to use "specialist equipment" so I had to pay £110 for the local firm to drag the car off the drive on skids, attach dollies to the rear wheels and onto the flat bed - off to the specialist.
Spoke to the specialist today and he's diagnosed a failed ECU due to water damage. The water was pooling in the casing because all the drains were blocked. Cost for the ECU is £1175 - no mention of labour/diag costs yet, but he's pretty reasonable. No idea how much the door will cost to fix.
Obviously, I'm blinded by self interest so would love to hear others' opinions on whether I should expect a contribution from the dealer?
The car is on 75k, FSH. Paid £10k in May. Dealer is reputable national firm.
spitfire4v8 said:
I must have missed the bit where you explain exactly why the dealer should contribute ?
Sadly I think Spitfire is right here, this isn't a cam belt thats snapped 5,000 miles before its change interval where you might get some good will from the manufacturer. Its out of warranty so I expect they will simply say "sorry but the car is out of warranty, you are on your own".Get a refurbed/used unit - get it re-fashed and fitted, then move on.
spitfire4v8 said:
I must have missed the bit where you explain exactly why the dealer should contribute ?
This, I guess...me said:
Obviously, I'm blinded by self interest so would love to hear others' opinions on whether I should expect a contribution from the dealer?
Why should the dealer contribute? Because, despite their 100-odd point check they've (IMO) supplied a car that had a fault. However, I'm aware that after being blindsided by a £1200 bill, I'm not necessarily going to be objective, so I've opened it up to the forum for a more balanced (
) view.Unfortunately the car is immobile and I need it running ASAP so I've already given the go ahead on a new ECU.
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
Burrito said:
Breakdown cover does not cover me if they have to use "specialist equipment" so I had to pay £110 for the local firm to drag the car off the drive on skids, attach dollies to the rear wheels and onto the flat bed - off to the specialist.
Who is your breakdown cover with out of interest?O.K
I recently finished working for RAC, its quite normal if specialist kit is required.... however, yours was a mechanical breakdown and the use of skates isnt specialist equipment... even if a lorry with crane is required its still a mechanical breakdown. Lost keys, accident damage, vandalism etc would be chargeable.
orangeknight said:
I recently finished working for RAC, its quite normal if specialist kit is required.... however, yours was a mechanical breakdown and the use of skates isnt specialist equipment... even if a lorry with crane is required its still a mechanical breakdown. Lost keys, accident damage, vandalism etc would be chargeable.
Interesting, thanks. I'll speak with Elephant again. Their point was the car was not accessible (but this was due to the lock breaking).Its a known problem. I had exactly the same thing with my E36 coupe...blocked drains leading to a swimming pool around the ECU.
It kept happening and I ended up having to replace it 3 times- I found them at breakers twice and on ebay once - rather lucky, given mine was a rarer model.
Get the code from it and stick it into google, or contact www.fabdirect.com and see if they have it in stock.
It kept happening and I ended up having to replace it 3 times- I found them at breakers twice and on ebay once - rather lucky, given mine was a rarer model.
Get the code from it and stick it into google, or contact www.fabdirect.com and see if they have it in stock.
call ecu repairs and ask them about the options to repair a water damaged ecu.
Ask them if you send in your dead ecu along with an identical ECU from a BMW breaker if they can code it.
You will need the exact serial code as your own ECU, its probbaly Bosch or Siemens.
(Ask your mechanic for the number on your car and get on ebay to try and find one).
http://www.ecu-repairs.com/
and no reason why the dealer should contribute on this.
Ask them if you send in your dead ecu along with an identical ECU from a BMW breaker if they can code it.
You will need the exact serial code as your own ECU, its probbaly Bosch or Siemens.
(Ask your mechanic for the number on your car and get on ebay to try and find one).
http://www.ecu-repairs.com/
and no reason why the dealer should contribute on this.
Edited by rallycross on Wednesday 6th November 12:33
Burrito said:
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
Well done.Think about this
bearman68 said:
1175 looks very expensive for an ECU - get a second hand unit, once it's coded it'll work fine, and be about £300.
and definitely check the drainage regularly:GCH said:
Its a known problem. I had exactly the same thing with my E36 coupe...blocked drains leading to a swimming pool around the ECU. It kept happening and I ended up having to replace it 3 times.
Can't the drainage be improved?Burrito said:
Why should the dealer contribute? Because, despite their 100-odd point check they've (IMO) supplied a car that had a fault. However, I'm aware that after being blindsided by a £1200 bill, I'm not necessarily going to be objective, so I've opened it up to the forum for a more balanced () view.
Unfortunately the car is immobile and I need it running ASAP so I've already given the go ahead on a new ECU.
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
If the drains were blocked when you bought the car, it wouldn't have taken 7 months to overflow and drown your ECU. ) view.Unfortunately the car is immobile and I need it running ASAP so I've already given the go ahead on a new ECU.
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
This is a maintenance issue (your maintenance issue).
I'm amazed that the dealer is offering anything but equally amazed that the ECU has completely failed, has the specialist not tried removing/drying it out and cleaning the contacts?
Whilst researching your purchase did you not come across one instance of BMWs suffering from blocked drainage holes? I thought it was quite well known on not just BMWs that you should check the drainage holes in the scuttle panels, inner wings, boot lids etc in order to keep your car watertight.
Whilst researching your purchase did you not come across one instance of BMWs suffering from blocked drainage holes? I thought it was quite well known on not just BMWs that you should check the drainage holes in the scuttle panels, inner wings, boot lids etc in order to keep your car watertight.
Burrito said:
Why should the dealer contribute? Because, despite their 100-odd point check they've (IMO) supplied a car that had a fault. However, I'm aware that after being blindsided by a £1200 bill, I'm not necessarily going to be objective, so I've opened it up to the forum for a more balanced () view.
Unfortunately the car is immobile and I need it running ASAP so I've already given the go ahead on a new ECU.
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
I can't see that they've supplied you with a faulty vehicle? 7 months after they've supplied the vehicle it has a fault caused by water ingress, something which won't be checked when the vehicle goes through the workshops. By the sounds of it, the car sits for quite long periods which won't help matters.) view.Unfortunately the car is immobile and I need it running ASAP so I've already given the go ahead on a new ECU.
Just heard back from the dealer that they're willing to contribute £150.
This was a common fault on the MK1 Fabia.
Didn't help that the ECU was located on the bulkhead completely unprotected!
Looking on Ebay ECUs are dirt cheap, no idea if they are guaranteed but must be worth trying.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l320...
Didn't help that the ECU was located on the bulkhead completely unprotected!
Looking on Ebay ECUs are dirt cheap, no idea if they are guaranteed but must be worth trying.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l320...
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