E46 328ci, axle ripping away from the floorplan

[Vee]

Well documented fault on pre 2000 E46 coupes.
£5k job involving replacement of the floorpan.
Your MW dealer should do for nothing. Make sure you get a courtesy car because it normally takes a couple of weeks to do.

Edited by Vee on Monday 18th June 16:08

[BiggusLaddus]

rogers190 said:

i have been to bmw and they have said they wont do it for nothing they wanted 5 or 6 grand

Go to see them again and ask for the manager, not just service manager.

Explain to them that you will not be held accountable for a known design flaw, and if they continue to be evasive you will be sending a strongly worded letter to his/her bosses at BMW GB, copied to Munich.

If they don't start being more reasonable after that, send the letter (copy to the dealership as well) and see how fast they jump.

[Vee]

Ask the service manager to call BMW GB while you're there and ask about this problem.
The dealer, if a BMW one, is taking the piss.

Certainly demand a courtesy car too.

[peaktorque]

rogers190 said:

i have just bought a 328ci and heard a knocking sound, took it to bmw and the floorplan had cracked and the axle was coming away from the car, has this happened to anyone and do you know how much roughly to weld again and strenghan, many thanks

Oh dear! This happened to my parents 328i a few years ago (W reg) My old man managed to get BMW to cover the costs of repair, at the time it was just over three years old, they told him they wouldn't cover the costs as it was out of warrenty, but in the end he got his way and they paid for the majority of the work (maybe all of it, I can't remember).
Welding is no got aparently, you need the whole section of floorpan replaced.

[Coupe'-Racing]

rogers190 said:

i have just bought a 328ci and heard a knocking sound, took it to bmw and the floorplan had cracked and the axle was coming away from the car, has this happened to anyone and do you know how much roughly to weld again and strenghan, many thanks

This affects both saloon and Coupe models - and generally the 6 cylinder models.

If you are the first owner - then any BMW dealer should at least approach BMW on your behalf.
However - if you are the second or third owner - or have a non BMW service history - then your chances of sucess reduce dramatically.
It is a big and expensive repair , and if I found myself in this situation with no help from BMW - then I would be inclined to plate the floorpan on both sides.

Good luck

Coupe'-racing

[Vee]

You don't have to pay, despite what your dealer is telling you.
Get them to put your car back together and take it somewhere else.
All of them in Germany were recalled.

Look at this thread . . . http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=46...

and this one . . . http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=41...

Spend some time on the net (Evotechnik, BMWLand, bmwcarmagazine) and print off the information.
Take it into your dealer and watch them try and squirm their way out !!

Is Blackspider around, he'll probably be able to give the best advice.

Edited by Vee on Wednesday 20th June 09:51

Edited by Vee on Wednesday 20th June 09:56

[abarber]

Has this affected any Compact models?