Advice : BMW warranty claim

[NORTS]

Alex said:

Does that mean that BMW will have to confirm that the M235i is not a true "M" car?

Ha ha, yeah would be helpful for the people that make the mistake that the 'junior supercar' isn't from the M power division.

[-Z-]

I've got an F10 M5, and I can say I will not have another BMW if they don't pay up.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Also, make these guys aware: http://jalopnik.com

They are usually less chicken st than PH at getting pro-consumer stories out there.

[northwest monkey]

NORTS said:

northwest monkey said:

A few years back, a mate of mine bought a CSL and was invited by his dealer to an Oulton Park track day with his car. Maybe they used to build them a bit better?

They still do for the proper M cars. You get M driver tuition etc. as well. Believe it takes place in German, possibly the ring? Can remember looking at it a long while ago and it wasn't cheap.

That's basically what my mate went on but arranged by the dealer at Oulton Park - I think it might have been Williams BMW. They had some "professional" drivers & were taught about smooth driving & proper lines etc.

So assuming the M235i isn't a "proper" M-car (no offence meant), do the warranty exclusions differ on "M" cars to non "M" cars?

e.g. If you take your new M4 on a track & the engine blows you're covered, but take your 118i on & you're not.

[NORTS]

Here you go, this is what I was on about http://m-power.com/_open/b/driver_training.jsp?lan... but as mentioned only for M Power cars and this is all organised through BMW direct.

[gaz1234]

Is it an m car?

[tumble dryer]

Send a link to the thread.

A tenner at 20:1 says it'll be sorted, sharpish.

(I can only afford 1 bet!) Fill your boots.

[User33678888]

I'm no engineer, but with a clever modern auto box this can't have been caused by driver error can it? So it must have been a faulty product, and the fault/s came to light whilst it happened to be on a track.
The self destruct process could have taken longer to become obvious if it was being driven everywhere by miss daisy, but I'd say were probably inevitable at some point.
So BMW quality control isn't as good as they say it is. You'd think they'd try keep that one quiet.

[SmoothCriminal]

For them to have trawled the Internet for evidence I doubt this rejection of warranty was authorised by an office monkey sounds like someone high up to me.

[gaz1234]

I bet a fair few BMW bods read this already,...

[mattcov]

If it's only 4 months old with that mileage, then the product is not fit for purpose with that failure, regardless of the conditions. That failure would have happened sooner or later. If I were you, I'd strongly suggest to them that they fix asap under warranty or prepare to have considerable negative publicity.

[don'tbesilly]

SmoothCriminal said:

For them to have trawled the Internet for evidence I doubt this rejection of warranty was authorised by an office monkey sounds like someone high up to me.

Not too much trawling required to find the evidence, took me a matter of minutes.

I noticed another new ish 14 plate (4 series, I think) on track as well, I guess that was a tad more robust than the M235i!

I hope you get it sorted 4spoons, hopefully BMW will see the error in their ways

[MondeoMan1981]

Not surprised at BMWs stance. I had to pay £1000 for replacement of a non servicable, lifetime part on 1 series that's a common fault. The ultimate driving away with your money machine.

[Andyjc86]

Still, at least we know that if your looking for a decent track toy, any BMW M is not the car for you.....

[Durzel]

fourspoons said:

Goldtrack Silverstone GP on Sunday

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment..

That event sounds a lot like a competitive event rather than a "run what you brung" free for all, and BMW's warranty conditions do specifically exclude competition, racing, etc.

Obviously it's not good that they don't have confidence in their own M cars, and I do think you'll get this resolved eventually, but there is definitely grey area there. They wouldn't have those exclusions in their coverage if they didn't believe they were legally binding.

[fourspoons]

Durzel said:

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment..

That event sounds a lot like a competitive event

Not at all, the event specifically prohibits any kind of timing, competition or racing. Overtaking is by consent only. The rules are strictly enforced

[don'tbesilly]

Durzel said:

fourspoons said:

Goldtrack Silverstone GP on Sunday

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment..

That event sounds a lot like a competitive event rather than a "run what you brung" free for all, and BMW's warranty conditions do specifically prohibit competition, racing, etc.

Obviously it's not good that they don't have confidence in their own M cars, and I do think you'll get this resolved eventually, but there is definitely grey area there. They wouldn't have those exclusions in their coverage if they didn't believe they were legally binding.

Open pit lane - join when you like, no racing or officially timed laps, so not competitive in any way.

Very enjoyable day out to get to know your car with no restrictions bar those of the organisers and track officials.

100s of people do it week in week out, highly recommended, perhaps not in a BMW anymore though!

[Durzel]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

True, but at the same time it doesn't exactly reflect well on the brand does it? They are effectively saying that "you can buy an M car from us, steeped in motorsports pedigree, but you're on your own if you take it on the track".

Frankly cars like this should work on a track without loss of confidence. You can expect to wear out your tyres, get brake fade, maybe even boil your fluid. You ought to expect greater maintenance costs but not catastrophic failure.

Fingers crossed the OP gets this resolved, but I fear it won't be an easy fight.

[Durzel]

Thanks for clarifying the event structure, it doesn't sound like anything that you wouldn't expect the car to be dealing with on, for example, an unrestricted autobahn journey.

I was only playing Devil's Advocate, I don't agree with BMW's stance and think it's ridiculous that a M power car shouldn't be capable of this sort of thing. Isn't that really the point?

[NORTS]

Durzel said:

Thanks for clarifying the event structure, it doesn't sound like anything that you wouldn't expect the car to be dealing with on, for example, an unrestricted autobahn journey.

I was only playing Devil's Advocate, I don't agree with BMW's stance and think it's ridiculous that a M power car shouldn't be capable of this sort of thing. Isn't that really the point?

There you go then, it's not an 'M Power' car. Read my previous posts in this thread. People easily mistake these for the M Power cars. That's the problem with the new branding, even Merc seem to be blasting AMG over all cars to now.

[fourspoons]

Durzel said:

I was only playing Devil's Advocate

Yes, I appreciate that, thanks. Apologies if my reply was a little short. It's good to prepare for all counter-arguments!