F30/31 Steering Rack Woes
Discussion
Last April, I bought an approved used 320d Touring (F31), with only 22k on the clock. Previous owner had purchased a 50k mile service pack, so all good news.
I took it for it's first service in my ownership to my nearest BMW main dealer. I mentioned that there's a slight knock from the Front N/S over certain bumps. Luckily, the technician driving it around to the bay heard it too. When collecting the car post-service, the service manager booked the car in for a full day inspection to diagnose said knocking.
After a full day, he rang to say it was the steering rack, and that the warranty had approved the work, and he'd ordered the part. This was mid December. Within a week, I was called to say that the rack had arrived. He booked me in again for the 12th Jan (soonest they had a courtesy car). By midday, they rang to say they're short-staffed due to Aussie flu, and could I leave it until the end of play Monday (15th). No problem, said I.
2:30pm Monday, I get a call from the service manager to tell me they've not actually got the steering rack in stock. So I returned the courtesy car, and collected (again!) my yet-to-be-repaired car.
According to the service manager, their franchise hold no stock of said rack, BMW UK hold no stock of it, nor do BMW Germany. They're waiting for the manufacturer to fulfil demand.
A quick Google of the reputation of the F30/31 racks is quite telling, in that there have been multiple (7, I think) revisions of this part number in quick succession, making me think there's an inherent problem which is yet to be fully ironed out.
My faith in BMW quality is starting to wane, given that such an expensive component has failed so soon, and my concern is that when the Approved Used Warranty ends (this April), will I have had the rack replaced (or like other owners be on their third rack!) or waiting for whatever major problem will land next?
Is it worth enlightening BMW UK to this situation? Perhaps I'm blowing it out of proportion, though.
Any thoughts?
I took it for it's first service in my ownership to my nearest BMW main dealer. I mentioned that there's a slight knock from the Front N/S over certain bumps. Luckily, the technician driving it around to the bay heard it too. When collecting the car post-service, the service manager booked the car in for a full day inspection to diagnose said knocking.
After a full day, he rang to say it was the steering rack, and that the warranty had approved the work, and he'd ordered the part. This was mid December. Within a week, I was called to say that the rack had arrived. He booked me in again for the 12th Jan (soonest they had a courtesy car). By midday, they rang to say they're short-staffed due to Aussie flu, and could I leave it until the end of play Monday (15th). No problem, said I.
2:30pm Monday, I get a call from the service manager to tell me they've not actually got the steering rack in stock. So I returned the courtesy car, and collected (again!) my yet-to-be-repaired car.
According to the service manager, their franchise hold no stock of said rack, BMW UK hold no stock of it, nor do BMW Germany. They're waiting for the manufacturer to fulfil demand.
A quick Google of the reputation of the F30/31 racks is quite telling, in that there have been multiple (7, I think) revisions of this part number in quick succession, making me think there's an inherent problem which is yet to be fully ironed out.
My faith in BMW quality is starting to wane, given that such an expensive component has failed so soon, and my concern is that when the Approved Used Warranty ends (this April), will I have had the rack replaced (or like other owners be on their third rack!) or waiting for whatever major problem will land next?
Is it worth enlightening BMW UK to this situation? Perhaps I'm blowing it out of proportion, though.
Any thoughts?
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