Constant Problems with approved BMW - what to do?
Discussion
We got an approved-used 120i 3-door last year.
We noticed after a few weeks that the throttle was a bit lumpy sometimes, but too subtle to pinpoint... Then after about 6 months it broke down, so it was recovered and repaired (by supplying dealer). They couldn't find the problem, but they threw parts at it (injectors, spark plugs and coils) until something worked.
4 weeks later it got really lumpy again (but driveable) so we took it back and it got repaired again (2 more injectors - still no real diagnosis though).
Another 4 weeks later (yesterday) it broke down again, and this time the BMW recovery guy put in another coil and spark plug and that got it going.
Today, feeling very lumpy and underpowered again!
I called the dealer to tell them I'm not happy and I need something done to reassure me this will stop happening... They said "bring it in... But we can only do a repair if the computer tells us it needs done".
So I called BMW Customer Service... "We have no responsibility for your car, your contract is with the dealership and you should make all contact direct with them".
What do we do now? We've lost 2 days of work already and yesterday's breakdown ruined our day off... I expected better from BMW!
We noticed after a few weeks that the throttle was a bit lumpy sometimes, but too subtle to pinpoint... Then after about 6 months it broke down, so it was recovered and repaired (by supplying dealer). They couldn't find the problem, but they threw parts at it (injectors, spark plugs and coils) until something worked.
4 weeks later it got really lumpy again (but driveable) so we took it back and it got repaired again (2 more injectors - still no real diagnosis though).
Another 4 weeks later (yesterday) it broke down again, and this time the BMW recovery guy put in another coil and spark plug and that got it going.
Today, feeling very lumpy and underpowered again!
I called the dealer to tell them I'm not happy and I need something done to reassure me this will stop happening... They said "bring it in... But we can only do a repair if the computer tells us it needs done".
So I called BMW Customer Service... "We have no responsibility for your car, your contract is with the dealership and you should make all contact direct with them".
What do we do now? We've lost 2 days of work already and yesterday's breakdown ruined our day off... I expected better from BMW!
Not much help perhaps, but its worth remembering that the warranty you got can be used at any BMW dealership, so if you're not getting good service from your supplying dealer, take it to another. The chaps on the BMW forums will be able to tell you which dealers are worth a try in your area.
Have you asked on http://www.babybmw.net/ ? There's a wealth of knowledge there.
One other thought... have you tried pouring a can of injector cleaner in with a tank of Super Unleaded and giving it an Italian tune-up?
Have you asked on http://www.babybmw.net/ ? There's a wealth of knowledge there.
One other thought... have you tried pouring a can of injector cleaner in with a tank of Super Unleaded and giving it an Italian tune-up?
Gruber said:
Not much help perhaps, but its worth remembering that the warranty you got can be used at any BMW dealership, so if you're not getting good service from your supplying dealer, take it to another. The chaps on the BMW forums will be able to tell you which dealers are worth a try in your area.
Have you asked on http://www.babybmw.net/ ? There's a wealth of knowledge there.
One other thought... have you tried pouring a can of injector cleaner in with a tank of Super Unleaded and giving it an Italian tune-up?
This,Have you asked on http://www.babybmw.net/ ? There's a wealth of knowledge there.
One other thought... have you tried pouring a can of injector cleaner in with a tank of Super Unleaded and giving it an Italian tune-up?
It's obvious your dealer can't resolve the problem. I'd be doing some detective work to see if this is a common problem and then telling your dealer what to replace to resolve it.
these sort of posts put me off going out and buying a modern Beemer. I will stick with the E36s, which have never given me a problem..are cars now increasingly baffling mechanics as they rely on the technology to diagnose issues..saying they can only work on what the computer tells them is frankly ridiculous!..best of luck, all sympathy..you don't expect such repeated inconvenience when you pay the extra for approved used
maybe take it along to a decent specialist BMW mechanic for diagnosis. Then tell the supplying dealer to fix it!..
maybe take it along to a decent specialist BMW mechanic for diagnosis. Then tell the supplying dealer to fix it!..
bigbob77 said:
We got an approved-used 120i 3-door last year.
We noticed after a few weeks that the throttle was a bit lumpy sometimes, but too subtle to pinpoint... Then after about 6 months it broke down (...)
What do we do now? We've lost 2 days of work already and yesterday's breakdown ruined our day off... I expected better from BMW!
You lost your chance at the 6 months mark, until then the onus of proof was on the garage. Now it would be your responsibility to prove that the car sold to you was of not satisfactory quality. The best thing you could do now is to p/x it for something else.We noticed after a few weeks that the throttle was a bit lumpy sometimes, but too subtle to pinpoint... Then after about 6 months it broke down (...)
What do we do now? We've lost 2 days of work already and yesterday's breakdown ruined our day off... I expected better from BMW!
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