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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 320 of 536

#3182 of 5349 Re: BMW problems [ftroha] by txbmwfan

Jan 14, 2007 (9:04 pm)

Replying to: ftroha (Jan 14, 2007 7:42 am)
I am sorry to hear about these failed transmissions. I would be similarly outraged. Hard to believe that BMW would abide by an "Unsatisfactory" rating from the BBB.
 
To legally prove your cases, you would have to show transmission problems are prevalent, and also well-known to BMW, for certain model years, and that BMW has not otherwise adequately addressed. I reviewed the Consumer Reports website for the reliability history of the E46 3-Series (1999-2005). The transmission reliability was rated either good or very good for each model year (except 2002 with a rating of excellent).
 
You might also consult the BIMRS.org website. It is a trade organization for reputable independent BMW service shops. Use it to locate a shop in your area. You might have the local shop inspect the car, and the shop owner may be provide some insight as to any known transmission problems. This can be drawn from experience and/or contact with the national BIMRS shop network.
 
In any event, good luck to you!

#3183 of 5349 Re: BMW problems [ftroha] by socalsabo

Jan 17, 2007 (11:54 am)

Replying to: ftroha (Jan 14, 2007 7:42 am)
My 2000 323i with ONLY 28,000 miles on it wouldn't go in reverse, had it towed to the dealership and they tell me I need a new transmission, and because it is out of warranty and I did not continue to bring my car to their facility for maintenance, I was on my own and would be financially responsible to replace the transmission! I want to contact the CEO, Tom Purves, but don't know how - did you have any luck? I'm made 2 complaints with BMW NA, but that is going no where. Have you filed a small claims action, and if so, where is that going? I'm so very frustrated after reading the huge number of similar complaints, and BMW won't take responsibility. Has anyone obtained the NHTSA service bulletin #613552? I would love to see it - ordered a copy but don't have yet... h e l p !!!

#3184 of 5349 Re: BMW problems [socalsabo] by ftroha

Jan 17, 2007 (12:48 pm)

Replying to: socalsabo (Jan 17, 2007 11:54 am)
They are terrible to deal with. Once your car is off warranty, there's no way it makes sense to go back to BMW for servicing. They charge twice as much as foreign car shops with mechanics who can fix your brakes, change the oil, etc., etc. just as well. Furthermore, just because your car was worked on by other mechanics after it went off warranty is no good reason for BMW to deny responsibility for what is obviously a transmission design defect. Here's where to complain: Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW of North America, 300 Chestnut Ridge Road, Woodclife Lake, NJ 07675. My attorney is sending a second letter to his office. If the response from Purves is still unsatisfactory, the next step is litigation. As for small claims court, you can go that route if BMW has an office in your area. If not, you need to go to a community where they have an office and file a claim in that community's court. That's the only way most small claim courts will serve papers on a defendant -- that is, he or she has to be in the same locale as the court. When you get your report from the NTSB, I'd appreciate your sharing with me what it says. I hope I've been helpful. I'm not going to give up going after BMW and I hope you and others who have been similarly ripped off do the same.

#3185 of 5349 A couple of points... by shipo

Jan 17, 2007 (1:02 pm)

Given the sheer number of "Can't go into reverse" complaints from 323i owners, it seems rather obvious that there is indeed a problem and BMW should step up to the plate and offer some form of relief. FWIW, I don't believe that BMW built the automatic transmissions affected (designed by ZF and built by GM if memory serves), however, they put it in their car and they should be the folks who fix it. Geez I'm glad I'll only drive a BMW with a manual transmission; it would indeed be kind of annoying to have reverse go out for no apparent reason. :-/
 
Another thing to consider is the address posted above. I used to live right around the corner from BMW-USA (literally as their offices are at the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road & Glen Road, I lived on Glen) and so please consider my first hand knowledge of the area when I tell you that the above address is incorrect in two ways. The correct address is as follows:
 
BMW of North America
200 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
 
Both misspelling the town name and using the old zip code (changed in 1999 or 2000 if I remember correctly) will likely result in your correspondence not getting to its intended recipient.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#3186 of 5349 Re: A couple of points... [shipo] by circlew

Jan 17, 2007 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jan 17, 2007 1:02 pm)
Shipo,
 
Now I know where you stopped in Montvale on your way home from your recent trip when the puppy had an accident...my former company was next door to Mercedes on Mercedes Drive and I lived about 3 miles from you in River Vale.
 
Small world.
 
Regards,
OW

#3187 of 5349 Re: A couple of points... [circlew] by shipo

Jan 17, 2007 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: circlew (Jan 17, 2007 1:24 pm)
Yupper.
 
Oddly enough, and unfortunately for me, my several year contract with MB-USA (down the hill next to the farm) ended just six months before we built the house on Glen Road. Go figure.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#3188 of 5349 Re: BMW problems [ftroha] by socalsabo

Jan 17, 2007 (3:56 pm)

Replying to: ftroha (Jan 17, 2007 12:48 pm)
Thanks much. I'll write them. (BMW NA Customer Service will not give me a phone number.) The NTSB bulliten may take up to two weeks, per NTSB... but I'll share if and when I receive. Thanks much and good luck to us both!

#3189 of 5349 Re: Reverse problem like everyone [dboy62] by socalsabo

Jan 17, 2007 (4:22 pm)

Replying to: dboy62 (Jul 16, 2005 2:05 am)
Did you ever have any luck? I have same make and model, and yes, same problem!!! Just happened to me... what was your outcome? DId you receive the service bulliten from NTSA? I don't have it yet and would appreciate you sharing if you have it. I, too, have contacted BMWNA (no luck), consumer affairs and nhtsa... this is wrong, wrong, wrong!

#3190 of 5349 Re: 06 325xi engine tapping [drivo] by mmancini65

Jan 17, 2007 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: drivo (Dec 13, 2006 11:48 am)
Sorry for the absence; I am somewhat relieved to hear that someone else out there is hearing the same tapping that I am. I've had my 325xi back to the dealer, but of course, the sound was not reproducible. I later found that my oil sensor seemed faulty, as I was getting fluctuating oil level reads. the sensor was replaced, but the tapping/clicking has recurred despite this. When I've opened the hood, the tapping is coming from the low left side of the engine. It's certainly connected with the drivetrain given its association with engine speed. It was particularly cold here in RI today, and the noise was immediately evident. The dealer tells me that no one else has reported the problem, but that they'd put out a "bulletin" regarding this problem and track it. My plan is that the next time it occurs, I'm going to drive it to the dealer and let them hear it for themselves. I'm concerned about the long term wear and tear on the engine. It's surely shaken my faith in BMW - not sure I'd buy another.

#3191 of 5349 Re: 06 325xi engine tapping [mmancini65] by circlew

Jan 18, 2007 (5:50 am)

Replying to: mmancini65 (Jan 17, 2007 7:40 pm)
I really am concerned regarding these types of problems in this level of cars. That is why I decided to lease to align with the warranty coverage. Engine problems occur in every nameplate from a statistical view but when you get over $35K - $40K price, the stakes are higher.
 
When the entire wiring harness to the steering wheel needed to be changed to correct the airbag sensor failure about 3K miles into my lease on this'06 330xi, I felt spot on that i had made a good decision to lease. Also, major repairs after the warranty expires are much higher for the nameplates in this forum.
 
The current technology is giving dealers problems with repair, IMO. So, even though an engine is mechanically fine in build quality , the systems that affect it can sometimes be a detriment and that is the price that is paid. Garbage in, Garbage out. Mrs. OW's '03 Yukon had a MAP sensor failure in 2005 that the dealer could not fix until the third try and imminent lemon law procedure was presented to them (NJ is a lemon law state). The engine was/is flawless otherwise (Mobile 1 since inception).
 
Regards,
OW

Messages Page 320 of 536

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