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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

4446 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 12:04 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan


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#4030 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Dec 06, 2008 (11:30 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 06, 2008 10:41 am)

Something so sudden does sound like electrical---you might get out the ol' owners manual and read up on how to check your fuses for the fuel pump, etc.
 
But even if you find a blown fuse and replace it, the car still needs to go in to find out why the fuse blew in the first place.
#4031 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [Mr_Shiftright] by backy
Dec 06, 2008 (12:32 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 06, 2008 11:30 am)

Unfortunately I don't carry spare fuses. Maybe I should buy a set?
#4032 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Dec 06, 2008 (3:08 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 06, 2008 12:32 pm)

But of course.
 
There should be one/some in the fuse box though. BMW isn't cheaping out that badly, are they?
 
Visiting Host
#4033 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by backy
Dec 08, 2008 (8:37 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 06, 2008 10:41 am)

Update: It was the fuel pump. $940 estimate to replace (not as if I have a choice, as it is sitting dead at the dealer's shop).
 
All those who would like to say "I told you so!" for buying a nine-year-old E46 with 68,000 miles are now free to do so.
 
I will be dumping this car at my first reasonable opportunity to get something more practical. It's a fun car to drive, but not that much fun that it's worth at least $1000 whenever a mechanic touches it.
 
 
#4034 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by shipo
Dec 08, 2008 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 8:37 am)

Me thinks that you got taken a bit. Why? Well, to buy a new OEM pump will run you $199, and I'm thinking that the installation shouldn't cost but another $150 or so at a reputable shop.
 
The fact is, fuel pumps fail from time-to-time no matter who built the car, and they aren't cheap regardless of the vehicle you're buying them for. Contrast the cost of the fuel pump for your 328ci ($199) to the replacement for my 2003 Grand Caravan ($234), a Mazda3 ($774), an Infiniti G35 ($629), or even a lowly Toyota Corolla ($514). Long story short, before you make a rash decision, do a little research on competent independent shops in your area that specialize in BMWs, and then call them to find out what they would have charged for the fuel pump replacement.
 
Best regards
Shipo
#4035 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Dec 08, 2008 (8:56 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 8:37 am)

That's a lot of money for the fuel pump I think but I realize that you don't have the time to search for deals and wait for UPS. I would think though that a good fair Indie shop might have done it for 1/2 that.
 
You know, these are sturdy cars but there's a reason you don't see German electronics at Best Buy
#4036 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by roadburner
Dec 08, 2008 (9:52 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 8:37 am)

I agree with Shipo; you got hosed.
#4037 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [roadburner] by backy
Dec 08, 2008 (10:11 am)
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Replying to: roadburner (Dec 08, 2008 9:52 am)

Had the fuel pump chosen to fail some other time and place, e.g. not in the middle of a drive lane of an airport parking garage on a bitterly cold day when I needed to get home ASAP, I could have checked around for other options. Why don't these things fail when I'm in my own driveway, maybe on a day off with lots of time to make calls to mechanics etc?
 
I will talk with the service writer at the dealership and see if they can be more reasonable on the part and labor. Thanks to those who provided helpful information.
#4038 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by roadburner
Dec 08, 2008 (4:40 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 10:11 am)

Sorry, I wasn't trying to pile on- but you really need to do a little research before an emergency arises. Are you a member of the BMW Car Club? You'll find many dealers and independent shops offer significant discounts on parts and/or labor. You'll also be able to contact local members aand get the scoop on which shops to patronize or avoid. Dealer service cost vary to a huge extent. For example, the ignorant souls running Inside Line's long term E46 M3 get reamed on a regular basis by Santa Monica BMW. It just so happened that my local dealer(Swope BMW in Louisville KY) had recently charged me $374 for an Inspection II and a brake fluid flush. Just for giggles I called Santa Monica BMW and asked how much they would charge for the same service. Care to guess how much Santa Monica wanted?
 
Inspection II: $929.95- and the service advisor said that they were currently running a "Special"(!)
Brake fluid flush: $175.00
Total : $1104.95
Only $730.95(295%) more than my dealer...
#4039 of 4446
Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [roadburner] by backy
Dec 08, 2008 (6:54 pm)
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Replying to: roadburner (Dec 08, 2008 4:40 pm)

Actually, I did do some research before the emergency. When I bought the car, I got the name of a mechanic recommended by a friend who has an E46 wagon, said he is honest and does good work at reasonable prices. So I was going to check them out when my first major inspection is due--which won't be for about a year. The problem is, this place is way, way across town from where I was. The dealer was less than five miles away. As I said, I was stuck in the middle of the airport parking ramp and had to be towed, and had to get home ASAP. I had no time (or money for that matter) to get towed another 20+ miles from where I was, during rush hour on a Friday.
 
I did talk with the service advisor and he took $115 off. So it was "only" $825. That included $341 for the pump (he expressed surprise when I told him I had been told the price was around $200), $450 for 3.5 hours of labor to replace the pump, $125 diagnosis fee (yes, they had to figure out it was actually the fuel pump, but I know some places that will waive that fee if they actually do the repair), taxes etc. I told the guy I am in the wrong line of work and need to become a BMW mechanic.
 
I am not sure why you would ask for a service quote from a dealer in Santa Monica when you live in Louisvile (wasting the time of the dealer in Santa Monica, unless you intended to drive to Santa Monica for the service), but maybe you have lots of time to kill. Maybe you could have called a dealer in Beijing, they might offer a good price on Inspection II, that would be interesting to know, wouldn't it? BTW, Louisville is a whole 'nuther world from Santa Monica, CA. In many ways.

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