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BMW 7-Series Maintenance and Repair

831 messages,  Last post on Feb 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 7 Series, Electrical, Engine, Sedan

Messages Page 41 of 84

#393 of 831 Re: navigational screen won't appear [bmwthad] by spersels

Dec 27, 2005 (9:31 am)

Replying to: bmwthad (Dec 03, 2005 5:16 pm)
I have almost exactly the same problem. I've had some kind of electrical drain that has caused three battery replacements in the last 5 years. I have a 2001 740i with 105000 miles. All the miles are highway. The battery started failing again a month ago, the trunk softclose stopped working, the trunk open warning went off as soon as the car started moving, and the car alarm would not engage properly - but the navigation screen continued to work! I brought the car into the shop (Prestige BMW in Ramsey NJ) for a regular service. They replaced the battery, performed a normal service, fixed a number of other items and detailed the car. When I started the car on pickup, THE SCREEN WAS BLANK but backlit. This was rather upsetting. This was a GLARING issue and one they should have caught before I drove all they way out to pickup the car (it's a 45 minute ride between my house and Prestige BMW). My service representative (Jason) was very apologetic (obviously) and suggested the I drive the car for a couple of days and perhaps it would clear up on it's own.
 
On my way home, about 20 minutes into the ride, the screen started to flicker and came back partially. It was shifted to the right with a blank non-backlit strip down the middle. It also had lots of wiggly lines flitting across the screen. Over the next couple of days the wiggly lines stopped and I was left with a split screen (shifted right) with a 1.5 inch blank strip down the middle.
 
I brought the car back to Prestige BMW the following week. After a couple of days of diagnosis work they called me back with the BAD NEWS. THE DISPLAY WAS SHOT. However, that is not really the BAD news. The BAD news is that THEY decided there was nothing THEY did to cause this. It was all just an unhappy coincidence.
 
To compound that, the replacement part is $2000 and the labor quoted at between $200 and $300. The initial deal they offered was for me to pay them their cost ($1500) and they’d pickup the labor. There is NO WAY that this part just coincidentally happened to fail while it was in their shop. To me, it doesn’t matter whether or not they know what they did to cause the failure, they should still be liable for the damage. I’m going with the preponderance of the evidence – and I don’t believe in coincidences.
 
After walking up the management chain a bit, I got them down to $1200 (my cost) to replace the screen. This is basically splitting the full retail cost down the middle. Although a closer look will reveal that they are eating the labor (~$150 their cost) and paying $300 of the $1500 cost of the part. They pay $450, I pay $1200.
 
The fact that bmwthad has almost the same problem makes my case stronger. I strongly believe there is a FLAW IN THE DESIGN of the 2001 740 that makes the navigation screen vulnerable to battery voltage and current fluctuations. If I can find other similar issue in 10 minutes of searching on the web (Thanks bmwthad) then BMW has to have seen this problem. At a minimum, there should be a service bulletin that helps the technician avoid this failure when changing the battery and perhaps even a recall to fix the problem.
 
And I still think they should have replaced the part a no cost to me.
 
I’m interested in what others think about this and welcome any recommendations regarding how to pursue a more equitable resolution.

#394 of 831 Re: Check Engine light issues - 740i [vchiu] by thubeav

Dec 27, 2005 (11:02 am)

Replying to: vchiu (Dec 03, 2005 12:36 am)
Clue: I recently spent a great deal of energy, time and $ on the check engine light in my 2000 X5. The oxygen mass flow sensor (something) was finally replaced and fixed this problem. I could not get an emission sticker and therefore could not renew my tag with this light showing.
It took a very good private mechanic and his mechanic buddy's shop to figure this out.
Ouch. But all better now.
I still would not drive another make.
Thubeav

#395 of 831 sevice Engine light by tozie

Dec 27, 2005 (12:04 pm)

I own a second hand BMW 740I with which has 89,000 miles on it. the service engine light just came own. I was told after the 60,000 mile service, that the next service was 100,000 miles by the BMW agent. If this true or I have to get the service done at 90,000 miles to get the service light swtich off

#396 of 831 Re: 2001 740i [wu8] by tozie

Dec 27, 2005 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: wu8 (Nov 25, 2004 8:44 pm)
Yougot an awesome deal. I bought a black 2001 740 I with 70,000 miles on it for $24,000 back in march.
 
I now have 85 on it and I have had no problems with it. The only annoying this is the cup holder.
 
How many miles intervals do you change your oil? 5K or more?

#397 of 831 1994 740 iL Transmission problems by sooner842002

Dec 28, 2005 (5:15 am)

My 1994 740 iL transmission just quit (103,000 miles on the car). It has been explained as a problem with a ball that moves to a different place for drive than reverse. When I go into drive, it is like the car can't decide whether to go back or forward, so it just goes nowhere. Works OK in reverse.
 
Dealer and usual repair shop say replace. Local transmission shop thinks a rebuild will work.
 
Any thoughts?

#398 of 831 Re: 1994 740 iL Transmission problems [sooner842002] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Dec 28, 2005 (12:32 pm)

Replying to: sooner842002 (Dec 28, 2005 5:15 am)
No! This is a common problem and USUALLY a "valve body repair kit" can fix this---it replaces all the little springs and detent balls in the valve body. A tedious job but often repairs the problem and a lot cheaper than a new/rebuilt transmission.

#399 of 831 Re: navigational screen won't appear [bmwthad] by elight

Jan 03, 2006 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: bmwthad (Dec 03, 2005 5:16 pm)
I had the same problem; a Version 25 (V25) software CD has to be loaded & installed where the Nav CD goes. This CD is a spacial tool that has been sent to all BMW dealers. V26 is also now out.

#400 of 831 After market brake pads? by mimeo

Jan 09, 2006 (1:04 pm)

mr shiftright or others,
 
I want to replace the brake pads on my 2001 740i w/ 69000 miles. I do not care for the local BMW dealer and am looking for an independent in Memphis. Can I use any premium aftermarket pad or is the OEM pad superior? Suggestions? price paid for job?

#401 of 831 Re: need help on why my 1990 bmw 735il won't start [vypurr] by lpdavis

Jan 10, 2006 (6:46 am)

Replying to: vypurr (Dec 23, 2005 12:41 pm)
See message #343. Similar problem with 1993 740iL.

#402 of 831 Re: After market brake pads? [mimeo] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Jan 10, 2006 (10:53 am)

Replying to: mimeo (Jan 09, 2006 1:04 pm)
I think any premium German pad would be fine. Be prepared however to replace the rotors if they don't meet minimum thickness or are roughed-up. You don't want to be cutting rotors on a car of this size and power. If you needed four pads/four rotors you could easily hit $1,500--just pads, maybe $300 per axle something like that..

Messages Page 41 of 84

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