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BMW 3-Series Oil Questions

260 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2012 at 9:01 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Engine, Oil, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 9 of 27

#78 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [kaiopect8] by shipo

Feb 06, 2007 (10:27 pm)

Replying to: kaiopect8 (Feb 06, 2007 9:45 pm)
I can only commiserate with you (as opposed to share your pain) as the oil level sensing device in all of my cars are still the low-tech dip stick (which doubles as the exit point for used engine oil on all of my cars as well).
 
As for my "doing their darnedest" comment, could it be that I was a little too free with my language? Yup. That said, it seems to me that it is a long and very convoluted road between someone here in the U.S. connecting the dots and saying, "Hey! I think I see a pattern developing here" and someone at BMW in Munich saying "Ach der lieber, ve haff a problem mit der Americanish oil zenzing devizez." Until then the forensic work cannot even begin to determine the cause of the problem, unfortunately, in the meantime, many more cars have suffered a failure.
 
With the analysis underway, all smoking guns are looked at and one by one discarded until the culprit is found. And more sensors have failed. Then they need to figure out what happened, or better said, what changed. After all, the sensors in the early E90s seem to be operating perfectly well, however, later models are dropping like flies. With the problem finally identified, production line changes are most likely required by the third party supplier to bring the part back into spec, and that assumes that the problem didn't start with a design change back at BMW. Meanwhile even more sensors have failed. With the changes finally in place and the manufacture of the new parts ramping up to max production volumes, the factory AND the service pipelines need to be purged of the defective parts and then resupplied with the new parts, and this can take weeks at the bare minimum, months most likely. While still more sensors fail.
 
The above story is as old as mass production, problems like the above existed LONG before the E90 came out, and if you read some WWII history, problems like this plagued all combatants during the war, and often times at very critical times where the want of a part or two meant that one side or the other would lose a battle they should have won.
 
Could BMW have done a better job of communicating to the field what the problem was and what the time frames were? Most certainly. Would such communications have delayed the repair of even a single car? Probably not. Is there a car you'd rather be driving were it that the oil sensor wasn't an issue on your car? Only you can answer that one.
 
FWIW, BMW isn't the only manufacturer that suffers from field problems and lack of communications. Back in 1998, when the (then) new Lexus GS was just hitting our roads, Lexus went though a similar problem with the front suspension of those cars, however, that one did affect the safety of the car. Even still, owners were told nothing at all while their cars sat waiting for a resolution, or were accused of damaging the cars through mistreatment. In the end, there were a number of cases where Lexus either refused to repair/replace the cars or offered to field weld suspension and frame parts back together. One of the guys who was posting here in the TownHall back then went through not one but two GS430s (he was able to get Lexus to buy back the first one), and was left high and dry on his second one. In desperation he traded that turkey in on a 540i 6-Speed, made a few posts about how wonderful his new car was, and then we never heard from him again. Too busy driving and having a grand time I guess.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#79 of 260 Re: Lemon by circlew

Feb 07, 2007 (6:00 am)

Replying to: kaiopect8 (Feb 06, 2007 9:45 pm)
kaiopect8, I had a problem with my E90 3 months into this lease. Strike One was a computer reboot that lasted 2 weeks and during Strike Two, a part had to be ordered from the Fatherland which took about 2 weeks. My attitude was this is OK because:
 
1. Upon Strike Three, I give it to my lawyer to invoke Lemon rule.
 
2. I got to drive over 1,000 miles with a 330i and about 200 miles with a 525i so no inconvenience. Now I now the difference in the 5er.
 
3. I get to give this car back in less than 2 years. What, me worry?
 
My take is as the technology advances, even the good manufacturers can not keep up with Six Sigma quality metrics, let alone the ones coming to the party extremely late and no cake left to eat read: bleeding).
 
So I decided to switch to leasing for the remainder of my days on the good ole' US highway system!
 
Happy Motoring!
 
Regards,
OW

#80 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [shipo] by kaiopect8

Feb 07, 2007 (7:03 am)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 06, 2007 10:27 pm)
Shipo,
I really appreciated your post. I think you are very knowledgeable, admirably tolerant of your fallible fellow humans -- a trait which I would love to emulate, and wise beyond your years -- unless you're old as Yoda.
Thanks very much again for your comments.

#81 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [kaiopect8] by shipo

Feb 07, 2007 (8:42 am)

Replying to: kaiopect8 (Feb 07, 2007 7:03 am)
Thanks!
 
I guess the process of maturing from a (very) angry young man to a wizened old greybeard is complete.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#82 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [shipo] by patw4

Feb 08, 2007 (7:30 am)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 06, 2007 8:55 pm)
Bursting the bubble on "new sonsors with a special build code"...Dropped my 2006 325xi off at the dealership for the 3rd time yesterday. As stated before, I had the oil sensor replaced in Jan.'07, but "service engine soon" indicator and Oil level light keep coming on. After keeping the car all day, the service manager advised me that my car DOES have the newly designed part, and they cannot determine what the problem is. They have opened a "PUMA" ticket with BMW NA. Apparently, this is a forum for dealers to discuss problems and potential resolutions. Very discouraging.

#83 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [patw4] by shipo

Feb 08, 2007 (7:48 am)

Replying to: patw4 (Feb 08, 2007 7:30 am)
Hmmm, well don't that suck.
 
Advice to BMW (Woodcliff Lake or Munich) from the peanut gallery: I have a revolutionary idea that will solve your oil sensor woes, either replace or augment said sensor with a (user and dealership friendly) "Dip Stick".
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#84 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [patw4] by circlew

Feb 08, 2007 (8:25 am)

Replying to: patw4 (Feb 08, 2007 7:30 am)
patw4, You can now file a Lemon Law claim if available in your state. 3 srtikes!
 
Do you have this option??
 
Regards,
OW

#85 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [shipo] by circlew

Feb 08, 2007 (8:26 am)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 08, 2007 7:48 am)
I am at a loss! I had a glitch but it corrected itself but this is just ridiculous!
 
Regards,
OW

#86 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [kaiopect8] by wa201

Feb 08, 2007 (8:40 am)

Replying to: kaiopect8 (Feb 06, 2007 9:15 pm)
Thank you for the advice and we do love the car other than this defect. Our state does have a four try lemom law and we really do not wish to travel down that road with or without the sensor light on. Right now, the dealer has the car stating that they cannot get the light to turn on..........of course not, it's an intermittent problem. We've decided to insist that a new sensor be installed and hope for the best. Thanks again.

#87 of 260 Re: Thirsty 328xi [wa201] by circlew

Feb 08, 2007 (10:34 am)

Replying to: wa201 (Feb 08, 2007 8:40 am)
WA201, take a picture with the date the next time the sensor warning light goes on (if they do not solve the problem) and I assume you will have the service records of your visits to the shop.
 
Just in case...
 
Regards,
OW

Messages Page 9 of 27

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