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2011 BMW 5 Series - Alignment Problems (pulling to right)

75 messages,  Last post on Oct 09, 2011 at 9:23 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Performance Mods, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 8

#56 of 75 Re: 2011 BMW 535i Pulling to the right [mfarrell65] by sambo49

Nov 03, 2010 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: mfarrell65 (Nov 03, 2010 4:07 pm)
That is rather interesting...the dealer told me the exact same thing about their new shipment of 2011 535xi. I do not know where your dealer is, but the one I visited was in Suitland, Maryland. The stated reason for the "service campaign" was that the "factory ran out of the proper tires for the cars, so they decided to ship them with alternate tire/wheel combinations and follow up with the proper tires at to the port... " This all sounds rather peculiar.
In any case, I decided to hold off on ordering the car. There are too many complaints, lack of good reviews (consumer reports actually pokes fun that this is no longer a "sport sedan", car and driver rated it 4 in a comparison of 4 similar sedans,...), horrific steering and the hesitation before acceleration are enough to make me want to sit this one out for now.
Good Luck with your new car!

#57 of 75 Re: 2011 BMW 535i Pulling to the right [sambo49] by mkword

Nov 29, 2010 (9:08 pm)

Replying to: sambo49 (Nov 03, 2010 8:02 pm)
I received my 2011 BMW 550i last week. Have driven it every day including a trip from LA to San Diego.
 
No steering or transmission issues whatsoever. Car drives wonderfully. My one gripe is that the steering feels a bit looser than my 2008 335i. But this is my first 5 series so I don't know if that's always been the case.
 
I bought the 550i with the sport package and it looks gorgeous inside and out. Drives like a dream. Love this car.

#58 of 75 Re: 2011 BMW 535i Pulling to the right [mkword] by shipo

Nov 30, 2010 (3:35 am)

Replying to: mkword (Nov 29, 2010 9:08 pm)
Interesting, my 2002 530i had much stiffer steering than my 1999 328i; I preferred the 5er.

#59 of 75 Re: 2011 535i sytemic allignment problem [wengel] by deranger89

Jul 01, 2011 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: wengel (Aug 28, 2010 7:27 pm)
I so wish I had come to this site before purchasing my 2011 535i. I test drove the car, around the block and about 5 miles on the interstate and never noticed the pull to the right. However, on my drive home, 100 miles away, it was very noticeable. I took the car back to the dealer a week later, test drove it with a mechanic who tells me that there is a problem with this model and that BMW is aware of it. They couldn't work on it that day, so I had to bring it back the following week. I left it at the dealer over night, drove 100 miles back home. The service rep said he would phone me in the morning to let me know what time to pick it up. I never received a call, so around 2:30 I phoned them - it was "just now ready". I drove back to Raleigh - with a loaner - and picked up the car. I was told that they could not fix the problem with the car pulling to the right, but that it was "much better now". Was advised that BMW is working on a software fix and should have it shortly.
Here is what the invoice states:
"1595 ADJUST STRUTS AND SOFTWARE UPDATE WARR. C/S VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. CHECK OPERATION. VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. AS PER FSE, SWAP FRONT TIRES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ROTATE THE FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT. DEFECT CODE 32 00 02 97 00. LABOR OP...36 10 810....AND 31 99 000....7 FRU TOTAL....BMW IS AWARE OF CONDITION AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE"
 
On the way back home (did I mention 100 miles), the pull to the right is still there and NOW the steering wheel has a vibration in it. I feel like I'm driving a 10 year old used car instead of a $65,000 brand new car. I have about 1,500 miles on the odometer (which the service tech told me was a good thing so that it would be covered under the warranty). - seriously??
 
I'm headed out of town for the weekend, but I plan to take the car back next week and let it sit there for 20 days and invoke the NC Lemon Law. This is ridiculous - BMW is "aware of the problem". Big whoopty do. How about the $350 tire that will need to be replaced? What about time running back and forth to the dealer only to hear "BMW is aware of the problem". What about making a payment on a car that looks good and drives like a pinto?
My advice to anyone even considering purchasing a 535 2011 BMW - After ready the stories of what folks have gone thru - buy at your own risk. You've been forewarned.

#60 of 75 2011 535 pulling right by toney2

Jul 04, 2011 (11:13 am)

#61 of 75 2011 535 pulling right by toney2

Jul 04, 2011 (11:21 am)

Hi,
I'm in the US Army and I'm currently stationed in Germany. I bought an 2011 535 a couple months ago. I noticed it pulling to the right so I took into a local BMW dealership in Mannheim. I thought I would get the car in a couple of days, but it's been almost a month. Initially they told me that it was an isolated problem and should be fixed soon. They told me they re-aligned the car 4 or 5 times, switched the rims and tires, replaced the struts and shocks, and they told me they removed the bumper to properly align the car. None of this stuff worked. I went to the dealership and asked what would be the next step in fixing my car. They said that a lead technician would be coming from Munich to fix it. Well, I told them about how many people were having this same issue, and they said that this was the first time they were hearing about it. IThey told me that they would be sending my car back to the factory where it was built, to see if they can remedy the problem. The whole time I'm thinking, I'm in Germany, if they can't fix it no one can. i talked to my salesman and told him that I would be getting rid of the car asap. I'm waiting on a response from him and the dealership.

#62 of 75 toney2 - pulling right by deranger89

Jul 04, 2011 (8:06 pm)

toney2 - please keep me posted. The GM of the dealership is suppose to be giving me a call tomorrow. Like you, I'm going to let him know that even tho this may be an isolated problem, the isolation is affecting about 7 pages of web postings.
Hopefully I'll know something more tomorrow. Unlike you, I don't want them to remove the bumper etc. They can buy the car back and fix/sale it to someone else.

#63 of 75 Re: toney2 - pulling right [deranger89] by toney2

Jul 05, 2011 (7:23 am)

Replying to: deranger89 (Jul 04, 2011 8:06 pm)
deranger89,
I just left the dealership, and they have determined that my car cannot be fixed. The lead technician from Munich came to look at the car and stated that it would cost to much to repair, and the repairs would be to extensive to fix. I am now going to start the process of getting a refund. I will keep you posted

#64 of 75 Re: toney2 - pulling right [deranger89] by deranger89

Jul 09, 2011 (2:42 pm)

Replying to: deranger89 (Jul 04, 2011 8:06 pm)
The dealership came and got my car Thursday. I got a call from them on Friday saying that they have the software update and are connecting my directly to Germany for the fix. Later in the day I was called telling me it would be Monday before I can get the car back. I told them that was fine to bring it back Monday as long as the defect is resolved.
Guess we'll wait and see what happens on Monday. At least they left me a loaner car.

#65 of 75 Re: toney2 - pulling right [deranger89] by deranger89

Jul 13, 2011 (7:02 pm)

Replying to: deranger89 (Jul 09, 2011 2:42 pm)
Tomorrow will be a week since the dealership came and got my car. They are still unable to fix the defect. I got a call today saying that someone from BMW is coming next Thursday to look at the car. Fortunately the dealership has given me a loaner for the interim.

Messages Page 7 of 8

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