[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: BMW workmanship & customer service (bit long)



Henry, regarding your 96 M3 (0 to dealer in under 5 s), which I'm
going to assume has some problems which the dealer hasn't fixed yet:
is it possible for you to try other dealers?  I know that sounds
dismissive but it's not meant to be; I've found that BMW dealers vary
a great deal in all aspects of their helpfulness.

I've also found that having something *really* *serious* go wrong
helps put lesser problems into perspective.  I was pretty unhappy with
the snap and pop sounds from my windshield, the soft creaks from the A
pillar, door rattles, buzzes, dash shifting and creaking at every
bump, steering wheel creak, clutch pedal squeak, dead pedal creak,
various rattles and squeaks from the rear, and motor-related hiss at
certain loads; until I started having shifting problems, and Dinan
Eng. found a washer missing (i.e. it was not there) in the rear shock
assembly (helps prevent damage to the strut mount in case you bottom
out). -- This on a 1998 328i, BTW.

Now, top priority for me is to get the transmission/clutch/shift
linkage fixed!  Naturally, the dealer (nonlocal of course--I live in
the south bay) can't reproduce it; but they were quite accomodating--
they drained & filled the transmission fluid looking for signs of
damage, which caused a 2-week improvement in shift quality.  The
dealer service dept. was outstanding in all other respects, so I have
to accept that they simply weren't able to experience the problem,
this time.  In time, I'll see how it goes.

So I share your frustration, since I experienced something like that
at one time (i.e. doesn't this warranty mean something?); and all I
can suggest for you is that you approach a different dealer with an
open mind, and try to get your car fixed even as you prepare to sell
it and switch brands---uh, marques.

Henry A. writes:
> I'D like to get a LEXUS but there is no LEXUS list, don't you think
> it's because they don't break down as often as your beloved marque.
> Regards, Henry A. 96 M3 (Zero to dealer under 5 seconds)

I think there is a forum (also interesting info) at: www.is300.net.

Cheers,
Mike W.
98 328i -- starts, runs, and has roundels on it

------------------------------