Re: Bilstein Warranty problems

["ra rabmw" <rabmw@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

     Ron;
        Every major company's shock or spring warranty requires that you 
purchase the replacement,and they will then refund the cost as soon as they 
have the old part tested,which usually takes 2 to 4 weeks,depending on who 
and what is needed.In 98% of the cases I've known,any defective or even worn 
out part has been credited.
         I had the dubious distinction of wearing out all four Eibach 
springs on my tricked out E28 535i,doing it running flat fuc*ing sideways 
for three years on racetracks.Eibach to that date had never had the front 
springs on an E28 give up,and were highly suspicious,but after I purchased a 
second set and they were tested,I received cost plus shipping back from 
them.No arguement.
          If you use the company you bought the shocks from as an 
intermediary,you may escape with less aggravation.There is a very good 
chance Bilstein will warranty the shock IF they are sent it first,and 
preferably by your supplier,not yourself,so that it may be tested.
          If you wish to "borrow" a temporary replacement,there should be 
someone on the digest that may have one.My suggestion is buy the new part 
and install it,as I feel you have a very good chance of a full refund if the 
shock is sent by your supplier,not yourself.


                                o/______\o "RA"/Bob G.
                                (Oo=00=oO)
                                []=****=[]









>From: "Ron H." <rhakim@domain.elided>
>To: "ra rabmw" <rabmw@domain.elided>, <bmwuucdigest@domain.elided>
>CC: <bmw-digest@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: Bilstein Warranty problems
>Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 16:24:55 -0400
>
>Bob,
>
>My suspension upgrades on my E36 covers most major parts.  However I only
>mentioned the Eibach springs to him after he asked.  I didn't believe what
>he told me about this simple upgrade.  I thought that the Bilstein Sport
>shocks/struts were designed to compliment lowering springs.
>
>However, Raul simply voided my warranty I'm off driving around with a
>possibly busted shock.  Before he asked about the springs however, he asked
>me send him the faulty unit.  This normaly is not a problem, but I don't
>have an extra shock lying around.  In hearing my plight, he asked me why I
>didn't borrow a shock from a friend (time out a second, forget going to 
>your
>neighbor and borrowing a cup of sugar, let's see if you have an extra shock
>in that pantry of yours!).  Well, I'm the only person I know with an E36, 
>so
>his idea wouldn't work, so he tells me to go to the dealer and "request" a
>loaner shock.  At this point I realized that it wasn't going to be easy.
>Don't most companies just swap out the offending part and use a credit card
>to hold the new one for security?   Well, Raul couldn't do this, he told me
>he needed to "dyno" the shock, he also said that it would take at least 3
>weeks.  What's the point of putting a warranty on these damn parts if you
>can't use them under a reasonable circumstance?!
>
>I now can remember a scene from the movie "Tommy Boy":
>"If I take a sh*t in a box and slap a warranty on the side of it, I now 
>have
>a warrantied piece of sh*t."    -or it went some thing like that.
>
>
>Thanks for your attention,
>Ron
>rhakim@domain.elided
>BMWCCA #165142
>'98 323is Silver/Silver
>p.s.
>sorry for the length, I'm just ticked at getting VOIDED.
>
>A quick list of my suspension mods are:
>Bilstein Sport Monotube struts /Front
>Bilstein Sport shocks /Rear
>Eibach Pro-Kit Springs
>LTW x-brace
>BMP C/F Strut tower bar
>Eibach Sway-bars with urethane bushings
>18" Hamann HMII w/ Pirelli P7000 wrappers @ 225/40ZR18
>
>
>

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