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Comments
It sounds like you should check the lemon law in your state since you clearly have a car that is below standard.
I find it hard to believe that no one in your family has ever had a problem with their cars. According to JD Powers, even the highest ranking Toyota had 85 problems per 100 cars in their '01 initial quality survey. The highest ranking Jeep had 138 problems. I don't know the distribution of the problems, but I would think the odds of never having a problem with 5+ vehicles is quite low.
-murray
I also notice a creaking sound from the rear which can occur event when the car is stationary-maybe from the wind? Anyone else experience this.
Thunking sound from rear- they told me they thought it was from the rear seats not being secured properly (they fold down) but it continues. I have an auto. Is this the "flange"?
This board is really great. I love my car but it pays to be informed especially when you take it in for service and some dealers may tell you that you have to put up with less than perfection when maybe there is a solution. (Lazy way out)
My 99 323i 4-door started exhibiting some weird behavior:
1) When the car is on, the RIGHT turn signals flash even though the I have the turn signal indicator in the middle. The RIGHT turn signal won't turn off until I turn on my LEFT turn signal. If I turn on the LEFT turn signal, the LEFT flashes correctly and the RIGHT goes off until the turn signal stalk goes back to the middle.
2) When the car is off, the RIGHT turn signal comes on and stays on despite all I do to it. Sometimes it goes away by itself, sometimes the headlights do it, sometimes the LEFT turn signal.
Any hints would be appreciated. I had a local European repair shop check it out, but they found nothing. Thanks!
I could probably find my invoice and provide a better description.
-Paul
I've used Mobil 1 [changed every 4,000 miles or 90 days] since 1990 in my 90 Q45 at 239,000 miles the the compression exceeds new minimum specs and the leakdown is less than 4%.
Probably overkill and maybe I could have stretched it to 6,000 miles [I do oil analysis every 20,000 miles or so]...........but whats an extra $1000 over 12 years compared to a $6,000 used engine exchange or a $10,000 new one.
Why it's so scarey to buy an off lease car the user may have just done the minimum and the 36,000 miles may be the equivalent of 70-100k engine/tranny miles.
It really is an Ethics question ...what do you owe the next owner if anything? Can you get more money back if you maintain it well...NO? Why
Always check and analyse the computer service data on a used car you buy!
I sure wouldn't want to buy a car where someone waited 17k to change the oil! Unless I owned a shop and could get the car cheap!
I don't think BMW is motivated to have their engines fail after 120k. That's not a reputation that any auto maker wants. Are high mileage '99 E46's starting to require engine overhauls? That will be the data that has real value.
Certainly, changing the oil more frequently should help the engine last longer, but what is the useful life when following the recommended interval? I'm sure BMW has run accelerated tests to determine the life of their engines. Changing the oil more frequently may or may not change that number by much.
I do agree that seeing more oil analysis data would be interesting.
-murray
Thanks.
Howard
a good amount of force.
Mine is the one on the right of the instrument cluster. The same one that changes 24/12hr mode when depressed.
Josh
I can't imagine any oil ,synthetic or otherwise, can take 15000 miles without breakdown.
Something to think about when one considers a used BMW.
What are you basing your “feel” on? Have you done accelerated testing and analysis to determine the true life of the oil? Have you read any SAE papers on the subject? I haven’t, but I’m certain BMW’s engineers have.
Don’t you think that BMW wants their cars to last more than 5 years? No auto company wants a reputation of their cars breaking down before 100k miles. The savings of reduced maintenance would be lost in sales and market share.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’d like a little more evidence than your “feel”. That’s why the actual oil analysis is interesting.
-murray
My 325i has 9000 miles on it and no oil change. My “gut feel” is to change the oil and not worry about it, but I can’t believe BMW would take the risk of reducing the longevity of their engines. I would like to see some evidence either way.
-murray
The BMW part number for the fluid is: 83 22 0 026 922.
1) the car tends to oversteer or "hunts" to the left when the embakement (sp? )is to the left (like when you are in the fast lane). when i take my hands of the wheel the car shoots to the left when driving fast, or the wheel turns dramatically (spins) left when i'm driving in traffic (approx 5 miles an hour). I tried the slow lane to compare (maybe the car is just very responsive) since around here it banks to the right and the car just stays straight or slightly moves to the right. I also tested the right lane in traffic and the steering wheel doesn't spin as much to the right. Now driving the car in the middle lane ( which is straight) the car gradually moves to the left.
I have the 17 inch double spoked all season tires on it ( no SP wheels) and the service foreman said it's because of the bigger tires and different set up of the sports suspension that's more "in tune" with the road ( comparing it to my previous 01 325i with only 16 inch wheels, no SP, and more assisted steering) thus causing some lean. this is normal he said.
He test drove the car and after not taking his BS excuses during the drive, he agreed it leaned to the left and agreed to switch the front tires to see if it helped? it didn't so he decided to align the car. Well i picked up the car and it still does the same thing! the only difference to me is that he loosen the steering a little to make it easier to compensate.
I haven't talked to him yet, but is this normal for a coupe( the suspension) since my last car was a sedan? Does anyone now what it might be if it's not the alignment or tires? It wouldn't be that big of a deal except i drive in the fast lane alot and my arm fatigues from trying to compensate on long 4 hr drives.
2) there is a rattle in my doors which the service dept. said were blown subwoof speakers so they replaced them. the rattle is still there and it seems like it actually the whole under dash alongside the doors where you put your maps and stuff in (connected with the front subwoofer). i think when the car hits bumps or is on shakey ground the vibration causes that plastic and vinyl to rattle. i haven't brought it in yet but has anyone had this problem? or did both subs blow again? (and no i don't play my radio loud)
I know this was really long winded but please help if you can. thanks.
"1976 2002"- this genius is upset that an eight year old '02 is not as reliable as a new Acura. It had a squeaky heater fan and a bad u-joint. And he's dead wrong about M10 rocker shafts. They CAN be replaced. Notice he never cites the vehicle mileage.
"740i LEMON" Owner has been reduced to tears. Poor baby. She never describes the vehicle age, mileage, or the "problems".
http://www.bmwlemon.com/gasketb.txt - you have to read this moron's message yourself, I crack up when I try to type it.
"Gasket Problem"-The profile gasket failed and BMW UK fixed it under warranty. But it took them a week and they gave him a 316 sedan for a loaner. How sad.
"What another 318 Gasket problem?"-profile gasket died at 97000 miles. Mean old Munich wouldn't pay for the repair. How unfair!
"1994 525i"- Idiot buys a CPO and after purchase "discovers" problems that would have been obvious on even a brief test drive. BMW gives him another 525i but that's not good enough. The imbecile pledges to "fight on".
"BMW=DEATH" This guy blames BMW for the fact that his girfriend was tailgating the car she hit at "40 mph". And if the seat belt failed, why didnt she suffer any facial trauma from hitting the wheel, dash, or windshield? Can you say, "I can't drive, but it's STILL BMW's fault."?
The site is a true moronic convergence
the dealer agreed that my car hunts to the left but found that all their 330ci do the same. i even let the service foreman take my car home for the night so he could experience what i do everyday. he agreed the next morning and realligned the car, and put it up to BMW specs, but could not get the car to go straight, and in his opinion this hunt to the left normal.
it was ironic that there were no 330ci to compare it to on the lot that day. i am currently taking it to another bmw dealership where i know one of the techs who moved there from my current dealership. he said he will test drive it and let me know. i will give you an update when i find out.
Can you tell me what excuses or solutions your dealership said would solve the problem? i haven't gone to bmwna yet, but will if the other dealer detects a problem.
Problem: after a moment (2 months/7000 miles), #2 displayed 0 when I set the unit to km/l. I usually leave the unit to l/100km. But in this unit, since Jan 13th, #2 also showed 0. It seems to have happened when the display wanted to go from 7.2 to 7.1 (haven't checked for km/l). "Funny" thing, when I chose mpg at the unit, #2 still displayed correctly!
I noticed my dealer about this problem and the tech guy reprogrammed the onboard computer (and I've lost my dear data - whaa, no mileage on the life of the vehicle now *weep* *weep*).
Has anyone else noticed this problem?
One way to detect damage is to swap the tires one at a time with a full size spare and see which swap might make a difference.
As a side note, do you guys know how to stop the speaker rattle on my passenger side door? it only happens 80% of the time with or without the speaker on. they say it's coming from the speakers and replaced it twice but to no avail. I personally think it's coming from the door panel which connects to the speaker casing (one unit, the area that you put stuff in on the doors). Or could the speakers be blowing after each immed. replacement from a short? The speakers do work however.
thanx again guys.
I have a "rattle" or "buzz" that is noticeable when the radio is on, mostly on AM. I had the car in twice. The first time the front speakers were replaced, the second time they said they could find nothing wrong. I believe the diversity antenna contributes to poor AM radio reception and am resigned to the fact this car has lousy AM radio reception. One very minor aggravating fault in a sea of other great stuff about the car.
My suggestion to test the speakers is, to take the CD you received with the car, go back to the dealer and play it in a couple of models on the showroom floor. Get a sense of how it plays and then go back to your car to hear how it sounds. A shorted or bad speaker should be immediately apparent.
In contrast to the AM reception, I find the FM radio and CD quality to be one of the best in a stock setup. I have the H/K upgrade BTW.
thanks again. i will let you know what they say or did.
I don't know about the coupe, but in the sedan the H/K upgrade is identified by the words Harmon-Kardon on the front-pillar speakers. I also checked my car and the words Harmon-Kardon were imprinted on the two rear-deck speakers on the chrome trim, with the imprint facing the rear window.
Cars that don't have the H/K upgrade are missing the word Harmon-Kardon from the front pillar speakers.
Hope I answered your question, let us know how it turns out.
Also I'm contemplating the replacement of the pressurized PS hose while doing the reservuar. The connector where the hose attaches to the inlet on the radiator does not look familiar. How do these work? Do I need special tools for this?
Thank you all in advance
texan5
AS to the steering problem that veers to the left, i finally got a diff. dealer to look at the car and the tech (an old service tech at my dealership who i befriended before he left) said the steering wheel was not adjusted to specs. This should have been done with the alignment. He said he could look down at the BMW badge cross on the steering wheel as a reference and see that it was off. He also said BMW would not warranty work at one place to another. It would cost me $170.00 for another alignment to get this done.
Bear in mind a already had two alignments at the other dealership and the front two tires swapped with no resolution. I asked him about the radial tire thing and he said it was highly unlikely....hmmmm.....
anyways, i went back to my dealership and told the manager of service what happened. He said he wanted to keep my business and would talk to the foreman who test drove my car and get back to me.
What do you guys think?,,, should i give my dealership one more chance to fix it for free or fork over the money and pray it gets done right at a different dealer and hope what he says is true? at this point time is more impt. than money and i just want my sweet coupe to be running right,,,,i can live with the freakin rattles but not the steering problem...
thanks again all,
L8's
Why isn't this warranted under the BMW full service maintenance?
I bought two 2003 325xi's in Mid-December. Both cars have the premium package and rain sensing windshield wipers. The night I picked up my car, it was pouring down rain, and the wipers worked perfectly. They went from a slow intermittent when stopped, to a steady medium speed when the rain wasn't too bad, and went to the fastest speed when rain really picked up. I was amazed it worked so well.
However, about a week later, there was another day of very heavy rain, but this time while driving (55 mph), the wipers would not go faster than the "medium" setting. I had to physically raise the lever to get the fastest wipe speed. It would not do it in the auto setting. I ensured the sensitivity knob was full forward (where I had left it from the last time), but it didn't work.
I went home and got in my wife's car and took it for a drive. Sure enough, her's worked fine. Just like mine had the first time it rained. I got back in my car to make sure I had everything set correctly (it's not that complicated...), and it was. Still would only go up to the medium speed. The wipers would not go to the super fast speed unless I physically raised the lever out of automatic.
I made an appointment at Passport BMW in Maryland (where I bought the cars) to have a tech look at it. They told me it was working fine. I asked them if they were actually able to test the different speeds of the auto setting, and they said, "no". They said their was no real way for them to test it unless it was raining (it wasn't).
Anyway, I'm now driving a BMW with a feature that doesn't work right, and no way to fix it. Can anyone out there give me any advice to get them to take this a little more seriously?
Thanks!
KDshap: Alignments are not part of the scheduled maintenance because it's part of "use of the car" My Dealer have not charged me anything because they sold me the car, and because they acknowledged the pull, they have tried to fix it but relented saying that it was normal for coupes to stray because of the tuning of the car. I can accept maybe a little of it but the rest is [non-permissible content removed]. I took it to a second dealer only to have a second opinion and they confirmed my problem. Since i didn't buy the car from them, they have to charge me for it.
I'm going to try to contact BMWNA to help fray the cost...in the meantime my dealership's foreman is on vacation and the manager will speak to him on monday the 27th to get the low down. From my point KD, i have no faith in the foreman who has tried to fix the thing twice, took the car home with him, acknowledged it, yet all he can give me is "that's the way it is." All thought it would be for free, I'm way to frustrated, and don't have a lot of free time to be going to the shop, but maybe third times the charm.....if not i guess i have no choice but to pay the bucks at the other dealership. Let me know if any of this sounds wrong to you....
once again thanx for your help and input,,,i really do hate bitching about my beemer so i will add one positive note before i signed off..
this stupid kid in a suped up prelude tried to race me out of the gates at a toll booth....i didn't even know he was trying to race until i looked over to merge and there he was gunning his car,,,egging me on, needless to say he was in my rears and all i smelled and heard from his car was a burnt clutch and him in the slow lane.
L8's all.