Dealer Blows my 4.8is engine!

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Bnagy4.8

Update 7/09/13:

After speaking to the service manager last week to get an update on the engine that should have shipped last month on the 17th along with the issue with BMW and the customs of in Germany preventing items from entering the USA I thought the engine should have arrived by now, but I was wrong.

I am trying to figure out, what is wrong with the customs procedure??? The BMW AG ships sh!tload of engines and transmissions from Germany (see origin content on Z and X) to South Carolina to get the X and Z out the assembly plant. Why would THIS engine shipment be any different??? if it is a brand new engine, it is crated and shipped just like any OTHER brand new engine. I think that somebody is feeding you a line of crap as they think that you can't call them on their bluff.

the engine (if there is one to be shipped) may have not been shipped, may have not been authorised to be shipped, may have not been manufacturered (BMW AG stopped making brand new N62s that are fittable to the E53s, it is like demanding that BMW assembles a brand new E53)... I think, it is a unicorn that they are feeding you , while trying to figure out what to REALLY do in your situation.

4 months of lost usage, 4 months of payment on the car note (if you are paying for it), 4 months your property is in poorly handled custody of a dealer...

Demand to see the Bill of Lading for the engine shipment, ask for the engine serial number, ask for which vessel the engine is loaded onto, ask which port of entry the engine is at - those are specific questions aimed not to give you the engine serial (who cares about it!!) but to force the debils to give you the real answers... Those numbers, the Bill of lading, the serial number, the vessel - are concrete numbers, that can't be just made up, as they are verifyable... If there is a real engine out there, really in transit, all of those things are easily available... if there is nothing - you get further runaround about those things...

I have shipped a few things across oceans, and there websites that you can track containers on the boats and everything in between, just like a fedex shipment...

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

I am trying to figure out, what is wrong with the customs procedure??? The BMW AG ships sh!tload of engines and transmissions from Germany (see origin content on Z and X) to South Carolina to get the X and Z out the assembly plant. Why would THIS engine shipment be any different??? if it is a brand new engine, it is crated and shipped just like any OTHER brand new engine. I think that somebody is feeding you a line of crap as they think that you can't call them on their bluff.

the engine (if there is one to be shipped) may have not been shipped, may have not been authorised to be shipped, may have not been manufacturered (BMW AG stopped making brand new N62s that are fittable to the E53s, it is like demanding that BMW assembles a brand new E53)... I think, it is a unicorn that they are feeding you , while trying to figure out what to REALLY do in your situation.

4 months of lost usage, 4 months of payment on the car note (if you are paying for it), 4 months your property is in poorly handled custody of a dealer...

Demand to see the Bill of Lading for the engine shipment, ask for the engine serial number, ask for which vessel the engine is loaded onto, ask which port of entry the engine is at - those are specific questions aimed not to give you the engine serial (who cares about it!!) but to force the debils to give you the real answers... Those numbers, the Bill of lading, the serial number, the vessel - are concrete numbers, that can't be just made up, as they are verifyable... If there is a real engine out there, really in transit, all of those things are easily available... if there is nothing - you get further runaround about those things...

I have shipped a few things across oceans, and there websites that you can track containers on the boats and everything in between, just like a fedex shipment...

I think T is onto something here, I don't believe they have a new crated engine from Germany because I don't believe those are still in production, more than likely they are trying to source you a rebuilt or refurbished engine from somewhere overseas and are having problems, hangups, etc, and keep feeding you a line of bs.

The fact that you haven't gotten an attorney involved astounds me. Ever notice how things get done faster and to your satisfaction once litigation is involved? My wife got burned by a Pottery Barn glass beverage container which was intended for making fresh tea, well the idiots at that company decided not to tell the factory in China to make sure it was made with tempered glass, and the jar burst into a million pieces first time she filled it with boiling water. Minor burns on her legs and a few phone calls to Pottery Barn did basically nothing, all she wanted was a refund for the jar and for them to change the manufacture to tempered glass, they couldn't even give her the refund without getting "regional manager approval" since it was a gift from our wedding registry. Long story short a family friend is an attorney and decided to make a few phone calls, they are now "in talks" with the attorney to figure out a resolution quickly.


I'll call them out on their bluff and believe a brand new manufactured N62 4.8is engine from Germany in crate when I see it, there has to at least be other things in the shipment besides the engine? They make it seem like the engine is the only thing being held back?

[Doru]

Well, I guess: "Patience is a virtue" and honestly, I would have lost it a looong, loooong time ago.

[BigBlack48is]

I would shoot for a brand new battery also.... they obviously killed yours!

[TerminatorX5]

Also, bear in mind that parking a car for 4 months is not the same as driving the same car for 4 months - when the car is parked, it develops flat spots on the tires, the hoses start to dry rot along with the tires that are not flexed, many other problems may occur.. I had my car parked for a couple of years and even the paint started to peel... it happened to the E39...

[TwinTurboGTR]

Well atleast it is moving in a forward progression But I concur with the others... you have WAYYYYY more patience than most of us on the board. While it is nice to get a brand spankin new Motor in the beast... the run around is completely ridiculous.

Its not uncommon for the dealer to leave your car outside. Its not making them any money and every square foot of the shop costs the dealer money. Even thought there are empty bays... it cost less money to set a car in the bay right away than to have to move your car then put in another car that needs work done now. I mean if it was me... I would have set the car in the bay, on the lift and just left it.

I don't know how accurate I am on the price but I believe a new motor is North of 30K, right? The dealer is hemorrhaging cash on your job and them asking you to pay shop rate to install bags... just their way to recoup costs. I guess in the regular world if anyone else walked in and said, "I got the parts, you drop em in." I'm sure the dealer would say no because the parts weren't purchased by them. Perfect world... they should drop em in for free.

I hope when they drop the motor in, they will be replacing all the hoses in the bay. You know when the tech pulled the motor... probably had some aggression and just started yanking and pulling at things. Hopefully when you get it back... You dont see a slew of scratches on the panels from the tech rubbing against it. Before I started wrenching on cars and had no choice but to take it in... it always came out with scratches that left you scratching your head, "How the $*%& did that happen?"

Praying for ya!

[AquilaBMW]

I'm not one to shout "Law Suit" at anything, but in your case I would be seriously considering it. I have known of two cases similar to yours that ended in complete replacement of the cars.

This Dealer sadly seems to be taking your patience for granted. While they may appear to be doing what they can to rectify this issue, there are more things they should be doing or taking into consideration when dealing with you.

I would at least be in touch with BMW NA about this if you haven't contacted them already. In the cases I mentioned, BMW NA took the reins of the issue for the customer and brought about an expedient resolution.

Flat tires, dead batteries, what next? They should install those parts for you for free at this point. Did they provide you a loaner of equal status while you are dealing with this? Not sure if you mentioned one yet.

Good luck with this and I applaud your patience. I can say I would not have been this patient.

[bcredliner]

If this had happened to me, I would have gone ballistic when they blew my engine. If I calmed down enough to hear their original plan I would have called BMWUSA that same day. If somehow I managed to get to where you are now and I saw my X5 sitting outside with a flat tire, regardless if it wasn't garage at home, if there is something beyond ballistic that would be me. If you can garage your X it would be on a flatbed today, headed to my house or immediately in a safe indoor place at the dealer, no exception. If you are not comfortable demanding what is only reasonable than call your attorney now and have him deal with the dealer and BMWUSA. This is absolutely ridiculous and shameful treatment of a customer. It is way past time that you give them an ultimatum, a drop dead date, after which you will file suit against the dealer and BMWUSA if you don't have your X back in a condition that meets you approval. In the meantime, you will be dealing with my attorney. I will no longer accept you lack of consideration and urgency. If you don't think or want your attorney to take it over you should still give them a drop dead date.

I'm not sure it/what they gave you to drive but if it is compromising to you I would immediately demand what you feel is acceptable to you. They can make a set up a new demo for you to drive easily enough.

I have dealt with product coming from overseas for many years and very seldom had significant delays due to customs.

I can't believe they don't have the capability to get the engine through customs in a timely fashion they must deal with customs on a daily basis.

If they can't change the oil without blowing your engine it is not likely they could figure out how to fit a 2014 5.0 but at least that could be shipped from the US plant. May not sound as good but that would be lots of goodies.

[bcredliner]

If this had happened to me, I would have gone ballistic when they blew my engine. If I calmed down enough to hear their original plan I would have called BMWUSA that same day. If somehow I managed to get to where you are now and I saw my X5 sitting outside with a flat tire, regardless if it wasn't garage at home, if there is something beyond ballistic that would be me. If you can garage your X it would be on a flatbed today, headed to my house or immediately in a safe indoor place at the dealer, no exception. If you are not comfortable demanding what is only reasonable than call your attorney now and have him deal with the dealer and BMWUSA. This is absolutely ridiculous and shameful treatment of a customer. It is way past time that you give them an ultimatum, a drop dead date, after which you will file suit against the dealer and BMWUSA if you don't have your X back in a condition that meets you approval. In the meantime, you will be dealing with my attorney. I will no longer accept you lack of consideration and urgency. If you don't think or want your attorney to take it over you should still give them a drop dead date.

I'm not sure it/what they gave you to drive but if it is compromising to you I would immediately demand what you feel is acceptable to you. They can make a set up a new demo for you to drive easily enough.

I have dealt with product coming from overseas for many years and very seldom had significant delays due to customs.

I can't believe they don't have the capability to get the engine through customs in a timely fashion they must deal with customs on a daily basis.

If they can't change the oil without blowing your engine it is not likely they could figure out how to fit a 2014 5.0 but at least that could be shipped from the US plant. May not sound as good but that would be lots of goodies.

[Big "J"]

OMG! 4 months without your 4.8? I've got God given patience but, holy crap! Last year when mine got rear ended and taken to a body shop for 4 weeks and being without drove me insane! I was virtually up their a$$ daily for a progress report and having to drive a rental that was a 4 banger to boot!

Lawyer up if you haven't already and see how quickly things fall into place!

Good luck bro!