Dealer Blows my 4.8is engine!

[JCL]

I wouldn't bother with BMWNA at all, they are in no way involved. It was an honest mistake made by a dealer, and they need to stand behind it.

Warranty on their work means service warranty, not engine warranty. It means that if they put it in incorrectly, they stand behind that. Doesn't mean the engine won't fail from a cause unrelated to the transplant.

To be fair though, there was no warranty on the old 2005 engine, so I am not sure why the future risk is different with a one year newer engine (unless the mileage is significantly greater)

[JCL]

Originally Posted by upallnight

First off didn't they pull the dipstick to determine the level of the oil after they refilled the engine? That is what every DIYer will do when they do an oil change. If they can't or didn't do that what make you think they can transplant another engine from a different car into your?

The DIYer does it because he isn't using a metered oil fill system, and he might not have counted the empty bottles correctly. It is obviously not a BMW recommended procedure to check the dipstick, since BMW has now removed dipsticks from newer models.

I check the dipstick out of habit (if the vehicle has one). It just can't be called negligence not to do so.

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

Lots of great advice from previous members.... but as someone said before have BMW North America involved in this and choose another BMW dealer to do the work (if possible).

Good luck man!

Not sure that option is available. To be fair, the dealer screwed up so you have to at least give them the opportunity to make it right. You can't just call them incompetent and demand the work be done by another dealer.

[Bnagy4.8]

Update: So today I contacted Rhondas auto parts in Houston TX (the place that is sending the engine) come to find out that they pulled a bait and switch with the motor, I contacted them for a VIN number and it came up with a vehicle that has 76k miles on it from WA (where I live) that is at a local junk yard. After filling in the dealership of what I discovered, they contacted them and they lied to the dealership "Again". When they spoke to me their reasoning was that the engine would have cost to much to ship. This company went around the insurance company and BMW.

So, I went into the dealership to see what was going on and sure enough the service manager contacted them and they came clean that they hadn't shipped the engine, it would have cost to much, and that they were shipping one from California now. What!? So the service manager demanded information on the motor that they are sending, VIN, mileage, etc. and they didn't have that info other than saying "Its a beautiful engine".

Then they had the nerve to say that I was causing problems by calling them and asking about the engine and VIN number of the vehicle the engine came out of. REALLY!? who wouldn't want to know everything about the engine when it wasn't the one you purchased.

What a headache! But I will say BMW Northwest took care of business and got fired up over this issue. I just hope the end result will be good.

so HEADS UP! NEVER PURCHASE ANY PARTS FROM RHONDAS AUTO PARTS IN HOUSTON TX. They are scammers and liars!

[giodog2000]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Not sure that option is available. To be fair, the dealer screwed up so you have to at least give them the opportunity to make it right. You can't just call them incompetent and demand the work be done by another dealer.

Maybe you are right , but would you go to the same Indy to have an engine swap if they scewed up an oil change? BMW dealer's should have much higher standards when it comes to mechanics, why? Because they sell high end cars. You would never set foot in your indy garage after a f**k up like this knowing the first thing a mecanic learns is to check the dip stick after an oil change before starting the engine.....

Does BMWNA have a say when a dealer Fails like this? I think so , after all , it's the dealers who make or break the BMW banner reputation.... Please correct me again if I'm wrong

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

Maybe you are right , but would you go to the same Indy to have an engine swap if they scewed up an oil change? BMW dealer's should have much higher standards when it comes to mechanics, why? Because they sell high end cars. You would never set foot in your indy garage after a f**k up like this knowing the first thing a mecanic learns is to cheak the dip stick after an oil change before starting the engine.....

Does BMWNA have a say when a dealer Fails like this? I think so , after all , it's the dealers who make or break the BMW banner reputation.... Please correct me again if I'm wrong

I'm not saying what I prefer, he prefers or what others would prefer. All I'm saying is that's probably standard practice/policy - you screw up, you usually get a chance to make it right.

Think about BMW and its relationship with dealers. If you were the dealer, would you think its fair after having so much invested in becoming an authorized dealer, that you have no chance to rectify the situation?

BMW probably has the power to do many things but I doubt they will just cut the initial dealer completely out like that without a lot of probable cause - like maybe a bad history.

So, while I may agree about what he wants or what others want, that's not the point I'm trying to make.

In the end, I have no idea but just stating what I think like others are doing.

EDIT: I don't know about others but I know that I make plenty of mistakes. Sometimes they're stupid mistakes too. I hope people don't judge me by my mistakes but by how I handle my mistakes.

[electricalserv x5]

Dude go online to BMW ,they have a short engine[NEW] for $18k plus tax and installation,I wouldn,t have them do the install,if they can,t install oil..............

[bcredliner]

Regardless of the miles on the engine you won't know how the engine was treated, if the engine was ever overheated, run low on oil, ever had the oil changed, held in a lower gear at 6500rpms for 5 miles etc., etc. If the engine comes from a salvage yard you don't know how the X5 was hit, it could have been hit in the front of the engine and the damage has not yet surfaced. I suggest that the replacement engine should half or less mileage on the engine as yours so there is less chance the engine has been compromised in some way. I would track the vin back to a dealer so I could get a copy of all engine related service records. I suggest a mileage guarantee rather than warranty, to the tune of 75,000 to 100,000 miles. I suggest you negotiate now while you have the leverage. Hold contacting BMW USA while you negotiate. If Dealer does give you what you want, then go to BMW USA and calmly and assertively explain what you are unhappy and what you think is fair. If the dealer doesn't come around tell him that you are going to contact BMW USA before you do and give them one last chance to do better.

[giodog2000]

To each his own , but this is not only a scratch mag we are talking about....I , personally , would call BMWNA right away and get them involved in this ASAP. If you wait til the job is done and something goes bad after the fact , BMWNA will not want to get involved ... Just guessing here!!!!!!

At least call them and ask for advice without name dropping and see what they tell you....

[JCL]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

Does BMWNA have a say when a dealer fails like this? I think so, after all, it's the dealers who make or break the BMW banner reputation.... Please correct me again if I'm wrong

Sorry, but you are wrong. If BMW was in the business of pulling dealerships then we could point to a list of empty buildings that used to be BMW dealerships. Ain't gonna happen.

Dealers are independent businesses. If the problem was with a new BMW, or a failure to perform warranty work according to the warranty agreement, then BMWNA could be involved. But with an oil change on a used vehicle out of warranty? It has nothing to do with BMW.

The dealer made a mistake. They didn't fail, the technician did. The dealer appears to be standing behind it. They have provided alternate transportation in the meantime. They are trying to get the OP back on the road in his own vehicle, with an equivalent engine. He should just give them a chance to do so. I know it is hard, and frustrating, but I think he should just let them sort it out, IMO.