Trip Interruption Insurance + untruthful vendor

[JCL]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

About towing distance, I noticed last night that the manual says not to tow at speeds in excess of 45 mph or a distance greater than 90 miles. My X was towed close to 90 miles and I believe we drove faster than 45 mph.

A few comments:

As I understand it, you were towed on a flat deck truck (with all the X5 wheels not turning on your vehicle) when they finally got it right. If so, you don't need to worry about the towing speed and distance limits. Those limits apply if the vehicle is being flat towed on the ground, with all the wheels turning, by either a rope or towbar. They don't apply to being towed on a flatdeck. The limits are there because of reduced lubrication in the transmission when the vehicle engine is stopped but the output shaft is spinning.


The damage to the suspension can be checked fairly easily. There are three things to look for (speaking as an ex-tow truck driver and mechanic).

1. The first is body damage from cables or chains that were connected under the vehicle. That would usually be the air dam or front apron, for example.
2. The second is if the cables or chains were connected to components that can't take the pull, such as anti-roll bars or brake lines (two famous examples). If the cables or chains were connected to solid suspension components, it is less likely that there is damage (but check point 1).
3. The third is damage to items like suspension boots (which are rubber) due to the use of J hooks, which are the easiest thing for the tow truck driver to use. Imagine a very large (ie 12") fish hook, and that the hook pulls fine in the valley of the J, but that the point spears something else (like a rubber suspension boot). Hope that explanation makes sense.

What you need from the BMW dealer are pictures taken of any apparent damage, with the date on the photo. Always handy for discussions later.

The transmission is not likely to be damaged by winching the vehicle on to the flat deck. The oily surface solution sounds very messy. The correct approach, if the transmission can not be shifted into neutral, is to use 'skates' which are attached to the rear wheels and are essentially dollies that hold the truck up a few inches.

Sorry for all your trouble. Ask away if you have any further specific questions.

Jeff

[GPSnV1]

Thanks for this excellent post that corrects some of my misdirection.

How long do you think I have before having the dealer check this? Since they will not give me a loaner for this, the coming week is a challenge because I find out on Monday if the newly elected bishop is going to rehire me and thus need to be available all week.

Or do I have time to first sort out the complaint with BMWNA and/or BMW Assist? The 1st operator pulled the cables then stopped when he was convinced the SAV was still in park.

BTW, I lived in Vancouver Canada for three years and enjoyed a return visit there last year. Wish they would have sent someone to me from Tulsa as it could have saved time and would have been safer for all concerned. We lost over an hour learning with the first tow company.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

Thanks for this excellent post that corrects some of my misdirection.

How long do you think I have before having the dealer check this? Since they will not give me a loaner for this, the coming week is a challenge because I find out on Monday if the newly elected bishop is going to rehire me and thus need to be available all week.

Or do I have time to first sort out the complaint with BMWNA and/or BMW Assist? The 1st operator pulled the cables then stopped when he was convinced the SAV was still in park.

BTW, I lived in Vancouver Canada for three years and enjoyed a return visit there last year. Wish they would have sent someone to me from Tulsa as it could have saved time and would have been safer for all concerned. We lost over an hour learning with the first tow company.

I infer from your post that you are back at home, have your X5 in your driveway, and have both a nagging concern about whether there was any damage, as well as a claim against BMW Assist for your trip interuption costs.

I was thinking that Tulsa BMW had your vehicle and could take photos while it was on the hoist. If it is driving fine, I wouldn't panic about doing it right now, but for peace of mind it would be worth scheduling a visit to your dealer when convenient, for you to wait while they hoist it up and look for any apparent damage. It would be 30 minutes or less if you arranged a time that was convenient to both of you. If they find something from a visual inspection, then the repair could be scheduled depending on their evaluation of the risk to keep driving it. If they do find damage, then you want photos of the damage (the date on the photos isn't as important now, that was to tie the photos to the state of the vehicle immediately following the failed tow attempt).

As an aside, you and all other E70 owners should be aware of the procedure for putting the vehicle in neutral, and releasing the emergency brake, in the event of breakdown. It doesn't need to be memorized, just be aware that there is an instruction in the owner's manual. Essentially, there are two special tools (release levers) stored under the rear floor in the tool kit. The parking brake release is in the left rear compartment in the luggage area, and the transmission release is under the rubber mat in the front seat cupholders. The instructions are on pages 66-72 of the 2009 owner's manual. You may never need to use them, but be aware of them at least, due to the nature of the electonic application/release controls, and the potential of a flat battery and no way to move the vehicle.

Final comment is that there are several parties involved in any service call. Your dealer, and the dealer where you broke down, are each independent businesses. They know about BMWs, in general. BMW Assist is a call centre, and may or may not know about a specific problem with your vehicle. What they really know is how to determine your location, and dispatch a contract service company. In a major centre, it is likely that that company will get all the BMW calls and will thus have a level of familiarity with the brand. The one they called first in your case is likely an independent tow company with a driver that may have never seen a BMW before. Yes, I would hope that wouldn't happen, but tow truck drivers (especially the ones working late shifts in rural areas) are not trained on all vehicles. They have a wide range of aptitudes and skill levels, just like the rest of society. The tow company is not likely associated with the BMW dealer. I worked in a family automotive repair business, and drove the tow truck summers going through university. If I didn't know how to get into a locked car, or how to tow it safely, using my CAA/AAA resources, I went slowly and carefully. I hardly ever damaged a vehicle that I can recall, but I am sure it did happen occasionally, and the owner was generally reimbursed for that damage. I do know that I have met many tow truck drivers, who applied a level of care that exceeded mine, to none at all. They can give all the rest a very bad reputation.

Hope it all works out.