What is going on with BMW build quality lately?

[bigx5er]

Maybe a dumb question, but how much does the replacement knob cost?

[Xtony]

I usually bribe my dealer by telling them I won't be able to give them good scores on the surveys. That will really get their attention.

[rh71]

Well I got my car back today after reporting both the steering wheel and the light switch peel. I gifted my SA some dunkin donuts so I'm not sure if that helped but he had no problems getting both done - it took a day for one part to come in and 2 days for the other. On the receipt next to these 2 items there's no claim type or auth code (both blank). There's an FC number though, not sure what that is.

When he left me a VM to come pick the car up he asked me to rate him highly... so that definitely carries a lot of weight in their minds. I think if you can't get it replaced, do try bringing up the rating, otherwise you need to go to another dealer and try.

On another note I brought it in primarily for the idrive being dark, randomly. It went 2 weeks straight without the normal brightness (even after multiple reboots) and then more recently it was 50/50 chance of it working on startup. Of course they couldn't duplicate it so he just had the firmware updated to the latest. We'll see. BTW, has the backup camera always had the full-screen capability (old idrive)? It does now... never noticed that option before. Maybe I just liked the PDC on the right and forgot.

[m5james]

I find it truely sad that people basically have to kiss the SA's ass just to get anything done. What happened to just good ol' service because it's their...job.

[Weasel]

I think it has more to do with other things than that... warranty index could be a major factor as well. If the warranty index gets too high at a dealer they can get audited.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by m5james

I find it truely sad that people basically have to kiss the SA's ass just to get anything done. What happened to just good ol' service because it's their...job.

Well it should be that they should kiss our ass to get high ratings but that doesn't seem to work. What's left right?

He also reprogrammed the car even though BMW does not want them to unless there's a bulletin on it. It's all about them going the extra mile. That certainly isn't their job so it works for me.

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by bigx5er

Maybe a dumb question, but how much does the replacement knob cost?

It's not a dumb question. According to my SA and the parts guy, you can't replace the knob by itself. It's the whole control. It's about $130 for the part. Unsure about the labor. Obviously, it would be more cost effective to just fork out the money myself to have it fixed. It just leaves a very bad taste in ones mouth.

I'm not here trying to get something fixed that I broke. It's something that is defective that they are claiming I caused.

I'm still working on it to get it resolved. But it looks like this dealership won't be getting my business again. It's sad that most dealerships now only give BMW loaner cars to people that bought the car from them.

I wish bearing gifts to my service advisor would have worked. But these guys just seem like they really don't care about their customers.

[DeePee]

I've noticed your location is in SoCal, mtech. Just this a.m., i brought my 07 X5 to the dealership (Savage) for the ticking noise in the engine and also informed my SA about the peeling finish in the steering wheel and the deteriorating light knob. The SA didn't give me a call for status until the end of this day (but he forewarned me earlier that my car might be in their garage x 5 days (including weekends) as there would be a lot of work. I hope I won't have problem with the warranty issue like you've been dealing...but I totally agree with you, how can it be a "wear and tear" when you hardly touched the knob as it the headlights are supposed to be in auto mode? Maybe folks at BMWNA would realize that there are similar problems or issues in the vehicles they've been making.

[ABMW]

Originally Posted by davahad

Give the service manager a deadline for making the warranty repair and if they won't tell them that you are taking them to Small Claims Court to let a judge decide if it should be covered under warranty. You might also want to name BMW North America in the small claims suit. After doing this I'm sure you will get their attention and they will take care of it under warranty.

I'm taking this route, naming the dealer, the SA, and BMWNA as defendants. I'm giving them a 10-day deadline to address several issues. If need be, I'll elevate it to Superior Court, and file a suit against all of the above to have them refund my money, taxes, and attorneys fees.

It will get their attention, I'm sure. You can't have an attorney in small claims court, but it helps to be married to one,who also happens to be on the title and loan of the vehicle and will most certainly be named as a plaintiff.

I'm drafting the complaint and filing it tomorrow, given I can squeeze it in. Otherwise next week. If the dealer, BMWNA and the SA cooperate, I'll withdraw the filing. If anyone wants assistance on how to go about this, feel free to PM me.

It's very easy if your the plaintiff and if the defendants do not show, after proper service has been rendered upon them a default judgement will likely be entered. They'll know this, and it's far easier for them to simply fix the issue than be "forced" to fix the issue, and open themselves up to further damages down the road.

[ard]

Originally Posted by ABMW

I'm taking this route, naming the dealer, the SA, and BMWNA as defendants. I'm giving them a 10-day deadline[

Really? Starting when?

Originally Posted by ABMW

If need be, I'll elevate it to Superior Court,

How will you 'elevate' it?

Originally Posted by ABMW

and file a suit against all of the above to have them refund my money, taxes, and attorneys fees.

Wait, you will elevate it to superior court AND THEN file a suit?? So what exactly are you elevating before it is a suit?

Originally Posted by ABMW

It will get their attention, I'm sure. You can't have an attorney in small claims court, but it helps to be married to one,who also happens to be on the title and loan of the vehicle and will most certainly be named as a plaintiff.

Uh oh. "certainly"... an attorney (of some kind) certainly named as a plaintiff? that will scare them. They will just write a check for $50k more than you want just to avoid having an attorney named as a plantiff

Originally Posted by ABMW

I'm drafting the complaint and filing it tomorrow, given I can squeeze it in. Otherwise next week. If the dealer, BMWNA and the SA cooperate, I'll withdraw the filing.

Again, confused.. you are writing them a letter torrrow, or filing a suit?

You don't 'file' a letter to the BMW, the dealer, the SA, their kids, neighbors and dogs... you send them a letter.

Originally Posted by ABMW

If anyone wants assistance on how to go about this, feel free to PM me.

I'd sooner get my legal advice from the internet.

Originally Posted by ABMW

It's very easy if your the plaintiff and if the defendants do not show, after proper service has been rendered upon them a default judgement will likely be entered. They'll know this, and it's far easier for them to simply fix the issue than be "forced" to fix the issue, and open themselves up to further damages down the road.

Let us know when you file. Whatever you file. If you file. or whatever..