Engine Malfunction #2 Cause Found?

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by ABMW

Okay,

Called BMWNA. Service rep has a recording that says "she's out of the office till Monday." Called back and got another service rep. She said, "how can the dealer diagnose the issue if it can't be easily repeated? Maybe they can keep it for a few days and see, but I mean if they can't repeat it, what do you want them to do? I'll let your BMW customer service rep (the woman who's out of town) know that you called."

In short, that summed up the phone call. My response, which was again extraordinarily polite, was that the situation is inexcusable, etc.etc. and everything else one can say that goes in one ear and out the other. She was apologetic, but that was about it, offering no solutions, suggestions, or other sort of helpful info..blah, blah...

Turns out there was no mention of the stalling in my file, whatsoever, only reference to floor mats that were not included in the vehicle, despite a 20-minute phone call, specifically about the issue with the woman at BMWNA. Funny, no mention = no records.

So, you tell me: is this a BMWNA issue at the moment or a Dealer issue? Right now, both, obviously.

Well, my parents talked to a lawyer about issues being not duplicable. Basically, he said that it is the manufacturers job to find the problem and fix it. He didn't go in depth about it, so I have nothing else to add, but I still think this lawyer does know what he's talking about.

[ard]

Originally Posted by MINIz guy

Well, my parents talked to a lawyer about issues being not duplicable. Basically, he said that it is the manufacturers job to find the problem and fix it. He didn't go in depth about it, so I have nothing else to add, but I still think this lawyer does know what he's talking about.

Only problem is that it will cost you $120,000 in lawyers fees to make BMW do 'their job'.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by ABMW

Okay,

Called BMWNA. Service rep has a recording that says "she's out of the office till Monday." Called back and got another service rep. She said, "how can the dealer diagnose the issue if it can't be easily repeated? Maybe they can keep it for a few days and see, but I mean if they can't repeat it, what do you want them to do? I'll let your BMW customer service rep (the woman who's out of town) know that you called."

In short, that summed up the phone call. My response, which was again extraordinarily polite, was that the situation is inexcusable, etc.etc. and everything else one can say that goes in one ear and out the other. She was apologetic, but that was about it, offering no solutions, suggestions, or other sort of helpful info..blah, blah...

Turns out there was no mention of the stalling in my file, whatsoever, only reference to floor mats that were not included in the vehicle, despite a 20-minute phone call, specifically about the issue with the woman at BMWNA. Funny, no mention = no records.

So, you tell me: is this a BMWNA issue at the moment or a Dealer issue? Right now, both, obviously.

Have you tried different SA's?

[ard]

Originally Posted by ABMW

Okay,

Called BMWNA. Service rep has a recording that says "she's out of the office till Monday." Called back and got another service rep. She said, "how can the dealer diagnose the issue if it can't be easily repeated?

This is a common "lazy man" excuse... yes, sometimes you cannot. But if you look at the work order posted by mini, you can see that (1) error codes are stored, and (2) diagnostics tests that drill down to problems are possible.

It does not need to be 'failed' when they get it.

Now, some isuse may be harder than others, but what it boils down to is if the dealer can get BMW to pay for the work, they will do it. Many SAs never press hard for a PUMA case to be opened and the issue isn't resolved.

If you think BMWNA will "make" the dealer care, well, you are pushing a rope.

A

[Penguin]

One other point about the NHTSA complaint database. I do not know about nowadays, but in the past there was at least one instance where it was obvious BMW was impacted by the complaint. The Z4 with it's Electric Steering had some problems back in 2003/4 sticking when the ambient temperature got hot. One person had no joy after repeated trips to his dealer, and his dealer said BMW also told them they could not replace anything until the dealer could replicate the problem. So about a month later the person filed a complaint with NHTSA. About a week after that, the dealer called him up and said the BMW had shipped them an unrequested new steering assembly with his name on it, and that he should drop the Z4 off to have it installed.

Coincidence? The dealer certainly was surprised.

[ard]

MY BRAND NEW 2010 BMW X5 35D HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES, IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. THE VEHICLE FLASHES "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND "REDUCED POWER." THERE IS NO WAY TO CURE THIS ISSUE, AND IT ONLY SELF-CORRECTS AFTER A MATTER OF MANY MINUTES. WHEN THROTTLE IS APPLIED, DURING SUCH AN INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE BUCKS WILDLY, BETWEEN STALLING AND STARTING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER BMW X5 OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. NO FAULT CODES ARE REGISTERING ON THE COMPUTER AND THE VEHICLE SELF-CORRECTS AFTER STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES VIA THE PUSH-BOTTOM STOP BUTTON. ONCE THIS TOOK 3-HOURS TO RECTIFY, WHILE I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT TIMES IN WHICH I'M MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS, NARROWLY AVOIDING A HIGH-SPEED IMPACT. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 4,000 MILES ON IT. MY DEALER HAS BEEN UNRECEPTIVE TO THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE AND THEY TOOK A REPORT BUT NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK. I'VE LEFT MESSAGES WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BMW NORTH AMERICA AND STILL NO RESOLVE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL OR MALFUNCTION. I FEEL I CAN HANDLE AN EMERGENCY, OR AT LEAST LESSEN A POTENTIAL IMPACT IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO, BUT I DO NOT FEEL THE SAME ABOUT MY WIFE. THE CAR LOOSES ALL BRAKE AND STEERING PRESSURE, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS HAVE SOLD THEIR VEHICLES AS A RESULT, BUT THOSE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO END UP IN THE HANDS OF OWNERS WHO WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE, IN AN INTERSECTION, AND IS KILLED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PLEASE ASSIST US IN OBTAINING RELIEF TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE. YOU CAN VISIT THIS FORUM, WHICH IS ONE OF DOZENS, THAT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE ISSUE IN QUESTION. HTTP://WWW.XOUTPOST.COM/BMW-SAV-FORU...SAME-TIME.HTML

Dozens? more than one? Like 2 dozen?

How many have sold their cars due to this?

Whomever posted this appears to have lied in this complaint.

[ABMW]

Originally Posted by ard

Dozens? more than one? Like 2 dozen?

How many have sold their cars due to this?

Whomever posted this appears to have lied in this complaint.

There are dozens of BMW forums, and nearly all of them have mention of the X5 error message I'm obtaining and it appears go back all the way to 2008, maybe farther.

I have no idea how many people sold their cars. We know already of one person on this forum: Craig, who has, and ordered a Lexus and others who have said they are doing the same. I've spoken directly to people who have sold their X5s for this exact reason, and reasons very similar to this. It's accurate to assume these vehicles will end up back on the street, in the hands of unsuspecting buyers.

We know that Consumer Reports is giving the car bad ratings. I know the service manager at my dealer reported that she's seen, in her words, "many" 35ds with identical issues.

Not everyone can afford to sell their car and take a $30k hit, and then buy another vehicle.

Personally ARD, I could care less about your doubts that this issue exists, or your knowledge of automobiles. Many know it exists, and it's not confined to BMW X5s by any means.

I've worked on vehicles all my life, restored cars from the ground up, built engines, restored motorcycles, and even planes and boats. What I can't do, nor can anyone else whom I know, is fix a modern vehicle that relies upon complex electronics. I can't repair a complex stability control system that's failed, or a faulty sensor, etc. While I'm handy with a soldering gun, and I've repaired more than a few circuit boards in my time, I'm not about to go monkeying around with the fuel system of my new $70k SUV.

But, since you're in such doubt, Don't take my word for it. This problem exists throughout the entire line, with most of the issues being the result of fuel pumps or other issues that relate to fuel transport from a vehicle's tank to it's engine.

Google the following phrase exactly: "Engine malfunction reduced power"

[ard]

Originally Posted by ABMW

There are dozens of BMW forums, and nearly all of them have mention of the X5 error message I'm obtaining and it appears go back all the way to 2008, maybe farther.

I have no idea how many people sold their cars. We know already of one person on this forum: Craig, who has, and ordered a Lexus and others who have said they are doing the same. I've spoken directly to people who have sold their X5s for this exact reason, and reasons very similar to this. It's accurate to assume these vehicles will end up back on the street, in the hands of unsuspecting buyers.

We know that Consumer Reports is giving the car bad ratings. I know the service manager at my dealer reported that she's seen, in her words, "many" 35ds with identical issues.

Not everyone can afford to sell their car and take a $30k hit, and then buy another vehicle.

Personally ARD, I could care less about your doubts that this issue exists, or your knowledge of automobiles. Many know it exists, and it's not confined to BMW X5s by any means.

I've worked on vehicles all my life, restored cars from the ground up, built engines, restored motorcycles, and even planes and boats. What I can't do, nor can anyone else whom I know, is fix a modern vehicle that relies upon complex electronics. I can't repair a complex stability control system that's failed, or a faulty sensor, etc. While I'm handy with a soldering gun, and I've repaired more than a few circuit boards in my time, I'm not about to go monkeying around with the fuel system of my new $70k SUV.

But, since you're in such doubt, Don't take my word for it. This problem exists throughout the entire line, with most of the issues being the result of fuel pumps or other issues that relate to fuel transport from a vehicle's tank to it's engine.

Google the following phrase exactly: "Engine malfunction reduced power"

I have no doubt the issue exists.

I have rarely come across such a blowhard.

[ABMW]

Originally Posted by ard

I have no doubt the issue exists.

I have rarely come across such a blowhard.

All in response to the liar comment ARD and the sarcasm, what do you expect after your comment? Roses?

[Wagner]

Not sure you can lump together every issue that prompts a "Engine Malfunction" error as related. The only thing relating them is the error respons triggered. The N54 issues is entirely to itself, but exceedingly dangerous. It is truly too bad that more service departments aren't like Russel BMW in Maryland, they would go out of their way to help with any issue I had. And BMW has had "issues" for a while. Going back to my new at the time 2003 M3 whose weather stripping fell off at 500-1000 miles, 545 that blew its active suspension, 645 that dropped its entire electronics stack (DVD-iDrive-Radio) and couldn't shut its sunroof....and so on and so forth. It isn't a new thing or a new experience the trick is finding a reliable SA. I don't know if ard doubted the existence of your specific issue but the implied notion that it was systemic through X5's and thusly something BMW is a manufacturer was inherently responsible for recalling.