2011 35d Fire/Smoldering (help needed!)

[ABMW]

Originally Posted by ard

I did this ONCE, many years ago. NEVER again.

I am VERY particular, and as it turns out 95% of the public is stupid when it comes to paint.... "Oh, it looks so shiny" seems the basis for evaluation.

I had a minor issue on an Infitinti Q45 that I let them paint- they blew it and had to redo it. They blew that. It went from a quarter panel paint/blend/ clearcoat to 'two doors, quarter panel, trunk and rear bumper blend' with a 'remove front and rear glass, all trim, clearcoat all of the above panels PLUS roof and pillars'.

Do not give them the chance to F it up.... set expectations up front.

My 2 cents

A

ARD I'm with you on the paint 100%. Looks are 10% of a paint job. It's what's beneath that final coat of color and clear, that makes all the difference.

To everyone else, thanks all for the comments. I agree about the electrical issue, if a loom or harness were burned or shorted, it should be obvious. Then again, this dealership missed some major electrical issues on my past 35d, which resulted in it shorting out its main computer for the second time. So, who knows. It's not rocket science, and should be a simple affair.

Though the remains of a bag should have been obvious also, or even cosmoline, as they claim (I'm told they're no longer using cosmoline, but a similar substance). The service manager told me they would replace the wheel, the fender, and see about the door. He seemed genuine, but I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure it will require some haggling. It's a lot of damage for them to absorb. They're cost on it is probably around $2,500, I'd bet, for everything.

I'm most concerned about the door. I ran a detail shop, in my youth. I agree to the person who said better paint jobs can be performed, but replicating to an existing level of orange peel is nearly impossible, especially at a BMW Collision Center. They're just not skilled enough.

It may be best to have them clay the entire car, buff the area well, with increasingly less course buffing compounds, then wax the car, apply glaze. The scratch will still be visible, but I'm not trusting this dealership any longer, period. If they can get rid of the ridges on the scratch (which goes down to the metal), and they compensate a bit for the damage, I think I'd accept that over a botched paint job.

It's simply bad luck, nothing else. I've read of a few 35d that have burned down also, but nothing routine or to the point that there appears to be a pattern, unless BMW knows something I don't or we (as a board don't). I think it's just bad luck, pure and simple. Yes the odds of two lemons in a row are high, but it happens, I suppose?

This car is my baby. It handles so well and looks so great, I can't fathom giving it up. I was thrilled to receive the new model, after the problems with the old one, everything was perfect, until this.

The SPI inspection is rare, and I don't know what the acronym stands for.

But, in short, I was told that there are 5-individuals in the U.S. that travel the country, conducting SPIs. When they perform an SPI, the spend as much time as is required inspecting every inch of the vehicle. It's basically a teardown of the vehicle's safety systems, to make sure everything is operating as it should. It's VERY rare, but so is a smoking 35D!

I did get a 2009 X3 loaner, with no fuss. Given that this is the 2nd X5 in a row with a major issue, and the damage caused by the tow, they're taking it far more seriously this time around.

Again, I really do think this is a case of bad luck, and that BMW is surely capable of producing trouble free vehicles. I know many of you have had zero issues or minor routine bugs. But truly for the life of me, having accidentally fried motorcycles electronics to avionics on airplanes, I'd never mistake the smell of burnt electronics. Maybe a wire scrap was on the cat and it caught fire. The smell is akin to melting lead, copper, and insulation (for those of you who solder, it's similar, or that of a venting battery, etc.)

If my wife had not been there I would have opened the hood, but given the SOS guy was on the line and directed me not to, I could see them declining a warranty claim, if the thing went up in smoke, due to me adding oxygen to whatever was smoldering. Even if it was cosmoline, with more oxygen, it could have produced a flame. The Fire Dept. was in no rush to put out a BMW car fire, trust me. I don't blame them. It's like a "cat in a tree call." They just wanted to see a cool car, and in that regard they were awesome and agreed with the smell, etc., took a report, and were on their way.

I really don't want another lemon or the hassle of having to get a new car. I love BMWs and I love this X5. I

If it was cosmoline or a similar compound, I'd be thrilled. That's an easy fix. As long as they repair the wheel, door and fender, I'd consider the dealer and I square.

The service manager was pissed, so again we'll see if he produces. To those who said they're afraid of taking delivery of the 35d, don't be. I've just had a run of bad luck, pure and simple. It could even be something weird they're doing during they're pre-check. Who knows. There could be a short in their own equipment, that they're interfacing with the 35ds. I don't know if it's possible, but maybe there's a virus in their software updates? I'm just throwing out weird/potentials. I don't know. BTW, a PUMA case is already open. The higher ups are calling the shots right now.

Thanks all for the advice, it's much appreciated. I'll keep you all updated, but the advice is great. I am now going to stand firm in not taking the car back without a guarantee that the damage to the vehicle will be repaired, etc.