Lost a driveshaft today..

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by JCL

Disagree, at least if the parts book is correct. Yours is listed as a 2009, so is different than these.

Look at this link; notice the dates of manufacture and the break point, the list of models, and the lengths of the different driveshafts:

4-WHEEL drive SHAFT/INSERT nut. Fits: 2010 BMW X Series (E53,E70,E71,E83) X5 | BMW of South Atlanta

Yeah I see what you are saying. I can see the reason why the V8 models have the 2 universal joints, but can't see the reason why the other models changed as well. Probably a parts cost issue. That way they can have one driveshaft for all the models instead of 2.

[AtlX]

Looks like next week before car is ready as they are awaiting parts. Apparently there was some secondary damage to the oil pan when the shaft came off. Rep didn't have the part number for the shaft, but should be on the repair sheet when I pick up the car.

[AtlX]

Apparently replacement oil pans for the 50i are hard to come by. Most likely next week before it arrives from Germany. Going through some serious withdrawal pains.

[AtlX]

Picked up the car today after 26 days in the shop. Much work was done to repair the damage. Two weeks of delay were due to having a new oil pan shipped from Germany, as the original was damaged when the driveshaft sheared off. Ended up with a new driveshaft, transfer case, and oil pan.

The driveshaft part was #26207597649; consistent with part #2 in the prior post.

So glad to be out of the rental...

[Xtony]

Wow! 26 days? Which dealer was this so I never go there? If it's Global, I never go there anyway.

[ard]

4 days until it is a lemon, no?

[AtlX]

Originally Posted by Xtony

Wow! 26 days? Which dealer was this so I never go there? If it's Global, I never go there anyway.

Dealer was in Chattanooga, near where the car broke down. Tough to say if they dropped the ball and added to the delay, but you never know.

[AtlX]

I hate to extend this tread, but need some advice. After 26 days in the shop to repair a failed driveshaft and related damage, I got to drive my car for 3 days before going back in the shop. The check engine light come on, along with a high pitched vibration from the front end. After another 8 days in the shop, I was optimistic after they replaced the differential, 5 injector heads and a faulty mass air flow meter.

This morning, with the family in the car, I get an engine malfunction/reduced power light and the transmission slips into neutral. Restarting the car clears it up temporarily, but the malfunction issue returns, so back in the shop tomorrow.

All repairs and loaner cars have been covered under warranty, but all this down time is impacting my work related travel. Most of my trips involve 6-8 hours of driving, so my confidence in the reliability of this particular car is now rock bottom. I've got one year left on the lease, but with 34 days of the last 37 days in the shop, and the prospect of another week or weeks out of commission, I am trying to figure out my options.

Anybody have experience addressing an issue like this with BMW finance? Any advice?

[blondboinsd]

I say it's time to talk buy back. I'd be livid if I was in your shoes and demand a new car

[ard]

Originally Posted by AtlX

I hate to extend this tread, but need some advice.


Anybody have experience addressing an issue like this with BMW finance? Any advice?

Yes.

Time to think dispassionately- this is a MAJOR defect. They MAY have repaired one isolated issue, only to get unlucky again, or they may have been a deeper issue that lead to all this, or the yahoos doing the work F-ed something else up...point is YOU DO NOT CARE. The copy YOU got is...a lemon.

Time to pull the rip cord, IMO.

I've posted A LOT, here and on bimmerfest about lemoning. I get a lot of PMs too. Here is what you do:

1. Research the law in your state. Where you titled the car. DO YOU ALREADY MEET THE STATUTORY TRIGGER for a lemon claim? If yes, good. If no, WAIT UNTIL YOU DO.

2. Call BMW Customer Relations. Not finance. Not the dealer. Now, this part is important- they will sound stupid, disinterested and mildly helpful- but will STALL you with a promise to 'research and get back to you'. They will be ernest and insistent. You have a choice- if you want to waste a week, you can do this. if you want to get past this point you should tell the operator you are considering filing a lemon claim, and will be sending a certified letter to BMWNA- (ask them to confirm the address which you will read from your maintenance/warranty booklet.) This usually gets you to the paralegal group. Tell them you will be sending them a demand letter to buy the car back.

Note: If you are seeking to avoid a lemon, and do a trade-assist, do not SAY you ARE doing a lemon..use words like 'may', 'might', etc. It might be appropriate to dial back the early rhetoric here, and let them loop in the dealership sales people...but DO NOT expect miracles. When they delay you it is to avoid a lemon AND to avoid a buyback- they will say "give us one last try" etc, etc..their goal is to have you keep the car, period. However given what has happened to your car, I'd refuse any offers to help that result in you in the car past June....

3. You will ultimately need to send them a demand. It should list defect, time, mileage and days in shop. In my state the buyback/lemon amount was calculate to the FIRST occurrence of the defect - might not be much help in this sityation, but mine was at 9k miles and lemoned it at 32k. Big $$ impact. Your situation will be different...any issues with noises from the front end noted in a Work Order?? When you send this, use Certified US mail AND a copy via Fax.

4. BMW will not be helpful, nice, courteous, cooperative, prompt, nor professional. You are, essentially, trying to become a non-customer. Don't take it personally.

If you want to do a trade assist and think you can avoid a buyback, this is done in cooperation with the dealer. Will they be helpful? What is your relationship with the service manager and sales folks where the car is now (ie the 'home' dealer)

Anyway, some food for thought....

A