2007 X5 4.8is, 17000 miles, 4X4 error message, over $5000 repair

[jspdr]

Just wanted to add one thing. Check with them if they still have your old tires to return to you, bring them to tire shops to get their expert opinion on safety, or look for tires measurements written on your estimate. If proven SA had lied and represented false statement like tires need to be changed otherwise could not give you a pass on safety check. They might have committed some wrong doing here. Make sure you mention this to everyone you complaint to.

Discuss with The service manager first to find out their decision to resolve the issue right away. Keep working up the chain for solution in writing, then leave your car.

[ard]

Originally Posted by nomadicm

I really appreciate it!

I will collect all the paper work and post here.

But meanwhile I wonder what I should do now: leave the vehicle there?

Another issue is that the parking camera was working but it stopped working after the first repair.

Yes, the battery is the original one.

First, I'd tell them "send me all the old paperwork and test results, AND the current stuff- I want to get anotehr opinion"...add, "while we are waiting on that, you can fix the back up camera you broke." Make sure they acknowledge they do not have permission for any work that will cost you a dime. If the camera repair is NOT on the work order, demand they do so and fax a copy to you.

(Note: I always write "written approvals required" on my work orders...I never allow 'telephone approvals'...virtually all work orders allow them to jot down a telephone (verbal) approval for expanded costs)

I would take the car back from the dealer, and get a replacement AGM battery elsewhere...if you cannot install it find someone who can. Better, get the dealer to do it for $250 or less. Point out they've screwed you enough, they can do it for $250 or you're outta there...might work.

These cars will get weird errors when batteries start dropping voltages- yes, you'd think BMW dealers would get this right, but the transient low voltage/current causes the modules to throw faults and the BMW diagnostics do not recognize the proper underlying cause. They will get all kinds of strange codes and replace stuff for no reason....When you see multiple errors from disparate systems (4x4; seat belt, etc) you think systemic (voltage) issues...

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by ard

first, you've proven to this dealer/SA that you dont know what you are oing and that you are fine with being bent over and abused...

Bigtime!

[jeremym]

Wow. 17k miles on a 2007? Maybe you should drive it more!

I do agree with ard here. You're being bent over by the dealer (no offense, of course)...you need to take matters into YOUR court and TELL them what YOU WANT. Don't trust them, ever. Only time I'd trust them is if I had a warranty and nothing would cost me--in general terms.

Either find a good indy, or negotiate with the dealer on YOUR terms. Don't let them just tell you you need to pay $3000-$5000 and be fine with it.

GOOD LUCK!

[RougeTrooper]

Originally Posted by nomadicm

I really appreciate it!

Yes, the battery is the original one.

I got all the errors you stated on my dash when my battery died last year on my 2007. For all you know, you just had a bad or dying battery!


Did you have any other actual symptoms or just the warnings? What work did they charge you $1500 for? If it's actual stuff like oil change, break fluid flush. power steering flush etc...then at least you got something out of it. But if they claim they were diagnosing the warnings, I will be soooo disappointed in that dealership.

[nomadicm]

I sent out this email yesterday morning and haven't heard from my service advisor since. no phone calls and no email.

Right now I have a loaner car to drive from the dealer. I wonder if they charge for it. I am leaving for a trip in a week and will be back in a month. I wonder if I should get my vehicle back first. In theory if they didn't fix the problem they charged for, Can I ask for refund? Or they are just obligated to fix the problem without give me money back. Is it reasonable for them to charge whatever amount of time to fix the problem? Does it mean you need to pay more for incompetence, because it takes the inexperienced one longer time to figure things out?

Thank again for the help and support. I really appreciate it!

Dear xxx;

Thank you for assisting me on my X5.

About 10 minutes driving my X5 after it was returned to us, I was
surprised to get exact same error message before it was taken to the
shop.


I would like to come to your office and visit with you.

Before I come in, I would like the following paper work emailed or faxed to me.

1. the detailed record for the first repair. What was bad, what codes
did you get and what was replaced, test results or any paper record.


2. I would expect the tires of my X5 should last more than 17000 miles. I couldn't imagine they needed to be replaced in order to pass the safety check. There was no hard driving on the vehicle other than normal city driving. I wonder if you still
have the old tires and if you do I would like to have them back. If not, I would like to see the record of tire measurements or other information to prompt your suggestion of replacing them.

3. The details of the current suggested work and why you think it
would cure the problem.

4. By the way, please fix the camera. When the vehicle went in, the
camera worked. But after I got it back, the camera didn't show up on
my screen when I backed the vehicle.


I appreciate your help on these issues.

[nomadicm]

Originally Posted by RougeTrooper

I got all the errors you stated on my dash when my battery died last year on my 2007. For all you know, you just had a bad or dying battery!


Did you have any other actual symptoms or just the warnings? What work did they charge you $1500 for? If it's actual stuff like oil change, break fluid flush. power steering flush etc...then at least you got something out of it. But if they claim they were diagnosing the warnings, I will be soooo disappointed in that dealership.

no warnings. Another fact, one of the reasons my X5 has such low mileage in the last 5 years, is that I spend 6 months or less in Dallas. Sometimes the vehicle will park in the garage as long as three months.

This time around, the problem occurred probably in the end of October. I came back to Dallas in the latter part of September. Before that the X5 had been parking in the garage for 3-6 months (my husband may drive a couple of times during the 6 month period). But we connected the vehicles to a charger during those times.

I don't know if that has something to do with the error message

I am still trying to get the receipt from the first repair.

[jspdr]

Originally Posted by nomadicm

I sent out this email yesterday morning and haven't heard from my service advisor since. no phone calls and no email.

Right now I have a loaner car to drive from the dealer. I wonder if they charge for it. I am leaving for a trip in a week and will be back in a month. I wonder if I should get my vehicle back first. In theory if they didn't fix the problem they charged for, Can I ask for refund? Or they are just obligated to fix the problem without give me money back. Is it reasonable for them to charge whatever amount of time to fix the problem? Does it mean you need to pay more for incompetence, because it takes the inexperienced one longer time to figure things out?

Thank again for the help and support. I really appreciate it!

Dear xxx;

Thank you for assisting me on my X5.

About 10 minutes driving my X5 after it was returned to us, I was
surprised to get exact same error message before it was taken to the
shop.


I would like to come to your office and visit with you.

Before I come in, I would like the following paper work emailed or faxed to me.

1. the detailed record for the first repair. What was bad, what codes
did you get and what was replaced, test results or any paper record.


2. I would expect the tires of my X5 should last more than 17000 miles. I couldn't imagine they needed to be replaced in order to pass the safety check. There was no hard driving on the vehicle other than normal city driving. I wonder if you still
have the old tires and if you do I would like to have them back. If not, I would like to see the record of tire measurements or other information to prompt your suggestion of replacing them.

3. The details of the current suggested work and why you think it
would cure the problem.

4. By the way, please fix the camera. When the vehicle went in, the
camera worked. But after I got it back, the camera didn't show up on
my screen when I backed the vehicle.


I appreciate your help on these issues.

At this point, your email should be directed to the service manager, and GM, not SA. You need to specify in regard to fixing the rear camera back to the working condition as it was when you brought it in, no charge. I was in almost exact issues with the local dealer here, went no where with service manager, sent my email to the GM, 2 hours later came back in got refunded.
Good luck

[jeremym]

Good luck getting any reply back from the SA. I took my X5 back after some pre-maintenance-expiring-work and the SA said I needed a new headlight knob due to pealing. He said they didn't have one, but he ordered one. This was a year ago. Do you think I ever got my headlight knob, even after multiple emails? Nope.

[nomadicm]

I finally got my first repair bill (over $3100)
1. for DSC, 4X4, SRS and Active steering lamp come on
Interrogated fault memory. Found fault for SZL. Replaced SZL and programmed entire vehicle including Gas
part: 61-31-9-164-423 switch unit sceerin $702.39

2. Tech reports the rear tires will not pass safety portion of state inspection
replaced both rear tires.
Tire 315/35R20 DUNL $592.94X2 And it seems $80 for installation

3. Cust requests perform 4 wheel alignment
performed 4 wheel alignment to bmw specifications. Active steering vehicle,. Re-calibrated active steering $189.95

4. This job for programing
programmed vehicle $199.00

I have attached the code reading records and first repair items and second repair estimate.
I just asked SA to send me all the info. He sent and offered to fix the car for another $704 +tax for the part, instead of $1300 total.

He said, "
This is the fault codes for this visit, the steering angle sensor fault is no longer present but the DSC F-CAN fault has returned.

Also, we test drove the vehicle 71 miles on the last visit to;
· verify the repairs
· set the readiness for the OBD system to pass state inspection.

The parts arrived from Germany today and we are ready to proceed with the repairs."




I still have questions about the repairs. I wonder if the part they replaced was unnecessary because the exact same error message came back right after we got our vehicle. From what he said, it sounds like the first part they replaced did correct some faulty message, but not the one we request to fix.



So my question is

Should I just let them fix the vehicle as he proposed (just pay the part)?
or investigate if the first part replaced was unnecessary, at least not requested? so I shouldn't be responsible for the first replaced part, therefore they shouldn't charge for the second round given the two parts are almost equal value?


Thank you very much