INTERMEDIATE LEVER
 

Hi all,

I have a 2004 4.4i which occasionally gets the rough start-up issue - all things seem point to intermediate lever. Had my X in for cv boot repair and they checked out engine issue. They couldn't replicate issue, which is no surprise given how often it happens. They said the car logged a fault/ didn't give me a fault code but they gave me a measure no which they said was related to the int. levers for valvetronic.

I was told by the service advisor that getting the repair done isn't neccessary unless it frustrates the hell out of me, and will not cause any damage to other components and is simply not worth fixing. I wasn't given an estimate other than it is an expensive job.

My question is, does this sound right? Is it a non essential repair? If I leave it will the car be okay? :dunno:

thanks

Anyone have any thoughts or experience on the matter that they would like to share?

thanks in advance

Here is a specific thread on the issue:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ssue-06-a.html

And, a page of threads that ref the issue:
Xoutpost.com - Search Results

Search Tab is your friend...
GL, mD

Hi Motordavid,

I appreciate your post but have a bit of faith in others. I have already read the specific thread that you linked. And done multiple searches and read a heap of info on previous intermediate lever related threads. I couldn't find an answer to my specific question...so I decided to post. People shouldn't have to be hesitant about posting about something because some one, somewhere within many pages of threads and posts may have answered the question that they are asking. :rolleyes:

thx

Just trying to help...maybe if a poster ref'd that "they had searched",
but wanted more opins, it would preclude the Try Search response.
Good luck with your issue.
BR, mD

PS: in that thread, Killcrap & Weasel, both BMW Techs,
responded...

No worries....point taken and once again thank you for your help.

My car is also a 2004 4.4i, i just got my intermediate levers fixed under CPO warranty. as your SA said i do not think it'll really harm any other components. I am curious at how expensive this repair would have been if i had not had CPO

by the way, i never had a really rough start up unless it was cold outside...

Parts alone using dealer prices hovers around $1700 from my recent levers diagnostic/replacement visit. Not sure how much the labor cost would be.

Thanks guys after digesting all the info it looks like a $5000+- job.....might sit and wait a while. Will probably just put bmw fuel cleaner in and see if that clears up the slightly rough idle. Weather isn't cold enough down-under to get chronic cold rough starts.

cheers :thumbup:

Jules, on my 2004 X5 4.4 the check engine soon light came on and then went out before my appointment. fault code led to diagnosis of worn intermediate levers.

My car had 49040 miles and was a certified car. BMW of North America so far is disallowing coverage. so far no rough cold start up or any other abnormal behaviour.

dealer quotes 1700 parts plus 1700 labor at $175/hr

At this point I'm awaiting a call from BMWNA for their latest position.

Its interesting that someone here reports that replacement is optional.

I find it strange that this is being disallowed on my car due to "wear". How
can it be that BMW is saying to the world of loyal owners that it is OK for a certified car maintained by the book to have a $3500 repair at only 49K miles?

Question #2 is of course if one replaces these levers at 49K will it be necessary again at 98K?

I hope killcrap or another tech will comment.

At this point I think an old fashioned pushrod V8 is sounding pretty good.

Jim

Hey all - My 2004 4.4 75,000 mile X is in for this EXACT thing right now. Rough start-up when cold, SES light etc. They could not read a specific error code nor replicate the condition (so they say). When I went to pick the car up it started doing it a few hours later..I took it rightback but have not heard from the dealer...this was Saturday. Curious about the CPO coverage....I'm good til 100,000 or 10/10......we shall see. This is a good post - keep everyone informed about this issue...thanks John

Hi Boatdryver,

I think contacting BMW directly is a good idea...sometimes I wonder how much the dealer tells you about their communications. I was contacted by Bmw Aus as a new customer, however, I was just about to call them....I was very frank with them about my satisfaction.
I was having tranny slams/ issues and flat out said I'm not buying another BMW because a car this up market should not have these issues/ I was almost just out of warranty when the dealer received a call from bmw aus.

They bent over backwards to get my car in for repairs before warranty ran out and believe me this dealer is always booked out weeks ahead. And on top of that the beating around the bush routine with SW updates and other things ended full stop BMW Aus ordered a tranny rebuild end of story.

Also around this time a had the rough startup and they checked it and said nothing was wrong no faults logged so I forgot about it. However I am now outside warranty but had them check it again recently cause I got the symptoms again. This time they said faults logged/ Intermediate levers/ bmw aus. So now I am contemplating arguing that I raised this issue whilst under warranty got a bad initial diagnosis so they should cover repair if needs be.....

lets keep each other informed....cheers :thumbup:

^ you did bring it up under warranty. There was as problem when it was covered. It isn't your fault the dealership couldn't reproduce at the time.
It's worth bringing it up.

I just bought a 06 4.8is. Does my car come with the upgraded intermediate levers or is this problem something I should worry about. 40k miles here.