Need Help: Problems with 4.8i and dealer refusing to fix it
 

I am having problems with my X5 4.8i

So this is what happened before all the problems. Monday evening, I was driving home, and all the sudden the back door unlatched it self, and I couldn't lock it back. I tired that over for another 3 or 4 minutes trying to close it back, but it just kept unlocking itself. So, I just kept on driving, and decided to bring the car to the dealer on the weekend.

I drove IS350 for all day, but in the evening, I needed to send someone to airport, so I needed to use the X5. After loading the boxes, I couldn't start the car anymore. The car has symptoms similar to the dead battery. Went to pepboys and buy jumper cable, and tired to jump start.

At that point, the dash was flashing all the possible warning lights you can think of. 4x4, transmission, DTC etc malfunction signals. Needless to say, I couldn't start the car.

Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.

Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.

Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.

Luckily, the car started after 30 minutes. As I was pulling out from the garage, the tow truck arrives, and no BMW tech, and yes it was a dolly tow truck.

I drove my car to the nearest BMW dealer, and drop off the key with sales folks as the service was closed.

I called in this morning, and asked what's going on and for a loner. I was told that no more loner left, and I could get a ford focus or something from the rental. I didn't really care, but spending 80k, you'd expect something like a 3 series from them.

And here is the shocker : I was told that I didn't drive the car enough ( I have 7000 miles on the ODO after 8 months) and that's the reason that the battery is drained and destroyed. I told them it was not the battery problem and they still giving me the same BS, and told me that they would charge me 150$ for the inspection fees since the battery is not covered under warranty.

Any thoughts?

P.S Sorry for the long posts, and I don't usually post that long. It's just pissing the hell out of me because they are just refusing to service the car when obviously it is broken not because of the battery.

Couple of generic questions.

Where in California are you? You own an e70 that is still under warranty i presume?

If that's correct then what their telling you is a crock.
I have never ever heard of any dealer chargeing 150$
for any inspection fees if your vehicle is under warranty.

Many dealers will replace a battery that dies prematurely
free of charge. So something bogus is going on.

Bay area, and yes I am pretty sure that the car is under warranty since I only have it for 8 months.

Try Concord BMW or East Bay BMW I continue to have success with both. I have heard from a number of folks that BMW San Francisco is not very good for service though.

Regards

.

What city?

battery has a included two year warranty.

they can charge you if you told them to check it, and there is nothing wrong. but they can't charge you for what you did not consent.

no loaner and ford focus?.....BMWSF?

there's a way to get what you want from them ;)

Why would they charge you too check it if it's under warranty? If there's a problem with this new vehicle i doubt an honest dealer would nit pick about something so small. You don't get all 5's for that kind of service. No matter how picky i have been (check this check that), no one has ever ask for a dime.

I work at a car dealer (be it a different make). Ask to speak directly with the service manager. Explain the situation nicely. If he can't help you ask for the General Manager. Usually they will get it handled as they are usually too busy to deal with such things. Also threaten them with a bad survey. They get $$ for having good customer satisfction. If all else fails, go to a different dealer that the others are recommending.

Besides the jerk Stlr....
Very nice Sig Pic!

Good luck with the arm wrestle; they are jerking you around, imo.
GL,mD

Yeah, I agree. Good luck with the dealer.

Looks like your pic is from Berkeley?