Well after owning my 330ci for 7 months now I have finally had enough of taking it back to BMW for repair.

Its had so many problems since i've owned it. Recently a parking sensor was faulty so had to be replaced and to top it off yesterday it was in for a power steering pump leak. Collected it today at 1 and 15 minutes later as I pulled on my drive I heard a funny noise and the steering stopped working (lucky I wasn't driving, could have been dangerous) fluid pouring out the bottom and again will have to take a day off work to get it sorted.

The car is leased from BMW and I pay £370 a month for this piece of c$*p.

Its a 54 plate so its not like its a banger. I called BMW today and told them I don't want the car anymore. They are going to call me on monday. I wonder where I stand with something like this? The car must have been back to BMW 5-6 times in the last 7 months.

 

That's a woeful tale. I remember when you posted the thread about wanting one. It's a shame it has ended thus.

 

Yes I know. I was so excited and now I can't wait for ir to go. The other half has a Mini and thats been in 3 times.

Should of realised then that BMW were rubbish.

 

I guess if it's leased and the repairs are being done as and when things go wrong theres nothing you can do. Just change to a different make when the lease is up.
I've got a Mini now and I have to agree, BMW build quality isn't that good.

 

The thing is its not just the repair its the time off work which I don't get paid for. I'd be happy if it was once but not every month.

If you bought a TV and it went wrong you'd get a replacement. I think its the least the can do.

If they offer to replace I might take a 130i Msport.

 

You can argue that its not fit for purpose. To be honest from what you have said it doesnt sound like it is.
You wouldnt want a boat that didnt float so its reasonable to say you dont want a car that doesnt drive!

 

Thing is though it's already 4 years old so things are bound to go wrong now and again. Seems a lot to pay on lease for such and old car.

 

Yep, alot of people used this one a lot at the BMW dealership I used to work at. Mind you, 99% of their problems were petty stuff that would get sorted anyway.

The power steering fault is obviously a serious one, I'd suggest using the above statement on BMW leasing, it should work

 

why is it everyone complains about the late BMW's and Mercedes etc?

 

Failed steering! Goto Watchdog if they give you any grief.

 

[QUOTE=paulg1979;8393171]

Collected it today at 1 and 15 minutes later as I pulled on my drive I heard a funny noise and the steering stopped working (lucky I wasn't driving, could have been dangerous) fluid pouring out the bottom and again will have to take a day off work to get it sorted.

QUOTE]

play on that one say you was driving but luckily there was no one in front of you at the time(imagine if a child stepped out and you had to react )and just say it is certainly no fit for purpose .

 

Thanks eveyone. I will use that one. Seriously though I wouldn't be lying saying it was dangerous. I couldn't actually steer the car so imagine If I was going faster. I could have killed anybody. Even myself.

They are calling me monday. Should I deal with the dealer or write direct to BMW UK?

 

Sounds like the repair was faulty.. not really the car if ya get what i mean..

If its just a parking sensor and a power steering leak i doubt that you will claim its unfit for purpose..

Although you could make a big thing of the steering to back up your case.

good luck..

Oh...a mini aint a BMW...

 

Who is it then ?

 

BMW is Mini. Most of the parts on my Fiancees mini has BMW stamped on it.

I think the power steering issue should go down pretty well and should hopefully be able to hand it back.

Think i'll go back to a STi hawkeye if all goes well.

 

Took this picture a month ago when I actually liked my car. I hate it now!!

 

A Mini is made in Brazil,has a yank engine a french gearbox and wiring..

BMW bought the name and then did an excellent marketing exercise..

Ok..i know that BMW do ultimately own them,but be under no illusion that your buying a BMW...
That why the car has no internal/external BMW roundels.


edit.... Shame..that looks a nice Cabby..

 

Funny that, my MINI was built in Oxford, England has a Midland gearbox and an engine from Brazil

 

Lets just say Worlds strongest man would have had his work cut out. I had two hands pulling on the steering wheel to park it. I know I could still steer it but imagine if I wasn't expecting it and went into a roundabout to find I needed to pull the steering a lot harder than normal. Could have been an accident.

It has done 40,000 miles, FBMWSH and well looked after. Surely a pump shouldn't fail through the whole life of the car. Its not like brake pads.

 

I work on aircraft mate and the spare parts cost an arm and a leg for the simplest thing. They still fail though sometimes on brand new aircraft.
Something like a power steering pump should last the life of the car but those pesky gremlins can get to any component.

If they have several attempts to fix a potential safety issue then this would be a reason to get shirty. Clearly they've cocked up the first attempt and shouldn't have returned the car to you without an extensive test drive (especially at the labour rate BMW charge).

Not good enough

 

Your right there. They should have taken it for a test drive. It only took 15 minutes before failing

 

I'm not too good at writing letters. Any advice on this letter?



Address


3rd January 2008


Dear Sir/Madam



I have owned a couple of BMW's in the past and have always loved driving them. My Fiancee has a Mini and even though she has had a fair few problems too she loves it. I think customer Service is excellent and have always kept me informed when my car has been in for repair but have just had too many problems now and been taking too many days off work to take and collect my car from BMW.
In March 2008, I purchased a BMW reg no. D******P at your Broad Oak Canterbury dealer. After a few days I noticed humming sounds when braking. I assumed it was the brakes and asked Peter Cumming if they could be replaced as I had bought a car with really worn brakes. It never happened and gave up asking. I ended up getting the brakes done myself with BMW parts which cost a fair amount of money.

I then had a problem with lacquer peeling off my alloys. I spoke to Peter and he said they had been refurbished but will sort out the problem. Peter had then left so I spoke to another colleague and was told that if I had the car for longer than 3 months it was not their problem and was down to me. I thought this was a little harsh as wheels which are refurbished should last years not a few months, so was a little upset that i'd spent a lot of money on this car and had a poor refurbishment.

A few months later I had a problem with my parking sensors so booked the car in to get it checked at Stephen James, Sidcup as thats my local dealer. They had the car for a day and was told that the parking sensor would take between 7-10 days to come in so had to re book for the replacement of a parking sensor which was done on January 2nd. Before taking the car I noticed a leak under the car so asked if they could check it out for me. They were happy to check it and was told it was a problem with the Power steering hose and said it would be replaced under warranty but would need the car for another day as the part was not in stock. I collected the car today, 3rd January and within 30 minutes collecting the car I heard a strange noise from the engine and my steering had become near enough unmovable and was relieved I was not traveling at speed as this could have been nasty. Luckily I was just pulling up on the drive. When leaving the car I noticed lots of fluid all over the drive.

I am writing you to request that my car is taken back and to end the lease as I feel that it's not fit for purpose and feel that if I was in a different situation this could have caused an awful accident. I'm sure this was down to the repair job done to the car.

I have been a happy customer but this car has been grief and the inconvenience of bringing it in was getting a little too often. The fault of the steering today just made me very wary and not sure i'd feel confident driving it on public roads.

I can be reached at the address given above, or by telephone at or .

Yours truly,

Paul Gray

 

whatever.. doesnt make it any better..

Engines are a Chrysler unit and gearbox is peugeot derived from what i gather..

Build quality is obscene,wherever it was built.

 

I know where you are coming from Nat but I'm saying that the hose was my biggest concern but whilst on the subject of problems I thought it would be a good idea to mention the other problems.

I will not send the email until I have discussed the issues with thew dealer on monday as they may come up with a good compromise.

 

Wrong! Built in Oxford in the original MINI factory.

VW Beetles were built in Brazil as new cars up until 2005 I think.

The car has no immediately visible BMW roundels but they are on just about every component.

 

From 2000 to 2004 the engines were from Chrysler, the current MINI uses a different engine and a new gearbox. IIRC the engine is a BMW engineered unit.

The old gearboxes were shocking, we replaced at least 2 a week!

 

My M3 has over £20K's worth of warranty repairs in the 11 years Ive owned it. Only had the car 6 months before I required a new gearbox.

From the the sounds of it, your issues are with the quality of service from your dealer, so I would argue that point and see if you can get a ton of free services, etc etc.

As someone said, the car is now 4 years old, and BMW will push the "Wear and tear" issue.

I would personally go in and see the service manager and express your point too him before I write letters etc. Be amazed at just a firm word, in a fair and polite manner can get.

Best of luck.

SBK