car going for service - need advice

[Cole]

Hi guys,

booked my 323 in for a "service" this wednesday and BMW northcliff as there are a few things i want them to look at, was hoping you guys could give some thoughts on a few things i have picked up.

1. i been struggling to get car in and out of gears lately, car shudders at low speed, when changing to 2nd/3rd and popping out the clutch the car lurches / hops (so doesnt seem to take as it should)
my first thought obviously is the clutch is worn, you guys agree with that diagnosis?
do i expect just to change the clutch or flywheel too?
(car is on 79 000km)

2. when i accelerate (admittedly a bit harder than usual) i feel a vibration at what seems to be the back left, i figure this could either be a bearing or perhaps just an unbalanced tyre / rim... do you guys think it could be anything else?

3. my car has felt "unsteady" on the roads, it doesnt drift like left or right if i take hand of the wheel but if i go over bumps it just seems to do its own thing and goes all over the show, also once or twice the car has felt like a FWD almost in that when i accelerate, the front of the car seems to pull like a FWD would... any thoughts on what could be up?

thanks for your expertise! :=):

 

[akash]

Okay i have the exact same car as you.

On the suspension side i had a similar issue, i suspect your cars interior has a few more rattles than normal. This could be either your wishbones or control arms that need to be replaced.

Your left back wheel may just need to be re-balanced or your rim may have a slight buckle. You will be surprised how senstive the alignment on the sport pack is as well to the car handling, had mines redone on Saturday at HI Q and it makes a big difference to the car. But this will be done by BMW if the car needs new wishbones.

Shudder issue may be the clutch the needs to be replaced, the previous owner before i bought tmy car had the clutch change around the same Kms. Expect them to have the car for a day or two if the clutch needs to be replaced. Get them to change your airfliter, BMW changers this every 100 000km. But if its dirty enough they will change it.

Hope this helps

Akash

 

[Cole]

anyone else got any ideas what i should possibly ask the stealer to look at to try cure what ails my car...? :fencelook:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Can't think of anything to suggest, but keen to know how it goes. Mine's only due for it's first service according to the service light Jan next year so far. Actually keen to have the oil changed myself - don't like the idea of oil change intervals being so far apart, no matter how good the oils are suppose to be!

My car's clutch has on the odd occasion been a prone to shudder when cold and if the revs on pull-off are just a bit lower than "ideal". Gearbox has always been notchy and tight when cold, even when warmed up it is still somewhat tight, but from all that I've read this seems normal for the 330i - would think this would be the same on the 323i! Handling-wise my car is fine, and since I've had the car nothing has been done to the alignment. Always hesitant (from experience) to have alignment mucked with unless it is obviously necessary. Rattles, do have them - something at the rear, I believe the rear parcel shelf is often a culprit, but more annoyingly the front passenger seat seems to have some sort of rattle which I am going to have to have looked at.

Maybe let them check brake wear sensors (not sure of the 323i is also affected by worn and noisy brake wear sensors), and coil packs also a good plan - probably need to have the codes read. Something I also need to do quite soon...

 

[Inspector_Gadget]

anyone else got any ideas what i should possibly ask the stealer to look at to try cure what ails my car...? :fencelook:

BMW Northcliff Supervisor from the workshop has left and started his own business just down the road from BMW Northcliff.

Call Jacques Malan on 0114312469 or 0730520744

Best of luck and he is half the price at least!!!
Dont forget GOLDWAGEN brings in true BMW spares and sooooo much cheaper.

Let me know if my referal helps.

 

[Cole]

great, i know northcliff used to be crap (from personal experience) and then it got better... i hope its still "good" if the manager has left.

Is Jacques the guy who started his own business or new manager at northcliff?

 

[Inspector_Gadget]

great, i know northcliff used to be crap (from personal experience) and then it got better... i hope its still "good" if the manager has left.

Is Jacques the guy who started his own business or new manager at northcliff?

Jacques was made forman and then a Mr Tony Kotze was appointed to the position, politics caused Jacques to leave. NB - His wife runs the Mini service department - Kim Kotze - Great gal.

Tony is a great guy and is doing everything he can to uplift the standard and service delivery along with Mr Hillary Allison who is in charge of customer services, ie: Booking and workshop staff.

My favority service advisor is Ronnie, be assured he actually cares about his clients. Maybe he is a little OTT but see past that and he will go out of his way to assist you.

For parts, ask for Jan Botha - recently appointed Parts Manager but with a world of experience on ground level. Uncle Dave who ran the parts department prior to Jan Botha has gone back to the UK after two decades of serving at Northcliff Auto BMW.

For Pre-Owned sales, ask only for Megan Schenckenberg. she will always give her best and you can be assured of her honesty and integrity.

For New Vehicle sales, ask only for Mr Gavin Berry. A true gentleman and a solid business man when it comes to aftersales problems.
He may not always be available, but he is worth the wait.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cole]

how long do you guys think it should take to strip out a clutch in a e90?

I dropped my car at 7 yesterday, at 12.30 i get sms saying they put the car on their ISIS system to check my bluetooth (which had stopped working)
and when i go in at about 3ish they say they busy stripping the clutch...

WTF the whole reason my car is in is for the clutch the rest is small and they have the car for 8 hours and they haven't stripped out the clutch yet!!!

The guy who checked at the time said it was out and is being repalced, then this morning i get diff story that they were still stripping and depends on BMW as they havent got authorization yet and maybe they want tests done so will determine when i get car back.

Does it really take more than 1 hour to strip a clutch out and see if it looks worn?
i know in the bridgestone production cars i saw a FWD box dropped and clutch out and replaced in less than 30 minutes...

should i kick up a stink over this or take a chill pill? :fencelook:

 

[andrewbuch]

Thats how the dealers role

 

[Inspector_Gadget]

how long do you guys think it should take to strip out a clutch in a e90?

I dropped my car at 7 yesterday, at 12.30 i get sms saying they put the car on their ISIS system to check my bluetooth (which had stopped working)
and when i go in at about 3ish they say they busy stripping the clutch...

WTF the whole reason my car is in is for the clutch the rest is small and they have the car for 8 hours and they haven't stripped out the clutch yet!!!

The guy who checked at the time said it was out and is being repalced, then this morning i get diff story that they were still stripping and depends on BMW as they havent got authorization yet and maybe they want tests done so will determine when i get car back.

Does it really take more than 1 hour to strip a clutch out and see if it looks worn?
i know in the bridgestone production cars i saw a FWD box dropped and clutch out and replaced in less than 30 minutes...

should i kick up a stink over this or take a chill pill? :fencelook:

Well OK then, from someone who worked there for two years, let me try and explain.

1) Your car wass only pulled into the workshop by earliest ±11:00am
2) Has to be connected to ISIS to read gearbox values in relation to clutch.
3) Then authority is called for by a costing clerk when he eventually gets the job card. Any other faults on the car must also be recorded and dealt with.
4) Once the authority is given, when a mechanic is available, now in a different department within the workshop, he will proceed to strip, call manager to take photos and perhaps measurements.
5) A report sent to BMW again for authority. If they want then BMW sends someone to inspect to see if they can blame the driver for abuse. (They are alot better than the other Premium Brands in giving the OK)
Once authority is given, parts are ordered and the next day fitted.

The above is not 100% but a likley sequence of events.

 

[Cole]

this whole plug a computer in to tell you if the brakes, suspension, gearbox or engine need work thing is not my idea of maintenance.
if computer says nothing then there is "nothing wrong with the car" in their opinion which is rubbish.

anyway will wait a bit and see whether i get any feedback.
i dont ride my clutch as i have hill hold assist which is awesome so they better not even think of trying to say driver abuse.

 

[Inspector_Gadget]

this whole plug a computer in to tell you if the brakes, suspension, gearbox or engine need work thing is not my idea of maintenance.
if computer says nothing then there is "nothing wrong with the car" in their opinion which is rubbish.

anyway will wait a bit and see whether i get any feedback.
i dont ride my clutch as i have hill hold assist which is awesome so they better not even think of trying to say driver abuse.

I have seen a sales lady take a car with 2000 km's and destroy the clutch in 15 minutes. Stop start traffic and on an uphill!

 

[Cole]

lol damn, 15 minutes!!!
was it on purpose or just couldnt drive to save her life?

 

[Jakkals_F30]

Hey Cole,

I had my clutch done at almost the exact mileage as yours now...
clutch kit was done as well as a new dual mass flywheel.. all that will set motorplan back around 15k and in two days you will have your car back with a nice little sticker over your rev counter saying to not rev over 4k for the first 500km... then the service advisor might say don't rev over 3 to 3500rpm. from there it should be ok... i decided rather 800km

it still feels like there is a very slight shudder but at least also my car doesn't have the problem that it feels the gears get sticky..

little rattles... i think i also have a rattle somewhere in the back but when the car goes in again now they will have to sort it out, when they fix the scratch they put on my car and they say that will take 3-4 days..

At least they did my balancing and allignment when they did my brakes 3 weeks ago and yes it makes a big difference on the car..

 

[Cole]

my brakes were done november last year when my cylinder gasket went, dont think they balanced then though.

you fitted your strut brace yet jakkals?

 

[Inspector_Gadget]

Hey Cole,

I had my clutch done at almost the exact mileage as yours now...
clutch kit was done as well as a new dual mass flywheel.. all that will set motorplan back around 15k and in two days you will have your car back with a nice little sticker over your rev counter saying to not rev over 4k for the first 500km... then the service advisor might say don't rev over 3 to 3500rpm. from there it should be ok... i decided rather 800km

it still feels like there is a very slight shudder but at least also my car doesn't have the problem that it feels the gears get sticky..

little rattles... i think i also have a rattle somewhere in the back but when the car goes in again now they will have to sort it out, when they fix the scratch they put on my car and they say that will take 3-4 days..

At least they did my balancing and allignment when they did my brakes 3 weeks ago and yes it makes a big difference on the car..

Was that at Northcliff?

Chris is Damn Good with Wheel Allignment.

 

[Jakkals_F30]

my brakes were done november last year when my cylinder gasket went, dont think they balanced then though.

you fitted your strut brace yet jakkals?

Still in Cape Town and only going home tomorrow.. From there i can check my finances again and go get one from Burgy

---

Hey Cole,

I had my clutch done at almost the exact mileage as yours now...
clutch kit was done as well as a new dual mass flywheel.. all that will set motorplan back around 15k and in two days you will have your car back with a nice little sticker over your rev counter saying to not rev over 4k for the first 500km... then the service advisor might say don't rev over 3 to 3500rpm. from there it should be ok... i decided rather 800km

it still feels like there is a very slight shudder but at least also my car doesn't have the problem that it feels the gears get sticky..

little rattles... i think i also have a rattle somewhere in the back but when the car goes in again now they will have to sort it out, when they fix the scratch they put on my car and they say that will take 3-4 days..

At least they did my balancing and allignment when they did my brakes 3 weeks ago and yes it makes a big difference on the car..

Was that at Northcliff?

Chris is Damn Good with Wheel Allignment.

It was at BMW the Glen.. all the way down in the south.. so far the guys there have been very very helpfull and look at the things you ask them to...