Panoramic roof shock!!!

[cfroc]

Hey all, the rear part of my X5's sunroof decided to get stuck open in the tilted position...

BMW says that its because of under-use and that the casette is worn out and needs replacement. Quote for getting it fixed, wait, wait, sit down... R38 000 odd!!!!!!!!!!

How do they justify this??? How can I spend a fifth of what my whole X5 is probably worth on fixing the sunroof?

Anyway, they closed it and disabled the switch, supposed to pic it up tomorrow. Car went there on Thursday and I'm only getting it back tomorrow. Took them 3 and a half days to fix a circlip on the left front sideshaft and closing the roof... rediculous. Took them 1:15.00 to find out that I could pic it up this afternoon. This makes one wonder whether anyone at the stealers know what is going on in their own workshops. The X needed to go back now for a third time for that sideshaft and about 2 weeks of standing in the workshop. If it got done properly the first time...

I'm so fed up with the niggles of this X5, I'm really considering cutting my losses and getting rid of it!!! AND GETTING GATVOL OF THE STEALERS!!!

 

[1lum1nat1]

If it took them that long then 80% of the quote is probably labour for something they did'nt do.

 

[zaleonardz]

The reason for the phyco quote is BMW mechanics are fitters, they are not engineers, nor are they real mechanics, cause all they do is fit new parts all day long... its terrible.

Its prob a R2.00 clip or something daft...

Sorry to hear man...

 

[1lum1nat1]

Why not havee one of the GP gurus have a look? Can't hurt, but you might just save R30 odd grand.

 

[rick540]

This is exactly why I started doing my own work, no matter how big the job.

I have cut running cost by 5 and that includes parts since then!

If you have the time and technical aptitude, get a workshop manual, or scour the net for a DIY, get some tools, get stuck in there to see the problem for yourself.

My bet is 50/50 you'll fix it for under R100 using a little ingeneuity and making a plan.

 

[zaleonardz]

and the R50 of the R100 refers to the case of beer you will buy yourself while working..

I fully support Ricks views on this topic, you need more will then knowledge, knowledge follows reading and doing

 

[Gerhardm32]

Cfroc have a look at these 2 url's, the first one has scanned pages of a workshop manual and the second 1 has a write of someone who did it DIY.

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1yc8o-x5-with-a-pana-sunroof-need-to-overhaul-with-new-cables-et

http://www.x5drivers.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7585

Hope it helps

 

[DonovanPorter]

BMW says that its because of under-use and that the casette is worn out and needs replacement.

thats exactly why they fitters , can even diagnose the problem , just replace and hope the problem goes away

 

[cfroc]

Thanks for all your advice and replies...

Will have a look myself and go through some reading. For now I can say that I'm feeling a bit better, but why is the service experience gone south lately? It's as if they are doing you a favour for working on your car. There is just no effort being done by the dealers anymore.

They over book their workshops, and then try and get the vehicles out as soon as possible while they do their work half and try and smoke the customer to make up for lost volumes they can push through the workshop.

They will hear from me today when I manage to collect the X this afternoon, after the ballsup of yesterday.

 

[warrenturbo1]

I had the same issues with my X3’s panoramic sun roof when my battery ran flat. BMW Sandton quoted me the exact same R30k to replace the cassette along with an additional R3k to rest the “software”

After some serious consideration, I went to a private BMW mechanic in Benoni, believe it or not. And he fixed my roof problem by simply pressing and holding in the roof button.

This excise took about 3min and my roof is fully functioning again and the chap told me if the roof gives any kind of issues, do the rest again.

No issues from that day and a happy customer.

Hope this helps

 

[netercol]

how the hell does a cartridge wear out from under-use??

+1 on never taking a car to the stealers, never have, never will.

 

[Threetwoeight]

Sounds to me like LEO HAESE CENTURION

DIY

Might only need lubrication.

 

[MikeR]

:thinking: WORN FROM UNDERUSE .... The lying basturds..they want to make R37500.00 on that job.

 

[e46 guy]

Worn from underuse? that doesnt even make sense....?

38k to fix a sunroof? just a question how much does it cost to fit a brand new one?

 

[kabal]

fact is bmw sunroofs are shit

when I got my car, the sunroof was sticking. as part of motorplan transfer, it had to be replaced, covered by plan.
it is now broken again. I dont use it much, so I assume it is also from under use :dunno:

 

[rick540]

Let me get this right....

BMW told you it wore out from under use?

I've had to fix a few of these and they wear out when used as well.

 

[JustNN]

I dont think it wears out from under use more like ceasing, like i replaced my window mechanism because i hardly used the window and one day i did a few years later and it "broke".Stealers dont make sense most of the lives

 

[msm]

The reason for the phyco quote is BMW mechanics are fitters, they are not engineers, nor are they real mechanics, cause all they do is fit new parts all day long... its terrible.

I also think that gone are the days where you have passionate people working on your cars. Nowadays, it's just a job for some of these guys ...

I'm in the ICT industry and a good few years ago, when I was more "technical" i had a dozen PC's on my desk, half of which I was loading stuff just to try out. The job was an extension of my passion for doing something I enjoy. Nowadays, I have engineers reporting to me, that I have to almost beg to get things done. Some of these guys won't even take the initiative of doing a simple Google search to help with their issues .... and I think the same thing has happened to the guys who work at car dealerships.

 

[Tumo]

Worn from underuse? that doesnt even make sense....?

38k to fix a sunroof? just a question how much does it cost to fit a brand new one?

Very funny indeed, you will pay about R15k for a new sunroof, and that is if you dont have one.

DIY

 

[frikkieh]

BMW says that its because of under-use and that the casette is worn out and needs replacement.

thats exactly why they fitters , can even diagnose the problem , just replace and hope the problem goes away

and replace and replace and replace while you pay and pay and pay - My cars entire cooling system was almost replaced because of the intermittend electric fan - intermittent faults are of course very advanced
There are better after market techs around - just get a good referral from someone. An then there is the curious DIYer - That already saved me a great deal.