discussion What would you do

[Sabretooth tiger]

This sucks. Sorry to hear bro. In my past experience BMWSA is usually not really of much help unless you start making a scene.
Your best bet is probably to go the route Mr Y suggested or even the legal route.

 

[JamesX7 M60i]

Heads must roll then bud!

This is unacceptable for a new car.

Sorry I missed that and thought you bought a used car with a rough history resulting in all these issues.

Yeah no worries all good man. I could have stated that earlier but so much going through my little brain now and with all the anger included

 

[JamesX7 M60i]

[email protected] just got her first message from me lets hope she can help me?

 

[AceRally]

I am trying guys. I am even trying to go as far as BMW in Germany but they just a swak as the local okes when it comes to getting a reply. I sent n email to BMW SA on the 13th of Feb asking for an update and what planned solutions are on the table so I can at least prepare myself, till now absolutely no reply from BMW SA.

BMW Customer Interaction Centre on 0800 600 555

 

[swazi85]

[email protected] just got her first message from me lets hope she can help me?

What a horror story for a new x5.

I thought their diesels were relatively bulletproof. My business partner has exactly the same m50d and his has been pretty solid so far.

Personally I’d push to get a replacement vehicle, ask them to quantify the value on the “use” you have had and top up. I’d probably have my lawyer handle this transaction to put as much pressure as possible on them.

They need to come to the party and leave you with a good taste in your mouth after this horror story.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kingr]

nothing is worse than a new lemon, they should give you a new car. that's the outcome I would seek.

The ombud suggestion means there is limited liability from the dealer and I don't agree with that, especially not on a new car.

 

[TurboLlew]

That is absolutely insane. I have read a number of stories about these cars since you posted, mostly in the US market and related to general fit and finish as well as electronics.

I googled (out of interest) where these vehicles are now manufactured and none of the locations filled me with much confidence. Coupled with dealers that didn't seem to know what they were doing (just reading between the lines in your descriptions above), even if the car didn't start out being a lemon, it sure is now. If there was a fire that car must not come anywhere near your driveway again. They need to figure something out here - not like you bought a used car (maybe you'd have been better off buying used actually).

I agree on going to Wendy Knowler to apply some pressure. Did they give you a timeline on their report?

 

[JMO1222]

Fight with BMW SA to replace the vehicle. People I know have got it right but it is possible.

 

[Preggie Naidoo]

BMW stands to have significant reputation Al damage if you take this far and wide on media channels. Can the fanatics group not support your cause with a communication to BMW?

 

[JamesX7 M60i]

So I have sent a message to Wendy and waiting for a reply. I have many a time repeated myself to dealer and BMW say in recorded phone calls and emails that i do not want that vin number back. they seem to just shrug it off or ignore that statement. The BMW representative does not answer my questions he just bounces around giving me the same useless information every 2 weeks or so. When I call him he is busy and will call me back. No return call yet. BMW Fourways workshop manager told me that there was a fire and panels burnt and after they investigate they will repair it and I can take my car again. Reminded him too that's not my car I don't want that vin, he just smiles and walks off.

Media will be the next step depending on what Wendy says and I am busy discussing with a lawyer as to the best way forward also.

 

[NBN]

Send a link of this thread to the dealer principle of the dealership. Also show them how many registered members are on this platform

 

[cRed001]

BMW stands to have significant reputation Al damage if you take this far and wide on media channels. Can the fanatics group not support your cause with a communication to to BMW?

BMW SA has a terrible history regarding customer complaints, I doubt negative media attention affects them anymore.

If I were you, I'd park the car in Hillbrow on Friday night and let South Africa play to it's strengths.

 

[JamesX7 M60i]

BMW SA has a terrible history regarding customer complaints, I doubt negative media attention affects them anymore.

If I were you, I'd park the car in Hillbrow on Friday night and let South Africa play to it's strengths.

he he he he he, if it could drive, its been at Fourways since 18 Jan already

 

[///M Individual]

Hope you have a decent loaner since then bud?

 

[AceRally]

New Car purchased with defects - What does the CPA say

Hi all Bought a new car on Friday, noticed serious issues with the aircon over the weekend, notified dealer on Monday. The vehicle is currently checked in at aircon specialists for a report to determine if a Warranty repair is required. Personally, I am not for this, I bought a brand new car...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[AceRally]

https://www.autotrader.co.za/cars/news-and-advice/buying-a-car/when-and-how-to-reject-a-car/

 

[mosome]

The major risk with owning a modern BMW when electronics go wrong is the BMW dealer mechanic. BMW SA sells less than half the cars they were selling a decade ago locally. To cut costs they employ trainee artisans that they pay much less. Lot's of horror stories I can tell you of my experience with three dealers in the north, Cedar, JSN & Sandton, from overfilling engine oil (6L instead of 5,2L), wrong grade of oil (LL01 instead of LL04), missing oil drain plug washer, missing battery bracket, missing and untightened bolts, incorrect diagnosis (was advised to change a R15k engine fan when the issue was a R200 relay), unclamped engine cover, spilled engine oil all over my engine bay, the list is endless. But you should have a new car after this experience and because of the agony you went through they should not even adjust for wear and tear during ownership. Good luck

 

[GravityLee]

he he he he he, if it could drive, its been at Fourways since 18 Jan already

Ugh. A lemon with safety defects getting “fixed” by what is probably the most incompetent BMW workshop in SA. What can go (even more) wrong?

Mate, this is not something you leave to journalists, media, socials, or any other venue than a legal one. You paid a significant chunk of cash for this POS that incurring costs to deal with it properly makes sense.

Good luck.

 

[TurboLlew]

The major risk with owning a modern BMW when electronics go wrong is the BMW dealer mechanic. BMW SA sells less than half the cars they were selling a decade ago locally. To cut costs they employ trainee artisans that they pay much less. Lot's of horror stories I can tell you of my experience with three dealers in the north, Cedar, JSN & Sandton, from overfilling engine oil (6L instead of 5,2L), wrong grade of oil (LL01 instead of LL04), missing oil drain plug washer, missing battery bracket, missing and untightened bolts, incorrect diagnosis (was advised to change a R15k engine fan when the issue was a R200 relay), unclamped engine cover, spilled engine oil all over my engine bay, the list is endless. But you should have a new car after this experience and because of the agony you went through they should not even adjust for wear and tear during ownership. Good luck

This doesn't just go for BMW. I have the same issue with Mercedes and Alfa. My Alfa guy Anesh has just left/about to leave for NZ (so has Shaun from JSN who worked on all my F10 stuff, Michael from Midrand who had done the suspension on my F90 etc.). I have not had the same tech work on my Alfa in all the years I've owned it but at least the SA was consistent. Mercedes Midrand/Grand Central is so abysmal that I drive all the way to Bryanston - and even then, if Carlo had to leave then that would be the end of Merc for us (well an even more accelerated end).

Now with all this inexperience you have this phenomenon where the guys are wondering if your M Performance suspension (that you fitted at the same dealership) is approved because they have never seen one before. That is quite worrying as they should at least be trained on this. It is a lot of effort trying to 'train up' a service advisor or tech again at a dealership to work with you and understand that by the time YOUR car is there, it is beyond the equivalent of restarting your PC or turning your router on and off that needs to be done to diagnose an issue.

With the 4C we have the very real problem of some guys that may work on your car not even knowing how to lift it at the correct points let alone do some of the specialist work needed eg: working with the panels, checking chassis bolt torque etc. (this doesn't affect me as much but definitely affects the WC and KZN guys)

Misdiagnosis has not affected me too badly (As in Motorplan were the ones suffering paying for parts that probably didn't need changing) but there are definitely horror stories out there. If I experience this (in recent times anyway) at 'good' dealers you can only imagine what awaits at known-trash dealers like Cedar/Fourways/Sandton Auto etc.

 

[JamesX7 M60i]

Hope you have a decent loaner since then bud?

Well first was a X2 118 now 320i. so I am mobile.