16 replies to this topic

[Madmitch]

My BMW, as in the title, is in the local BMW emporium having it's front subframe replaced after snapping an antiroll bar bracket clean off.  I had a rather garbled phone call from them this morning to say that one of the mounts between the subframe and the body structure is broken and needs replacing but it seems these may no longer be available.  In anticipation of trouble tomorrow I have had a bit of a trawl and whilst there are plenty of bushes and mounts for the rear subframe and every other part of the front suspension and ironmongery there does not seem to be source for the actual front subframe mounting bushes.  If necessary I'll have to get some from a breaker but wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this. 

[Nev]

Have you been off-roading in French onion fields?!

 

Sorry to be fatuous, but I've never owned a BMW so can't really contribute.

[Madmitch]

Hello Nev,  Not guilty me lud, but recently went down to Mojacar in southern Spain, ran just fine, roads there no worse than here in fact lots of lovely new roads courtesy of the EU.  It has always had a bit of a vibration at low speeds but very mild and it disappears at cruising speed or when warm, whichever first, not a problem.  I'm guessing that is the cause of the fractured ARB mount, whatever it is a pain in the whatsit as we are supposed to be back in the UK next month for our four year trip round the family with dog and loads of stuff.  I'm trying to get ahead of the anticipated phone call tomorrow saying the parts are not available any longer so your car is a scrapper!  

[Nev]

Better come to Blighty in the VX220 (as it's more reliable).

[Madmitch]

Dead right, it is, but won't manage the dog and the wife and all the clutter we bring on these trips - and before you say it, the wife insists on coming!!

[Madmitch]

All's well, just had a call to say they will have the piece tomorrow, whatever it was, hopefully it will be finished by tomorrow evening.  Breathe again, it's a nice old nail, still only done 81k and wonderful for the long trips we occasionally do, I wouldn't want to loose it even though it has cost sheds this year!

[Pidgeon]

Reminds me why I keep an E30!

[Foxy]

Loved my 530d, brilliant car. Faster from the lights than an E30 while towing an E30 on a trailer!

[pete-r]

Always liked the E39, as an aside I saw a lovely blue M5 version parked up outside my office this week. I bet it's worth a fortune now!

[Madmitch]

Yes, as we agree, a thoroughly likeable and versatile carryall, very reassuring too to be surrounded by ten airbags and the thick end of two tons loaded, a good place to be in an accident.  It has however, cost me sheds this year, balljoints, suspension bushes, front discs, pads and dampers, a new diff (the original was silent as night but had a slight weep from the pinion oil seal, when that was changed by the local BMW garage they managed to wreck the pinion bearing and then loose all the parts I asked them to keep for me to inspect) and now a new front subframe.  I accept that most of these are consumables but the diff and subframe are most definitely not, especially on an 81k mile BMW!  Hope that's it for the next 81k at least................ 

[slindborg]

Just bin off the arb

[Madmitch]

Actually I did wonder because it still handled and steered very nicely.  That said on the way home I gave it a bit of a push through a favourite series of fast corners and it really is much better now, planted and accurate.  Only snag, there always is one, I can hear the engine quite clearly at low speeds so I think a grommet has come out of the bulkhead somewhere and there are several small but audible rattles under the front somewhere...............  Why is it never simple? 

[slindborg]

Based on the quantity of covers and tat that I've had to fit/refit/swear at over the past few weeks doing the turbo on my 120d, it's no surprise that forgotten

[Madmitch]

Nearly the end of this little saga, possibly.  Noticed yesterday that as well as an enormous graunch on the OSR wheel, rather expensive 17" Alpina jobs, some clod had also managed to destroy the plastic drivers door sill cover panel by dragging his heel across it and ripping a great chunk out of it, no way he didn't notice doing that!  Went back AGAIN after lunch working myself up into a good temper en route, real temper always works best, pointed out the damage and also showed them all the greasy mess they left on the spare wheel cover whilst changing the diff which they f****d up when changing the pinion oil seal in February.  Walked in, nobody there except the parts bloke, after a while he asked what I wanted and rang one of the receptionists, had a row on the phone as the bloke didn't want to talk to me.  Eventually he appeared, I walked him round the car, told him what I thought in words of one sylable and told him to get the loose bulkhead gasket sorted whilst I patrolled the showroom, livid.  Found the steering column gasket was hanging out and replaced it, apologies all over the place, we'll replace the sill trim of course etc etc.  Drove home.  This is a graphic demonstration of typical French Customer Service, the people are lovely in the main but please don't disturb!!! 

[Nev]

Nearly the end of this little saga, possibly.  Noticed yesterday that as well as an enormous graunch on the OSR wheel, rather expensive 17" Alpina jobs, some clod had also managed to destroy the plastic drivers door sill cover panel by dragging his heel across it and ripping a great chunk out of it, no way he didn't notice doing that!  Went back AGAIN after lunch working myself up into a good temper en route, real temper always works best, pointed out the damage and also showed them all the greasy mess they left on the spare wheel cover whilst changing the diff which they f****d up when changing the pinion oil seal in February.  Walked in, nobody there except the parts bloke, after a while he asked what I wanted and rang one of the receptionists, had a row on the phone as the bloke didn't want to talk to me.  Eventually he appeared, I walked him round the car, told him what I thought in words of one sylable and told him to get the loose bulkhead gasket sorted whilst I patrolled the showroom, livid.  Found the steering column gasket was hanging out and replaced it, apologies all over the place, we'll replace the sill trim of course etc etc.  Drove home.  This is a graphic demonstration of typical French Customer Service, the people are lovely in the main but please don't disturb!!! 

 

Sadly it's an indictment for the bulk of the consumer automotive world IME.

 

I've worked for the aerospace and medical industries in the last 10 years and their precise and meticulous process control would serve as a good lesson for the legions of crappy automotive staff out there.

 

Edited by Nev, 17 April 2018 - 07:00 PM.

[slindborg]

Automotive is and always will be pegged down to a price.... Also what the populous are willing to pay or not pay.

 

Aero and Medical can be milked for all they are worth because Aero safety is key, and medical if you kill folks it looks bad, but breaking down on the side of the road is totally acceptable.

[Madmitch]

Ha, just had a call from the customer service lady at the head office of the BMW garage, YES!!!  Told her exactly what had gone wrong and how I felt.  She kept trying to tell me she would get somebody to ring me back but I just had so much to say to her.............  We'll see what happens now.

 

This afternoon I found a black rubber washer on the drivers carpet and sure enough, the panel down to the pedals is not properly secured at the bottom.  They can put that back when they change the sill trim.

 

I agree that price issues affect the standard of service but this is supposed to be a quality product and the 530d Touring Auto is pretty well up the BMW price list, £50k+ today.  Moreover the cost of their parts is vicious expensive and like most, the more I pay the better I expect the service and attention to be.