OT? Warranty Question on BMW

gt350mike · 07:00 PM

I know this is a 944 board, but I didn't want to go to the Bimmer board to ask this question (take it as a compliment).

My brother-in-law has a 97 528i that he bought new and it has 25k on the car. Long story on what could be wrong w/the car, but we think its the transmission. The BMW service dept. (from the dealership that he bought the car from) told him that the car is out of warranty (by 5 months) and the cost of replacing the trans would come out of his pocket, not BMWs.

I'd like to hear anyones experience with this type of situation and/or your opinion. My gut fealings on this are simple.....The car only has 25k on the trans and the factory should pay a portion or all of the expense. The car has been well maintained and should not any major problems like this.

Thanks!

carolinus · 12-21-2002, 06:18 AM

I think all of the car manufacturers today have gone way downhill in every respect. Mind you, these are the ones I have dealt with... I have not purchased a newer porsche or volkswagon in a while. Automatic tranny, or manual?

Nabeel · 12-21-2002, 09:50 AM

Don't know if the tranny is a manual or auto, but BMW does have a reputation for notoriously weak automatics. Hardly any can make it over 120K without a rebuild. But 25K miles sounds extremely low.

My advice would be to purchase an aftermarket warranty for the car. Then do not drive the car for about a month or two, if possible. After a while, claim the transmission problem from the warranty. Oh, and do not go to the same dealer. They will have on file, on their computer that there has been a complaint with the transmission before the warranty took effect, and will therefore not fix it. Try to take car car elsewhere to be fixed, such as a BMW specialist in the area.

I agree, if the car has only 25K miles, then BMW should be entitled to fix it, being that the vehicle is still relatively new. This is typical crappy BMW service. My family has had some unpleasant experiences with BMW service as well.

Trevor · 12-21-2002, 10:08 AM

But wouldn't that be stealing?

ae1969 · 12-21-2002, 11:06 AM

Unfortunately.....

Unless you buy a new BMW from them every year...

Forget it. They will not drop a 2500 tranny into the car for you.

Sad but true.

gt350mike · 12-21-2002, 11:19 AM

I thought that might be the case. Thanks for the replies.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I was a GM wrench for a few years, call the next level up. Usually within say 6 or so months GM would work with the customer and usually pick the cost of the part up. The customer would sometimes pick up the labor, or not at all.

This was usually on large items, engines, trannys etc. These compainies may not always have the best customer service. But they all have one thing in common, they need to sell to make money. Just tell tem that your about to post your story on the internet, and you'll make it your soul goal in life to talk people out of buying a new BMW.

gt350mike · 12-22-2002, 06:59 PM

Knowing my in-law, he'll make their life boarderline suicide if he thinks he's about to shell out the money for a trans replacement. Thanks for the tip!