O.K., Update on the iDrive thingy... turns out my superior intellect and reasoning skills, and bribe attempt resulted in...failure. BMW has a double whammy system for determining the failure on parts like this... Step one is the service manager has to approve the warranty repair on something like this, and if he says warranty, they have to send the part to BMW. I the wonks at BMW decide that it is indeed not a warranty issue, then they bill the dealer for the repair. Liquid spills are not considereded their fault. It is not like they could not put some sort of lip on the surround to help prevent stuff like this, but I guess superior engineering stops at the drive train and cup holders. So I am out a whopping $774.93, for parts and labor....damn expensive cup of root beer. On top of this, seems like the rear run flats are at tread bars, and for another paltry $1000.00, they will replace the two rears tires. I looked up the exact tire at tire rack, and they are only $283.00 each!

 

Don?t feel too bad. There was a post somewhere (I think for a new 3er Series) where the owner kept quarters in the ashtray in the center console.

One of them fell through and caused a good deal of damage (cannot recall details).

That is certainly something even less obvious than the spillage issue.

 

Second UPDATE...seems like I get a brand new windscreen gratis. SA called to give me the info on the status of the idrive thingy, and while (whilst) removing the center console, the tech reafed a little hard and took out my windscreen. At least they called me....

 

Ah, that's what they call it in Idaho!