sluggoslinger

This long story starts with another long story so i'll try to keep it short. My 2005 545i might drive me insane.

Started with brakes, replaced them with Stoptech slotted cross drilled (didn't read the fine print that they were stoptech brakes, slotted and cross drilled by someone else) and low dust pads. Vibration came in not long after. Figured i didn't bed them right, so did that, replaced pads with cool carbon pads, had the rotors turned, replaced rotors with actualy stoptech cross drilled slotted rotors. Vibration was still there so stoptech had me come to their shop and replaced the brakes themselves and bed them in. Vibration still there... Checked bushings and they looked fine. Finally went to the stealership to waive white flag...

Service adviser says it has to be the rotors and i explain the above. Tell them check the bushings which they do and they end up replacing them. They also said i needed a power steering flush and a new fuel filter. I said only do that work if you are 150% sure the vibration is gone. They clain the bushings fixed it, I approve the work ($600 extra) and pick up the car only to notice the vibration on the way home. I go back and tell him to get the teck to go for a ride with me. On the ride the tech says, "oh thats the same vibration i felt after i did the bushings". So we get back, powow with the service advisor and I point out that he made me spend an extra $600 on a car that i currently hate as i'm throwing too much money on it. I also drive the point home that if he says he talked with the tech and the car was working, it would be nice if he actually did that.

To make up for this they offer to do the rotors at cost. I say sure and $600 later i get the car back. Great news, the vibration is gone. Bad news, service engine soon light is now on. This is where it gets fun.

Apparanly the car needs a new fuel pump which i have them do. When i pick it up the service engine soon light is now off, but the dynamic drive light on. They say i need a new alternator for about $1,300 I say give me my car back. I call crevier and ask their cost for an alternator they quote me $1,200. When i pick up my car, one of the knobs on the drives side electric seat is broken off. They tell me they will take care of it and when i go back to get it, they try to charge me for it. When i contest it, they say they will split the cost at which point i'm about ready to loose it and explain to the service department manager what i've been through and how if the service adviser didn't lie to me, i might have another $600 in my pocket. Further, if we had broken it together, then maybe we could share in the cost... finally they agree to cover the cost.

Dynamic drive goes away for about a week then comes back. Now i call crevier BMW and explain what i've been though. Tell them i think i need an alternator based on what i was told at Sterling BMW. They diagnose the car and tell me its the SZL which costs $1,400 to replace. I challenge them that the symptoms i've had do not explain the SZL as now when the dynamic drive comes on, the radio cuts out, the engine drops rpm for a second etc. Since the radio doesn't run through the SZL, i'm skeptical. They insist that this is the problem and i finally agree to fix it. I pick the car up and within a day or two the Dynamic drive light comes on again. I take it back and tell the service adviser i've got a pretty good feeling that their wrong guess just cost me $1,400. They diagnose the car eith a bad alternator and tell me that they are going to give me a discounted price of $1,450 to replace it. Pretty funny since when i called a couple weeks before the over the phone price was $1,200... once again, i said give me my f'n car back...

From here i go to the shop by my house and get a new alternator for $800. After replacing that, the dynamic drive comes back as well as transmision faults ABS etc etc.

I call crevier and they say they will diagnose it at no cost, they tell me i need a new alternator and that since i didn't do it with them the first time its now going to cost me $155. He goes on to say that since i have an aftermarket stereo, there's no telling what damage it could do to the car. From here i start quizing him, explain that went to school for mechanical engineering and try to see exactly how they got the latest diagnosis. Finally he gives up and says "listen, i'm not sure, my hobby is woodworking i really don't get this stuff" OMFG... really BMW... really??? After my protesting they agree not to charge me and i return to the shop by my house and they put another alternator in the car as well as a new battery. I then went to another independent BWM shop to get the battery registered for $20.

Car now works (since tuesday). I have a feeling that a new battery back when they did the brakes would have saved me thousands...

ZGERMAN

OMG..!!! I can't believe what i just read.Dude, I feel so bad for you....

What a bunch of clowns and morons disguised as BMW staff. I guess, screwing their clients is all they do. Had the same experience with 5 out of 6 BMW $tealerships here in Chicago. -- Bummer!

Makes be think they did NOT WANT to find the real problem initially; they rather had you pay through the nose some more to fix all those pricey parts that actually may have not been the reason for your issues.
Especially since our cars are so sophisticated (as far as electronics are concerned, for one), I find it hard to believe that those $tealer a**holes cannot identify the real problem right away... Are you kidding me, BMW? I guess, it just wasn't in their interest to do that, or not right away, at least. That's how this all sounds to me...

BMW $tealerships = criminals!!!!

I have been screwed by BMW $tealerships before, too, with my old 3-Series (R.I.P.). And ever since that experience, I have never allowed another authorized $tealership to replace anything on my car other than brakes and rotors, maybe. But, that was then. I'll change by brakes and rotors myself now, I decided... (and that DIY job is coming up soon... )

Anyways,
I simply don't trust any BMW $tealership, and your story gives me assurance that that's the right decision/attitude one should have.

I have a BMW/VW/Mercedes-specialized shop in the Chicago Burbs take care of all my repair problems. Not even are those guys much less price, THEY actually fixed / resolved the issues I brught to their attention...right away.

I'm getting a bit scared, though:
My old 323iT didn't need a BMW $stealership for anything. With our stupid onboard computer/iDrive on the 5-Series now, however, it seem like I will not be able to avoid those thieves forever. Sooner or later, some "programming" or "registering" will be necessary, and if I understand it correctly, then those jobs can only be done by a BMW $tealership...I hate that idea already.

One thing I just don't understand: How can the battery have an impact on vibrations? Just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, I'm not a (BMW)mechanic...

Hope your repairs will last you for the next 50,000 Miles now, sluggosliger...
Speed safely!

kajin99

A good indy can do anything a stealership can do. I wouldn't even let the dealer diagnose my car. :thumbsdown:

PlanB

^^+1

I have an indy shop and everyone there, including the owner, were once techs at the srealership.
I hate those stories, especially since my CPO is out......today!

let me knock on some wood real quick.

Diamond

I am sure there are some great indy's but to assume everyone has a neighborhood indy full of prior bmw super techs is stupid. How do you find a "good indy shop" anyway? trial and error.. I dont think so. With that said even if you have one, this post illustrates why I have decided to never keep a car out of warranty ever again. Mine has been out for awhile and has been free of any problems but I cant say its not always something I am thinking about. Also with the newest bmw technology all indy shops simply cannot afford some of the needed equipment to handle things. You unfortunately need the dealer most times with these newer bmw's and being out of warranty could easily cost 6k per year if not more. yikes

amit1947

I see you're in the OC, same here. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Crevier BMW

I've had a few experiences with them too, including waiting hours for my car (after it was supposedly ready to go), and then having the manager tell me they "Don't know where the car is" = they lost my car! Also they're oil changes and brake service prices are ridiculous.

Anyways, I STRONGLY recommend you see the guys at Coast Motor Werk (a few miles from Crevier!). Check them out at http://www.coastmotorwerk.com

They are experienced BMW specialists, and won't screw up like Crevier/Sterling.

amit1947

Also they have the lastest computer equipment for BMWs, so really there is no need to go to the stealership except for the loaner car and a free bottle of water.

NavarroOne

What an ordeal. I too hope you catch a break the next 50.000 miles

black550_m5sport

It's because of horror stories like this that I try to AVOID doing any modification that effects the electrical system/battery/computer on my car. (That covers about everything doesnt it?)

I'm not saying the OP did this or that is why he had problems. Sometimes regardless of what you do, luck is not on your side.

To me it seems that car companies spend millions of dollars on developing these cars, with teams of engineers who have the resources (and experience) and are paid to research, design, and test these rolling "systems" on a full time basis. The more mods I make to the "system" the more I risk upsetting the harmonic balance of all the parts which were designed to work together.

Even if you don't make mods you may still run into problems, so why tempt fate?

I've done mods before too. It's fun to make mods. Being in and out of the stealership $$$$$ chasing down problems because odd things are happening and things aren't working as designed is NOT fun.

I know I am in the minority here and that's OK. But to each his own!

PlanB

I didn't say, or assume everyone has a neighborhood indy full of prior bmw super techs. I just happen to know of one in my area. These are found by referral, not trial and error.
For every bmw dealer there's a decent indy, unless you live in the stix.