Another Update, BMW Pedestrian Protection System

Thanks guys, some good points raised, for me as the case is

A safety-critical system deploying in the absence of any triggering event renders the vehicle not of satisfactory quality and not fit for purpose under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Whether the root cause is an undetected fault or a misinterpretation of conditions by the system is immaterial—the outcome is a malfunction with significant safety and financial implications. No physical evidence has been identified to support any external cause (e.g. impact, debris, or animal strike). In the absence of such evidence, it is not reasonable to attribute this event to anything other than a defect or failure within the vehicle systems.

I am in the process of putting together a letter detailing the above and the fact that I am being forced into payment to recover my car, this being made under protest and without admission of liability, reserving my legal right to pursue recovery of these costs.
 
All the (ok limited I’ll admit) googling I did earlier, without fail, when the systems have deployed it was as a result of a sensor reacting to information OR failing.

That’s a manufacturer fault and as such I’d argue falls under the not fit for purpose
 
bigwinn said:
All the (ok limited I’ll admit) googling I did earlier, without fail, when the systems have deployed it was as a result of a sensor reacting to information OR failing.

That’s a manufacturer fault and as such I’d argue falls under the not fit for purpose
Click to expand...
I also did a bit of 'googling' and found it extremely rare for the rams to actually deploy of their own volition. Most cases I found were 'warnings' that the system had failed.

As you say, Stuart, all the cases I found pointed to a failed sensor or trapped/ damaged wiring relating to the sensor(s).
 
sars said:
and the fact that I am being forced into payment to recover my car, this being made under protest and without admission of liability, reserving my legal right to pursue recovery of these costs.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't even do that TBH. I would tell them to keep the car, pending further action. Hire a car myself and tell them by email and in person that when this is resolved to a satisfactory conclusion you will be expecting the hire charges to be re-imbursed.

Things like this story discourage me from ever buying a BMW again. Not because of the failure of the car, but for the arrogance and trying to 'wriggle out' of warranty responsibility by BMW. Maybe use this aswell?

It's worth noting aswell that organisations don't like having to 'deal' with customers who are a PITA anymore. Their employees can't cope with the 'mental stress'. In my experience being a right royal PITA to them gets you what you want. They just want you to go away.

Even Ford (who are infamous for trying to not honour warranty issues) didn't bat an eyelid when the wife's Focus's battery was knackered after just a year. A battery could easily be argued as a 'consumable', but they were as good as gold. Admittedly I did tell the dealer that I wouldn't be picking the car up and not paying a penny unless a new battery was fitted gratis when it was in for it's first service.
 
Last edited:
sars said:
So unless you have been unlucky enough to actually hit someone you are probably not aware of this system lurking in the back ground of modern BMW's. The system is designed such that when it detects you've hit someone, two pyrotechnic actuators deploy, one either side of the bonnet near the windscreen, to lift the back of the bonnet to give them something cushioned to land on, a truly marvellous concept, like an airbag for pedestrians.

That is unless you are tootling along at 07:10 in the morning through a village, enjoying the open top vista when suddenly there is a very loud bang, your vision is obscured by the bonnet, you've wet yourself and then subjected to a relentless bing bong warnings that you've had an accident, the bonnet is open and pull over as quickly as possible. This is of course what I did, checked the bonnet at the front, still latched, so undid the latch, opened the bonnet and tried to close it, nope not having it and then I noticed the two bolts sticking out stopping the bonnet from closing, WTF! Drove back home to mums and called BMW assist.

View attachment 292467
View attachment 292468

So that was my Wednesday, BMW assist were very good, communicative, concerned, did everything they could to help and they even rang me to ask if I was okay after my accident. Except I had no accident, my pride and joy is completely undamaged apart the bonnet pyrotechnic squibs, which need replacing.

I now have a Mini Countrymen for a week or two while the fault is diagnosed and rectified, as for the Mini, you can see a picture of it in the dictionary under fugly! Honestly why would anyone buy this vehicle, it's not a Mini, its a Mini addicted to steroids and hit with the ugly stick repeatedly
:poke: 🤮
Click to expand...
There is a trick you can do with resistors in the plugs to said pyro packs that fools the ecu into thinking it’s all ok.
You have to reset the packs by pushing the springs back down and clipping them back in.
Obvs the pyro packs won’t fire again as there is no charge in it. But you won’t get the annoying bong.
I had a muntjack deer run out and I hit it about 10mph (it got up and ran away) but it set the PPS off and after much googling I came across the resistor fix.
To replace the packs and sensors in the front bumper which probably caused yours to go off you’ll be left with a massive bill.
 
Pondy said:
I wouldn't even do that TBH. I would tell them to keep the car, pending further action. Hire a car myself and tell them by email and in person that when this is resolved to a satisfactory conclusion you will be expecting the hire charges to be re-imbursed.
Click to expand...
That's a cut you nose off to spite your face attitude, they have the car, I have payments to make on that car, and they won't give it back until I pay or it's resolved as warranty. With that in mind how long am I willing to give it and how much money am I willing to go with hire car costs. So it's pay up and then litigate, am I happy with that hell no.
 
I assume you don’t have a Dash cam that recorded the event, as surely that would help massively ?
 
Also, have you had the car looked at by an independent assessor? Oh and don't forget to take photos of the 'accident damage' if only to prove there isn't any :thumbsup:
 
I must have had a near miss with that system. I hit a pheasant it hit the lower front grill knocking it in slightly. The pheasant was not to badly damage. It made a nice cheap meal . 🐔
 
@Number5, unfortunately, I don't have a dash cam fitted, it would certainly aid my case I'm sure. However, dealer have confirmed that there is no physical damage to the front of the car, it is BMW GmbH that has evaluated the data and cannot see a fault within the system and has thus decreed it is not a warranty issue, they have obviously not seen the car.

I will try the ombudsman before litigation, though you have to wait eight weeks to make sure any process with the dealer/manufacturer has time to resolve first.
 
Last Friday Dick Lovett Bristol put in a special case request to BMW UK, to cover all or some of the cost of the repair given that there was no evidence of damage. On Wednesday afternoon, I was notified by the customer service manager that this special case request had been rejected and I would have to pay for the entire repair,

This afternoon had a call from them to tell me that the repair work is complete and that the bill is £1,682. I have asked for them to document the repair with photographs but they have not confirmed that this has been done.

There are four sensors located in the front bumper, in two of these the technician found that the resistance was higher than expected, this indicates that they have been activated, all four have been replaced. As an engineer I am interested to understand how these devices work so shall speak to the technician when I collect and of course pay for my pride and joy.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: B21
Maybe a long shot but any chance of any CCTV in the area or an appeal on social media for dashcam footage that would show you didn’t hit anything? May be worth an email to the local police to ask if anyone had reported being hit by a car. A negative response may help your case.
 
Would also plaster this all over social media and any motoring magazine or organisation you can think of. They will hate the negative publicity and may do something to get you to take it down.
 
I can barely believe what I'm reading. Such an injustice Sars. Possibly too late but is there a chance of a local camera having caught the incident?
 
Just out of interest, is it possible to disable this system, or remove it completely? Asking for a friend... 😂
 
Sadly , BMW U.K. are renowned for not helping out in cases where there has been a fault with the car out of warranty. Even if BMW NA have issued a recall. I can’t imagine the advice they are getting but clearly they do not attach much importance to maintaining a customer base.
 
Thanks guys, to answer all your questions.
  • @Nanu, If I could remember exactly where it happened in Wraxall (07:05 on a bright morning, roof down and singing along to happy song), perhaps there might be a ring camera, that being said, Wraxall is not exactly a big village with lots of houses.
  • @Nanu This is my only social media, well that and YouTube. I will be trying the ombudsman once I've paid.
  • @buzyg me neither, I keep trying to wake up. Technician did state, that it was likely a bird strike, I'm going to look for a turkey next week.
  • @Davey P, hello friend, yes that would a good plan if it goes again
  • @CliveN, my car is 11 months old, ChatGPT is telling me I have a strong case under the consumer protection act 2015, bloody AI
  • @bigwinn, yes I will try the ombudsman once I have more information, particularly how the sensors work and then contact the manufacturer on failure modes.
Anyone recommend me a dash cam :cry:,

And just because, this month is insurance and road tax, which the latter is now £640 :headbang:

So that's an additional grand gone this month😭
 
sars said:
Thanks guys, to answer all your questions.
  • @Nanu, If I could remember exactly where it happened in Wraxall (07:05 on a bright morning, roof down and singing along to happy song), perhaps there might be a ring camera, that being said, Wraxall is not exactly a big village with lots of houses.
  • @Nanu This is my only social media, well that and YouTube. I will be trying the ombudsman once I've paid.
  • @buzyg me neither, I keep trying to wake up. Technician did state, that it was likely a bird strike, I'm going to look for a turkey next week.
  • @Davey P, hello friend, yes that would a good plan if it goes again
  • @CliveN, my car is 11 months old, ChatGPT is telling me I have a strong case under the consumer protection act 2015, bloody AI
  • @bigwinn, yes I will try the ombudsman once I have more information, particularly how the sensors work and then contact the manufacturer on failure modes.
Anyone recommend me a dash cam :cry:,

And just because, this month is insurance and road tax, which the latter is now £640 :headbang:

So that's an additional grand gone this month😭
Click to expand...
I am glad. I’d have been saddened to hear you accepting it and rolling over

I don’t think it will be easy to keep the faith when going thorough the process(es) of trying to recoup your money, but out of principle I hope you keep at it

Use us on here to keep your chin up with irreverent and inappropriate abuse when times are tough
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom