Car won't start - Transmission position P faulty.

[Silverstar]

I now have the report back from BMW. Gearbox mechatronix to be replaced. That comes to nearly £4k. But that is not all of it. They checked the rest of the car and I have a leaking shock absorber (MoT fail). An alloy wheel that has been welded. I guess because it had been cracked. Oh, and a number of tyres worn. I have had the car 6 weeks. For all I know I could have been driving around in a car that would have been an MoT fail from day 1. This sounds like stuff from a back street car lot not a main dealer.

You’ve got 326 wheels, look at the amount of posts on here about cracked rims (it’s common)
It won’t fail an mot on a welded repair, although it’s only a matter of time before it cracks again.
Depends how bad the shock is, a slight mist would probably pass an mot but a proper leak trailing down the damper should be a fail (I’ve seen bmw garages exaggerate petty issues into major ones, obviously in the hope of picking up the work)
How bad were the tyres? Half worn isn’t an issue.
Your garage should pay for the gearbox repair but you may have a fight getting the other points addressed.
Good luck
Rob

Not just BMW dealers, all main dealers do this. I had a Ford garage tell me the brake pads needed doing on the wife's car, asked them how long it would last and they said just a few hundred miles, it wasn't until a year and half later that they actually needed doing! Saying that though if the shocks are leaking / weeping Audi should have addressed this before sale. When you buy from a franchised dealer you would expect the car to be in A1 condition without any faults at all, after all that is why you a pay a premium.

 

[Stevo1987]

Depends how bad the shock is, a slight mist would probably pass an mot but a proper leak trailing down the damper should be a fail - BMW sent me video. It is not a slight misting on the shock. There is oil running down it. The tyres are worn on the inside.

 

[firebobby]

Depends how bad the shock is, a slight mist would probably pass an mot but a proper leak trailing down the damper should be a fail - BMW sent me video. It is not a slight misting on the shock. There is oil running down it. The tyres are worn on the inside.

When was the MOT done and how many miles has it done since?

 

[Stevo1987]

Depends how bad the shock is, a slight mist would probably pass an mot but a proper leak trailing down the damper should be a fail - BMW sent me video. It is not a slight misting on the shock. There is oil running down it. The tyres are worn on the inside.

When was the MOT done and how many miles has it done since?

26 July 2019 It had 35000 at the MoT, 36600 when I got it, and I think it has 38000 now. I just looked at MoT history and it had some advisories.

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3 mm (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

 

[Silverstar]

Depends how bad the shock is, a slight mist would probably pass an mot but a proper leak trailing down the damper should be a fail - BMW sent me video. It is not a slight misting on the shock. There is oil running down it. The tyres are worn on the inside.

When was the MOT done and how many miles has it done since?

26 July 2019 It had 35000 at the MoT, 36600 when I got it, and I think it has 38000 now. I just looked at MoT history and it had some advisories.

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3 mm (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

I would go back to the selling Audi dealer, they should have fixed those issues before selling the car. What happened to these main dealer 100+ point checks for their pre-owned cars.

 

[Stevo1987]

Exactly Silverstar. I emailed Audi yesterday with the details and I am still waiting for them to call me back. I don't want to authorise anything with BMW until I have something in writing from Audi. As we know these are enthusiasts cars and I have lost my enthusiasm now. Turned into a nightmare. I bought this car as a tonic for myself after a bad 2019. I thought I was going to lose my job and then in the middle of all that my mum passed away. I'm not looking for sympathy (however that reads) but it is an idicator of where my mind is righ tnow. I might just ask for my money back from Audi. I'm not sure yet. I don't know how I stand on that one. I'll have a read up and contact Citizens Advice if needed.

 

[Busterboo]

Even though you don't feel it, try a pleasant, personal, face-to-face approach to the sales/service manager. Make an appointment to see him/her, take the evidence you have and be reasoning & reasonable.

Snotty emails are too easily ignored and third parties like the CAB don't have the staff to pursue the details of individual cases like yours.

 

[Silverstar]

As Busterboo says try contacting them face to face and ask them to have those items fixed, regarding the tyres BMW generally says they replace them if 3mm or below I would imagine Audi have a similar criteria. So if the tyres are less then 3mm ask them to replace those too. I think if they refuse to fix the items and since you only purchased it 6 weeks ago you have the right to reject the car and ask for your money back.

 

[Silverstar]

I just found this online, maybe harder to get money back after 30 days:

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car

 

[Anonymous]

I’m really really sorry to hear that you had such a shitty year and the car is now giving you so much grief...having had a similar year in 2016 I know how you feel...

It’s too late/irrelevant but for others recommending the 35i versions unconditionally it’s a salutary lesson in how quickly those versions can turn bad, especially for the initiated / lacking deep pockets... :thumbsdown:

 

[Busterboo]

It’s too late/irrelevant but for others recommending the 35i versions unconditionally it’s a salutary lesson in how quickly those versions can turn bad, especially for the initiated / lacking deep pockets... :thumbsdown:

Apparently, the only E89 to buy is the 20i Auto.

With a reliability-&-performance-increasing spoiler.

 

[mr wilks]

What a sorry tale & a lesson for anyone reading that buying AUC means you might have a little more leverage in these situations with regard warranty but equally so they will all sell you a lemon given half the chance .
Without wanting to rub salt in Stevo the first step when considering any used car over 3yrs old ( regardless of seller) is to check the MOT history online , its free & takes about 30 seconds yet could save you thousands

 

[Anonymous]

It’s too late/irrelevant but for others recommending the 35i versions unconditionally it’s a salutary lesson in how quickly those versions can turn bad, especially for the initiated / lacking deep pockets... :thumbsdown:

Apparently, the only E89 to buy is the 20i Auto.

With a reliability-&-performance-increasing spoiler.

I find that the sarcasm/cynicism yet again is unhelpful and cancerous to bb like these...

To expand on my comments...

In comparison to a 35i with 326m wheels, adaptive dampers and the DSG box,

Any of the 23i 30i variants with other wheels, normal suspension, and either a manual or ZF auto box offers the prospect of less expensive more predictable motoring..

 

[Anonymous]

What a sorry tale & a lesson for anyone reading that buying AUC means you might have a little more leverage in these situations with regard warranty but equally so they will all sell you a lemon given half the chance .
Without wanting to rub salt in Stevo the first step when considering any used car over 3yrs old ( regardless of seller) is to check the MOT history online , its free & takes about 30 seconds yet could save you thousands

Mr Wilks MOT points out an excellent point...

The history of the car at MOT stations tends to paint a picture of which of the many Z4s for sale you should avoid...

Cars that present at MoT time with for example repeated sequence of severely worn tires shows that the owner is derelict in his maintenance duties ..given that 3mm is the change over point how they can explain down to the canvas..

Any items that were on the warnings list should have been addressed within a short period of time and certainly before the next MoT

 

[Stevo1987]

I spoke to an Audi manager this morning as he suggested Audi may buy the car back from me. He would have to clear this with his manager but I am thinking if that option is available I might go with it.

 

[Crazy Harry]

I spoke to an Audi manager this morning as he suggested Audi may buy the car back from me. He would have to clear this with his manager but I am thinking if that option is available I might go with it.

You might be in a good position with that - they buy back from you and scrap it and all they lose is the trade in value; assuming they don't pass it on to auction for repair/spares with all the other trades they don't put on the forecourt.

They don't buy it back and they have to pay BMW to fix it - all of it. No doubt at full market rates for time and parts. I can't see Coopers doing mates rates even in the trade.

Of course you'll remind Audi that you want all your cash back and there was all the inconvenience of not having the car to drive! Hold your nerve you might be close to sorting this

 

[enuff_zed]

I spoke to an Audi manager this morning as he suggested Audi may buy the car back from me. He would have to clear this with his manager but I am thinking if that option is available I might go with it.

You might be in a good position with that - they buy back from you and scrap it and all they lose is the trade in value; assuming they don't pass it on to auction for repair/spares with all the other trades they don't put on the forecourt.

They don't buy it back and they have to pay BMW to fix it - all of it. No doubt at full market rates for time and parts. I can't see Coopers doing mates rates even in the trade.

Of course you'll remind Audi that you want all your cash back and there was all the inconvenience of not having the car to drive! Hold your nerve you might be close to sorting this

Steve, if that works, would you still be in the market for another Z4?
Be a shame if this put you right off. Knew I should have got a photo of our two VO ones together in November.

I was up at Coopers before Xmas and they had a couple of E89s for sale. Worth a look?

 

[Smartbear]

I spoke to an Audi manager this morning as he suggested Audi may buy the car back from me. He would have to clear this with his manager but I am thinking if that option is available I might go with it.

I would bite their hand off if you’re not happy with the car, you could have a more careful look for a replacement from a franchised bmw dealer (or a “known” forum car?) don’t tar all these cars with the same brush as most owners seem to have a less problematic experience
Rob

 

[R.E92]

It’s too late/irrelevant but for others recommending the 35i versions unconditionally it’s a salutary lesson in how quickly those versions can turn bad, especially for the initiated / lacking deep pockets... :thumbsdown:

Apparently, the only E89 to buy is the 20i Auto.

With a reliability-&-performance-increasing spoiler.

I find that the sarcasm/cynicism yet again is unhelpful and cancerous to bb like these...

To expand on my comments...

In comparison to a 35i with 326m wheels, adaptive dampers and the DSG box,

Any of the 23i 30i variants with other wheels, normal suspension, and either a manual or ZF auto box offers the prospect of less expensive more predictable motoring..

Mechatronics failure on the DCT transmission is rare. This is the first example I've seen mentioned ever. Both the standard auto and manual transmissions fail too so it's not fair to attribute that as a cost of owning the 35i.

Wheels are also something that effects the entire range, you have to buy a proper boggo spec car to get wheels that don't crack as BMW practically gave the 19s away from 2011 onwards.

If the car had injector or fuel pump issues I'd agree that's a cost of the N54 engine but these issues really could be on any car.

It's a tricky balance with cars. New performance cars are expensive to buy, old performance cars are expensive to maintain. The more performance you have the more it costs in the long run. The 20i is a cheaper car to keep on the road but it's also slower.

 

[Anonymous]

R.E92, I agree with you that many of the issues could occur on any of the E89s..

And certainly I wish I had joined the forum earlier in my purchase cycle..

And hindsight is a wondeful thing!

The problem for the 35i guys is that when these things do go wrong they almost always are far more expensive than on the 'lesser' models..

We had the same thing with old twin engine aircraft vs single engine light aircraft..

The twin seemed like great value for money until it broke, which was a certainity, then the bills were always twice as much coz it was a twin!!

If you do a wider trawl of the internet there is a long history of BMW and Audi SMG and DSG boxes failing, many provoked, with horrendous repair costs..

The ZF8HP box is used by almost everyone for their serious high end cars and has an excellent reliablity record,assuming the oil is changed when required!!!

The reality is people rush in (as I did) and repent at leisure if they are unlucky..whish I still maintain is morer probable over any 36 month period with a 35i than with a 23i or 30i on non 326M wheels!!!