Dreaded Roof Problems

[Barrybazz]

Hi,
just as we started to get some sun, I dropped the roof on my 2007 2.5i and had a wonderful drive with the sun shining bright, I parked up pressed the button and lots of noise but no roof movement - stuck down. I called out BMW Assist and the roof decided to raise.
Happened again a week later so I booked the car into my local dealer, Coopers Chelmsford for an investigation - you've guessed it, rusted roof motor. No problem I thought, I have a year left on my BMW used car warranty.

BMW claimed that this was not a fault as the part had failed because of external factors, namely water ingress (because of a poor design).

Via my dealer, I asked:

(i) where in the manual it says that you can't shouldn't leave the car in the rain to lessen the risk of water ingress;
(ii) what preventative maintenance I could have done as a layman to avoid the water ingress;

I supplemented these questions by advising them that I belong to Which legal services and would be seeking their advice if I was asked to make any contribution.

Coopers took these points to BMW who, after 3 working days, decided to pay the full costs as a "goodwill" gesture only, not as a warranty claim.

I was grateful that I did not have to pay but come on BMW, the roof mechanism on a convertible isn't covered by the warranty for a well documented problem of water ingress on this model?

I love my Zed, but am unimpressed with BMW and their respect for their customers and so am unsure whether I'll buy another Beemer.

Thumbs up to Cooper Chelmsford though for fighting my corner.

 

[Stuart Truman]

That "goodwill" thing should be called "saving face and admitting nothing". Good effort on pushing it and getting a result

If mine goes I shall most certainly do the same

 

[Bing]

Result - mine has just gone, and I don't have a warranty... Fortunately the only reason I would have needed one until now *touches wood*.

Thanks for sharing your approach though - it will help others

 

[Adamski]

Looks like we're getting somewhere with "goodwill" fixes....

 

[deka]

i dont think i would stand a chance with the dealer for a fault the thought they had fixed only for the post facelifts to suffer also,,,,,, grrrrrr :headbang:

 

[andysat]

I wonder what year cut off point they would be prepared for the goodwill gesture?

 

[Bing]

I think the key here is having a warranty - I never even considered asking my local dealer, as a) they don't know me at all, and b) with a warranty they are more likely to support you to BMW because I assume BMW will pay them the costs. Could be wrong of course, but from my perspective I'd be taking the pi$$...