Not a good start

S

steveyorks

Member
My wife and I just got a Z4 3 litre auto (she likes autos) from a garage in Brighouse, W Yorks a couple of months ago. . The airbag light was on all the time but garage said they would sort it before sale. They did sort it by opening the clocks and hiding it with black silicone! A right cowboy I wouldn't recommend to anyone who is currently selling a purple Z4. I then found the instruments failed intermittently sometimes reading correctly other times giving high readings or none at all. I have had the airbag diagnosed as a faulty airbag control module (can only be replaced with new apparently) and I've checked and checked again the big multi plug on rear of instruments but I think the pod is at fault. Im looking at seeing how to get it out and sending to bba reman for a recon. So all in all its not been a good start to Z4 ownership. I'm so gutted really as we love the look of the car, have had loads of BMWs in the past and loved them all. Garage doesn't want to know despite me getting trading standards involved so that's another battle I'm involved in. Any way just thought I'd introduce myself as I have a feeling I may be asking for a lot of advice!
 
Try motorhog.co.uk they are breaking three z4 should have an instrument set that you can use while getting a refurb or indeed to replace it.
 
Sorry to hear of all the aggro. Absolutely you need to take small claims court action against them, they are a bunch of crooks. It will only cost you around £100, it is easy, don't be put off! Trading standards in my experience are a waste of time since they've all been centralised.

Check your home insurance policy before you do this, as if you have taken out legal cover as an add-on (which I strongly recommend all my clients do!) they may well cover all your costs.

good luck and 'nil nos carborundum'! (don't let the bar-stewards grind you down!)

Just for future reference. if you buy anything over £100 and I mean ANYTHING always at least make a part payment for at least £101 on a credit (not a debit) card. Even if you buy a car at say £10,000 and part pay £101 with a credit card, the card company is jointly and wholly liable for the full £10,000 if things go wrong. Not a lot of people know that.
 
welcome to the forum, sorry to hear your having problems. generally these cars are quite good so once you have over come your problems things will be much better
 
You don't need to buy a new airbag control unit. I replaced mine with a second hand one. £50 for the unit and £30 to code it. Dealers / independent's told me I had to buy new. My local independant couldn't code it but Quarry Motors in Sheffield got it done in 20 mins. (Mine must have been from a left hand drive car and now works perfectly).

A new instrument cluster can't be too much either.

Good luck
Edit-

When the airbag control unit fails, it can affect the instrument pod (mine got wet and no indicators were flashing on the pod etc)
 
Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear of your troubles.

Name and shame the crooks in Brighouse.
 
I hope you get it sorted, I'm sure it will be a cracker of a car once you've got it fixed.

As for whoever sold it to you. they should be utterly ashamed, we're not just taking about a bodged repair, but a potential safety one as I believe that with an airbag warning light being 'on' that none of the airbags would deploy if you were unlucky enough to be involved in an accident.

For the sake of yourself & whoever might buy a car from them next please pursue this.
 
Thank you all for your support its much appreciated. the garage was highline motors in Brighouse for those who want to know. I don't intend to let it drop at all but as you know however much of a cowboy they turn out to be you have to give them a chance to repair it and that's now what they have had and its over to me. Im not a fan of automatics to be honest but have to admit it does drive well although I used to love my Z3 2.8 with a manual box more! Interesting about being able to use secondhand parts. Cant think why the dealers don't tell you!
 
Hi Steve, whats the name of the garage? im a halifax lad myself! will have to catch up some time!
 
As previously said get a second hand airbag control unit,,,,they are plentiful you just need to match the part numbers,,,as well as quarry motors being a good source try fab direct they supplied me an airbag control unit when mine failed on my old M3....
 
Does anyone have the part number handy? Tried Quarry but they don't have one. Surely the same module must be used in other BMWs?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom