Problems with my Z4

Z

Zedabee

Member
Hi there

My Z4 is a 2.0 2012 model and was first registered in Jun 2012. It has done 33800 miles and has no extended warranty.

My boot gas springs have gone so the boot is really hard to lift and sometimes closes on me if I don't hold it up. The heated seat section in the centre of the base o the driver seat has also packed up and the remainder stays on high despite whatever level the heat is set to.

I sent it in to the local dealer along with a service recently and they told me it would be ~£150 for the boot springs and ~£390 for the seat repair. When I pointed out that neither of these should fail in a car of that age they said they would follow it up with the warranty team (apparently they had to wait for me to raise that before they would attempt to get contribution from BMW!) and they expected BMW would contribute half. Anyway, to cut a long story short, despite having my car back in for 2 days for to collect further info for BMW, they have finally come back and said BMW won't contribute to the repairs for either issue. :headbang:

They said I can try Customer Services but that they have already spoken to them...Is there any point in following this up or am I just going to waste my time (got a busy week next week)? Also does anyone have the number/email for Customer Services? (The dealer didn't have it which I found strange since they said they had spoken to them!!!!)
 
I feel your pain, my e89 is newer than yours (sep 2013) and I had a goodwill claim for a cracked wheel thrown out as my car was 3 months out of warranty.
There seems to be a distinct lack of "goodwill" from bmw so I wouldn't let it eat you up, find a decent indi to get the repairs carried out for a better price & move on :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Can anyone recommend any independent BMW specialists near either Camberley/Bracknell or Maidenhead? I've noticed one on my way to work in Maidenhead, but no idea what they are like
 
I have always found that getting the email address for the MD of any company helps. Google chief exec of BMW UK, Explain that you are a loyal customer of bmw have had them for years etc etc, and do not expect things to go wrong on a car that is not even 5 years old. They key issue is merchantable quality ie the more you pay for something the more you are entitled for it not to go wrong. The email will get passed down to a flunky for a reply. Its worth pushing.
 
I wouldn't bother with the boot, the gas struts I believe are less than £20 each from memory and a five minute job to fit so do those yourself :thumbsup:
 
Zedabee said:
Can anyone recommend any independent BMW specialists near either Camberley/Bracknell or Maidenhead? I've noticed one on my way to work in Maidenhead, but no idea what they are like
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I'm sure cpc are based around there
 
OP, when I had newer BMWs I used Sytner in Ascot.

But the last 3 years I have used TWG Automotive in Frimley. Details here:- http://www.twgautomotive.co.uk

Will, the principal, is ex-Sytner anyway!

At least 2 other forum members go there too, and they are rated on P*****Heads as well.

Hope you get your issues sorted. :thumbsup:
 
Stumbled upon this, might be helpful, haven't had time to read it all.

http://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/new-laws-give-car-buyers-extra-protection/
 
SteveSmith said:
I'm hardly surprised, you're out of warranty but asking BMW to pay for it?
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If an item breaks or wears out prematurely, it isn't unusual (less so theses days) for a manufacturer to recognise this and offer a contribution towards fixing it as a good will gesture. I needed a short engine for a 5 series once and the car was 6yrs old and had 70-80k on it yet BMW gave me the engine FOC! I only had to pay the dealer to fit the engine. If you don't ask you don't get and the worst that can happen is they say no :thumbsup:
 
True dat Pastry! Got a freebie from Citroen for my wife's C3 diesel which was just out of warranty. Replaced all the electrics and complete fuel system and still couldn't fix the problem, took months at the dealership and they gave me use of a courtesy car for the full duration. Turned out to be a faulty vacuum valve at the back of the engine! Sheesh kebab! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
 
Pastry said:
SteveSmith said:
I needed a short engine for a 5 series once and the car was 6yrs old and had 70-80k on it yet BMW gave me the engine FOC! I only had to pay the dealer to fit the engine. If you don't ask you don't get and the worst that can happen is they say no :thumbsup:
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It only cost £10,000 for them to fit it :D
 
firebobby said:
It only cost £10,000 for them to fit it :D
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Shhhhh, I wasn't going to mention that :lol:
The annoying thing was that when I got the car back the gearbox was terrible paired with the new tight V8 so I had to change it and BMW wouldn't contribute towards that :headbang:
 
Pastry said:
firebobby said:
It only cost £10,000 for them to fit it :D
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Shhhhh, I wasn't going to mention that :lol:
The annoying thing was that when I got the car back the gearbox was terrible paired with the new tight V8 so I had to change it and BMW wouldn't contribute towards that :headbang:
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I'm a firm believer in "if you don't ask you don't get" but in don't moan about it afterwards if they say no!
 
I'm not moaning about it, I just wondered if it was worth following up with BMW since the dealer (which was Sytner in Ascot) said originally that hey expected to get a contribution form BMW and agreed that bboth were things that really shouldn't go wrong on a 4.5 year old car.

I'll look at TWG, thanks Mr Tidy.
 
Zedabee said:
I'm not moaning about it, I just wondered if it was worth following up with BMW since the dealer (which was Sytner in Ascot) said originally that hey expected to get a contribution form BMW and agreed that bboth were things that really shouldn't go wrong on a 4.5 year old car.

I'll look at TWG, thanks Mr Tidy.
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Sorry to hear that OP - I've always been very happy with Sytner Sunningdale (or Ascot for service dept).

Mrs Tidy bought a new Mini from them in 2003 and had no problems, so when I got my first BMW in 2005 I also started using them for servicing. She bought another Mini in 2006 and I changed my BMW in 2008 and the first issue we had was with her R56 Mini. The Control Unit for the traction control needed replacement at 4 years old in 2010 (no extended warranty) - they only managed to get a one-third contribution out of BMW, but I think BMW were the problem rather than Sytner to be fair!

The starter motor on my 1 series needed replacing in 2014, but it was over 6 years old and had done 76K miles - they contacted BMW for me, but couldn't get anything out of them! (I blame stop/start)!

I haven't used them since as my cars are much older now, which is why I've used TWG ever since! Also excellent service, but much cheaper (we had service packs when the cars were newer). :lol:
 
My wife's Audi TT recently needed a new gearbox. 6 years old and 105000 miles, Audi coughed up 50% of the cost without any pressure from us. We have been loyal customers for servicing at the dealership for several years, but goes to show what can happen.
 
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