I have two issues I'd like advice on:
A Few Details:
Model: 325i sedan
Year: 2003
Transmission: Manual
Mileage: 17,000
Original Owner
1) AC Smell: I originally brought my car in for service October 5 for a mildew smell in the AC. The dealership treated it with a bacterial spray, but, to me, it smelled like cheap, rancid perfume, so they kept it overnight and gave it an ozone treatment. Then it smelled like burning rubber and cheap perfume and black particles would come from the vents when the AC was on. The service manager agreed the smell was "horrific," and he agreed to fix it. So the technicians apparently ran it 8 hours at full heat to "burn off" all the smells. Regardless, it still smells--but I'm back to the cheap perfume and longing for the days of the mildew smell. The service manager assures me it will "burn off." Any suggestions welcome.
2) Bad Transmission: The bigger issue was when I picked up the car (after they claimed to have fixed the smell issue on their fourth attempt), the car would not go into third gear correctly. There was a ghastly clunking metal noise and severe resistance. I immediately returned to the dealership. The service manager said the gears were "out of synch" and he would need to replace the entire transmission. I was livid. I realized it was probably correlation and not causation but between the two issues, my patience was gone and I was suspicious. When I picked up the vehicle today (23 days from the original drop-off date), the shifting is much tighter and the engine revs much higher than before. I realize it will never be the same, but it's driving differently. I also noticed the invoice noted a "RMFD 5SPD TRAN REMFG." I told the service manager I didn't want any used or reconditioned parts in my car. He assured me it would not. Now, in some of these threads, I'm reading that all BMW transmissions are remanufactured. Should I demand they put a new transmission in the car or all transmissions RMFD? Is the shifting difference and engine revving something I should just expect with a new transmission?
A Few Details:
Model: 325i sedan
Year: 2003
Transmission: Manual
Mileage: 17,000
Original Owner
1) AC Smell: I originally brought my car in for service October 5 for a mildew smell in the AC. The dealership treated it with a bacterial spray, but, to me, it smelled like cheap, rancid perfume, so they kept it overnight and gave it an ozone treatment. Then it smelled like burning rubber and cheap perfume and black particles would come from the vents when the AC was on. The service manager agreed the smell was "horrific," and he agreed to fix it. So the technicians apparently ran it 8 hours at full heat to "burn off" all the smells. Regardless, it still smells--but I'm back to the cheap perfume and longing for the days of the mildew smell. The service manager assures me it will "burn off." Any suggestions welcome.
2) Bad Transmission: The bigger issue was when I picked up the car (after they claimed to have fixed the smell issue on their fourth attempt), the car would not go into third gear correctly. There was a ghastly clunking metal noise and severe resistance. I immediately returned to the dealership. The service manager said the gears were "out of synch" and he would need to replace the entire transmission. I was livid. I realized it was probably correlation and not causation but between the two issues, my patience was gone and I was suspicious. When I picked up the vehicle today (23 days from the original drop-off date), the shifting is much tighter and the engine revs much higher than before. I realize it will never be the same, but it's driving differently. I also noticed the invoice noted a "RMFD 5SPD TRAN REMFG." I told the service manager I didn't want any used or reconditioned parts in my car. He assured me it would not. Now, in some of these threads, I'm reading that all BMW transmissions are remanufactured. Should I demand they put a new transmission in the car or all transmissions RMFD? Is the shifting difference and engine revving something I should just expect with a new transmission?
