Can't Compete with all Technology

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#1
I've decided I can no longer compete on an individual basis with all things considered high technology..............because when it rains it pours.............remember that walking hand in hand with fate thing I said awhile back.............

The air conditioning has been bonkers due to the A/C installing the wrong size evaporator coil and finally figured out after 9 months why its not working properly.

High speed internet (two laptops remember) is out until Friday, no service personnel available since I'm traveling for a few days.

Pool light out again after 4 months.......it should light for a couple of years.

THEN.......TA DA.........sitting in the dry cleaners parking lot I hear a thud and a symbol lights up.............I call my service guy at 5:55 PM since I dont have the book with me and there isnt much power........I describe the symbol as an exclamation point with an outline of the sun......he laughs and says, oh my, that's the fail safe on the transmission........I say, what the hell is wrong with this P.O.S........he says I noticed during your last visit, there was a nut loose behind the wheel.........yeah I know it takes me a second to get his joke........but says to bring it in tomorrow on my way to the airport, will give me loaner and let him have it for a few days, not to worry.........I'm all warm and fuzzy at that point, but laughing as I put the pedal to the metal, have a loud exhaust, he's really singing, and get up to 20 MPH after many seconds with it floored..........I pet my baby saying what are you doing to me, havent I been committed to you, havent I treated you with respect, havent I given you my all........he roars loudly again because I hit so many freakin red lights.........all bark and no bite........how sad......... [bigcry] [bigcry]
 
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#6
Thanks guys, but this really doesnt bother me........it doesnt's cost me a thing, get a loaner, so I have to visit the dealer a couple of times, it's just down the road. I don't understand how a perfectly running car with never a hiccup before on performance all of a sudden goes kapoop. I've had many quirky things and besides the ignition coils, its never been about anything serious........what really bothers me is that there are so many people that learn of this in my business and all say they would never purchase a BMW........that is what is sad..........well as we said long ago, keep on truckin!!!!!
 

Big Daddy

Senior Member
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#7
I think one of the biggest failures in the new car transmisions is computer related. In the old days you could feel a transmission going bad, slipping, jerky shifting, etc. and you knew it was doomed. Today computers compensate for all that and you usually never feel anything until boom, it's gone.
 
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#9
The computer in these cars is a blessing and a curse. Looking back over the last few months with my car's Service Engine Light coming on periodically, it was a sign. Unfortunately, each time I brought the car in the computer had no fault codes showing why the light would come on. Sometimes the car does something strange and you just think its your driving skills.........so laughing......we were hoping the gas cap just wasnt tightening like it use to.......I'm not so sure how I feel about getting a 2005 transmission put in a 2003 car......but what do I know......my service guy is a dream and he said we are building you a new car piece by piece. I told him I think it needs to be German building it piece by piece.

When I left the car we were hoping it was something simple and I would have it back in 48 hours so I took an Infinity FX35 (I think) instead of a BMW since it would just be sitting at the airport........this is some big ole thing that is a V8 and way too big and fast for me, steering is really loose and the handling is way too loose for my taste. The only thing this car has done for me is to tell me never get a M3.........I'm going to kill myself in it if I have to keep it very long.
 
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#10
Now I"m pissed..........the dealership just called and now say BMWNA is saying that its the amplifier causing the problem, drawing too much current. I said what does the amplifier have to do with the transmission and how come you ask permission to change the transmission and now come back and say we look for aftermarket products and since you have them we feel that is the cause of the problem. If it was drawing too much current, wouldnt that affect the battery. How is the transmission and the amplifier even connected? So the deal is, they reset everything and its running fine. I said, yep this is two times now you reset the computer and everything is fine, but the Service Engine Light keeps coming on periodically with no hiccup ever in the performance of the car. Basically I ended with, BMWNA wants to charge me for this work because I have an amplifier.............good grief........the Service Engine Light was coming on before I got the stupid amplifier. The Service Engine Light comes on after using Manual Mode.........The Service Engine Light comes on when the gas tank is empty.......just change the Service Engine Light and we'll all be fine......... [spank]
 
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#11
That amplifier excuse doesn’t sound right to me. I hope everything works out for you.

The pool light seems strange. If the bulb went out it’s not such a big deal but if the seal broke and shorted out the safety they may need to run a new line from the electrical box/control center.

Good luck with BMWNA! I know I have an issue to deal with tomorrow because I was driving along and my window fell completely into the door. I tried to push the button to raise the window and all I could hear was grinding. So I stopped at the first available shop and had a mechanic take apart the door, raise the window, and block it in place with pieces of wood (all they really could do). I can’t wait to see what BMW tries to pin on me for this but it was raining like hell and no BMW dealer for 150 miles.
 
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#12
MyHarley said:
.....what really bothers me is that there are so many people that learn of this in my business and all say they would never purchase a BMW........that is what is sad..........well as we said long ago, keep on truckin!!!!!
[:(] They will never know the joy of BMW ownership

Sad to hear about your problems, hopefully the problems will stop soon.
 

bmwrocks

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#13
The transmission bone connected to the amplifier bone........and the amplifier bone connected to the gas cap bone.....and the gas cap bone connected to the SES light bone.....and the SES light connected to the BMWNA bone......
 

Tom

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#14
bmwrocks said:
The transmission bone connected to the amplifier bone........and the amplifier bone connected to the gas cap bone.....and the gas cap bone connected to the SES light bone.....and the SES light connected to the BMWNA bone......
LOL, good one Eric[rofl]
 
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#15
bmwrocks said:
The transmission bone connected to the amplifier bone........and the amplifier bone connected to the gas cap bone.....and the gas cap bone connected to the SES light bone.....and the SES light connected to the BMWNA bone......

...and the BMWNA bone connected to the wallet bone..........


you're so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really wish someone would tell me how this is possible.........I even read up on steptronic transmissions last night........so laughing
 

Tom

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#16
Lisha, I think they ran out of ideas and now laying blame on your amplifier.

So are they fixing your transmission under warranty?
 
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#17
Tom said:
Lisha, I think they ran out of ideas and now laying blame on your amplifier.

So are they fixing your transmission under warranty?
As of Friday......they unplugged the amplifier and reset the computer and everything is working fine but will keep the car for further testing and talk with BMWNA again. I said, you were fixing to replace a transmission on a car with 41,000 miles and now its working fine because you unplugged the amplifier. Its the computer that made it go to fail safe mode. The transmission never had a hiccup until it went to fail safe mode..........the service engine light just periodically comes on. They said I will probably pick the car up on Monday with the amplifier unplugged and see if the service engine light or fail safe mode returns without the amplifier being hooked up........in this case I have to pay for their checking around and resetting the computer due to aftermarket products. [???1]
 
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#18
UPDATE: Picked up car today and all is fine......reset the computer, updated the computer software.......changed the brake pads, oil/filter change/brake fluid flush.......no charge for anything.........the Performance Manager (who is a great guy) is going to check out my car amplifier and subwoofer connections and redo whatever is needed tomorrow and put under his jurisdiction for BMWNA.......pretty nice I think......... [wiggle]
 
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#19
WOW! Good job Lisha. Having the dealership look into and make appropriate changes to the amp/wiring is great. Hopefully in the future when you need (let pray you don't) service work done they will not jump to the conclusion that it is the after market sound system causing the problem instead of actually troubleshooting it. Good luck, we have our fingers crossed....
 
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#20
If it does turn out to be the amp and if you don't have a capacitor in there, it might actually allow you to keep the amp and avoid the problems. They are not too terribly expensive either, 150 should get you what you need no problem. Good luck and keep us posted.
 


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