The dealer has a 325i on the lot that fits what I'm looking for. However, I'm scared about the slipping transmission issue with the 2004's. The transmission in this particular vehicle was built in France. Is their any way to tell if it's one of the problem trannys? Is there a range of VIN #'s that I should stay away from?
Looking at 2004 325i today-- sliptronic???
- Thread starter guitarman
- Start date
Only BMW can run a VIN # check to see if it's affected, and it's up to you if you trust them. The "problem" trannies WERE manufactured in France. Perhaps you can obtain the VIN number and take it to another BMW dealer's repair dept and ask them if they would do you the favor of running it to see if it's a problem tranny? Don't know if you would find anyone willing to do this. With my car, they insisted on test driving it and hooking up equipment to take measurements in order to confirm that the tranny was problematic. And even then, they had to call BMWNA to get it confirmed. I don't know how easy it is to do it by VIN #.
My suggestion is to do two things. First, check the build date of the car (inside driver's side door). If it is after December of 2003, chances are better that it was manufactured after BMW isolated the problem. Second, insist on a test drive after the car's been left outside overnight with the repair shop foreman first thing in the morning. See if you can duplicate any of the behavior you have seen described on this board. Test drive it AGAIN on a second morning to convince yourself if you wish. I would do this prior to signing any contracts.
I'm sure that you will get suggestions from others such as Car_54 to insist on special terms being written into the contract that if the tranny turns out to be defective, you receive some kind of compensation or you are entitled to a refund or whatever. While that is an admirable goal, and you are certainly welcome to attempt that, I doubt that the dealer will agree to it. But you can try.
Good luck. Let us know what happens.
My suggestion is to do two things. First, check the build date of the car (inside driver's side door). If it is after December of 2003, chances are better that it was manufactured after BMW isolated the problem. Second, insist on a test drive after the car's been left outside overnight with the repair shop foreman first thing in the morning. See if you can duplicate any of the behavior you have seen described on this board. Test drive it AGAIN on a second morning to convince yourself if you wish. I would do this prior to signing any contracts.
I'm sure that you will get suggestions from others such as Car_54 to insist on special terms being written into the contract that if the tranny turns out to be defective, you receive some kind of compensation or you are entitled to a refund or whatever. While that is an admirable goal, and you are certainly welcome to attempt that, I doubt that the dealer will agree to it. But you can try.
Good luck. Let us know what happens.
Come to think of it, shouldn't BMW require that the dealership replace the transsmission prior to it being sold to a customer? If BMW knows exactly which cars have the "problem" tranny, why wait for the customer to bring it back? Is this typically how auto manufacturers operate, i.e., they don't perform recall services on cars sitting on the lot?
I'd rather not wait for the 2005 model, but it's sounding more and more like that would be the prudent thing to do.
I'd rather not wait for the 2005 model, but it's sounding more and more like that would be the prudent thing to do.
How do you know that the 2005 models won't be using the same trannies? You're absolutely right. But I have never seen it confirmed that BMW knows exactly which cars are affected. When I brought mine in ... why wouldn't they have simply looked up the VIN and told me rather than go through test driving the car and hooking up for diagnostics to confirm this? I'm not saying that they don't know which cars are affected. Just that I'm not sure. If they DO know, what you're saying makes sense. HOWEVER ... remember ... there are thousands and thousands of cars that have been affected and only a limited number of "new" replacement trannys and a limited number of GM-tranny trained techs to do the clutch pack replacements. If you were BMW, to whom would you give priority on the repair? On new cars that haven't been sold yet, or to owners who already have the problem on brand new cars and who have come forward with complaints? I don't know the answer. I'm merely observing that it's a business decision.
Transmission problems in 2005? It's hard to imagine that BMW would continue to build cars with a known defect. I'm sure that BMW wants to regain the trust of its current and potential customers. There's some good competition out there for the 3 Series; another major misstep could be devastating.
You are absolutely right about taking care of the current owners first. Just wish I could buy this car without having to worry about a transmission problem a few weeks/months down the road.
You are absolutely right about taking care of the current owners first. Just wish I could buy this car without having to worry about a transmission problem a few weeks/months down the road.
My thoughts
Yes BMW should be honest and straight forward regarding this known safety defect. Sadly, they have chosen to leave the educating of their customers to those who have chosen to use common sense and not accept a patch over a new non-defective new transmission.
BMW has told their dealerships to "ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE IMPROVED UNIT" Please take note there is no mention of any other corrective action.![[wave]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_wave.gif "Wave [wave]")
Yes BMW should be honest and straight forward regarding this known safety defect. Sadly, they have chosen to leave the educating of their customers to those who have chosen to use common sense and not accept a patch over a new non-defective new transmission.
BMW has told their dealerships to "ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE IMPROVED UNIT" Please take note there is no mention of any other corrective action.
Re: My thoughts
Sigh ... when are you going to submit the backup documentation that there aren't substitute repairs that accomplish the same thing? Don't you see that every time you don't respond to this question, you lose credibility?
Car_54 said:
Yes BMW should be honest and straight forward regarding this known safety defect. Sadly, they have chosen to leave the educating of their customers to those who have chosen to use common sense and not accept a patch over a new non-defective new transmission.
BMW has told their dealerships to "ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE IMPROVED UNIT" Please take note there is no mention of any other corrective action.
BMW has told their dealerships to "ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BASIS ONLY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE IMPROVED UNIT" Please take note there is no mention of any other corrective action.
Re: Confusing
I'll tell you why ... because it is not me who is challenging me or the real dealer experiences that I have had. The ownness lies with you, my friend, to prove me wrong. Sorry. I am speaking from a real experience with my dealer. What are you speaking from when you challenge it, besides the fact that the TSB wasn't written explicitly enough to say when the clutch pack replacement is appropriate?
I'll tell you why ... because it is not me who is challenging me or the real dealer experiences that I have had. The ownness lies with you, my friend, to prove me wrong. Sorry. I am speaking from a real experience with my dealer. What are you speaking from when you challenge it, besides the fact that the TSB wasn't written explicitly enough to say when the clutch pack replacement is appropriate?