MY 325i a Lemon

[kitkat]

2nd time I had to take it in to the dealer this week I bought the car last Sunday the 28th !!!! I am sooo bummed ....They're telling that it's not considered a lemon until the 4th time it has to be fixed. I went from being estactic to pure disappointment. Even if they "fix" my issue I just can't regain that feeling of BMW Dependability any more.

Explanation of the problem:

The instrument clusters that display things like the turn signals and warning lights are all blanked out. None of my steering wheel controls work and my sunroof is non operational. The car is freakin new even though it's a 05 model.

Timeline:
Feb.28th-Bought car
March.2-Bought car back to dealer 1st time
March.4-Bought car back to dealer 2nd time

Any advice on what I can do to get my money back?

They gave me a PHUCKIN KIA as a rental the first time and was trying to do the same today but I managed to talk them into renting me a Rav4.

I'm sooooo pissed.

PHUCK New Cnetury BMW

Sorry for the rant but I'm so pissed.

 

[epj3]

So you've taken it in to fix the gauges, they fixed it, then it got messed up again?

Sounds like a blown fuse or something...you aren't plugging a cellphone charger into the cig lighter are you? I'm not sure how the electronics are on the e46.

 

[kitkat]

No I haven't touched the cigarette charger.

 

[epj3]

Alright. Thanks for answering the first question. We can now help you even better.

 

[Big Daddy]

Rental? When I took my BMW in for service I got a BMW loaner no charge! I would demand a free loaner at least.

 

[williamwoon]

Mate

look like you have got cheated.. better return the car or you will feel sorry down the line.. honestly the car shouldn't react like that as in all the electronics shouldn't go blank.. it's BMW we are talking here for God sake... return it!!! if you have to involve lawyers get it my friend!!! don't let these guys take you for a ride.. let me know how you went

 

[Kirby]

RENTAL????

You are being WAY to passive here, they should have loaned you a Bimmer....

Keep ALL of the paperwork, if they do not give you paperwork, INSIST on a DETAILED write up of what was done.

To pursue the lemon law you need to have written documentation of each attempted repair. They may try to slide through "undocumented" repair attempts...

Stay on top of them!!!

 

[330i and like it]

The lemon law is different from state to state but from what I understand you have to have the same problem 4 times to have it classes as a lemon

 

[Section_8]

Rental my ass, they should be giving you a loaner BMW...

You're in it until you have the same problem 4 times - but hey let them get it right, sucks to be taking it back and forth, but they are trying to get it right for you. Trust me they don't want to have to hand out another new car because they have one they can't fix.. Just keep on them to correct your current problem - they either will, or on your 4th visit drop it off and hit the lot to see what else you want.

The 06's should be on the lot now....

 

[Kirby]

Read this article. It was in our local newspaper a few weeks ago. Particularly, pay note to the comments about other "negotiations" that dealers may try to avoid a true Lemon Law claim.

Lemon Law Article

 

[adrean8j]

Sorry about your problems kitkat.....if you bought it from a BMW dealer and took it to a BMW dealer(note BMW DEALER) then they should have given you a bmw loaner at no cost...that is even the way they do it here in Germany...i took mine in last week to have a Diagnostic run on it(56euros was the cost of it) and they gave me a 2002 318i at no cost....dont get down on Bimmer for the problem though..out of the thousands of cars they manufacture only a small few have those type of reoccuring problems....although we wont get into the SMG discussion someone is bound to bring up...oopss i guess i brought it up...LOL

 

[kitkat]

Thanks for all the help and comments guys I really appreciate them. I am in the process of talking to a auto lawyer, I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[kitkat]

Update on situation:

Okay I got the car back on Tuesday and I also talked to my lawyer about the Lemon Law. It has to be 4 or more attempts to fix the problem in order to be considered a Lemon in California. It's been 2 already. So I'm hoping nothing else happens. Also the dealer said it would make the first payment for me but I'm trying to press them instead for the extended warranty.

 

[piratelife]

Kitkat,
Go for both. They should make the payment due to the fact that is has been there twice. The extended warranty should be applied due to initial problems. As for the whole rental thing, I would ask them about the loaner program. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought all dealers provided BMW's for their clients. I am in HCicago so it might be different. Good luck, high-speed and low drag.

 

[DigitalDawn]

Don't know about the BMW loaner program, but our dealer always gives us an Enterprise rental (they pay) while the car is in service. The only time we got a BMW loaner (X3) was when the dealer didn't fix the problem and we had to come back.

Dawn

 

[kitkat]

Don't know about the BMW loaner program, but our dealer always gives us an Enterprise rental (they pay) while the car is in service. The only time we got a BMW loaner (X3) was when the dealer didn't fix the problem and we had to come back.

Dawn

Yeah that's exactly what happened to me since they had an enterprise located in the dealer. Still they gave me a friggin KIA the first time.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I don't think dealers are required to give you a BMW as a loaner. I believe they are allowed to provide you with a rental car in lieu of providing you with a BMW. I'm pretty sure it's a dealer specific thing.

 

[adrean8j]

I think they would give a bimmer loaner first IF one is available......

 

[TheBry]

My dealer (BMW San Francisco) will only provide a complimentary BMW loaner car if you SCHEDULE your appointment in advance and request a loaner. They won't give you one if you just show up for unscheduled maintenance. If you don't request a loaner (or they're booked out for months and you need to get in before that), they'll pay cab fare to and from wherever you live, or will provide free shuttle service to the nearest rental facility -- they do not, however, pick up the cost of that rental.

Looks like the loaner coverage does, indeed, differ based on which dealer you use.

 

[sinisterE36]

give them a chance to fix whats wrong.
1. the car is still covered under warranty and they will fix whatever is wrong with no money out of your pocket aside from losing/wasting your time they will try and make you happy.
2.the whole rental thing.... if you didnt go back to where you bought the car you'll get a rental (non bmw and whatever they have@the time) if you didnt make an appointment. If you made an appointment then you'll get a bmw loaner

and without saying too much and leaking out info that i shouldnt since thats my employer just keep in mind #1