My Brand New Lemon - BMW 330cic

tlk4175@yahoo.com · Jul 13, 2004

I posted a message a few months ago concerning my brand new BMW 330cic which I purchased in March '04. That posting listed all the issues I've had with this brand new car, including having it towed 3 times, spending more time in the service department than on the road and the non-responsiveness of the GM of this Maryland BMW dealership (BMW VOB). Can you believe a new clutch and various new motors for a car with less than 1,500 miles?

Here's the update! Since then, BMW North America has contacted me and set up an inspection of the issues I had to deal with. Surprisingly, or not, a related issue has popped up! Of course, another trip back to the service department and another "one time" problem to replace another motor.

The ironic thing is that I asked for the contact information of the customer service manager responsible for making decisions on "lemons" - perhaps trading my lemon in for a real car. The response was: "sorry, we don't give out that information and sorry, but we hope you don't run into anymore problems."

This is ridiculous! Potential buyers be aware! Those considering buying a BMW, I would offer other options. Those considering doing business with BMW VOB, DON'T! I have had an Audi TT now for 4 years, great car, great performance, not a single problem!

I'm just getting the information out to you and have already convinced a few collegues not to purchase BMW's. Try a Mercedes, or even a Toyota, they are more reliable and won't cost you towing fees.

MrElussive · Jul 13, 2004

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. But if you feel your car is considered a "lemon" by law, then you have the right to start a case. Talk to a lawyer and explain everything that has happened and then go from there. Usually what happens is, BMW will just buy the car back from you.

longshanks · Jul 13, 2004

i havent had any problems with my 04 ci, but i also had a 01 audi a4 before i got rid of it. Nothing but trouble with it...anyhow, luck of the draw, sometimes you get a car that was built on a friday when people dont really care how it turns out. Good luck, hopefully everything works out for you. Oh, and do more digging to get higher in the BMW foodchain before giving up looking for the lemon guy.

Blue · Jul 13, 2004

tlk4175@yahoo.com said:

I posted a message a few months ago concerning my brand new BMW 330cic which I purchased in March '04. That posting listed all the issues I've had with this brand new car, including having it towed 3 times, spending more time in the service department than on the road and the non-responsiveness of the GM of this Maryland BMW dealership (BMW VOB). Can you believe a new clutch and various new motors for a car with less than 1,500 miles?

Here's the update! Since then, BMW North America has contacted me and set up an inspection of the issues I had to deal with. Surprisingly, or not, a related issue has popped up! Of course, another trip back to the service department and another "one time" problem to replace another motor.

The ironic thing is that I asked for the contact information of the customer service manager responsible for making decisions on "lemons" - perhaps trading my lemon in for a real car. The response was: "sorry, we don't give out that information and sorry, but we hope you don't run into anymore problems."

This is ridiculous! Potential buyers be aware! Those considering buying a BMW, I would offer other options. Those considering doing business with BMW VOB, DON'T! I have had an Audi TT now for 4 years, great car, great performance, not a single problem!

I'm just getting the information out to you and have already convinced a few collegues not to purchase BMW's. Try a Mercedes, or even a Toyota, they are more reliable and won't cost you towing fees.

If you think you have a lemon, then hire an attorney and do it right. Quit whining on message forums...whining will solve nothing, however therapeutic you may find it.

TheBry · Jul 13, 2004

I've got an '04 330cic and took delivery in March as well. The only problem I've had (that wasn't user error, etc.) was the driver-side window -- sometimes it doesn't respond to the auto-up feature on the first try. The problem is intermittent but tolerable, so I'm just going to bring it up when I take the car in for the first oil change. Other than that, this thing has been rock-solid -- quality through and through.

I know what it's like to have a "lemon" too. I traded in a 1999 Volkswagen Passat V6 with tiptronic. That car was wracked with problems. Within the first two years I'd owned it, I replaced an engine due to a timing chain failure (which, in turn was traced to a leaky water pump which also had to be replaced); replaced the entire steering rack due to corrosion from... you guessed it... that original leaky water pump; replaced the fuel sender and sensor -- this one really pissed me off, because the fuel gauge was off by about 1/4 tank... I ran out of gas a couple of times before I figured that one out. The list goes on and on. I was so happy to get rid of that car. Naturally, I started persuading my friends to avoid Volkswagen cars. However, several of them bought anyway (beetles, passats and even a Jetta) and none of them have had any of the problems I've had. They're in love with their cars. As for me, the experience of owning that Passat has soured VW in my mind, so it'll be a long time before I consider them again. I suspect the same is true with you and BMW. It's hit and miss dude.

Sorry you're having trouble with what should be a superior experience. Like the others say... you should get yourself a lawyer.

codex57 · Jul 13, 2004

tlk4175@yahoo.com said:

Sorry to hear of your problems, but all companies produce a lemon every now and then. As for suggesting an Audi or Mercedes over a BMW because of reliability, that's a mean, MEAN joke to tell unsuspecting people.

dumayou · Jul 14, 2004

the dude just want to vent ..give him a break on that man...I'm sorry to hear about that..I hope everything work out for you. Good luck

Blue · Jul 14, 2004

dumayou said:

Yeah, he's just venting....didn't mean to come off too harsh.

However, the reality is that if BMW or any car manufacturer had a nickel for every time a customer screamed "lemon" or "attorney" or "lawsuit", they wouldn't have to sell any more cars because they'd all be fabulously wealthy.

This gentleman is obviously dissatisfied with his car - if he's had multiple recurring problems, then I certainly don't blame him. I'd be mad as hell too...but laying into BMW, demanding contact info for the lemon man (LOL), and mounting an anti-BMW advertising campaign isn't the way to get the problem solved. You have to either roll with the punches and go through the manufacturer's service routine, or you have to pull back, regroup, muster the forces, and go full-bore lemon lawsuit. Everything in between is just whining, in my humblest of opinions.

deutsch100 · Jul 14, 2004

Totally agree. Our BMW board is for us to vent our frustrations & concerns (this is how many of us solve each others problems). We don't need a board just to brag about how far our tach needles go, or talk about wish lists, sweet new rims etc....

I am in the same boat as the guy who posted this posting. I have less than 1,600 miles on my 2004 330cic....and I feel very cheated and defeated. So tired of scheduling service appts.

So, yeah...give anyone a break who posts problems about their BMW. Just remember....you could have problems too and want to vent.

jnx · Jul 14, 2004

Yeah, I agree, I have had my 04 330CIC about 3 months, and have had it in to fix my mirror problems 4 times now.
I took it in yesterday, and I waited, only to be told after 3 hrs, that something broke and the parts would be here Wed. Guess what.......I still havn't heard anything. I too feel cheated with my BMW.
I mean it's not like this is a new model and have to work out the bugs. No wonder BMW was not on the "Best List"

codex57 · Jul 14, 2004

I don't think anyone was really giving him a hard time. We understand his frustration, but telling everyone to buy brands that have worse quality problems than BMW strikes a nerve, especially to a BMW enthusiast who takes time out to visit an internet BMW board frequently.

My attitude is to consider the service person an absolute moron. Someone who wouldn't know a screwdriver if one hit him in the head. So, I come onto the boards to ask advice from enthusiasts who care about BMWs and are most likely more knowledgeable than that service guy. If I learn something, then I tell that service guy and hope that helps him fix my problem.

MrElussive · Jul 14, 2004

codex57 said:

Yeah, I totally agree with you, but the thing is, from what I've seen about BMW's problems compared to other cars is that BMW's problems seem to affect the drivability of the car more often. It's not uncommon for us to see a "I went to my car this morning and it wouldn't start" thread come up. But with Mercedes, VW, and other problematic brands, their problems don't really prevent or hinder driving the cars as much. A lot of Mercedes' problems are related to the COMAND Center and are simply electronic. A lot of VW's problems are with the interior lighting of the car or windows dropping down to the bottom and other stupid things like that. Or if you look at Land Rover, they are extremely problematic but they have become to be known as the cars that "No matter what the problem is, they'll still run."
Of course, this is purely just my own speculation and is based on what I have seen/read/heard.

codex57 · Jul 14, 2004

I've actually heard comlaints about different engine stuff for VW/Audi. Mercedes doesn't have too many engine complaints (if any at all), but some of their electronic problems do affect drivability. I mainly only check out the E-Class forum, but some of the problems there affect other models. The Keyless Go can go on the fritz quite often. When it does, the whole car goes haywire and you can't do anything. Also, the current E-Class had a problem with it pulling to the right. Just manufactured badly I guess. That definitely affected drivability too.

MrElussive · Jul 14, 2004

My mom used to have a 2001 MB S500 that was on a lease for 4 years/48K miles. At around 45K miles, one morning she started her car and the display said something like "DO NOT DRIVE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAILURE". She asked me to see wtf was wrong and as soon as I went into the garage I immediately noticed that the car was sitting lower than normal. I turned the car on and saw the display for myself and then I tried pushing downwards on the hood and trunk and the shocks weren't compressing at all. The airmatic system malfunctioned and let all the air out of the shocks, so we had to have it towed to the dealership. It was a quick fix, only took a day or two, but that definitely affected drivability.
The problem with forums is that it skews your views on a certain car company's reliability. For example, let's say somebody owns a BMW and is a member of BMWBoard, and his BMW is great and running completely problem-free. Sure, he can be like, "My BMW is great! No problems so far!" But that's all the owner can say. But let's say this same owner starts running into problems, all of a sudden he'll start all these new threads talking about each problem and what could have caused it and how to remedy it. My point is that if somebody doesn't have any complaints, they really don't have anything to say. So the car problems we see on car forums are not a good statistic compared to all the owners of a certain car.

BMW-FW26 · Jul 14, 2004

Funny you mention you have an Audi with no problems, considering VW is so problematic, they might as well be American. BMW is above average when it comes to reliability according the JD Power and Associates.

codex57 · Jul 14, 2004

MrElussive said:

Very true. But the type of complaints and frequency of them can give good insight of what are problem areas.

NZL · Jul 16, 2004

I've often wondered about those reliability surveys, whether they take into account the seriousness of the faults requiring repair.
Examples:
My 2000 Nissan 200SX 2.0L Turbo had a recall for minor variable valve timing adjustments
My 2003 BMW 3-series 2.0L had a rear brake light bulb fail
My father's Ford Fairmont wagon had major electrics problems and central locking failures that required 3 replacement motherboards

How equal are these problems... and do they all rate the same when counting numbers for manufacturers reliability?

Militant-Grunt · Jul 16, 2004

MrElussive said:

err Land Rover dont drive when broken... take it from me. I have one, when i showed you guys the pictures of my rover, it was broken and had to be towed because it wouldnt start because of a broken fuel pump.. so far i paid around
7660 for the repairs on this car alone.. But anyway, because of these problems that bmws have should I be rethinking weather i should lease a 325ci this September - October? ( Kind of cant wait ) or should i not be concerned about this at all..

BMW-FW26 · Jul 16, 2004

Militant-Grunt said:

Since no one is complaining about the 2.5L powerplant, I would go for it. Seriously. Then you can have that awesome Q3 bike on an awesome car. Hey they are selling a Q3 in the paper. Worth looking at?

Militant-Grunt · Jul 16, 2004

BMW-FW26 said:

Definitly, I love that bike, it is amazing, it is very well balanced. I can go no hands most of the time, it is very fast 24 speed. It has survived many jumps, as well as falls. It has a beautiful look to it, and it is a crowd pleaser. I get so much praise around it. Its also very nible and manuverable, I pull off some insane stuff on it. Ill take some pictures of it later. I already had to replace the rear tire because i use it so much. Worth the money.. On the car issue, well if it is leased anyway dosent the dealer have to take care of it anyway?

My Brand New Lemon - BMW 330cic

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