Our steptronic tale of woe. What to do now?

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Car_54

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#21
Re: The facts are readily available

IMPORTERofRECORD said:
I am glad you and your family were not injured. Briefly: I was almost in the same boat. I caught wind of this safety defect 2 weeks before delivery. I refused delivery and did not lose a dime. Do not be a BMW stooge; protect yourself.

Understand the following facts as you proceed:

BMW acknowledges the defect to exist as early as Sep 2002
Nat'l H'way Trans Admin has opened an investigation www.nhtsa.com
Defective steptronic affects 3 series, X3 and X5
BMW safety bulletins tell dealers “replace the transmissions”
BMWNA deflects questions back to their dealers

I do not understand why anyone on these boards or anywhere would even attempt to defend BMW's business practices in this matter.
ANYONE NOT CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BMW ALERTING CUSTOMERS OF THIS DEFECT ARE RISKING FELLOW BMW DRIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFETY
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The above information is factually accurate. Glad there were no injuries.

Importer, some are defending BMW. Most are defedning the poor choice they made.[wave]
 
B

BMW_Driver22

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#22
Re: There is another option

SFCA-325i said:
which is to contact a mass torts attorney and organize a class action lawsuit. The class would consist of all purchasers of vehicles identified in TIS 24 07 03.

Class action would seek repurchase of all affected vehicles allowing for usage deduction or cash payment for residual diminution (due to publicity arising from steptronic defect).

I suspect that most of the value of the settlement, if any, would be eaten up by attorney fees, but that is a possible option. Nothing gets a company's attention quicker than a class action lawsuit.
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No one has mentioned this option before. Might be the only way to get BMW to act responsibly.[thumb]
 
S

Steptronic_woes

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#23
Re: There is another option

SFCA-325i said:
which is to contact a mass torts attorney and organize a class action lawsuit. The class would consist of all purchasers of vehicles identified in TIS 24 07 03.

Class action would seek repurchase of all affected vehicles allowing for usage deduction or cash payment for residual diminution (due to publicity arising from steptronic defect).

I suspect that most of the value of the settlement, if any, would be eaten up by attorney fees, but that is a possible option. Nothing gets a company's attention quicker than a class action lawsuit.
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I would like more information on how to proceed with this class action above. There is a difference between right and wrong. BMW has done major wrong here and I might be the one to take a stand. How can the active people on here not demand answers from BMW? You could have helped us avoid this problem. I hope by my actions I will help the next guy. Thanks.
 
S

SFCA-325i

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#24
Re: Re: There is another option

Steptronic_woes said:
I would like more information on how to proceed with this class action above. There is a difference between right and wrong. BMW has done major wrong here and I might be the one to take a stand. How can the active people on here not demand answers from BMW? You could have helped us avoid this problem. I hope by my actions I will help the next guy. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Seached "CT Class Action Attorney"

Yahoo Search

First Search Listing
 
S

Steptronic_woes

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#25
Re: The facts are readily available

IMPORTERofRECORD said:
I am glad you and your family were not injured. Briefly: I was almost in the same boat. I caught wind of this safety defect 2 weeks before delivery. I refused delivery and did not lose a dime. Do not be a BMW stooge; protect yourself.

Understand the following facts as you proceed:

BMW acknowledges the defect to exist as early as Sep 2002
Nat'l H'way Trans Admin has opened an investigation www.nhtsa.com
Defective steptronic affects 3 series, X3 and X5
BMW safety bulletins tell dealers “replace the transmissions”
BMWNA deflects questions back to their dealers

I do not understand why anyone on these boards or anywhere would even attempt to defend BMW's business practices in this matter.
ANYONE NOT CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BMW ALERTING CUSTOMERS OF THIS DEFECT ARE RISKING FELLOW BMW DRIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFETY
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Did you sign a sales contract or a purchase order?
 
tool fan

tool fan

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#27
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#27
This is not off subject....just a question. I just bought my 530i with steptronic and this sounds like a freakin nightmare. I thus far have had no issues (knocking on wood) and nor do I want any. I LOVE my car. I read this effects the 3's,x3's and x5's. So I am to understand that this not a problem for the standard 5 series?
[bigcry] Steptronic_woes,.....I am truly sorry, I know like me you were waiting and excited to get your new Bimmer and it took the proverbial Sh*t on you. Bummer. But look how long it took them to recall and replace all those freakin Firestone Wilderness AT tires off those Explorers. How many people died first. Class action is definately NOT the way to go. Just work with your dealer and I wish you the BEST of luck with your car and Congrats on the impending arrival.
Peace
tool[:o)]
 
I

IMPORTERofRECORD

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#28
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#28
Re: Re: The facts are readily available

Steptronic_woes said:
Did you sign a sales contract or a purchase order?
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I signed a sales contract and also put down a $2k deposit.

Regardless of what some want to think the reality is a car with a defect under investigation by NHTSA will not retain value on resale. Based on posts here, the BMWNA runaround and dealer making get the truth for myself, I decided to walk away from the car. My overriding concern is safety not resale. I was not willing to take a chance.
 
J

jarelj

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#29
If you look at the NHTSA web site, almost every car made is under some sort of "investigation". All an "investigation" means is that someone has filed a complaint regarding a defect or safety issue, it doesn't mean that any action will ever come of it.
 
C

Car_54

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#30
N O P E

jarelj said:
If you look at the NHTSA web site, almost every car made is under some sort of "investigation". All an "investigation" means is that someone has filed a complaint regarding a defect or safety issue, it doesn't mean that any action will ever come of it.
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You are incorrect. There are many complaints. The complaint is followed up by NHTSA with a VOQ (vehicle owners questionnaire). After the complaint is researched and deemed to have merit it is considered substantiated. When these criteria are satisfied the Office of Defects Investigation opens a Formal Investigation. Very few complaints are elevated to formal investigation. The steptronic is under formal investigation by ODI, at NHTSA.
 
C

cdotger

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#34
jarelj,

Car_54 never answers questions as to where he gets his sources of info..... Kind of makes you wonder doesn't it.... I have tried about 5 times and he never responds..... Everyone knows what he is all about.
 
C

Car_54

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#36
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#36
Thats an easy one

Car_54 said:
You are incorrect. There are many complaints. The complaint is followed up by NHTSA with a VOQ (vehicle owner questionnaire). After the complaint is researched and deemed to have merit it is considered substantiated. When these criteria are satisfied the Office of Defects Investigation opens a Formal Investigation. Very few complaints are elevated to formal investigation. The steptronic is under formal investigation by ODI, at NHTSA.
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quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jarelj
Can you please cite a source for that information?

Yes. Your government. This information is readily available on the NHTSA website. You may also phone them and have them explain the investigatory process. Please try and avoid the personal attacks. My name is not Cliff. I try my best to answer your questions in a timely manner.[wave]

www.nhtsa.com
800.324-2368
 
J

jarelj

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#37
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#37
Re: Thats an easy one

Car_54 said:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jarelj
Can you please cite a source for that information?

Yes. Your government. This information is readily available on the NHTSA website. You may also phone them and have them explain the investigatory process. Please try and avoid the personal attacks. My name is not Cliff. I try my best to answer your questions in a timely manner.[wave]

www.nhtsa.com
800.324-2368
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I don't see anything on the NHTSA web site outling the specifics that you cited. I was hoping you could provide something more specific than "your government" or "www.nhtsa.com" for reference. And if you are going to be an anonymous internet pontificator, you should be prepared to take a little ribbing now and then.... [;)]
 
S

Steptronic_woes

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#38
Re: Re: Re: The facts are readily available

IMPORTERofRECORD said:
I signed a sales contract and also put down a $2k deposit.

Regardless of what some want to think the reality is a car with a defect under investigation by NHTSA will not retain value on resale. Based on posts here, the BMWNA runaround and dealer making get the truth for myself, I decided to walk away from the car. My overriding concern is safety not resale. I was not willing to take a chance.
Click to expand...
Anyone else refused to take delivery or forced the dealer to take the car back? Thanks for the constructive comments.

Tool. Thanks for the well wish. This is number two! I remember the days when I barely took care of myself.
 
T

Trading_up_2_330Ci

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#39
Steptronic_woes said:
Anyone else refused to take delivery or forced the dealer to take the car back? Thanks for the constructive comments.

Tool. Thanks for the well wish. This is number two! I remember the days when I barely took care of myself.
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I have been reading this and other threads weighing my options. There is no way I will accept a car that has this defect. BMWNA will not put anything in writing. Keep referring me to my dealer for “technical information”.
 
L

LarryE

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#40
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#40
Trading_up_2_330Ci said:
I have been reading this and other threads weighing my options. There is no way I will accept a car that has this defect. BMWNA will not put anything in writing. Keep referring me to my dealer for “technical information”.
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I have said before many times that BMWNA is useless. Try fabricating some type of problem you are having with you car and call them. Every time. Never fails. They will refer you back to the dealer. They might as well just have a recoded msg that refers you back to the dealer for everything.
 
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