Our steptronic tale of woe. What to do now?
- Thread starter Steptronic_woes
- Start date
Blah Blah Blah - GET IT FIXED and stop complaining. BMW is a business, not the Red Cross. They chose not to inform everyone about the possible steptronic problem because they know it would be cheaper to deal with the individuals who complain about it rather than recall all the vehicles and stop production.
I don't blame any of your for being upset - but that doesn't mean you have to be a stuck-up pompous ass about it. "Oh, I'm going to file a law-suit. "I'll never drive in this car again." If you bought a brand new BMW for the name brand and the resale value you don't deserve to drive these cars anyway. In fact, I feel more sorry for your car than I do for you.
Bottom line: You're not as special as you think. Be quiet and get the car fixed. Its a 3-series, not an Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bently or Ferrari. BMW messed up and they will pay the price by putting a new transmission in your car. Sure it sucks, but it's not the end of the world.
I don't blame any of your for being upset - but that doesn't mean you have to be a stuck-up pompous ass about it. "Oh, I'm going to file a law-suit. "I'll never drive in this car again." If you bought a brand new BMW for the name brand and the resale value you don't deserve to drive these cars anyway. In fact, I feel more sorry for your car than I do for you.
Bottom line: You're not as special as you think. Be quiet and get the car fixed. Its a 3-series, not an Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bently or Ferrari. BMW messed up and they will pay the price by putting a new transmission in your car. Sure it sucks, but it's not the end of the world.
Tim, my dealer advised me not to wait. The service dept. claimed that by continuing to run the car this way, there was some mechanical harm that could come to it. I didn't pursue what that might be. I just listened to them. Other reasons to do it right away:
- problem is exacerbated in colder weather and may be harder to reproduce as the weather gets warmer.
- if and when a recall IS issued, I would expect the demand for the replacements to be even stronger than it is now. I may turn out to be wrong, but you may end up having to wait quite a while for a replacement if you wait.
- don't know about the CT lemon laws, but in NY ... they have 4 chances to fix it. But if I'm not mistaken, once the car gets beyond a certain mileage (maybe 12K if memory serves me), the "replacement" or "buyback" terms are different. I haven't read the Lemon Law terms in a while so this may not be 100% accurate, but I seem to remember something in there about a mileage threshold.
Good Luck!
- problem is exacerbated in colder weather and may be harder to reproduce as the weather gets warmer.
- if and when a recall IS issued, I would expect the demand for the replacements to be even stronger than it is now. I may turn out to be wrong, but you may end up having to wait quite a while for a replacement if you wait.
- don't know about the CT lemon laws, but in NY ... they have 4 chances to fix it. But if I'm not mistaken, once the car gets beyond a certain mileage (maybe 12K if memory serves me), the "replacement" or "buyback" terms are different. I haven't read the Lemon Law terms in a while so this may not be 100% accurate, but I seem to remember something in there about a mileage threshold.
Good Luck!
Call NHTSA and ask them. They have lots of wonderful information about the defect. Someone did quote the 20,000 number before. And know there are many of us that do not think being concerned about the safety of your family is pompous. Please keep us posted.
NHTSA
888.327-4236 or
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/tsbsearch.cfm
NHTSA
888.327-4236 or
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/tsbsearch.cfm
NHTSA phone call results
I phoned NHTSA this morning. They were very helpful. They confirm office of defects is conducting an investigation regarding the steptronic transmission. Also offered to mail all pertenent documents for 30 - 40 dollars.
Importer, I appreciate the personal message identifying the less than helpful ones on here. You have made this easier and I thank you.
I phoned NHTSA this morning. They were very helpful. They confirm office of defects is conducting an investigation regarding the steptronic transmission. Also offered to mail all pertenent documents for 30 - 40 dollars.
Importer, I appreciate the personal message identifying the less than helpful ones on here. You have made this easier and I thank you.
Steptronic_woes,
No one on this board as ever said that you shouldn't open an investigation or contact NHTSA. You can by all means...
Certain members on this board are posting blatant lies. Many of us are trying to make sure that new members experiencing this problem are getting the facts.
Many members (including importer) post lies and cannot substantiate any of their claims...
Call BMW and get the facts You will see who is right.
No one on this board as ever said that you shouldn't open an investigation or contact NHTSA. You can by all means...
Certain members on this board are posting blatant lies. Many of us are trying to make sure that new members experiencing this problem are getting the facts.
Many members (including importer) post lies and cannot substantiate any of their claims...
Call BMW and get the facts You will see who is right.
Right, no one has said "Don't file a NHTSA complaint". The only reason I spend any time at all posting in these ridiculous debates is so a new owner doesn't come here seeking info about a problem they're experiencing with their transmission, and assume from what they read from SOME members that they're only option is to get on board with a law suit or NHTSA complaint in order to get their car fixed. That was my first impression when I came here a month ago, and I had to read through hundreds of posts before I got the full picture. You CAN GET YOUR CAR FIXED NOW, by just going to the dealer with the TSB in hand. That's my only point, and I'll keep posting it over and over as long as others insist on keeping these threads alive with info about law suits and NHTSA complaints. If you want to be the next Ralph Nader and make the big evil BMW pay for their crimes, more power to you, but I think it's reasonable to assume that MOST of us just want our cars fixed so we can enjoy them!
Steptronic Woes -
After you take a look at the NHTSA documents (they will give you govm't. investigation facts but not tell you how to proceed) IMHO you need to make a fundamental decision:
Do you want to keep the car for the short term?
- If you don't want to keep it, find a way to get rid of it as soon as possible. No sense in continuing with the aggravation.
- If you want to keep it short term, I don't think you forfeit any rights by getting it fixed; you are one step closer to implementing the Lemon Law; and if you choose to sue BMW, you are showing good faith on your part by letting them attempt to repair it. Wouldn't that only strengthen your legal position? Or if they fix it just as others have been fixed, you might decide to keep it long term.
After you take a look at the NHTSA documents (they will give you govm't. investigation facts but not tell you how to proceed) IMHO you need to make a fundamental decision:
Do you want to keep the car for the short term?
- If you don't want to keep it, find a way to get rid of it as soon as possible. No sense in continuing with the aggravation.
- If you want to keep it short term, I don't think you forfeit any rights by getting it fixed; you are one step closer to implementing the Lemon Law; and if you choose to sue BMW, you are showing good faith on your part by letting them attempt to repair it. Wouldn't that only strengthen your legal position? Or if they fix it just as others have been fixed, you might decide to keep it long term.
Shameful
You and others can see how your "constructive comment" request was respected.
This is what the BMW operatives have done. They dance from thread to thread and forum to forum acting just like BMWNA on crack. Not being an advocate for the customer but always falling on the side of "BMW is a business and this is what business is about". When you say "No this is unacceptable" you are deemed uninformed.
What BMW has done and continues to do about the steptronic defect is shameful.
I wonder if BMW understands those posting here are easily revealed.![[wave]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_wave.gif "Wave [wave]")
You and others can see how your "constructive comment" request was respected.
This is what the BMW operatives have done. They dance from thread to thread and forum to forum acting just like BMWNA on crack. Not being an advocate for the customer but always falling on the side of "BMW is a business and this is what business is about". When you say "No this is unacceptable" you are deemed uninformed.
What BMW has done and continues to do about the steptronic defect is shameful.
I wonder if BMW understands those posting here are easily revealed.
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Angry Angry Angry
One can only conclude this to be true. I spent the morning reading all the threads and boardsI could. There are many that even use the same name on other boards. Non of these others offer answers they just ape what BMWNA says "Go talk to your dealer" I thank Car_54 and importerofrecord for fighting the good fight! I just wish some of the other helpful people here would do as the moderators have said and tell people in my boat to demand more from the dealer. People who say "build a lemon law case" are not arguing on behalf of fellow board members. I wish I researched the car on here instead of relying on the dealers good faith. The dealers were sent a bulletin from BMWNA in Dec of 2003 confirming the defect. Now watch the people that will respond.
![[:(!]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_angry.gif "Angry [:(!]")
Car_54 said:
You and others can see how your "constructive comment" request was respected.
This is what the BMW operatives have done. They dance from thread to thread and forum to forum acting just like BMWNA on crack. Not being an advocate for the customer but always falling on the side of BMW is a business and this is what business is about. WHen you say "No this is unacceptable" you are deemed uninformed.
What BMW has done and continues to d about the steptronic defect is shameful.
I wonder if BMW understands those posting here are easily revealed.
This is what the BMW operatives have done. They dance from thread to thread and forum to forum acting just like BMWNA on crack. Not being an advocate for the customer but always falling on the side of BMW is a business and this is what business is about. WHen you say "No this is unacceptable" you are deemed uninformed.
What BMW has done and continues to d about the steptronic defect is shameful.
I wonder if BMW understands those posting here are easily revealed.
All I can say is that you guys have quite the vivid imagination. Did you do well in creative writing as children? If you only knew. You really think that BMW reps or employees have the time to sit around on this board waiting to respond to your comments? What kinds of drugs are you guys taking? And I suppose Vito Corleone and Tony Soprano are involved also ... maybe the CIA? Yea ... that's it ... a conspiracy just to try to sway people against you! When do we crack it open?
I have tried to suggest over and over here that we each figure out a way to respect each other's positions, to try to act like mature adults, and to try to constructively contribute to this board so that others can profit. But over and over again, certain people insist on attacking others and making this personal. I don't know what we can say to make you just stick to stating the facts. Only insecure and childish people would continue to feel the need to attack others' points of view.
Little do you realize how much credibility you lose when you do this and how much you make fools of yourselves. Go ahead. Please continue ...
I have tried to suggest over and over here that we each figure out a way to respect each other's positions, to try to act like mature adults, and to try to constructively contribute to this board so that others can profit. But over and over again, certain people insist on attacking others and making this personal. I don't know what we can say to make you just stick to stating the facts. Only insecure and childish people would continue to feel the need to attack others' points of view.
Little do you realize how much credibility you lose when you do this and how much you make fools of yourselves. Go ahead. Please continue ...
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Actually LipSmacknGOOd ,
If you read all of the threads throughly you will see that car_54 has said that dealers were told in June 2003..... We are still awaiting the evidence for that, and for all of the other statements he has made... I'm sure you read all of those... right... Notice that car_54 leaves threads for a bit after being asked a question and then returns about 2 days later acting like the questions was never asked.
I'm sure he is being truthful...
Amazing that you guys believe a person with no evidence.
Have a good day....
If you read all of the threads throughly you will see that car_54 has said that dealers were told in June 2003..... We are still awaiting the evidence for that, and for all of the other statements he has made... I'm sure you read all of those... right... Notice that car_54 leaves threads for a bit after being asked a question and then returns about 2 days later acting like the questions was never asked.
I'm sure he is being truthful...
Amazing that you guys believe a person with no evidence.
Have a good day....
LipSmacknGOOd said:
One can only conclude this to be true. I spent the morning reading all the threads and boardsI could. There are many that even use the same name on other boards. Non of these others offer answers they just ape what BMWNA says "Go talk to your dealer" I thank Car_54 and importerofrecord for fighting the good fight! I just wish some of the other helpful people here would do as the moderators have said and tell people in my boat to demand more from the dealer. People who say "build a lemon law case" are not arguing on behalf of fellow board members. I wish I researched the car on here instead of relying on the dealers good faith. The dealers were sent a bulletin from BMWNA in Dec of 2003 confirming the defect. Now watch the people that will respond.
History is the best guide
Some additional information to consider based on over 30 years of history that I got directly from the NHTSA Web site. See below. It's anyone's guess as to when the NHTSA will close their case, with or without a recall. You could be waiting years.
ON THE AVERAGE it takes 10 months for a recall to be issued. This is why I suggest that you move ahead with action now (Lemon Law, etc) as opposed to waiting. It's very *easy* for someone who does not have a car with the problem to criticize others and preach taking the high road. It's a different story for those of us who actually have experienced the problem.
Look at the information below. I calculated some statistics based on raw data from the NHTSA web site:
Investigations: 21,802 Recalls: 14,777
Average Days from opening investigation to closing investigation: 304 (10 months)
Maximum number of days - investigation to issue of recall:2897 (7.93 years) for a GM issue as listed below:
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19780830 19860805 08/30/1978 28732 08/05/1986 31629 2897
Do you want to wait anywhere from 10 months on the average, to almost 8 years?![[:0]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_shock.gif "Shocked [:0]")
As always, I present factual information based on verifiable data:
ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/invest/flat_inv.zip . This ZIP contains a tab delimited listing of all investigations since 1972. It has over 23000 rows of data. I loaded it into Excel and deleted several thousand rows of BAD data - no investigation dates or investigation date CLOSED before it was even OPENED (our tax dollars at work).
Some additional information to consider based on over 30 years of history that I got directly from the NHTSA Web site. See below. It's anyone's guess as to when the NHTSA will close their case, with or without a recall. You could be waiting years.
ON THE AVERAGE it takes 10 months for a recall to be issued. This is why I suggest that you move ahead with action now (Lemon Law, etc) as opposed to waiting. It's very *easy* for someone who does not have a car with the problem to criticize others and preach taking the high road. It's a different story for those of us who actually have experienced the problem.
Look at the information below. I calculated some statistics based on raw data from the NHTSA web site:
Investigations: 21,802 Recalls: 14,777
Average Days from opening investigation to closing investigation: 304 (10 months)
Maximum number of days - investigation to issue of recall:2897 (7.93 years) for a GM issue as listed below:
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19780830 19860805 08/30/1978 28732 08/05/1986 31629 2897
Do you want to wait anywhere from 10 months on the average, to almost 8 years?
As always, I present factual information based on verifiable data:
ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/invest/flat_inv.zip . This ZIP contains a tab delimited listing of all investigations since 1972. It has over 23000 rows of data. I loaded it into Excel and deleted several thousand rows of BAD data - no investigation dates or investigation date CLOSED before it was even OPENED (our tax dollars at work).
Kirby said:
Some additional information to consider based on over 30 years of history that I got directly from the NHTSA Web site. See below. It's anyone's guess as to when the NHTSA will close their case, with or without a recall. You could be waiting years.
ON THE AVERAGE it takes 10 months for a recall to be issued. This is why I suggest that you move ahead with action now (Lemon Law, etc) as opposed to waiting. It's very *easy* for someone who does not have a car with the problem to criticize others and preach taking the high road. It's a different story for those of us who actually have experienced the problem.
Look at the information below. I calculated some statistics based on raw data from the NHTSA web site:
Investigations: 21,802 Recalls: 14,777
Average Days from opening investigation to closing investigation: 304 (10 months)
Maximum number of days - investigation to issue of recall:2897 (7.93 years) for a GM issue as listed below:
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19780830 19860805 08/30/1978 28732 08/05/1986 31629 2897
Do you want to wait anywhere from 10 months on the average, to almost 8 years?
As always, I present factual information based on verifiable data:
ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/invest/flat_inv.zip . This ZIP contains a tab delimited listing of all investigations since 1972. It has over 23000 rows of data. I loaded it into Excel and deleted several thousand rows of BAD data - no investigation dates or investigation date CLOSED before it was even OPENED (our tax dollars at work).
ON THE AVERAGE it takes 10 months for a recall to be issued. This is why I suggest that you move ahead with action now (Lemon Law, etc) as opposed to waiting. It's very *easy* for someone who does not have a car with the problem to criticize others and preach taking the high road. It's a different story for those of us who actually have experienced the problem.
Look at the information below. I calculated some statistics based on raw data from the NHTSA web site:
Investigations: 21,802 Recalls: 14,777
Average Days from opening investigation to closing investigation: 304 (10 months)
Maximum number of days - investigation to issue of recall:2897 (7.93 years) for a GM issue as listed below:
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19780830 19860805 08/30/1978 28732 08/05/1986 31629 2897
Do you want to wait anywhere from 10 months on the average, to almost 8 years?
As always, I present factual information based on verifiable data:
ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/invest/flat_inv.zip . This ZIP contains a tab delimited listing of all investigations since 1972. It has over 23000 rows of data. I loaded it into Excel and deleted several thousand rows of BAD data - no investigation dates or investigation date CLOSED before it was even OPENED (our tax dollars at work).
Moreover, BMW will not wait for a NHTSA recall campaign. They will perform a "voluntary recall". Voluntarily taking back defective cars lessens their exposure to further litigation. Also a calculated public relations move.
Car_54 said:
You must know this is not a scientific study nor does it statistically represent all of the criteria necessary to arrive at a logical conclusion. Yet I am sure many were dazzled. NHTSA, actively investigating the defective steptronic transmission , will force action much sooner than the average date you arrived at.
Moreover, BMW will not wait for a NHTSA recall campaign. They will perform a "voluntary recall". Voluntarily taking back defective cars lessens their exposure to further litigation. Also a calculated public relations move.
Moreover, BMW will not wait for a NHTSA recall campaign. They will perform a "voluntary recall". Voluntarily taking back defective cars lessens their exposure to further litigation. Also a calculated public relations move.
![[rolleyes]](/images/smilies/rolleyes.png "Roll Eyes (Sarcastic) [rolleyes]")
Just had my trany replaced-So far so good. I did complain to BMWUSA- They stated that there is only a very small percentage of vehicles effected and sometimes it takes a thousand or so miles to manifest. They claim there is no way to "screen" for the problem, so they did not sell a car knowingly with a defect.
![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")