Safety defect confirmed this AM by BMW

Car_54 · Mar 28, 2004

So so very very sad

Kirby said:

From the person on their third THIRD TRANSMISSION
This from a person who admits to working with BMW, BMWNA and dealers to resolve the steptronic problem. Someone on their third transmission still appologizing for BMW makes me uneasy.
Where is the SIB that confirms your above software statement? Very misleading.
What you and your group do hurts many people and should not be allowed. This is supposed to be a place for owner advocacy.

LarryE · Mar 28, 2004

Car_54 said:

Car_54 ... answer me a question please (I'm open-minded enough to listen to your answer). Why did my dealer also offer me the clutch-pack replacement as recently as December of 2003 if it was not also a legitimate solution? Sometimes, not everything in the world that turns out to be true is published in writing you know. I've asked you this several times and you've failed to answer it several times. Instead, you go on the offensive and attack/criticize others. Why is this "misleading"? Don't you think that you are the one who is being misleading and hurting the group?

And ... this is not a place for owner advocacy. It's a place where BMW owners can communicate and exchange ideas and experiences. Everyone's experience counts and is legitimate. What motivation would others have to continue to make these claims that counter yours if they are not legit? I don't have any problem agreeing with you and endorsing your position if it were legit. These other people that appear you contradict are merely relating their own experiences with BMW. Why can't you at least concede that they might be legit (and please don't tell me because the TSB doesn't say so)? Why can't you simply concede that "yes ... that might have been your experience ... but the official TSB states _____". That way, we stick to the facts, you get your point across ... but in a rational way that is respectful to others? Instead you attack others by saying things like "Very misleading" and "What you and your group do hurts many people and should not be allowed".

Everybody's entitled to their opinion and to relate his/her experiences on this board without being attacked by you.

IMPORTERofRECORD · Mar 28, 2004

epj3 said:

Come on.... Is Kirby really on his third transmission? He still wants to argue in favor of what BMW is doing with the steptronic defect?

Stepster · Mar 28, 2004

IMPORTERofRECORD said:

Importer, you make it seem like it's so obvious. Take a look back over the entries that relate to the tranny issue on this board. It is you who is in the minority! This has nothing to do with how many trannys one has had in their car, and everything to do with the way the automobile business works.

epj3 · Mar 28, 2004

IMPORTERofRECORD said:

Yes he's arguing in favor of bmw -- They fixed his car!! What's he going to do -- complain about them fixing his car!?!?!?!?

cdotger · Mar 28, 2004

Car_54 and LipSmacknGOOd .

What is the fix in the new tranny that BMW is installing in everyone's car? What makes this tranny work better than the defective tranny?

LipSmacknGOOd ,

I suggest you talk to your dealer and stop following advice from car_54. You will be better off. Call up your dealer on Monday and ask them what the fix is in the new tranny. Be informed about your problem and your options.

Kirby · Mar 28, 2004

IMPORTERofRECORD said:

I argue in favor of ACCURACY of information, not in favor of BMW.

You can confirm the software patches yourself:
1. Many people have posted that they were told the software was upgraded as part of the replacement.

2. Ask your dealer. I was told by my dealer that when your car goes in for service, they check software versions, bulletins, etc. as part of their SOP (Standard Operating Procedure). If your car is out of date, it is upgraded. One member here took his car in for the transmission repair, and unknowingly also got the Climate Control software update.

Why am I on my third transmission? Because I chose to pursue the Lemon Law route based on legal advice last summer. The "rules" are very clear as to what I have to do. I like my car, so I did not pursue lawsuits, forced buy back, etc.

As I have posted before, as far back as November 2003, if this transmission fails, I can pursue the Lemon Law. I have all the necessary documentation in place. How in anyone's imagination is that arguing in favor of BMW? [scratch]

jarelj · Mar 29, 2004

Here's a thought...

Here's an idea, how about ONLY listening to people who own a car with an affected Steptronic transmission and have first-hand experience with the problem. [scratch]

I'll take "I did it" over "I read about it" opinions any day. [rolleyes]

TIXXdriver · Mar 30, 2004

LipSmacknGOOd said:

There are two groups arguing this point.

Group 1 wants BMW to contact all owners with the known defect and explain when the defect was corrected

Group 2 offers nothing but confusion

Why would so many try so hard appologizing for BMW even after they admit to several transmission repairs????

cdotger · Mar 30, 2004

TixxDriver..... I do not agree.... We all want BMW to contact owners to get repaired...
The groups are:

1. People who have had this problem and have had it corrected and are sharing their experiences.

2. People who are stoking the fire, not even been through the process or have had a bmw repaired.

Question is who are you going to believe.... Someone who has been through the experience? Or someone who hasn't....

You decide

LarryE · Mar 30, 2004

cdotger said:

He's absolutely right! How dare you have the gaul to make a statement like "Group 2 offers nothing but confusion". I have openly stated that I think the right thing to do is for BMW to be up front about this. Another moron to add to the list.

jarelj · Mar 30, 2004

cdotger said:

You are so right cdotger. Here's an interesting tidbit that I uncovered (too much time on my hands this morning... [rolleyes]

): I combed through all of the sliptronic threads on this board and located each board member who is in "Camp #2". I found 8 members. I was going to post their handles and dates of joining the board out here, but I decided that may be perceived as antagonistic, so I won't. PM me if you want the list. The bottom line is that the first of the 8 members joined on 2/16/04, and the other 7 have joined since then.

Now, I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but this is just a little too bizarre. How could EVERY long-time member of the board, who has posted in hundreds of threads on many varied subjects on the board, support "Camp #1". And this group of new members, who have posted in virtually no thread OTHER than the steptronic ones, support "Camp #2"????

From what I can tell, none of these people has actually had a transmission repaired, unless I missed something...... yet they're all advocating for recalls, lawsuits, "investigations", etc.....

Someone please help me understand this!!! [paranoid]

Kirby · Mar 30, 2004

cdotger said:

Exactly.

The "stokers" thrive on spreading FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). So far they have produced just two facts - a TIS which we all knew existed prior to their membership here, and the NHTSA investigation. When asked to provide details or presented with facts that displease them they scamper away to another thread to generate more FUD.

Proof: My old "It's Baaaack ..." thread, dead for weeks, has been revived with infantile criticism about my choice to pursue the Lemon Law. I made a plan, followed through, got results, just as many others here have done, while the "stokers" continue to whine and produce no new facts.

They don't realize how silly they make themselves look, but they do entertain me! [hihi]

gizzy · Mar 30, 2004

jarelj said:

In defense to a few of the newest members to the board that made your S list, there more than likely have only had the steptronic problem and have not had that much time to enjoy their first bmw due to the problem. It looks to me that a few of the dealers are helping increase the problem as well. My dealer at least, was very forthcoming with the TSB information when I took my car in. Just explained the problem to them and they asked to keep the car overnight and ordered a transmission the next day. Yesterday, they gave me a call just to let me know that it would be about another week due to the demand for the transmission and to continue driving the 330xi that they gave me as a replacemement until it comes in. No complaints there [driving]

I have to agree that yelling and screaming lawsuit and investigation won't get you or anyone else anywhere and that you must work with your dealer first. Once you have tried working with your dealer (more than once or twice) then the other options are viable and for a select few of the members, that probable option for them. A vehicle is a complicated machine and you will always find problems with it regardless of make/model, especially if you LOOK for the problems.

1. Should BMW recall? Probably yes: it would be smart from a PR standpoint and I would have appreciated knowing and how to get it fixed before finding out on my own and then having to complain about it.
2. Lawsuits? Depends on each individual's circumstance. I've taken this route once before due to a car being in the shop 11 times in a three month period with no results.
3. Investigations: Though I'm sure a few investigations actually produce some results, they usually won't and often get put on the back-burner unless accidents/deaths are occuring.

jarelj · Mar 30, 2004

gizzy said:

Well, you're certainly not one of the ones on the list, you have a very logical stance on the issue.

LarryE · Mar 30, 2004

jarelj said:

Yes ... Bravo to someone who can manage to state the facts, express his opinion respectfully, and not attack others in doing so!

Kirby · Mar 30, 2004

gizzy said:

I agree with jarelj, good post. Many new members have come here since last fall to research, discuss and report their experiences, no controversy at all. It's only in the past few weeks that a very few, some of who don't even own cars affected, have chosen to naysay and second guess the satisfactory resolutions that others have experienced. They then confuse our satisfaction with the resolution as somehow defending BMW. [scratch]

You are absolutely right, the dealer can make or break the "experience". [thumb]

Car_54 · Mar 30, 2004

Well said

[wave]

gizzy said:

In defense to a few of the newest members to the board that made your S list, there more than likely have only had the steptronic problem and have not had that much time to enjoy their first bmw due to the problem. It looks to me that a few of the dealers are helping increase the problem as well. My dealer at least, was very forthcoming with the TSB information when I took my car in. Just explained the problem to them and they asked to keep the car overnight and ordered a transmission the next day. Yesterday, they gave me a call just to let me know that it would be about another week due to the demand for the transmission and to continue driving the 330xi that they gave me as a replacemement until it comes in. No complaints there [driving]

I have to agree that yelling and screaming lawsuit and investigation won't get you or anyone else anywhere and that you must work with your dealer first. Once you have tried working with your dealer (more than once or twice) then the other options are viable and for a select few of the members, that probable option for them. A vehicle is a complicated machine and you will always find problems with it regardless of make/model, especially if you LOOK for the problems.

1. Should BMW recall? Probably yes: it would be smart from a PR standpoint and I would have appreciated knowing and how to get it fixed before finding out on my own and then having to complain about it.
2. Lawsuits? Depends on each individual's circumstance. I've taken this route once before due to a car being in the shop 11 times in a three month period with no results.
3. Investigations: Though I'm sure a few investigations actually produce some results, they usually won't and often get put on the back-burner unless accidents/deaths are occuring.

How curious that the boys did not post all of your words. [wave]

gizzy · Mar 30, 2004

Probably because if you want to read all of the words you can just scroll up.

IMPORTERofRECORD · Mar 30, 2004

Duuuuuuuude

Kirby said:

You are the one that has posted how fed up you were. Your daily soap opera of how and what BMW was doing to you. The people that chose to stand up to BMW helped me from being like you. So there! [shake]

Safety defect confirmed this AM by BMW

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