[greg-s]

Two weeks old. 700 blissful miles. '08 335i coupe. Formerly perfect.

In perfect irony, as I was driving down the freeway yesterday using the handsfree phone feature to tell someone just how wonderful I'm finding my new rig, the car seems to have a major electrical meltdown. I was suddenly dizzied by an array of error messages on my dash and iDrive screen. From that moment until I was able to get it back to the dealer two hours later, the following list of symptoms befell us:

1) Door chime rang (submarine sound) every few seconds
2) iDrive screen showed something like “Electrical Malfunction – The Car is no Longer Drivable – See your nearest service center. Stop Carefully”
3) Dashboard warning lights lit up, including traction control, brake, abs, check engine
4) Every few seconds the gauges would shut off for a split second then turn back on
5) For a period the car engine could be started and stopped without the key inserted (I don't have comfort access)

Despite three voicemails left for my new service advisor at Santa Monica BMW in an attempt to get a status update on my car today (and despite his assurance that I'd get a call today), I'm left waiting and wondering. Not a good sign, either.

I've been trolling the forums to see who's dealt with this type of issue. It seems not too many - not sure whether to be relieved or scared s$#%less.

This is as close to the situation as I've found (although the symptoms were a little different), and is consistent with the theory the guy who sold be the car put forth (bad steering sensor): http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...al+malfunction
The symptoms seem pretty dramatic for a sensor problem, but I'm hoping its something this simple.

Other theories I've heard and read include:
- Loose battery terminal
- Bad Ground / Shorting Wire

If anyone has any other ideas I'd be most appreciative if you shared them.

[BMW335icDDS]

Santa Monica BMW is a joke. Check their BBB rating, its a nice big fat F. They are horrible. Good look with the repairs.

[NPDAN]

you should have your car picked up at whatever the current state of it is from there and take it somewhere reputable.... F that place...

[John 070]

Originally Posted by BMW335icDDS

Santa Monica BMW is a joke. Check their BBB rating, its a nice big fat F. They are horrible. Good look with the repairs.

It's pretty amazing that the dealerships are so inconsistent, given how annoying the BMW surveys are. What do they do with all that data? I wonder if the dealerships with the bad customer service are the ones with the lowest selling price? Otherwise, why do they even exist? I know in my case my dealership is horrible, but at the time in 10/06 E92's were not common, and they were the only one who seemed willling to take $1700 off. Now they're taking 7k off new M5's according to the tags in the rear view mirrors. I'm guessing lower prices is how they survive.

[Uberdude328i]

Jesus thats horrible. No wait, call the witch doctor. Its just possesed. Sprinkle some chicken guts on the hood and you'll be fine.

Seriously that sucks. Bst of luck with apparently the worst customer service EVAR!!!

[greg-s]

Thanks everyone for your advice, wishes of good luck, and admonishment that I should get the car out from SM BMW's hands.

Here we are, about 52 hours after the car was dropped off. They still have no idea what's going on. Yikes.

The lowpoint today was when my service advisor called and asked if the car had been tampered with. Slightly outraged, but remaining calm, I reminded him that I bought the car from them two weeks ago and that it had 4 miles on it when I took delivery. I also made it very clear that I am the only person with access to the car and that there is simply no way I'd mess with it or the warranty. He seemed to accept that.

I'm still proceeding under an assumption of good faith, and that since they're spending $50 a day on keeping me in a 325i convertible rental (which, on a side note, is 1/50th the car that the 335 is). I'm figuring it's about 1/60th of their margin on the vehicle that they're losing per day, that they're going to do their best to get me on the road again soon. Whether they have the competence to do so is another question.

While the prognosis of the car remains undetermined, and many of you suggest I take the car elsewhere, my current thinking is that I have to stick this out for at least another week or through the 30 days specified in CA lemon law. After all, they are paying for my rental, and are the ones who will have to take the car back if the lemon law criteria are met - so I feel as though I'd be opening the door to more finger pointing if I involve another dealership.

Am I missing something in this reasoning?

[drkeng]

Really unfortunate story. Hope they can figure it out, or maybe better off lemoning it. Keep us posted.

[addy85]

wow thats nuts

[e92drivver]

Hope for the best and expect the worst. Document everything, every call, every communication with them to help with the lemon law claim. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but be prepared in case it does.

[demosthenes]

Is the car still showing these symptoms? I hope so. If it's an intermittent problem, it will be much harder to find, fix and test.

It sounds like problems like this could be caused by a system-wide electrical failure, like a short, bad ground or bad wiring harness. For example, if two connectors weren't fully plugged into each other and wiggled loose, you'd see multiple failures like this.

Was it raining when the problem showed up?

I agree with the previous poster's advice: "Document everything, every call, every communication with them to help with the lemon law claim."

I wish you the best. You've been thrown from car heaven to car hell. But if the problem is reproducible, it shouldn't be that hard to diagnose.

[e92phreak]

Sorry to hear man... Welcome to the world of BMW... I get malfunctions weekly now *sigh*... I only got two this week: 1) TPMS and 2) right rear brake lamp malfunction.

[GMWNashville]

yea...we get all kinds of wild stuff coming in lol...but as for those asking about the surveys...how do you think such a select few get to be a Center Of Excellence...its through those partially...good luck man some dealers just blow

[2e9x's]

Do not wait another day...get your car out of SM BMW and have it flat bedded to South Bay BMW. Ask for Hiep to work on your car. Loaner or no loaner...get your car out of there. The warranty is just as valid at any BMW dealership and moving it will not reset your 30 days for lemon law purposes. Also, the dealership does not do the lemon law buyback...the manufacturer does. Thus you can have your car serviced anywhere.

The one and only time I tried SM BMW service was when I had a Z3 2.8. The car was acting really weird so I took it there. At that point I could spend the entire day waiting around dealerships so I stood...all day...watching the car sit in the lot. It never moved. Toward the end of the day they took the car, drove it around to the front, and sent me home. The SA told me all about everything they did to try to fix the car but could not duplicate the problems. When I commented that I watched all day and the car was never touched, he told me that I was mistaken and walked away. The service manager would not talk to me. For some inexplicable reason I never returned there...

Assuming you won't get your car out of there I advise you to speak with the service manager. Ask for a detailed explanation of what they have done to diagnose your car. Express your concern with the lack of communication. At the same time, contact the sales manager and start talking to them about getting you another car. I would also call BMW NA.

Best of luck and I really hope this all works out well for you!

[greg-s]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

Is the car still showing these symptoms? I hope so. If it's an intermittent problem, it will be much harder to find, fix and test.

It sounds like problems like this could be caused by a system-wide electrical failure, like a short, bad ground or bad wiring harness. For example, if two connectors weren't fully plugged into each other and wiggled loose, you'd see multiple failures like this.

Was it raining when the problem showed up?

I agree with the previous poster's advice: "Document everything, every call, every communication with them to help with the lemon law claim."

I wish you the best. You've been thrown from car heaven to car hell. But if the problem is reproducible, it shouldn't be that hard to diagnose.

Fortunately the issue is not intermittant, at least at present. I was relieved at this as well.

It was not raining at the time the symptoms emerged (and hadn't for about 10 days).

Lastly, thanks for the advice on the documentation. I had already reached that conclusion and have been diligent about noting everything that has transpired.

Thank you, everyone, for the continued advice. I will keep everyone posted.

[turboawdfanatic]

Originally Posted by e92phreak

right rear brake lamp malfunction.

Wow how could BMW not have fixed this issue yet....this has been a constant issue with my parents 1995 5 series. It's got over 100k on the odo now...and they've just learned to ignore it lol. It's had other electrical bugs....but other than that no major problems other than a coolant temp/overheating issue...that was resolved.

[rrandyy]

Originally Posted by e92phreak

2) right rear brake lamp malfunction.

I got this on my 328 E92 as well. The dealer replaced the entire assembly. Later, I had the same on the left side--again replaced under warranty.

[TurboFan]

Don't move the car, leave it where it is and document everything. After a week, find yourself a good lemon law attorney, or start the process yourself.

[voltron1011]

Sorry to hear that.. Keep us updated

[purplewidow]

they will fix it..and if they don't you get a new car!!!

hope they fix it though no one wants to wait two months for a car and not many have the exact options you want!!!! hopefully they have one that noone has driven and if it has all you want plus another option or two they will probably do an even swap!!!

goodluck i am sure they will fix it!!! probably have to wait for a new ecu!!!

[greg-s]

Update, Day: 6

I forwarded the information BMW_tech at bimmerfest generously provided this morning at 7am (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=256322).

At 10am my service advisor called and said that they believe K-Can controller associated with the key system needs to be replaced. I haven't yet heard when the part will arrive and whether it's something that is shipped from within the US, but I'm cautiously optimistic that this will do the trick. What do you think?

While I'm not going to hold my breath, I am going to thank my new hero BMW_tech for information that seems to have lead to progress for the first time in 6 days.

[Dascamel]

Now I'm curious also. Used to live near that dealer. Not a soul was ever happy with visit.

[Robert]

Never had service work with them but their sales are piece of shit. By far the worst dealership in my book.