BMW

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BMW • Airbags • "Certified, pre-owned" BMWs • Cooling fan failure • Flaming seats • Flooded trunk • Paint problems • Steering failure • Transmission problems • Warranties • BMW Financial Services • Miscellaneous problems • 740 Series • 740 cell phones --- News • BMW Owners Suffer Reversal of Fortune • BMW Plans Price Hike • Transmission Failures Plague BMW Owners • New BMW to Burn Hydrogen and Gasoline • Gay Automotive Website Takes on BMW

Big Money Wasted? We think that's going a little far. The BMW is a great car -- if you like high-strung racing cars in street garb. Unfortunately, lots of everyday consumers buy these things thinking that because they're expensive, they must be reliable and trouble-free, which is about as far from the truth as Stuttgart is from Santa Monica.

All cars require maintenance and high-performance cars require lots and lots of very expensive routine maintenance. Also they're notorious for being afflicted with all kinds of exotic problems. If you're really into cars, understand them and are willing to lavish time, money and attention on one, the BMW may be for you. If you're looking to raise your self-esteem by buying something really expensive, we recommend real estate.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

Alex of altoona , PA June 27, 2009

after reading all of the negative posts about bmw i think that i should contribute my positive feelings toward this company. The two that I have (1998 bmw 328i sdn and 2003 bmw 325xi sdn) have collectively cost me about 700 in the past 4 years...combined(not including reg. preventative. actions e.g. oil changes, brake pads, etc.)They are fun cars to own and among the most reliable vehichles I have ever driven.

To those of you who have had bad experiences with the vehichle-not the dealers (including a family member of mine who finally finished off his 1200/mo. 6 series payments to find himself paying about 2k/month just to keep it running), think about how you treat the car. These types of cars are not rugged ford trucks, they are delicate examples of engineering that fill a very unique niche in the automotive world. You wouldn't hit a curb with your face would you? well then, don't complain when you hit one with your car and the steering rack replacement yeilds a 700 bill-not including 6 hrs of labor. I have heard that BMW owners are among the worst drivers on the road...something to think about.

Tom of Clarksville, TN June 25, 2009

My BMX X3 Indicator came on that said I needed service (oil change, etc)within 1700 miles. I took the car in within the service period and they told me that because my car would be out of warrenty before the 1700 miles was up,(warrenty will be up in 1,000) miles, they it would cost me 550 to have the service completed. The other warrenty service that I wanted done (engine was missing) they said that they would not do until I had the oil serviced.

I called BMW corp and they contacted the dealer and advised me the deal was refusing to service my car and there was nothing they could do. Even though I have a warrenty that was purchased from BMW of Nashville when I bought the car, they are refusing to honor the service unless I pay them 550.

The cost to me could be thousands of dollars, which is why I purchased the warrenty in the first place. The warrenty appears to be a scam that is left up the the dealer to decide and BMW corp is blaming it on the dealer and will not step in and honor the extended warrenty I purchased from them.

Ayaz of Riverdale, GA June 10, 2009

Apart from still experiencing bad reverse shift on my 2000 323i BMW (106k) I have had problems with almost everything else in the car as well.. you name it. some of the things that I had to replace on this car: all 4 power-window regulators, alternator, radiator, water pump, power-steering motor (which I still haven't replaced), windscreen-washer pump, A/C doesn't work, heating doesn't work. so on and so forth. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW AGAIN!

Thomas of San Jose, CA June 10, 2009

I bought a brand new 2009 BMW 528i less than a week ago, drove home in a bumper-to-bumper traffic (therefore never exceeded 30-40 MPH). My son took the car to a tennis tournament some 20-miles away the following day, came home complaining about the handling on the freeway. I kinda ignoring him as I thought the car was a little "too nice" for him. I never got a chance to drive the car for 2-3 days until this Sunday afternoon.

Took my wife to shopping and drove on Fwy 85. After a few minutes at a speed of 65 give or take, I felt something was terribly wrong, but did not want to admit so I continued driving. A couple of minutes later, feeling worse, I looked at my wife, and she looked a little pale. Almost simultaneously, we both said "did you feel something wrong?" The car felt like zigzagging forward, instead of going straight, enough to cause some dizziness just travelling 10 miles on the freeway, also to the point I started to feel unsafe. Luckily the dealership was only a few blocks away, I decided to get off the freeway and brought the car to the service night drop.

I suspected perhaps the assembly worker forgot to screw the bolts all the way in when mounting the tires at the factory in Germany, and would accept that scenario as it would be easily rectified by the dealership without further complications. The service department found nothing wrong with the car, but only until the service foreman test drove the car with me on the freeway, when he witnessed the exact same problem. The foreman told me he also had similar complaints with the same model mounted with the same Continental tires. Current mileage of the car: 200 (came with 50 miles in the showroom).

B. of Phoenix, AZ June 8, 2009

I live in Phoenix, AZ and leased car in San Diego, through BMW Financial Services in May 2006. Two weeks later, "Finance Manager" called my place of business to notify me that "new contract" was being sent & I had to sign it due to error on their part calculating sales tax. I (stupidly) offered to pay the difference over the phone but she snapped, "If only it was that easy." I realized, "this is not right" and wrote a letter to GM of dealership & to BMW FS. Thought it was settled. After years of making same monthly payment on-line through banking, I noticed in January of this year that amount due had increased. Turns out, they'd raised it in December and I was "overdue." Had I not caught this, what about my credit? Second, they never notified me of payment change. Third, again, they changed it after "internal audit" showed they had me living in Mohave not Maricopa County (where tax is apparently higher.) So, still THEIR error, comes back to bite me AND they never notified me of the change. They send me lease-end "itemized bill" and it includes "remaining payments due" and a balance. Completely incorrect. So, of course, a phone call and I'm told, "I don't know why that's showing." I DO NOT TRUST BMW Financial Services with my credit. BMW is a beautiful vehicle and drives like a dream but it's a vehicle that requires more attention that an infant. (Don't even ask me about the mechanical issues on this and my previous beemer, both with major issues before 40,000 miles.) If you want to own a "status" car, to be bullied by a company, put your credit on the line, then BMW is for you.

Pete of Los Gatos, CA June 4, 2009

I purchased a new 2001 BMW model # 325i from this dealer. I had the car serviced on a regular basis. I spent over 4,000 last year getting the brakes to work. Six months later, the car still shakes when the brakes are applied. Now I have a additional problem, the transmission is broken. This car has only 103,000 miles on it. This car is a lemon.

Transmission failure - estimated cost to repair 4,000 - 6.500 Window regulators going out on all 4 windows - cost to repair 1,600 Brake repair - 4,000

Kathy of Fort Collins, CO June 3, 2009

I was told that it is typical, normal, to be expected that a BMW battery on a 2008 Z4 can be dead after 3 weeks of not driving the car. I am SO angry with this dealership!

Yuet of NY, NY May 30, 2009

I had been paying my BMW loan for 6 months until I wrote a check for greater than the normal amt in Jan 09. After that I had stopped receiving the bills. Not realizing the time that's passed (2mths) my account became delinquent. They called me and I gave them my checking acct # 3 times and they still screwed it up. Of course I don't find out I as still delinquent until a week later in the mail. At the end I just signed up for autopymt out of my bank acct. They refused to admit they screwed up the invoices even though the rep admitted many people have been complaing about not receiving the bills. They are totally irresponsible with people's credit..they reported me to the three credit agencies, the damage is: I am in the middle of a refinance and they totally messed up my credit, resulting in a much higher rate.

Bill of Forest Hills, NY May 28, 2009

I purchased a 2008 X5 new in Oct 07. In Sept 08 I started to have Major problems with the Brake System. Squealing-Low Pedal, 3 Major Brake System Repairs, 1 Minor repair and it needs to be towed in again because the problem remains. The Service Manager of the selling dealer advised BMWUSA to Replace the vehicle due to the Dangerous and Numerous problems with this car. BMWUSA Marketing refused-what mechanical expertise do they possess-NONE and they continue to put my safety in danger and ignore the problem.

Just an example in Oct 2008 the Brake pads were 10mm-in April 09 they were 2mm and BMW told me I was safe to drive 1700 miles from Fl to Ny. A Florida dealer had to replace every Rotor-Pad and sensor,so much for BMWUSA knowing anything or caring. These people are useless and dangerous--DO NOT BUY AN X5 from this Company,because even after their own Svc manager states to replace the vehivle This car cost almost 60K, the kids finished College so it was time to buy a car I always wanted--Im out all this money, cant drive the car with this problem and BMW cares less--since when should a Marketing guy make decisions about Mechanical problems, and then over the advice of a Traind Service manager

joseph of islip terrace, NY May 22, 2009

1. I purchased the "brand new" 2008 BMW M3 for 69,000.00 I was not told until I picked up the car that it had over 1,000 miles on it. To me that it is a new car. They refused to make an concession so I purchased the car anyway. I did not resent this too much until I had a problem with the tires are 5,000 miles. They need to be replace. The cost would be over 2,000 for 4 tires.

I called BMW corp, who offerred to help with the cost of two tires, htye just needed to talk to the dealership. The dealership talked them out of giving me any help to purchase the tires. I read the BMW forum on the internet, as well as various 10+ sites that were listed with complaint after complaint about the bad tires on the M3. Over and over, these owners and tire experts say that the tire they give on the M3 are not made for what BMW calls this "street legal race car". Many seem to think that it a way for BMW to make money on parts.

The cars are very unsafe. Oursaleman told us it cannot be drive in the winter snow, and it has problems in the rain. This is all as a result of the tires. People buying that car at that cost want to use the car. 90% of the complaint listed that the tires didn't last more than 5,000 miles before they had to replace them. This is a scam on BMWs part. I have owned 3 BMW and wan't wait to get rid of this one. Its a money pit. BMW no longer takes care of its owners or values there opinon. Third time and last time owner. Replacements tire to mount and balance are 2,308.00 Right night the care cannot be driven in the rain. Waiting to save up enough to buy the tires so I can get rid of the car. Left in the driveway all winter and allof April's showers.

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