[PilotNYC]

I also had the radiator flap fail two weeks after purchase. It seems like a lot of ppl have the same issue.

[LIX5510]

So I took my '21 X5 in to service today and they ran the diagnostics. They got a code for the body control module. Service says they need to reprogram it and then test it again. We also noticed that the exhaust was loud on one start, with slight vibration. Could a faulty bcm cause that?

[JJ Aviator]

Originally Posted by LIX5510

Hi JJAviator, I picked up by 2021 X5 on 8/29 and yesterday, one week after delivery, the check engine light came on. I started it remotely and then noticed when I got to the car that it was off. When I started it again from inside the car, the check engine light was on. I drove it about 5 miles or so, parked it as I visited with family, and then when I restarted a few hours later, the light did not come on. So unnerving for a car that is so expensive and new. I plan to call the dealer to take it in on Tuesday, so they can check the code. Please do post if you need to take your car back in -- would be good to know. Thanks.

Exact issue I had, the final solution was re-programming the body control module and one other module that I don't remember. I can try and look at the paperwork. The regional director of post sales (who is also an engineer) was the one that finally fixed the problem.

[JJ Aviator]

Since getting the car back one week ago I've had no issue since. The car runs great and BMW made my first payment for me since they had it the first 3 weeks I purchased it and they put 800 of the first 1000 miles on the car!!!

[gtenedio]

if they put 800 miles on the car then you settled way too soon and too low.

ask for another month for the miles they put
and ask for a free detail voucher to use down the line or something.



i have an m5 comp. turbo blew, dealer had it for 5 weeks. i called bmwfs and they approved 3 months of lease payments and gave me a jaguar rental.

cant hurt to over ask on a brand new car.

[mrjoed2]

Originally Posted by JJ Aviator

Since getting the car back one week ago I've had no issue since. The car runs great and BMW made my first payment for me since they had it the first 3 weeks I purchased it and they put 800 of the first 1000 miles on the car!!!

Dealer service put 800 miles on your brand new vehicle? Are you kidding me? That's like driving through several large states. CRAZY.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by mrjoed2

Dealer service put 800 miles on your brand new vehicle? Are you kidding me? That's like driving through several large states. CRAZY.

WTF??? Yea, 800 miles for service is beyond extreme. I want some major compensation for those 800 miles. That would be hard to put that amount of miles on even if we’re used as a dealer demo for that amount of time.

[Alan l.]

800 miles by the dealer? Someone took your car on a road trip.

I would be livid

Alan

[JJ Aviator]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

800 miles by the dealer? Someone took your car on a road trip.

I would be livid

Alan

They tried re-programming the car multiple times over the 3 weeks. Every new program they would put it through 3-4 x 40 mile drive cycles. Then the check engine light would come on again. Rinse and repeat.

I was just glad to finally have my car back so I didn’t push it.

[TomCat6065]

I have to agree with everyone else. 800 miles is crazy...the roadtests are not your miles.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by JJ Aviator

They tried re-programming the car multiple times over the 3 weeks. Every new program they would put it through 3-4 x 40 mile drive cycles. Then the check engine light would come on again. Rinse and repeat.

I was just glad to finally have my car back so I didn’t push it.

You still are owed those lost miles back by BMW. It’s not your obligation to forfeit those amount of miles for diagnostics on a new car.
BMW will compensate you in either extending your warranty or with a reduced payment. At the very least I would want some free swag from the BMW Lifestyle and parts catalog.

[BHCJJS]

Originally Posted by JJ Aviator

They tried re-programming the car multiple times over the 3 weeks. Every new program they would put it through 3-4 x 40 mile drive cycles. Then the check engine light would come on again. Rinse and repeat.

I was just glad to finally have my car back so I didn’t push it.

Well, I just got an appointment set for Friday for this same check engine light issue...

Hoping BMW has been sharing these lessons. I'd rather not have an extra 800 miles, let alone 50 miles, to get this fixed. I barely have 500 miles on my 08/20/2020 build.

[JJ Aviator]

Originally Posted by BHCJJS

Well, I just got an appointment set for Friday for this same check engine light issue...

Hoping BMW has been sharing these lessons. I'd rather not have an extra 800 miles, let alone 50 miles, to get this fixed. I barely have 500 miles on my 08/20/2020 build.

Good luck! Mine has been running great since they finally got it fixed.

[RocketGoBoom]

If I had a brand new car and had to bring it back within 12 hours for a several weeks long repair, I probably wouldn’t accept the car back. I would swap it for a different one.

I know some of you will say, “you can’t do that”. I can assure you, you can and it doesn’t require a lemon law lawsuit.

1) I never make a down payment on a car. I always 100% finance it or lease with $0 down. So I have $0.00 in the car for the first 4-7 weeks.

2) Removing a loan from a credit report is easy, especially a new loan with zero payment history.

3) Inform the finance/bank company the car was returned to the dealer as a lemon. They won’t bother you any more about it after that.

4) Go buy/lease another car, maybe even from the same dealer. Just don’t even allow them to pressure you into discussing the other car. It is over, done, history, not going to accept it back or ever make a payment on it.

Trust me on this, they are not going to force you to follow all of the rules of the lemon law. They are also not going to file any lawsuits over the issue. It would cost them $10,000 to $20,000 in legal bills. It simply isn’t worth it. It is a secured asset with likely just a few hundred miles on it. Their losses on the car being titled once are not significant enough to go to war over.

I bought a Lexus once and had it for a week. Then a similar scenario as OP happened to me. I never bothered to return to get the Lexus. I just went to buy a Mercedes instead. When Lexus called me, I just told them verbally and in writing that I don’t want that lemon car back. They dropped it and the loan never even appeared on my reports. Lexus Financial deleted the entire deal.

[imyb]

From experience, when I got my car, it had one of the latches in the boot missing (the one that drops down the seats from boot), it took BMW 3 weeks and 6 days to get a replacement (installed), I still had the car for all this time and was driving it, BMW paid my first months rental, I probably could've got two months out of them but they literally fixed my car the day before I was due to speak to BMW again about another months free rental as the car would have crossed 4 weeks mark and my next rental would have been due.

As others have said, adding 800miles to your car is unacceptable however if you are happy with the outcome then that is all that matters.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by RocketGoBoom

1) I never make a down payment on a car. I always 100% finance it or lease with $0 down. So I have $0.00 in the car for the first 4-7 weeks.

On a lease, they always get the 1st months payment out of you.

[BHCJJS]

Originally Posted by JJ Aviator

Good luck! Mine has been running great since they finally got it fixed.

Well, looks like they have been sharing lessons cause they went straight to updating the DME (Digital Motor Electronics), otherwise known as the ECU, ECM, or PCM.

Just hope this update sticks! Thanks for sharing JJ Aviator. At least I won't be frustrated if I see the light come on again.

[elitex]

Originally Posted by RocketGoBoom

If I had a brand new car and had to bring it back within 12 hours for a several weeks long repair, I probably wouldn't accept the car back. I would swap it for a different one.

I know some of you will say, "you can't do that". I can assure you, you can and it doesn't require a lemon law lawsuit.

1) I never make a down payment on a car. I always 100% finance it or lease with $0 down. So I have $0.00 in the car for the first 4-7 weeks.

2) Removing a loan from a credit report is easy, especially a new loan with zero payment history.

3) Inform the finance/bank company the car was returned to the dealer as a lemon. They won't bother you any more about it after that.

4) Go buy/lease another car, maybe even from the same dealer. Just don't even allow them to pressure you into discussing the other car. It is over, done, history, not going to accept it back or ever make a payment on it.

Trust me on this, they are not going to force you to follow all of the rules of the lemon law. They are also not going to file any lawsuits over the issue. It would cost them $10,000 to $20,000 in legal bills. It simply isn't worth it. It is a secured asset with likely just a few hundred miles on it. Their losses on the car being titled once are not significant enough to go to war over.

I bought a Lexus once and had it for a week. Then a similar scenario as OP happened to me. I never bothered to return to get the Lexus. I just went to buy a Mercedes instead. When Lexus called me, I just told them verbally and in writing that I don't want that lemon car back. They dropped it and the loan never even appeared on my reports. Lexus Financial deleted the entire deal.

Yeah I don't know about this method as it seems a little crude.

All I did in the past was send an email to all of the senior executives in US and Germany. one of their executive assistant called and pretty much asked what I wanted and took care of it. Done and done.... Bought many bmws since.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by elitex

Yeah I don't know about this method as it seems a little crude.

Yeah +1 ... it's just asking for lawyers to get involved (which BTW, legal work doesn't cost them shit due to FTEs & retainers which they're more than happy to burn). You could end up costing yourself years of headaches not to mention who knows how much in time.

It's certainly possible the get away with things ... but don't forget that's exactly what's happening.