Drive Belt Failure

Paladin1 · 07-11-2019, 05:23 PM

Perhaps I'm confused, but don't they MAKE these cars in the US? Is there not some sort of minimal surplus inventory for basic stuff that might even break on the line? And some sort of rapid pipeline to backfill those? JIT works great for Toyota with suppliers in Aichi Prefecture. Maybe waiting for a part to cross the Atlantic is a stretch. Do they stop the production line because they're out of drive belts? All good questions....

LexxM3 · 07-11-2019, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin1

Perhaps I'm confused, but don't they MAKE these cars in the US? Is there not some sort of minimal surplus inventory for basic stuff that might even break on the line? And some sort of rapid pipeline to backfill those? JIT works great for Toyota with suppliers in Aichi Prefecture. Maybe waiting for a part to cross the Atlantic is a stretch. Do they stop the production line because they're out of drive belts? All good questions....

I suspect Tenac's explanation is likely a valid one. It is certain that the manufacturing line in US has excess spare inventory, but per his note, it is highly likely (and very prudent) that that manufacturing inventory is not the same as the repair parts inventory. Otherwise, manufacturing lines would be randomly shut down by eager service departments. It is also likely that financial and accounting flows are completely different between the two inventories.

Now the fact that BMW doesn't have localized repair inventory is all on BMW.

Marty in NY · 07-11-2019, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LexxM3

I suspect Tenac's explanation is likely a valid one. It is certain that the manufacturing line in US has excess spare inventory, but per his note, it is highly likely (and very prudent) that that manufacturing inventory is not the same as the repair parts inventory. Otherwise, manufacturing lines would be randomly shut down by eager service departments. It is also likely that financial and accounting flows are completely different between the two inventories.

Now the fact that BMW doesn't have localized repair inventory is all on BMW.

Factory parts inventory is separate from after market spares inventory. Its rare that the factory will give up a part to the after market. As you can imagine for a company who has sold countless models over the decades, having readily available spares is a logistical and financial nightmare...however, the unavailability of common spares for cars currently in production is inexcusable.

mnx5er · 07-12-2019, 06:04 PM

Nearly all of the factories run Just in Time inventory. So I get that they do not have a lot of spare parts sitting around. Obviously BMW has taken that a step further to Just in Time spare parts that they make when needed! Cool concept.

Seriously BMW - what the heck are you thinking?

Marty in NY · 07-12-2019, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnx5er

Nearly all of the factories run Just in Time inventory. So I get that they do not have a lot of spare parts sitting around. Obviously BMW has taken that a step further to Just in Time spare parts that they make when needed! Cool concept.

Seriously BMW - what the heck are you thinking?

Lets save money, lets not make any spares until someone needs one...I mean, who knows what people will need?

Espejo · 07-13-2019, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin1

Perhaps I'm confused, but don't they MAKE these cars in the US? Is there not some sort of minimal surplus inventory for basic stuff that might even break on the line? And some sort of rapid pipeline to backfill those? JIT works great for Toyota with suppliers in Aichi Prefecture. Maybe waiting for a part to cross the Atlantic is a stretch. Do they stop the production line because they're out of drive belts? All good questions....

Exactly! But would you rather hear "it will take weeks to source the part in the US" or "it will take weeks to get the part from Germany"? I suspect most of us, me included, would provide a little more leeway in the part is coming form Germany response. I fully understand just in time inventory, etc. but we are not talking about a $5,000 or $10,000 item but a drive belt which probably cost a couple of bucks. Let's not loose site of the original post about a drive belt.

aspiring335 · 07-15-2019, 12:02 PM

My patience is really wearing thin now. The dealer called this morning to say that the parts have arrived but now they are missing a tool required to install them. They are "checking with Germany" on what they need. It's actually embarrassing at this point.

doctorttt · 07-16-2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

My patience is really wearing thin now. The dealer called this morning to say that the parts have arrived but now they are missing a tool required to install them. They are "checking with Germany" on what they need. It's actually embarrassing at this point.

I agree. Don't they feel embarrass to even say that they don't have the required tools for the work? Sounds like a lack of business acumen to me.

aspiring335 · 07-30-2019, 03:36 PM

No update from the dealer. It's now been almost five weeks since the car failed. At this point I'm basically done with BMW.

Marty in NY · 07-30-2019, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

No update from the dealer. It's now been almost five weeks since the car failed. At this point I'm basically done with BMW.

Are you saying you have been waiting five weeks for a drive belt?

Tenac · 07-30-2019, 06:52 PM

If you been waiting that long for a belt, it sounds like there is something more going on than that..... Have you called other BMW shops to see if they have one on the shelf??? I'd call even state side I'm going to bet you will find one.

rmorin1249 · 07-30-2019, 08:33 PM

IMHO there is absolutely no excuse that a critical part for the current X5 should take more than 10 days to arrive at any BMW dealer in the US.

aspiring335 · 07-31-2019, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

Are you saying you have been waiting five weeks for a drive belt?

The issue now is they are waiting for the tool required to install the drive belt, which is also "on order" from Germany. It is totally unacceptable / embarrassing. Trying to escalate the issue with BMW Canada now, since that's all the dealer could suggest. They are saying they have no information about when this tool might be available.

aspiring335 · 07-31-2019, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenac

If you been waiting that long for a belt, it sounds like there is something more going on than that..... Have you called other BMW shops to see if they have one on the shelf??? I'd call even state side I'm going to bet you will find one.

As per my comments above, the issue is now not the drive belt but the tool to install the belt. Apparently no dealers in Canada have the tool and it has to come from Germany.

Tenac · 07-31-2019, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

As per my comments above, the issue is now not the drive belt but the tool to install the belt. Apparently no dealers in Canada have the tool and it has to come from Germany.

That still doesn't seem like a real answer. I would be thinking about talking to another service center and asking if they need a "special tool" for GO5... Being the Inline 6 that has been used for a long time I'd guess its not true.

Unless new dealer doesn't have tools...
Lost/stolen tools....

Marty in NY · 07-31-2019, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

As per my comments above, the issue is now not the drive belt but the tool to install the belt. Apparently no dealers in Canada have the tool and it has to come from Germany.

Do you by chance have the part number for that drive belt? Is it this one?

.

aspiring335 · 08-07-2019, 12:38 PM

Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week.

gpitts · 08-07-2019, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week.

So sorry to hear that you're still down... hopefully your dealer put you up in a nice loaner while you are waiting.

X5_CC · 08-07-2019, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week.

Wow, this is truly ridiculous. Do you have a lemon law where you live? I think you should proceed with some action to at least start the process. In my case when my X5 was in the shop for 3 weeks, I emailed an executive in New Jersey, and although I did not receive a direct reply, my X5 was miraculously fixed in 2 days and I received a call from someone at that office.

Marty in NY · 08-07-2019, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week.

...and you still don't know which belt it is?

Tim2189 · 08-08-2019, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week.

Sorry to hear you are going through this.
Here are a few things I would do in your shoes,
Since the repair is out of your hands and its been over a month,
I would request a refund of your monthly payment (assuming you are leasing/financing) and a similar equipped loaner, not an X1.

I had a similar issue back in 2015 where it took over a month to fix my X6 and I got involved with BMW Financial in regards to my payment and the dealer gave me an X5 loaner.

aspiring335 · 08-08-2019, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5_CC

Wow, this is truly ridiculous. Do you have a lemon law where you live? I think you should proceed with some action to at least start the process. In my case when my X5 was in the shop for 3 weeks, I emailed an executive in New Jersey, and although I did not receive a direct reply, my X5 was miraculously fixed in 2 days and I received a call from someone at that office.

No lemon laws in Canada, sadly. I would 100% be following that path if it was available to me.

07-11-2019, 05:23 PM	#23
Paladin1 Brigadier General 5527 Rep 4,488 Posts Drives: 2022 iX xDrive50, DGM Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 iX xDrive M60 [0.00] 2022 iX xDrive50 [0.00]	Perhaps I'm confused, but don't they MAKE these cars in the US? Is there not some sort of minimal surplus inventory for basic stuff that might even break on the line? And some sort of rapid pipeline to backfill those? JIT works great for Toyota with suppliers in Aichi Prefecture. Maybe waiting for a part to cross the Atlantic is a stretch. Do they stop the production line because they're out of drive belts? All good questions....
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07-12-2019, 06:04 PM	#26
mnx5er Captain 563 Rep 829 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X5 3.5i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	Nearly all of the factories run Just in Time inventory. So I get that they do not have a lot of spare parts sitting around. Obviously BMW has taken that a step further to Just in Time spare parts that they make when needed! Cool concept. Seriously BMW - what the heck are you thinking?
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07-15-2019, 12:02 PM	#29
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	My patience is really wearing thin now. The dealer called this morning to say that the parts have arrived but now they are missing a tool required to install them. They are "checking with Germany" on what they need. It's actually embarrassing at this point. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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07-30-2019, 03:36 PM	#31
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	No update from the dealer. It's now been almost five weeks since the car failed. At this point I'm basically done with BMW. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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07-30-2019, 06:52 PM	#33
Tenac Brigadier General 4537 Rep 3,506 Posts Drives: All Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	If you been waiting that long for a belt, it sounds like there is something more going on than that..... Have you called other BMW shops to see if they have one on the shelf??? I'd call even state side I'm going to bet you will find one. __________________ 2022 M8 Comp Convertible 2023 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 2019 718 Cayman Base 2015 M235 Manual On the list for the M2 CS
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07-30-2019, 08:33 PM	#34
rmorin1249 Lieutenant Colonel 817 Rep 1,785 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 MSport 40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Hagerstown MD iTrader: (0)	IMHO there is absolutely no excuse that a critical part for the current X5 should take more than 10 days to arrive at any BMW dealer in the US. __________________ COL(Ret), US Army Hagerstown MD 2019 X5 40i MSport Alpine White/Coffee (my 13th BMW) 2015 Mercedes SL400; 2009 Lexus RX350
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08-07-2019, 12:38 PM	#39
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Just bumping this thread to note that it will be six weeks tomorrow since my car died, and still no ETA for its repair. I've escalated to BMW Canada and they are apparently working with the dealer, but I've had no information from them since last week. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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