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[Viral_Jim]

So, a quick update from my friend Adrian at BMW. Still no answer from BMW Gmbh, but they have requested the full data set from the car to analyse, whatever that entails.

However, ominously they haven't done anything about the tracking or the curbed wheel (not sure if I mentioned this, but I clipped the curb bringing the car to rest, not hard, but left a small curb mark on the NSF wheel). So I get the impression that they won't be repairing that unless they can list it as consequential damage from a known fault. Otherwise, why not start the work?

I can sense an argument coming. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I imagine that pre-sale customer service is very different to after sales customer service.

[Doctor Gollum]

I imagine that pre-sale customer service is very different to after sales customer service.

True dat...

On a positive note, it is perfectly feasible to drive an Bmw in the snow without crashing or getting stuck...

[Viral_Jim]

Indeed!

The 320 diseasel coped admirably with the 2-3mm we had on our road this morning. I was genuinely concerned!  . That said, the 1er is both lighter, on wider tyres and has a much more free revving engine. All of which won't help I. Getting about in the snow.

[Doctor Gollum]

Indeed!

The 320 diseasel coped admirably with the 2-3mm we had on our road this morning. I was genuinely concerned!  . That said, the 1er is both lighter, on wider tyres and has a much more free revving engine. All of which won't help I. Getting about in the snow.

Winter tyres

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Indeed!

The 320 diseasel coped admirably with the 2-3mm we had on our road this morning. I was genuinely concerned!  . That said, the 1er is both lighter, on wider tyres and has a much more free revving engine. All of which won't help I. Getting about in the snow.

Winter tyres

In the old days winter tyres were fitted to the sole of the right foot........mine still are.

[TheBoy]

I imagine that pre-sale customer service is very different to after sales customer service.

True dat...

On a positive note, it is perfectly feasible to drive an Bmw in the snow without crashing or getting stuck...

Well, that's a turn up for the books, as 10-12yrs ago, BMW were a laughing stock for getting stranded in snow, particularly for those models where it wasn't possible to disable TC.

[Nick W]

I imagine that pre-sale customer service is very different to after sales customer service.

True dat...

On a positive note, it is perfectly feasible to drive an Bmw in the snow without crashing or getting stuck...

Well, that's a turn up for the books, as 10-12yrs ago, BMW were a laughing stock for getting stranded in snow, particularly for those models where it wasn't possible to disable TC.

That was still the case a couple of years ago: my boss was turning down BMW 'warranty'  recoveries that were simple lack of traction

[Doctor Gollum]

The DSC has a switch but unlike Mercedes and Vauxhall, the gearbox doesn't have a winter mode...

[X30XE]

...However, ominously they haven't done anything about the tracking or the curbed wheel (not sure if I mentioned this, but I clipped the curb bringing the car to rest, not hard, but left a small curb mark on the NSF wheel). So I get the impression that they won't be repairing that unless they can list it as consequential damage from a known fault. Otherwise, why not start the work?

I can sense an argument coming. 

Whilst I understand your reasoning, I highly doubt they'll accept that as their responsibility; any more than they'd pay for repairs to a line of traffic you may have totalled as a result of the same incident.  In their view that's what insurance is for probably.

Good luck if you're dealing with Elms or Spires btw. The former are unhelpful, the latter are fraudsters. 

One of my former colleagues had a 525d in at bmw for 5 weeks having a known issue resolved under warranty! 

[Viral_Jim]

...However, ominously they haven't done anything about the tracking or the curbed wheel (not sure if I mentioned this, but I clipped the curb bringing the car to rest, not hard, but left a small curb mark on the NSF wheel). So I get the impression that they won't be repairing that unless they can list it as consequential damage from a known fault. Otherwise, why not start the work?

I can sense an argument coming. 

Whilst I understand your reasoning, I highly doubt they'll accept that as their responsibility; any more than they'd pay for repairs to a line of traffic you may have totalled as a result of the same incident.  In their view that's what insurance is for probably.

Good luck if you're dealing with Elms or Spires btw. The former are unhelpful, the latter are fraudsters. 

One of my former colleagues had a 525d in at bmw for 5 weeks having a known issue resolved under warranty! 

Yes, I think they will probably see it that way. However the way I look at it, if the timing chain snapped, I'd want all the resultant damage paid for as well, not just a brand new timing chain and a bill for the rest of the engine.

If they fix the main issue, I'll get it done and pay for it, then then when it's all died down launch a small claims action for the couple of hundred the tracking and alloy cost to repair. It won't be cost effective for them to pay a solicitor to contest that amount and they'll just pay up. .

[STEMO]

...However, ominously they haven't done anything about the tracking or the curbed wheel (not sure if I mentioned this, but I clipped the curb bringing the car to rest, not hard, but left a small curb mark on the NSF wheel). So I get the impression that they won't be repairing that unless they can list it as consequential damage from a known fault. Otherwise, why not start the work?

I can sense an argument coming. 

Whilst I understand your reasoning, I highly doubt they'll accept that as their responsibility; any more than they'd pay for repairs to a line of traffic you may have totalled as a result of the same incident.  In their view that's what insurance is for probably.

Good luck if you're dealing with Elms or Spires btw. The former are unhelpful, the latter are fraudsters. 

One of my former colleagues had a 525d in at bmw for 5 weeks having a known issue resolved under warranty! 

Yes, I think they will probably see it that way. However the way I look at it, if the timing chain snapped, I'd want all the resultant damage paid for as well, not just a brand new timing chain and a bill for the rest of the engine.

If they fix the main issue, I'll get it done and pay for it, then then when it's all died down launch a small claims action for the couple of hundred the tracking and alloy cost to repair. It won't be cost effective for them to pay a solicitor to contest that amount and they'll just pay up. .

They won't love you anymore, though, and will piss in your petrol tank next time it goes in.

[Colin G]

Reminds me of my Jag S-Type stopping in the 3rd lane of the M25 in Surrey - nothing - no hazards, couldn't even release the electronic handbrake.  To say we were shitting ourselves was an understatement - luckily we'd passed a busy about 1/2 mile back speaking nicely to a fellow motorist on the hard shoulder.  He passed us on the hardshoulder getting up to speed before joining the carriageway - he stopped, put his blues on and reversed across the 2 lanes to station himself behaind us until the recovery truck arrived - he had to use his booster battery to release the handbrake.  Turned out to be  failed alternator - had no symptoms or lights - just went!!

Was well pissed off that couldn't even listen to Radio 2 to hear about the queue we caused 

[Viral_Jim]

To update:

I received the car back on Friday, having had the FEM (Front End Module) replaced. Which sounded hopeful, however, as far as I can work out, the FEM operates wipers, door locks, windows, mirrors etc. Not critical systems, nor anything to do with the ignition. Secondly, when it was initially tested by both the dealership and BMW, the FEM unit (along with all other modules) showed no errors.  . Now, I am not in any way a BMW specialist, so, for now I am going with it. However, the cynic in me is thinking that they have just picked something to replace, and gone with a big dollop of hoping for the best. When I next speak to the service manager, I'm going to request an explanation from BMW UK as to a) why the unit is responsible for the issue and b) why it is being replaced when it showed no errors.

However, while they had the car, some BMW chimp has managed to put a nice little scratch in my door card on the drivers side. So it will be back at the dealer shortly anyway to have that addressed  .

The saga continues.

[Shackeng]

Good luck with this. Any progress with the consequential wheel damage?