[chen_kenichi]

I am not sure where to post this but thought I most this here anyway.
I took delivery of my 328i on 06/14 (Thursday) evening. That same night on the way home I noticed some "flapping" noise coming from rear right speaker. Since I was not so familiar with the car, I thought it might have been static from local radio station. That weekend I drove the car some more and noticed the "flapping" noise become more and more obvious. At first I thought it was vibration noise made by back seat (I choose the fold-down back seat option). Upon close inspection I found out this "flapping noise" came from right rear speaker.
I made an appointment with the dealership and dropped the car off on the following Tuesday (06/19) after work. The next day (06/20) the dealership informed me that the right rear speaker needed to be replace and they order the part. The part won't arrive until the following day, Thursday 06/21. I called back on Thursday 06/21 and asked for an update. The dealership told me that actually the speaker was okay. They couldn't find what went wrong. They had to check with BMW and had to keep the car for another day. Friday 06/22 I called back and learned that they did not hear back from BMW and needed to keep the car for the weekend. Yesterday, Monday 06/25 they called and told me that they had to order a new stereo and my car should be ready today, Tuesday 06/26. Well, I got a call during noon time and was informed the following:
1. BMW changed the ordering method. The replacement stereo needs to come from Germany and won't arrive for a few weeks.
2. Apparently the stereo for 328 (or 335) are in "national back-order". That was another reason why I have to wait for a few weeks.
3. I could pick the car up and the dealership could disconnect the affected right rear speaker so I don't hear the annoying "flapping" noise.
I have been drive a loaner Nissan Murano the dealership gave me for this week. However, I have to pay for my own insurance. The whole week cost me about $126. That does not include gas I have to pay for the loaner.
I e-mailed to BMW USA and explained the situation yesterday. They replied today saying that they will make sure the car is fixed but won't do anything more than that. So I sent an e-mail back asking what about the money I have to pay out of my own pocket to cover the insurance and gas for the loaner? I haven't gotten any reply back.
By now you can probably imaging that I am really upset. The service adviser apologies each time she talks to me. I am okay with the service they provide. But I am extremely unhappy about my car buying experience for a BMW. I thought I spend a big chunk of money and would get a top notch car - but this is what I get instead. I was justing telling my friends how happy I am to own a BMW but not I won't think about that anymore. These few days I simply keep kicking myself for not buying that Acura TL...
Sorry for the steam... I am just upset.:mad:

[Ninjaneer]

That's unfortunate, but they'll take care of it, although it may take some time. Gas isn't usually covered on a loaner, but you get free miles to put on a car that's not yours! I'm not sure how the whole week is costing you $126 w/o gas... I mean, if you're currently insured doesn't that sorta cover it?

Anyway this stuff happens, even if you pay so much for an expensive car. A lot of the 335i owners had fuel pump issues with their cars at the dealer for upto a month or so! Not that it's any consolation but just saying it happens.

BTW, I too was considering an Acura TL but the rear-wheel drive of the BMW, and the handling between both when I took them through a twisty road, were vastly different. BMW all the way The G35 was a close second.

[shadowcoder]

While unfortunate, it sounds like BMW is making every effort to fix your car.
It sounds like you are overreacting when you say that you keep kicking
yourself for not buying that Acura TL.

It's also wrong to expect for anyone but yourself to pay for the gas of the
loaner. Really, how can one possibly expect that?

Regarding the insurance I don't understand how for a week the insurance is
$126. All rentals come with basic insurance and usually your own insurance,
if comprehensive, covers your rentals as well. So you apparently didn't get
just the basic insurance and at the same time your own insurance isn't that
good and doesn't cover the rental (assuming it's comprehensive for your BMW).

[Drew Mazurek]

High Maintenance......the OP, not the car.

[LENELSA]

What dealership is this in Los Angeles ???

[BK]

Originally Posted by chen_kenichi

So I sent an e-mail back asking what about the money I have to pay out of my own pocket to cover the insurance and gas for the loaner? I haven't gotten any reply back.

Gas? Wouldn't you have to pay for that even if you were not driving the loaner?

These few days I simply keep kicking myself for not buying that Acura TL...
Sorry for the steam... I am just upset.:mad:

No problem, I'd be pissed, too. Keep your head up, as it will get better!

FWIW, while the Acura TL is a nice car (I cross-shopped it, too), it is no BMW.

A BMW feels great when you test it, but when you are testing lots of cars, it is hard to judge how much more "dialed in" the BMW feels. After you have one for a while, you get spoiled. Now that mine has been my DD for a year, there are other cars that I used to like that don't feel as good anymore. TL is one of them.

I am thankful every day that I picked the 330i over the TL, G35, C350, and others. That TL stereo is really nice, though.

[LENELSA]

Oh trust me , I was sooooo close to pulling the trigger on a TL-S but in the end the BMW was a more driving experience "hands down."

[Bimmer335i07]

Your insurance should cover rentals.

And you shouldn't be kicking yourself for not purchasing the TL. For all you know, you could've had the same problem with a brand new TL or something else wrong with it.

There are no PERFECT cars out there. I don't care if you spend $10,000 or $100,000. There's bound to be some kind of defect in one or many of the cars.

And it's not like they didn't give you a loaner or try to resolve it the best they can.

Just take it as bad luck.

My fuel pump is going soon because of the long crank times, but I'm just going to take it to the dealer and have them take care of it and go on with my life.

[chen_kenichi]

Thanks for your replies. These make me feel better. Now that I am calm down a little, I guess I did have some bad luck.
But - please let me clarify a few points...
1. Gas: I got a Nissan Murano, an SUV. At the end of the first day it has used 1/2 tank of gas. I commuted between work and home, 12 miles each way. Would a 328i use up 1/2 tank of gas in one day of commute? I think not. My point was - yes I was paying for gas as if I was driving my own car, but would I have payed as much? If we agree that an SUV used more gas than 328i, then I did have some sort of economic loss.
2. I was told that I had to have insurance and charge my credit car for coverage by the rental company located within the dealership. It was about $18 per day for basic coverage. That was how I paid $126 for 7 days of insurance to cover the rental car. I am not sure but are you saying I could have used my own insurance? In any case, it as extra $126 out of my own pocket.
3. About the statement about buying Acura TL instead of BMW. Well, it was just one of the car I tested and liked. But in any case, no matter what car it was, I have not gone back to the dealership that quickly to fix a problem that early in my ownership of a car. I have purchased: Accord, Camry, and Jetta before this car. The quickest was the time when I had to send the Jetta back for break light recall three months after I got that car. But in this case of 328i - one week. That was quick, don't you think?
Once again, I am not saying the dealership is at fault. In fact I would recommend the dealership anytime if one wants to buy a BMW. But - the fact that I had to take the car back due to some sort of defect within a week of new car delivery just didn't make me feel too well.
Well, I know BMW will fix my car and I am okay with that. Perhaps I over reacted. But in any case, seeing people replying to my ranting post actually comforted me a bit. Thanks people.

[X5FX]

Sorry you had problems w/ a new car...thats a bummer.

You should have declined the insurance, its not required as you should already have coverage. If you dont have insurance...well then thats your issue not the dealerships.

Regarding gas, its unreasonable to expect anyone to pay for your gas...you are driving afterall. It really doesnt matter that the loaner is less effecient. Be thankful they gave you a loaner.

[Yvette]

why do they have to keep it when they can't do shit.....

[Ninjaneer]

You might want to call them back and ask about the insurance and see if you can use your own and cancel whatever it is you're paying them. You could also ask your insurance company how your coverage works on rentals.

As for the gas-guzzling SUV, ask them if they can put you in something more economical.