30k service and lots of little problems..now at dealer

[mjposner]

Just took my new to me 2011 M3 to the dealer for the 30k service.

I have had the car now for 5 months and 5k miles. I have notice teh following and I wonder how the dealer will respond:

1. TPMS malfunction comes and goes (doesn't matter if I add air or do nothing.

2. Adaptive headlight warning comes and goes.

3. Loose headlight washer

4. Broken vent slide/adjuster

5. Hood plastic intake vent not lying flat (my old 08 ha dthis issue as well, heat from the Florida sun distorted the plastic clip maybe?)

6. Occasional backfire at high rpms

7. Occasional clunk when starting (from diff)

8. metallic clanking sound with top up and driving over rough pavement. My 08' did not make this noise and it drives me crazy. Could be due to 19" wheels being stiffer? (my 08 had 18s).

I am sure I will get the "we could not replicate" from the dealer.

Driving a 13' 328i twin turbo four. Its a decent car and very peppy in sport mode. The 6.5 inch no nav screen is a major tease. Huge boot. Auto start stop is a joke, it coughs everytime on restart.

[Vanmarsenille]

I have a '13 E93 and have the clunking with the top up when driving on rough roads. Since I live in Houston, that is pretty much all the time. I am going to mention it to the dealer at next service.

[mjposner]

Dealer report so far:

1. TPMS malfunction comes and goes (doesn't matter if I add air or do nothing.
Dealer has ordered a new sensor, will install under warranty

2. Adaptive headlight warning comes and goes. Apparently my radar detector is blocking the sensor which is located on the rear view mirror

3. Loose headlight washer - not covered

4. Broken vent slide/adjuster - will be fixed under warranty

5. Hood plastic intake vent not lying flat (my old 08 had this issue as well, heat from the Florida sun distorted the plastic clip maybe?) not covered, will be fixed along with 3 for new parts and paint for $220

6. Occasional backfire at high rpms - covered by warranty, not sure what will be done yet

7. Occasional clunk when starting (from diff): covered by warranty, not sure what will be done yet

8. metallic clanking sound with top up and driving over rough pavement. My 08' did not make this noise and it drives me crazy. Could be due to 19" wheels being stiffer? (my 08 had 18s). covered by warranty, not sure what will be done yet

[Vanmarsenille]

I will be interested to hear your next update, esp. clunking with the top up.

[mdosu]

hmm, keep us updated on each item. Alot of them are minor items, but the last 3 concerns me

[AshyLarryMP]

The last 3 are disconcerting, but covered by warranty so u shouldn't loose too much sleep. The other minor problems are expected. All things have manufacturing defects and the M3 has a lot of things. These failing sensors and such will cost the used car buyer a lot of cash.

[valeram]

They all should be covered under warranty. What gives?

[mjposner]

Dealer called at 4, part still on their way so no return until friday. Car had front fender bender so they would not fix 3 and 5. I knew about the accident before I bought so no big deal.

[gilczbq]

These failing sensors and such will cost the used car buyer a lot of cash.

[Longwong]

Originally Posted by mdosu

hmm, keep us updated on each item. Alot of them are minor items, but the last 3 concerns me

Really? You have a lot of posts. Clunking differential is a known normal behavior for this car.

[mjposner]

Longwong, I know it is a known behavior, doesn't mean I shouldn't ask. Have you ever seen BMW's internal procedures for repair. Goes something like this:

1. Customer complains of clunking diff.

2. Test vehicle, determine if in operational range

3. Inform customer that car is operating in normal range.

4. If customer continues to complain, perform TSB #X

So perhaps I will at least get a diff fluid change (though red line or royal purple in my E46 did help more with the same issue).

[dreamspeed]

I don't remember the price exactly but aren't the hood vents cheaper from iND? OEM quality too

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Just took my new to me 2011 M3 to the dealer for the 30k service.

I have had the car now for 5 months and 5k miles. I have notice teh following and I wonder how the dealer will respond:

1. TPMS malfunction comes and goes (doesn't matter if I add air or do nothing.

2. Adaptive headlight warning comes and goes.

3. Loose headlight washer

4. Broken vent slide/adjuster

5. Hood plastic intake vent not lying flat (my old 08 ha dthis issue as well, heat from the Florida sun distorted the plastic clip maybe?)

6. Occasional backfire at high rpms

7. Occasional clunk when starting (from diff)

8. metallic clanking sound with top up and driving over rough pavement. My 08' did not make this noise and it drives me crazy. Could be due to 19" wheels being stiffer? (my 08 had 18s).

I am sure I will get the "we could not replicate" from the dealer.

Driving a 13' 328i twin turbo four. Its a decent car and very peppy in sport mode. The 6.5 inch no nav screen is a major tease. Huge boot. Auto start stop is a joke, it coughs everytime on restart.

Not really issues since your warranty is covering most of them.

I can say that the TPMS will still malfunction even with the new ones. I had brand new ones installed before my car was shipped over to Maine and when I drove in the extreme cold -20+ degrees it would malfunction. Maybe 4 times in 4 months. Now that the heat is back, nada zero. I am assuming the extreme cold was giving them issues.

[MilehighM3]

The solar sensor for the headlights is integrated into the rain sensor on the windshield, not the rear view mirror the sensor in the interior mirror is for the auto dimming mirrors only

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Longwong

Really? You have a lot of posts. Clunking differential is a known normal behavior for this car.

if you're talking about the diff chatter/grind at low speeds, I know about it, experienced it myself, and fixed it. It was the modified fluid that you need to make it go away. OP didn't elaborate what the issue was and I thought he was saying there some some other type of issues with the diff, which is concerning, wouldn't you think?

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Longwong, I know it is a known behavior, doesn't mean I shouldn't ask. Have you ever seen BMW's internal procedures for repair. Goes something like this:

1. Customer complains of clunking diff.

2. Test vehicle, determine if in operational range

3. Inform customer that car is operating in normal range.

4. If customer continues to complain, perform TSB #X

So perhaps I will at least get a diff fluid change (though red line or royal purple in my E46 did help more with the same issue).

here's a top tip regarding getting the modified fluid:

Complain about this about 1-2 months before your free maintenace plan expires. This will ensure you will get a diff fluid change (effectively for free) right before your plan ends.

If you complain too early, you're basically changing your fluid too early and you would still have to change your fluid after 30k or so, which is likely after your maintenance plan ends and you will have to pay out of pocket.

[mjposner]

Here is the dealer report:

1. TPMS malfunction comes and goes. (REMOVE/INSTALL OR REPLACE RDC WHEEL ELECTONIC MODULE)

2. Adaptive headlight warning comes and goes. (PLACEMENT OF RADAR DETECTOR INFRONT OF FLA CAMERA CONFIRMED CUSTOMER'S CONCERN. CONNECTED BATTERY CHARGER. PERFORMED VEHICLE TEST. CHECKED FAULTS. FC: A7D2 - SENSOR FIELD OF VIEW CONCEALED. PERFORMED APPLICABLE TEST MODULE. TEST MODULE STATES TO CHECK FOR VIEW OBSTRUCTIONS OF THE FLA CAMERA. INSPECTED WINDHIELD FOR OBSTRUCTIONS. FOUND SUCTION CUP RESIDUE DIRECTLY INFRONT OF THE FLA CAMERA (BELOW THE INTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRROR), FROM THE CUSTOMER'S RADAR DETECTOR. THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE FAULT AND THE HEADLIGHT WARNING MESSAGE. CLEANED RESIDUE FROM WINDSHIELD. DELETED FAULT MEMORY. PLEASE ADVISE CUSTOMER TO RELOCATE RADAR DETECTOR.)

3. Loose headlight washer (replaced at my expense, part and painting)

4. Broken vent slide/adjuster (ADJUSTMENT TAB SEPARATED FROM FINS CONFIRMED CUSTOMER'S CONCERN. FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE AIR VENT TO HAVE COME APART. REMOVED AND REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE FRESH AIR GRILL. CONFIRMED REPAIR. CONCERN CORRECTED.)

5. Hood plastic intake vent not lying flat replaced at my expense, part and painting)

6. Occasional backfire at high rpms (ROAD TESTED VEHICLE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S CONCERN. BACK-FIRING DID NOT OCCUR ON EITHER ROAD TEST. THE VEHICEL IS OPERATING NORMALLY AT THIS TIME)

7. Occasional clunk when starting (from diff) (ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AND WITHOUT CLUNKING NOISE OR HARSHNESS. SIB# 33-01-08 STATES: "THE M3 DRIVETRAIN IS DESIGNED FOR EXACELLENT TORSIONAL RIGIDITY TO ENSURE INSTANTANEOUS TORQUE TRANSFER TO THE REAR WHEELS, WITHOUT ANY TIME LAG. THE FLYWHEEL MASS AND IT DAMPING CAPABILITY HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO A MINIMUM. ABRUPT LOAD CHANGES MAY CAUSE A NOTICABLE SOUND. THIS TYPE OF "ACOUSTIC FEEDBACK" IS SYSTEM-RELATED AND IS NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE LIFETIME OF THE COMPONENTS.")

8. metallic clanking sound with top up and driving over rough pavement. My 08' did not make this noise and it drives me crazy. Could be due to 19" wheels being stiffer? (my 08 had 18s). (LATERAL LATCHES BETWEEN FRONT AND MIDDLE ROOF SHELLS CONFIRMED CUSTOMER'S CONCERN. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE OVER ROUGH ROAD. HEARD A LOUD TAPPING COMING FROM THE ROOF. ROAD TESTED VEHICEL A 2ND TIME WITH A 2ND TECHNICIAN. HAD 2ND TECHNICIAN LOCATE NOISE IN ROOF BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO VARIOUS POINTS. FOUND NOISE TO DEMINISH WHEN PRESSING UP ON MIDDLE ROOF PANEL FRONT RIGHT CORNER. CONNECTED BATTERY CHARGER. PERFORMED VEHICLE TEST. PERFORMED NON-ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS TEST MODULE FOR HARDTOP INTERFERENCE NOISE. TEST MODULE STATES TO ADJUST THE GUIDE CYLINDERS OF THE LATERAL LATCHES. DIAGCODE: D5437_MX000000_35_301. REMOVED THE FRONT ROOFLINER. PERFORMED ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE FOR THE RIGHT SIDE LATERAL LATCH. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. THE NOISE IS NO LOGNER PRESENT. REINSTALLED ROOFLINER. CONFIRMED REPAIR. CONCERN CORRECTED.)

[mjposner]

Drove home today and the biggest issue is fixed. No more clunking from the roof.

[Jeff The Pianist]

So many minor issues with this car! Does this happen to a lot of people? If so, anyone out there who owns a M3 that is no longer covered by warranty?

[mjposner]

Jeff, the issues were mostly minor. TPMS is helpful, but I can check without a computer. Diff is a fluid issue, only big issue was the roof. Not sure what the non-warranty cost would be.