09 E92 M3, recently purchased. Been at the dealer for almost 2 mos. now. Need advice.

[Diecast]

Hey everyone,

I purchased my 2009 AW E92 M3, around 5 months ago. The car has 21k miles, full factory BMW maintenance free warranty. When i I got the car, I had it fully detail by this high end shop ($600), and she went straight into my 4 car climate controlled garage, and under a new California Car Cover (custom fit). After about a month and a half of ownership. I noticed in the morning (cold start ups), a light bearing noise from the transmission, when I released the clutch. Nothing out of the norm, or even loud. When you release the clutch, the sound comes on for maybe a second or two. But I decided to have them look at it, since they were already repairing some other warranty items. Come to find out, 3 weeks later, the dealership ordered a brand new M3 6 spd. trans, after receiving approval from the M factory. They installed the trans, and that same sound was still there. They called me and explained the situation and said they thought maybe they received a defective new M trans (which I thought was very unlikely) So... They ordered yet, another brand new trans from the M plant in Germany, which took another 3 weeks, and 2 days to install. Same sound, was still there. They called me last Friday, with this news, and said an actual M Master tech, was flying down from Germany, to try and further diagnose the problem. He came down on Monday, and looked at my M3, and he was in shock, as he admitted the sound is not normal, but he did not know where the noise is coming from. He said he is going to have to go further up the chain of command, and fly in, yet another M specific Master Tech, and go from there.

So all in all, I have owned my new M for a little over 5 mos. and have made 6 payments and have only got to drive it for 1 and a 1/2 of those payments.

Since my wife and I, had today off. We decided to go check on my car, with a surprise visit. Thinking my car was indoors, and possibly on a lift (this was there initial promise to me, when I first brought the car in, since the car was recently detailed) We were in shock, when they took us to the back of the lot, where my M was baking in the sun, and was covered with leaves and old rainy dirt, and my left rear new tire was completely flat, and obvious signs, of someone driving on the flat, to move the car around there lot. I was a bit disappointed, to see my M3 looking so sad. The tech said they would fix the flat and detail the car, once it's ready, but again i naturally felt bad-- seeing my Car like that.

So, as of now, the BMW dealership has had my M3 for over two months now- And still no promised ETA date on when I might get my car back, fixed. Three service writers came up to me, and asked "is that your M??" And how everyone is talking about it, at the dealership, because they have never seen an M get 2 brand new transmissions, without fixing the problem. Another service writer said " those M3 6 spd. Gearboxes are $9k each!

I have owned a E46 M3 6 spd., E92 335 6 spd., 2005 M5, and fortunately, I have Never had any issues like this in all my years of owning all my previous BMW's

I must give credit where it's due. BMW Of Riverside, has given us great customer service, BMW rental car and the feeling that they are trying there best to get these issues taken cared of.

Just figured I would vent here, since you guys are always give such great advice. What would you do, if you were in my shoes? I would be lying if I said I don't miss my M (especially since I just got it), and that I'm not losing patience and want my car back, as of last month.


Any advice or point of direction, would be really appreciated. I'll keep this thread updated, as I get any new info from the dealership.

Thanks again

[And1M3]

I would ask for reimbursement payment for the month that the M has been at the dealership. On a better note I would ask for free extended warranty.
I hope you get your car fix fast and the other master tech knows what is wrong with it. What loaner did they lend your?

[Diecast]

Thanks for your helpful post, I will definitely look into that. They gave us a new 328i four door. So I have my wife commuting in that, so we can keep the miles down on her NSX and Type R, for the time being. She has been getting close to 40 mpg, on that new 3 series. That start/stop technology takes some getting used too.

[CSBM5]

BMW MSRP on the tranny is $5189, so that part is typical profound exaggeration for what aim is anybody's guess.

When I first read your post, I assume you were talking about rollover noise which is normal and common in a small amount (clutch engaged, transmission in neutral). I'm talking about the kind of transmission noise you hear with an aftermarket clutch in many cars with dual mass flywheels where the flywheel has been changed for a single mass design (although not nearly that loud, just the same noise source).

However, if the supposed experienced tech doesn't think it's normal, I have no clue what that could be. If the transmission is ruled out, that leaves only one source - engine. If the noise is in fact rollover noise (engine at idle, clutch engaged, in neutral) and is verified to be coming from the transmission, I would simply hope they have already put in a complete new clutch kit (flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, etc) as if the dual mass flywheel has weakened springs/damping, that would enhance transmission rollover noise...

Does it sound like a clattering (trans in neutral, clutch engaged) noise from the transmission? (as opposed to a bearing whine)

[thekurgan]

Your dealership sounds pretty inept. It is however, stuck there for now but like others said, monetary reimbursement seems logical, as well as possibly a new wheel and paint correction detail. <snip>I'd take a rubber hose and beat the shit out of whomever allowed your car to sit out like that</snip>

[gatorfast]

Seems like the problem is something other the transmission itself. I doubt 3 tannys would all make the same noise.

I had something similar a few years back with my GTI. A/C would all of the sudden start blowing hot air when set to like 72 but would blow cold air if I turned it all the way down. VW replaced my whole A/C unit twice. The third time the problem surfaced one of the techs found it was an electrical problem with the a/c temp knob. Simple fix but it took them 3 a/c units and thousands of $ to realize it was something easy.

[6spdg37s]

Originally Posted by And1M3

I would ask for reimbursement payment for the month that the M has been at the dealership. On a better note I would ask for free extended warranty.
I hope you get your car fix fast and the other master tech knows what is wrong with it. What loaner did they lend your?

+ 1 my dad has had a handful of MB's from 98 up to present... long story short one of them around 01 was a lemon... car was in the shop for no joke almost 6 months... he flipped out on MB Financial and they reimbursed the 6 payments on the car ... The car continued to have problems for the next 1.5-2 years and eventually they said they would wipe the lease out completely if he leased a 03 e320 (which was the new model at the time i believe) we did that and that car was great.

[W///]

Diecast, you are being very reasonable (almost too nice) with these guys. First, to let a car sit on a flat tire like that is just silly. If I were you, I'd def ask for an extended warranty. I think that'd be a pretty fair compensation.

[Dkhan23]

First of all make sure BMW pays the monthly payments the time it has been sitting in the shop. Also get a free extended warranty. Make sure they didn't fuck up the rim and the tire, if they did tell them you want a new rim. Make sure before you leave the lot look around the car for any scratches or anything and point it out to them because once you drive it off the lot and come back their going to say its your fault.

[skins333]

take some pics of your car sitting in lot with flat tire, dirty, etc...may come in handy later

[positiveions]

I am really sorry to hear about your ordeal

[Transfer]

Sorry to hear about all this. It sounds like quite an ordeal.

[gatorfast]

So yea you should demand that they reimburse you for your monthly payments and demand a free extended warranty. You should also demand a free car of your choosing

Honestly the flat tire thing is bad but it sounds like they are doing what they can. They took the time and effort to have an expert fly out straight from BMW. It's def not unreasonable for you to voice your displeasure at your car being left in the condition it was... but I think they will laugh at you if you ask for your car payments to be made or to get a $4k+ warranty for free for nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by skins333

take some pics of your car sitting in lot with flat tire, dirty, etc...may come in handy later

This.

[Diecast]

Thanks to everyone, who posted. To answer the question someone asked above, about the noise - it is like a slight, faint clatter. You can only hear it, when you release the clutch in neutral (for maybe 1-2 seconds). Again, I did not think that it was anything serious, since it drove fine. I simply mentioned it, and asked if it was normal, when I dropped the car off for some other warranty repairs. Little did I know, it would have turned into this.

I got an update from the Dealership on Friday. My service writer said " this is going to sound crazy, but I received a call back from another master tech at the M factory. They still think it is a transmission issue."

So they are going to order a 3rd, brand new transmission to install. She said the transmission will take another week to get in, and a day to install. She also questioned the mechanic doing the repairs on my M, and asked him if he has ever seen or heard anything like this before. He has been with BMW for 31 yrs., and said he has never replaced a tranny on the same car, more then once.

The saga continues....

I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks again.

[Da M3nace]

Originally Posted by Diecast

Thanks to everyone, who posted. To answer the question someone asked above, about the noise - it is like a slight, faint clatter. You can only hear it, when you release the clutch in neutral (for maybe 1-2 seconds). Again, I did not think that it was anything serious, since it drove fine. I simply mentioned it, and asked if it was normal, when I dropped the car off for some other warranty repairs. Little did I know, it would have turned into this.

I got an update from the Dealership on Friday. My service writer said " this is going to sound crazy, but I received a call back from another master tech at the M factory. They still think it is a transmission issue."

So they are going to order a 3rd, brand new transmission to install. She said the transmission will take another week to get in, and a day to install. She also questioned the mechanic doing the repairs on my M, and asked him if he has ever seen or heard anything like this before. He has been with BMW for 31 yrs., and said he has never replaced a tranny on the same car, more then once.

The saga continues....

I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks again.

Dude, you are being way to patient. I would scream "Lemon"on this mess and demand a comparable replacement. Let them deal with the unsolved mystery.

[///WeissBisBlau]

It's time to at least be a little bit more of a "squeaky wheel" with these guys. Put some pressure on. If they tell you the engineer is coming in, ask when. If they tell you it looks like the transmission, ask how soon will they know, and when can it be repaired/replaced. It doesn't take a month and a half for someone to come in from Germany. I know. I've made that flight before--easily doable in a day. Call them every day, if you have to, to light a fire under their arses. Be a nuisance.

Definitely, definitely, as a previous poster said, take pics. They should not be neglecting your car like that. At this point, I would definitely have a conversation with the service manager, if you haven't already. Let them know this is no way to treat a customer, and especially no way to treat an M car. I'm really sorry to hear of your misfortune, and I hope you are taken care of very soon.

[shaq diesel]

Did you get to meet any of the M specialists that came from Germany? I would not put it past them to tell you a fib to keep you complacent. Hate to say it could happen but it does...

[Diecast]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of your support. My wife is starting to get irritated, since we have made 3 payments on the M now, without putting a single mile on it. I will go down there tomorrow and snap some detailed photos of my car. Also, I will call BMW corporate as well and open a case. Hopefully they will respect my concerns, and complaints, considering my loyalty to there brand, for the last 12 yrs.

[Chriskm3]

Originally Posted by W///

Diecast, you are being very reasonable (almost too nice) with these guys. First, to let a car sit on a flat tire like that is just silly. If I were you, I'd def ask for an extended warranty. I think that'd be a pretty fair compensation.

Agree with this. I would not allow these guys to treat your car without any consideration for its condition. It's seems that the way they treated your car externally is identical to level of their mechanical experice. Common 2 transitions later and the car is sitting in the back collecting dust. You may have to raise your voice a little to get this resolved.

[M3takesNYC]

This car makes so many random sounds that you really should have just driven it and especially if it drove fine, leave it be. I would personally pick up my car and tell them if you find its not driving well or you are experiencing a problem you can bring it in at a later date but odds are they will never find the cause of this.

[SpartanGA]

Good luck.

I sure hope replacing the trans includes clutch