Dealer denies warranty claim for differential bolt failure - $6100 bill

[Vic311]

10 step plan..lol

Glad you got it sorted

Originally Posted by bvanderbilt

Car was fixed by BMW at no cost to me and is back in the garage tonight.

To help or give some information to those facing a similar issue, here's what I did:

- I put together a binder of information; made a printout of the differential bolt issue thread on this site and highlighted important parts. Made printouts of the "damage" and the broken bolt. After arguing with all of you here I worked to consolidate and perfect my "60 second pitch" outlining why I was convinced this was a warranty issue, e.g. force necessary to shear that bolt would have shattered the cover.

- Took two weeks to get my ducks in a row; briefed my lawyer; put together basically a ten step plan with continuing higher levels of escalation. Got some analysis done by a friend who works as an expert witness for structural failures in industry; he was able to give me some good basic comparative data.

First step was calling BMW NA. They basically told me to go fuck myself. They put an "complaint specialist" on the phone who I guess is extra good at telling people where to go. Amusing but expected.

Second step was meeting with the service manager of my local dealership. I presented my case to him and stressed I wanted to keep the good relationship I have with the dealership intact. I told him I understood the issue was with BMW NA but I wanted to feel like he and the dealership were on my side. I was able to get him to say that he agreed with me in my analysis of the issue.

A week later he called me and told me BMW would be covering everything 100%. Week later car is home. I am very appreciative of the service manager for helping me out in this case.

My takeaway? Dealing with BMW NA without a lawyer is pointless. You need your dealership on your side or be ready to go to court. People at your dealership have personal relationships with folks at BMW NA corporate that we/you/I just don't have.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

bvanderbilt, So happy to read about your susses and that the matter is behind you now.

I agree with you that BMW NA or the Canadian section for that matter is for the birds. I experienced this first hand (I'm sure you read my post above about the wheel issue).

Since my case only was $800- I simply gave up. However my dealership no longer have my business (I purchased 3 new cars since then one was to be a X5 or X3 due to the way the dealership supported me I purchased a Benz as our DD also I purchase 2 more M3's after trading my Z4 all at a different dealership). Then I don't think the old dealership cares one way or the other that they lost my business.

[WarrantyTracker]

Way to go, man!

[Mike van D]

Glad to hear it all worked out in the end. Score 1 for the common man!

[M3PO]

Good job! Very nicely done! Props for not giving up!

Originally Posted by bvanderbilt

Car was fixed by BMW at no cost to me and is back in the garage tonight.

To help or give some information to those facing a similar issue, here's what I did:

- I put together a binder of information; made a printout of the differential bolt issue thread on this site and highlighted important parts. Made printouts of the "damage" and the broken bolt. After arguing with all of you here I worked to consolidate and perfect my "60 second pitch" outlining why I was convinced this was a warranty issue, e.g. force necessary to shear that bolt would have shattered the cover.

- Took two weeks to get my ducks in a row; briefed my lawyer; put together basically a ten step plan with continuing higher levels of escalation. Got some analysis done by a friend who works as an expert witness for structural failures in industry; he was able to give me some good basic comparative data.

First step was calling BMW NA. They basically told me to go fuck myself. They put an "complaint specialist" on the phone who I guess is extra good at telling people where to go. Amusing but expected.

Second step was meeting with the service manager of my local dealership. I presented my case to him and stressed I wanted to keep the good relationship I have with the dealership intact. I told him I understood the issue was with BMW NA but I wanted to feel like he and the dealership were on my side. I was able to get him to say that he agreed with me in my analysis of the issue.

A week later he called me and told me BMW would be covering everything 100%. Week later car is home. I am very appreciative of the service manager for helping me out in this case.

My takeaway? Dealing with BMW NA without a lawyer is pointless. You need your dealership on your side or be ready to go to court. People at your dealership have personal relationships with folks at BMW NA corporate that we/you/I just don't have.

[bvanderbilt]

Originally Posted by Vic311

10 step plan..lol

Glad you got it sorted

Lame, eh? I think it was actually about four steps. I am OCD about careful planning and execution. at myself.

[FogCityM3]

Nice to hear. If you can (and haven't already), report the issue to the NHTSA (there's a website for logging complaints). If enough of us that had the differential bolt snap issue report it to US regulatory authorities, BMW may end up being forced to issue a recall and fix the design flaw (with solid/non rubber bushing bolts, like the M3 GTS and new M5).

[ploo]

Has anybody thought about changing the differential bolt as a preventative measure? If so, what part number would you use? Perhaps we could source the solid M3 GTS bolt, in that case?

OP, I'm very glad that the dealership was able to fight for your repair to be covered under warranty. Having just read through this thread, it's amazing the lack of empathy some have for other people's misfortune. I'd be mad as hell if they tried to pull this over on me. Funny how all the people who made repeated posts telling you to give up and file an insurance claim are now suddenly all quiet.

[bigjae1976]

I think the OP hit the nail on the head in regards to the sales side. Its all about relationships. We all should build one with a good service advisor. I've been told that they get paid on commission. If true, we need to stick to the good ones, weed the idiots out.

I'll give you an example. I had a clicking from the right rear on my 330 when I would compress the suspension in park or forget the take off the ebrake in reverse. I took it in, had it looked at. The advisor said it was my aftermarket wheel, they cleaned the hub and charged me $200. Ended up being normal function when the ebrake was engaged. This same advisor would only change out one coil pack at a time accordind to the engine fault code despite there being a recall for all of the coil packs.

The one I have now replaced a rear brake pad sensor...CLEARLY it was not a warranty issue. I taped up the sensor at the track (too lazy to get a zip tie), came loose and it got eaten up. I actually forgot I spliced the wires together when I took it in for a brake service. He replaced it under warranty.

[UCBPhD]

Originally Posted by bvanderbilt

Car was fixed by BMW at no cost to me and is back in the garage tonight.

Beautiful, and it even included a ten step plan . . . Congrats!