Differential bolt broke 3 times. Dealer denies warranty for $6900. Ridiculous claimes

[M3xE92]

has been resolved.

[redpriest]

This is insane.

[javarithms]

I would sue the dealer in small claims court. It's a lot cheaper than hiring an attorney and you already have all the facts. I know in some states you can be awarded up to $15K.

You would do the community a favor by naming the dealer...just saying.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[whats77inaname]

I feel for you, man, and I hope everything works out in your favor. Before the diff goes back in, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting the delrin bushings, as those stock diff bushings are pretty much foam.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-29...um-e9x-m3.aspx

Originally Posted by javarithms

You would do the community a favor by naming the dealer...just saying.

Yeah, I don't understand why you're not naming names, as the dealership isn't doing anything to protect you.

[FType22]

Just wondering if lemon law would cover this? Not sure what year your car is though.

[FogCityM3]

Having something done 3 times probably means the dealer didn't torque the bolts properly. Would write the dealer, CC the owner of the dealer (who is the franchisee), BMW NA, and BMW Munich and show them the documented cases of the bolt snap on these boards. This is a known design problem. I would also file a claim with the NHTSA and threaten to reveal the name of the dealer on the boards and to file a lemon law claim (if applicable in your jurisdiction) and of course threaten litigation. If you haven't already, slam the customer satisfaction survey too.

[Yvette]

All the best to you,

[mjposner]

Because they said, "ent to bmw, long story short, I got blamed and denied warranty because my "exhaust was installed incorrectly" by the top exhaust shop in my city." I would also notify the exhaust shop that BMW was blaming them for the problem. While unlikely, if they did somehow affect the diff, you could end up having an issue. As for small claims w/o a lawyer, they will certainly have a lawyer regardless of the court.

[rcracin]

I'm really confused as to how the diff would be touched while installing the exhaust. It sounds to me like somebody jacked your car up from the diff at some point, messing something up. You would know if you hit something that hard with your diff while driving.

Worst case if the dealer is saying you hit something and it damaged it, I'd go through insurance to cover the damages. Somebody's bound to cover it.

[Agent-GHQ]

Originally Posted by m3noobie

Crazy! Yes dealer's name would do us a favor. That warranty denied email thing sounds like totally BS. I would do the same, escalate to BMW NA and take legal action.
Hope everything works out for you. Good luck.

The OP did escalated to BMW NA and got denied!

The outcome may have been different if the car wasn't mod which I personally avoid mod like a plaque at least until warranty is up.

[12mpgm3]

At the end of the day, mods or not, the dealership has to at least explain (I think the standard may really be prove) how exactly the mods caused the bolt / diff issues. "Hitting something like a rock" is a statement made because the dealer doesn't know what happened and they are just assuming you did something wrong. OP - stupid question but has anyone else (including the famous BMW shop tech while doing normal work on your car) driven your car without you onboard? Sounds to me like two possible issues here around their service 1) they did not make the initial repair properly, causing the second failure or 2) they took your car for a REAL road test and caused the damage that appeared shortly thereafter.

[Serious]

You can't try a different dealer?

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Serious

You can't try a different dealer?

At this point, everything is documented based on his key/VIN.

Big fan of the RS4, BTW. Cross-shopped that when looking @ the M.

[M3xE92]

/

[Serious]

Ummm yeah that happened at speed. You should contract your insurance and have them cover the repairs due to road damage.

[M3xE92]

.

[M3 Number 86]

this is some bullshit. i know it wasn't the same issue as yours but having a personal relationship with my TECH first and then his recommended SA second, i had tons of warranty work done on my car for things that didn't even break yet - just wanted new stuff. I think the dealerships don't get paid on warranty work or something like that so that is a strong bias on their decision. especially on a big repair. i show up with decent mods and massive abuse to the car.

and I wouldn't try to hold my temper in. youre just doing yourself a disservice to only yourself.

[Serious]

Originally Posted by M3xE92

Insurance would be my last possible case scenario. Why have my rates go up when this damage possibly occurred because of the bolt snapping in the first place? The damage is not harsh enough to say that impact damage is the cause of the bolt snapping, even if so, as I said, "the dealer saw and knew the scratch was there 100% after they repaired it the first time, they told me that "if this were to happen again, it would be covered under warranty" they knew the scratch wasn't the cause of it the first time, and are falling back on it to try to have my insurance pay for their malfunctioning bolts.

Yeah I wouldn't be happy either but in this case it kinda seems like it's insurance or getting a lawyer involved.

[anom3]

Better call Saul.

In all seriousness, sounds like all there is left to do now is get legal help.

I would perhaps try one last time at the dealer and make sure to start the conversation with something along the lines of "I am here as a last shot before I seek legal help...".

[vincE92M3]

go to another dealer? i wouldn't give that dealer anymore of your business

[Rajmun340]

I disagree with you, i think this grinding under the differential is sufficient evidence that there may be impact damages that caused new bolts to undergo shearing stress and snap each time. And it's either that exhaust place, the dealer tech or you (in that order) who did it. After many years watching the m3 scene, I have concluded aftermarket mod shops are shady as f****. it's a magnet for too many wrong type of people thinking about fast cash and fast cars. While it could have been a dealer tech joyride, it is a bit less likely. And last but not least it could have been you, unknowingly so, who hit something and did not hear it. Yes you may have heard it but who knows there could have been other noises covering it and at high speed it could have been very brief.

I think the dealer was willing not to question your responsibility for the cost of a screw but when it came to the assembly he had to draw a line. Road damage happens it may not be anyone's fault and it's a ZCP with less clearance. I think you should either pay or have it covered by insurance. Unless you can prove it was done at the dealership. If it's not you somebody is probably covering up and knows it.

If dealers are suspicious it's because of some people (not you) who abuse warranty and there are always some of them lurking in forum like that guy who wrote in this thread :

" i had tons of warranty work done on my car for things that didn't even break yet - just wanted new stuff."

One thing i command you for is for recording audio inside the car while the car is being serviced. I think it is a good initiative. Too many tech think it's their right to have their fun when an M3 turns up at the dealership as they think they're dealing with bmw's property when it's really your property at all times. It's the biggest concern i have when giving keys over for service.

[CSBM5]

Insurance comprehensive claim would likely cover the problem, but at this point some insurers may balk at that even. Nonetheless, if (when) warranty claim pursuit reaches a dead end, you can buy a new subframe for $1172 from BMW Morristown online parts site, and I would find it unlikely a new diff is needed, but if so, contact Dan at diffsonline.com as I think he can provide a freshened M3 diff for ~$1400 (versus $2400 from Morristown).