2 months, 975 miles and its dead

[DavidZ]

Did a search and the closest thread I can find to my problem is this one in Canada regional. At least he wasn't driving. I found others with loss of power but at least they could drive. Didn't find too many problem threads so I guess your cars are pretty reliable but mine isn't:
So I'm driving home from work, engine starts to hesitate and loose power and I pull over to the right lane just as it stalls and won't start again - it'll still turn over. Indicator warning (I don't have iDrive) shows EDC control system failure (I don't have EDC). Use BMW Assist to get towed to dealer. 20 years and over 300,000 miles with Honda and not a single problem. 2 months and 975 miles with BMW and a dead car.

UPDATE:
Fixed... crank sensor needed to be replaced. Long story short:
Friday: dropped off evening at closing. Said they probably wouldn't get a chance to look at it 'til Monday.
Monday: crank sensor diagnosed as problem and replacement special ordered.
Tuesday: crank sensor arrived, replaced, problem cured and car picked up.

2 miles added to the odo and the car still seems to be in showroom condition. So far happy with VOB BMW. Thanks for reading.

[TK-421]

DAMN

But you do have DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) because it is standard - you're probably confusing that with DTC. Good luck on getting this resolved, definitely not something you hear about every day.


EDIT: beat me to it ^^

[xquisit]

I hope everything works out in the end, best of luck to you.

[DavidZ]

Fixed. "Suspension control system failed" Meant EDC. Got my acronyms mixed up. Eh, maybe it was the DSC failure icon, I don't remember now. Even so, it should have been drivable with just that failure.

[M3e93NYC]

I don't understand why people compare the reliability of high performance cars to hondas...

But anyway, you probably just got a lemon. Can't expect 100% of the production line to be flawless.

[ttt]

I don't understand why people are ok with high performance cars being unreliable. We're not talking about F1 race cars here. M3 is a regular production model that's made to be driven in real-world conditions. Last time I checked, the warranty in the US covers the car up to 4 year/50k miles. Therefore I'd expect BMW engineers to design the car to last that long at a minimum.

[M3e93NYC]

Exactly, the warranty covers him for up to 4 years against anything that might go wrong. If they designed a car that would last 4 years at a minimum, there would be no need for the car warranty.

Which in this case he will most likely get covered under his warranty, unless the failure was influenced by some outside factor.

I've owned four bmws in the past, I've never bought one for its reliability, nor do I know anyway that has. Heck, they're notorious for having a shitton of problems.

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by M3e93NYC

I've owned four bmws in the past, I've never bought one for its reliability, nor do I know anyway that has. Heck, they're notorious for having a shitton of problems.

Whilst it may not be the primary focus of the purchase but surely you would have a certain level of expectation of a BMW or Merecedes being reasonable in its reliability

[Mjolnir]

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

Whilst it may not be the primary focus of the purchase but surely you would have a certain level of expectation of a BMW or Merecedes being reasonable in its reliability

Yeah. It's not like it's a Jaguar.

[Spyharpy]

Even though I read these kinds of posts, I'm still looking to acquire an M3 sometime soon. Being a Honda guy most of my life, no car is perfect. I bought a new 2006 Honda S2000 and within 185 miles the CEL light came on and it turned out to be a bad O2 sensor. It was replaced by the dealer. Things like this happen but having your car totally disabled with a small failed part can be frustrating.

[IFX]

Originally Posted by M3e93NYC

I don't understand why people compare the reliability of high performance cars to hondas...

But anyway, you probably just got a lemon. Can't expect 100% of the production line to be flawless.

because alot of people are dropping close to 90 G's for these cars?
For an engine to have an issue this early (for whatever reason) is completely unacceptable.

[pbonsalb]

JD Power rates the average number of defects in new cars by manufacturer. BMW does not do very well. I think Ford does better.

Hopefully, the defect in your car will be the only one and no more will appear. I have only BMWs (six of them), but tell most people who ask me what car they should buy to look at Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai. BMWs are expensive, not super reliable, and cost a lot to maintain.

The people who tend to be frustrated by BMWs are often those coming from the inexpensive, extremely reliable, cheap to maintain Asian cars. I think many would have been happier going to one of the upmarket Asian brands instead, like Acura, Lexus and Infinity.

[///My5UV]

All cars have problems at some point. It's how they're handled that matters. This thread is mostly pointless wailing until the OP comes back with what the issue was and what the dealer did about it.

[Mjolnir]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

JD Power rates the average number of defects in new cars by manufacturer. BMW does not do very well. I think Ford does better.

My recollection is that the M3 was on the high end of the spectrum for the BMW brand and that it was other models, e.g. 335 and X5 that dragged the brand rating down.

[drjoe66]

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

Whilst it may not be the primary focus of the purchase but surely you would have a certain level of expectation of a BMW or Merecedes being reasonable in its reliability

Agree 100%. There is no excuse for an M3 having major issues like this one. If I pay $70,000, i can demand some basic reliabiliy. And yes, it is a high perfromance car but still a regular production car by a large manufacturer, so thats ot an excuse for me.

[drjoe66]

Originally Posted by Mjolnir

Yeah. It's not like it's a Jaguar.

Well, a good friend of mine has a Jaguar and has had zero problems, while I have been to the shop 5 times in the past two years with my 335i and my M3, got towed once,.....

[stiles_s]

Originally Posted by DavidZ

Did a search and the closest thread I can find to my problem is this one in Canada regional. At least he wasn't driving. I found others with loss of power but at least they could drive. Didn't find too many problem threads so I guess your cars are pretty reliable but mine isn't:
So I'm driving home from work, engine starts to hesitate and loose power and I pull over to the right lane just as it stalls and won't start again - it'll still turn over. Indicator warning (I don't have iDrive) shows EDC control system failure (I don't have EDC). Use BMW Assist to get towed to dealer. 20 years and over 300,000 miles with Honda and not a single problem. 2 months and 975 miles with BMW and a dead car.

Good luck and please keep us posted. I've got almost exactly the same car...

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

JD Power rates the average number of defects in new cars by manufacturer. BMW does not do very well. I think Ford does better.

Hopefully, the defect in your car will be the only one and no more will appear. I have only BMWs (six of them), but tell most people who ask me what car they should buy to look at Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai. BMWs are expensive, not super reliable, and cost a lot to maintain.

The people who tend to be frustrated by BMWs are often those coming from the inexpensive, extremely reliable, cheap to maintain Asian cars. I think many would have been happier going to one of the upmarket Asian brands instead, like Acura, Lexus and Infinity.

I think your comments are very accurate. In particular when it comes to electronics does the poster you desire a Japanese or a German system?

Have 'you' enjoyed sex w/ a Japanese or a German? [comments addressed to the original poster] I have and I know which I prefer

I too become frustrated w/ glitches but when I have an open road, the Bimmer speaks to me.

Also, according to the latest Consumer Reports' Survey the M3 is the most reliable BMW.

Sorry to hear the poster is not enjoying this statistical norm.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by M3e93NYC

I don't understand why people compare the reliability of high performance cars to hondas...

My S2000 revs to 8,200 RPM and makes more HP per liter than S65B40. You don't think that's high performance? Sorry if I've offended anyone, I just don't recall any friends of family having a problem that rendered a car undrivable. I still absolutely love the car. I will most certainly follow up with the resolution. BMW assist was fantastic.

[saeedg48]

shit happens. I've had two mercs in one year and I had problems with the both of them; I wouldn't blame it on the manufacture because I know stuff like this happens.. Just baby the car though break-in and then... well romp it

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by ttt

I don't understand why people are ok with high performance cars being unreliable. We're not talking about F1 race cars here. M3 is a regular production model that's made to be driven in real-world conditions. Last time I checked, the warranty in the US covers the car up to 4 year/50k miles. Therefore I'd expect BMW engineers to design the car to last that long at a minimum.

For those confused or upset about why BMW is leaving the world of making focused engines and high-revving engines for their ///Ms, this quote sums up why.....because the average consumer wants a fast Honda. They want the 200k reliability, push and play usability of these cars with performance of a sport car. Guess what, a ///M3 doesn't have the capabilities of a land rover, a land rover can't do what an ///M3 can do, just like a 737 isn't the same as a A380.

God forbid the car takes a bit more care. God forbid someone actually has to read a manual and learn how to use and drive a car and god forbid a handful of cars out of the 100,000 that are made have issues.

At least the breaks aren't failing or gas pedals sticking on LARGE % of ///Ms. Three 7-series and two 335i's in 6 years in my family, still waiting for a major issue, or expensive maintenance, and the brakes actually work well, versus the Toyota in the family.

OP: sorry for your troubles, best of luck in resolving the issue and getting your car back.
Cheers,
e46e92

[rye m3]

It was just the BMW gods getting even with you for your Avitar...

Seriously, the M3 is about the most reliable model BMW is producing right now. That doesn't preclude a car from having a glitch. Just go to the Audi board and search for S4's on flatbeds. You'll see one in every color getting towed to a dealer. Seriously, for a 400+ hp car, it is damn reliable.