[m@rk]

....

[webwysard]

I know DFP costs a lot but £2.5k to fix this

If it was my car I would have got it checked by an Indy and if still it was costing close to what the dealer asking then I would seriously think about changing the car.

Good luck with the outcome.

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by m@rk

So I was heading round the M25 this afternoon feeling more like I was driving along a river than a road due to the sheer volume of standing water when I noticed a very odd vibration in the car. I was doing no more than 40mph. Even over the noise of the rain, it felt a little bit like I was driving on the rumble strip and a little like the exhaust had failed. I changed lanes and then it stopped.

A few miles later, again still in super heavy rain, it started again, lasted for a minute or so then stopped. It did it one more time at which point I decided it was best to get off the motorway, find shelter and check it out.

Looking at the car I could see nothing untoward however this was a very loud noise and as I had some distance to travel (plus a trip down to the south of France this weekend) I soon found myself at the closest BMW dealer (Scothall in Watford) asking them to get it on their ramps and check that nothing was falling off.

An hour later I got the diagnosis.



A loose hose. Not too bad you might think

The quote is shown below but the important bit it the total cost of £2475.28

So I am told the flexi section is part of the DPF hence the DPF needs replacing however it would appear that the DPF is not covered by warranty (BMW insured)

So I am reaching out here for options.

I am guessing an independent could replace this for a lot less however that DPF is still an expensive part.

I have seen people on here remove the DPF but the result looked nasty.

For this sort of money, I have to question if a full stainless exhaust system would be cheaper but I am guessing that would not get around the DPF itself.

And for the record, the car is 3.5 years old, owned by me from new and has 75,000 motorway miles on it. I do not expect these sorts of bills at this age so will be speaking with BMW but am not holding my breath

So help.

I am told that I will be fine driving into France and back over the next 2 weeks however at some point this will become a problem.

Any clues or ideas because I would rather trade it in for a brand new Audi than hand over £2.5k

PS

Thanks to the guys at Scothall who managed to fit me in on spec on what looked like a very busy week day afternoon.

hey hey, you think that is bad. I rescently fended off a bill for the replacement of two injectors on my 320d. Still under warranty I noticed a vibration under power at 90Kph and up, I thought bollocks what the hell! took to dealer in Lucerne got courtesy car and left.

Phone call the next day told me the injectors broken and need to be replaced, ok says I let me know when ready to collect. two days later get the call and dually go to get my baby, hello would you like a coffee oh and here is the bill

Parts: 2500 Francs
Labour: 1500 Francs
Courtesy Car: 3 days @ 150 Francs
MSW (VAT) 8% 365 Francs
Grand Total 4806 Francs

Almost 5 Grand for two injectors

well needless to say I complained, was told they are consumables

getting a little tetchy by now and ask to see service manager, Service Director turns up blah blah blah big mistake, so sorryonly need to pay for 20% of parts only, great I thought only a few quid still 500 bucks though. We will send you the bill thank you for your custom. Bill turns up for full ammount WTF

Phone call to dealer Blah blah blah wankers will send new bill in post

so new bill turns up BMW cover 70% parts and all labour
Dealer to cover 30% parts, total owing ZERO RESULT

[BGM]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

so new bill turns up BMW cover 70% parts and all labour
Dealer to cover 30% parts, total owing ZERO RESULT

good work

[gIzzE]

Just get a bypass fitted, will cost less and make it feel better to drive as well.
Can be done for around £600.

[F31-340i]

Did they offer an explanation as to why its broken?

They should last 150,000 miles or so - so why is this knackered after half that?

Is there obvious exterior damage?

If not I'd be pushing for lots of goodwill given you've had it from new and are still effectively under warranty - or go for an alternative by-pass soln as per Gizzes post.

I think charging you £100 to have a look is totally unacceptable for a 'from new' customer (if they did charge you, or intend to).

[creepy coupe]

That's a kick in the bread basket m@rk. I do wonder how desirable older BMW's and especially diesels are going to be. I was looking out the back of my local dealer for a cheap run-around, when I noticed a 330d with 80k clocked. My mate, who's a workshop foreman came over and whispered "ticking time bomb"
When I quizzed him further, he questioned the reliability of diesels with that sort of mileage as a good idea. Due to the complexities of the modern engines, I doubt we will see 450k+ on diesels anymore.
Good luck with yours.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by m@rk

And for the record, the car is 3.5 years old, owned by me from new and has 75,000 motorway miles on it. I do not expect these sorts of bills at this age so will be speaking with BMW but am not holding my breath

6 mths outside of the manufacturers warranty period and I'd be pushing very,very hard for a goodwill gesture from BMW.

I'd go back to the service manager of the dealer the car originated from and get him onside,let him approach BMW UK direct on your behalf,this approach can be far more effective than doing it yourself.

If you have no luck with BMW find a good independent who will do the job far, far cheaper in terms of the labour cost, and get the part number for the DPF and get a price from:

www.bmminiparts.co.uk

There significantly cheaper than BMW on most OEM parts.

Good luck with it all.

[Dr Dave]

If the flexible section has failed/broken (and that is a rare problem) then any decent exhaust manufacturer should be able to remove the broken section and replace it.

I'm not talking about a Powerflow dealer either, more of an exhaust specialist.

I think the whole £97.50 just to diagnose a problem stinks.

[gIzzE]

Diagnosis should never be chargeable.

That is part of trying to secure business.

If I go and see a customer and spend the day trying to sell my services I don't then charge them for that time, that is them being good enough to give me the opportunity to try and sell myself.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

If the flexible section has failed/broken (and that is a rare problem) then any decent exhaust manufacturer should be able to remove the broken section and replace it.

I'm not talking about a Powerflow dealer either, more of an exhaust specialist.

I think the whole £97.50 just to diagnose a problem stinks.

Having looked at Real OEM and the schematic there it is hard to see any part of the DPF unit that could be classed as a flexible section however if I have this right in my mind, I did wonder if this could be welded or fixed by a "real" mechanic rather than a fitter hence reaching out for suggestions here

As for the diagnostics charge.

I was a stranger walking off the street into an unknown BMW dealer mid afternoon asking for somebody to look at my car NOW (rather than wait until the morning when they had a slot).

If it had been my own dealer I would have argued the toss. In this case especially as the Watford dealer will never actually get the job, I don't find it totally unreasonable

[m1bjr]

My first thought was ABS - due to the water

[jjbirch]

i had my bmw i drive fail on me few months back, it was a ccc unit which cost £1000 just for the part plus fitting, my car was the same age as yours 3.5 years old, i chatted to the service guy which i knew well, he got all my details and sent to bmw for goodwill, week later i got 70% off and better than a kick in nuts, i would look at this first if i was you

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by jjbirch

i had my bmw i drive fail on me few months back, it was a ccc unit which cost £1000 just for the part plus fitting, my car was the same age as yours 3.5 years old, i chatted to the service guy which i knew well, he got all my details and sent to bmw for goodwill, week later i got 70% off and better than a kick in nuts, i would look at this first if i was you

Once I get back from France in a couple of weeks time I am going to have a chat with my local dealer and see what gives however I happened to stumble across the new C350 Estate Sport 125 this evening and have to say it offers a lot lot more for the money to the point it could even persuade me to change cars now rather than wait for the new 3 touring next year (which was the plan). It does seem to be a worthy successor to my 335D

I feel an extended test drive coming on and also a bargaining chip.

[ASR1]

Another reason to avoid diesels.......

[jimmylimmy]

Originally Posted by ASR1

Another reason to avoid diesels.......

this is the first instance i've heard of this particular failure - hardly a reason to avoid diesels

[buckethead]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Diagnosis should never be chargeable.

That is part of trying to secure business.

If I go and see a customer and spend the day trying to sell my services I don't then charge them for that time, that is them being good enough to give me the opportunity to try and sell myself.

this diagnosis charge is a big con imo something's a warranty repair or its not

not we charge to have a look for 10mins

you don't go in to comet say my tv not working when it's under warranty and be charged for them looking at it and doing nothing with it do you

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

Phone call to dealer Blah blah blah wankers will send new bill in post

so new bill turns up BMW cover 70% parts and all labour
Dealer to cover 30% parts, total owing ZERO RESULT

Which dealer do you use ?

D.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Wait till u try and sell your 330i and you will wish u had a diesel

lol

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Which dealer do you use ?

D.

I use Kurt Steiner in Luzern, a little bit of a trip from here in Wettingen but worth it for the great service.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Wait till u try and sell your 330i and you will wish u had a diesel

It must be awful not being able to run the car you really want
because all the time you own it you have to think about selling it.

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

I use Kurt Steiner in Luzern, a little bit of a trip from here in Wettingen but worth it for the great service.

I noticed the luzerner plates in some of your photos.

Local lads are fine with me.

D.