[E92Fan]

Right - very quick update.

1) Suspected chronic failure of turbos - possibly wastegate and ECU related too. Oil and water mix dripping from bottom rear of engine. Suspected blow through of oil into catalysts - new exhaust potentially

2) Dodgy rear brakes - major squealing and rattling from pads within calipers - reset/replace needed

3) Failed nearside headlight washer unit - replacement required

4) Condensation on inside of windscreen, nearside - suspected failure of seal

5) Noisy passenger door seal - faulty

6) Random xenon headlight levelling - adjustment/calibration required

7) Creaking from suspension over speed bumps - investigation required

8) Various trim parts loose, rattling

9) Job application submitted to BMW UK to be official guinea pig/durability tester for all 335i related products - commensurate renumeration required, official BMW Employee status demanded. Or might as well sell the sodding thing and go buy a used Audi A8 instead.

[creepy coupe]

As I said before, there's a lot of people with problems on here and over the pond, I think BMW need to buck up their ideas where quality is concerned, touch wood my only gripe is paint quality (kiss of death) I understand your dissolution E92Fan I'd feel the same and probably have cut my losses and gone elsewhere by now.

[dxb335d]

Tony, you love your car so stick with it. By the time everythings done it will be a transformed beast.

Tony may i ask how many miles from initial suspicion to full on failure?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Right - very quick update.

1) Suspected chronic failure of turbos - possibly wastegate and ECU related too. Oil and water mix dripping from bottom rear of engine. Suspected blow through of oil into catalysts - new exhaust potentially

2) Dodgy rear brakes - major squealing and rattling from pads within calipers - reset/replace needed

3) Failed nearside headlight washer unit - replacement required

4) Condensation on inside of windscreen, nearside - suspected failure of seal

5) Noisy passenger door seal - faulty

6) Random xenon headlight levelling - adjustment/calibration required

7) Creaking from suspension over speed bumps - investigation required

8) Various trim parts loose, rattling

9) Job application submitted to BMW UK to be official guinea pig/durability tester for all 335i related products - commensurate renumeration required, official BMW Employee status demanded. Or might as well sell the sodding thing and go buy a used Audi A8 instead.

One of the reasons I didn't wait to get an early 335i was concerns about teething trouble with the engine and turbos.

I had one of the early valvetronic cars, which suffered a major engine failure and have seen that most manufacturers have issues with new engines and models shortly after introduction.

Unfortunately, it does look as if those concerns were reasonably well placed - a number of 335i's including yours and EVO's long termer seem to have ended up with turbo failures.

We saw the same issues when Idrive was introduced and although it's more stable now failures are still common.

On the upside, BMW will sort it out under warranty, but that's no compensation for the hassle and annoyance.

Unfortunately, owning a BMW without a warranty is now looking like a bit of a risky proposition.

[mjh93sa]

Not good Tony.

I'd be tempted to pen another of your long emails to the higher echelons of society detailing the problems that are now under investigation. Considering the amount of time and effort already expended in putting right a series of problems, for a new lot to crop up so soon is to say the least extremely disappointing.

You must be spitting feathers by now.

[G33]

wow thats a lot of problems. havent herd my suspension because my windows have been up most of the time (crap weather) but when ive been driving around in the summer in other cars most suspension creaks a bit over speed bumps?

[Bumps]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Right - very quick update.

1) Suspected chronic failure of turbos - possibly wastegate and ECU related too. Oil and water mix dripping from bottom rear of engine. Suspected blow through of oil into catalysts - new exhaust potentially

2) Dodgy rear brakes - major squealing and rattling from pads within calipers - reset/replace needed

3) Failed nearside headlight washer unit - replacement required

4) Condensation on inside of windscreen, nearside - suspected failure of seal

5) Noisy passenger door seal - faulty

6) Random xenon headlight levelling - adjustment/calibration required

7) Creaking from suspension over speed bumps - investigation required

8) Various trim parts loose, rattling

9) Job application submitted to BMW UK to be official guinea pig/durability tester for all 335i related products - commensurate renumeration required, official BMW Employee status demanded. Or might as well sell the sodding thing and go buy a used Audi A8 instead.

Jesus H. I'm gutted for you Tony. Unfortunately, as others have said, BMW really do seem to be having some major issues. The 335i turbo issue is fairly widespread, as is the E46 320d turbo problem (and look at how many of those that they sold), and, potentially the E9x 320i and d issue. Not good. I would not want my car without a warranty, put it that way.....

I would understand completely if you got rid of it and jumped ship to Audi. The worst thing is you were so happy until this, after the last round of problems. That has been my experience (to a much lesser degree than you) with BMWs though: the cars are so good dynamically you slowly fall in love but the frequent problems and periods without the car detract from the experience as a whole.

It seems pretty pointless to say that I hope you get it sorted, because part of me suspects you never actually will with this car (as much as I hope that that is not the case), but whichever way you reach your desired outcome, I hope it is arrived at by the most expedient and painless method.

[mjh93sa]

As others have said it makes you glad that the car has a warranty.

But... the warranty should be there as an indication of the manufacturers trust in their product, given as a reassurance that should you have a rogue part they will replace it as it does not meet their high standards. Sadly it seems for some that the warranty is more a mechanism whereby they will fix all of the production issues that you find as a way of recompense for you doing the life cycle testing for them.

Not good.

[scottc]

Hi Tony,

As the others have said you must be getting pi**ed off with this now, I personally would be asking for a new one as you have had so many problems and I think if you get certain people involved that would eventually happen.

Have to admit I am about fed up with BMW's in general, yesterday a some c*ck on a bike parked next to me and then let his bike fall on my car and then left without leaving a note, so now have a creased rear door, a dented rear door and dented front door. So angry

In all the cars I have had I have never had so many problems as I have with BMW, starting to think a new A4 might be the way to go

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by scottc

Have to admit I am about fed up with BMW's in general, yesterday a some c*ck on a bike parked next to me and then let his bike fall on my car and then left without leaving a note, so now have a creased rear door, a dented rear door and dented front door. So angry

For jerks like that I keep a pair of lineman's pliers in the boot.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by scottc

Hi Tony,

As the others have said you must be getting pi**ed off with this now, I personally would be asking for a new one as you have had so many problems and I think if you get certain people involved that would eventually happen.

Have to admit I am about fed up with BMW's in general, yesterday a some c*ck on a bike parked next to me and then let his bike fall on my car and then left without leaving a note, so now have a creased rear door, a dented rear door and dented front door. So angry

In all the cars I have had I have never had so many problems as I have with BMW, starting to think a new A4 might be the way to go

wont look as good mate (unless an RS4) but i understand why your pissed off.

[scottc]

I know but I just feel like I am wasting all my money on fixing things that I dont do.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by scottc

I know but I just feel like I am wasting all my money on fixing things that I dont do.

Well claim on the insurance, i knwo your premium will go up tho. You get sad wankers who damage cars in car parks. Try asking the car park owners to view cctv footage. The wanker needs a kicking if you ask me

[scooba0010]

To my horror some cock managed to dent the roof of my wifes mini cooper WTF is that about then i have noticed a dent in the rear quarter ,Be very careful about using your insurance is my advise ,we had a mercedes ml a few years back and some knob sliced it right down through both doors and wheel arch and just drove off ,I remember coming back to the car i could have cried /killed some one i ended up using my insurance and as they couldnt claim the money back from anyone it was put against me and every year i had to disclose it and it did make my premium rise 100% sure of that despite having protected no claims

There is to many snid little bastards that are to happy to just drive off knowing what they have done and asume you can afford it as you have a nice car wank--- need a sound thrashing really is one of my all time hates ,dont wish to be pointing the finger but school run parents are just about the worse example sc-- need to park in the playground ,A site i go to they park all over the entrance marked emergency entrance 24hr access required ,we now have a policy of just blocking there way out and then politly point out the notice .99% claim i have never seen it or noticed the double yellows ,I would have a little respect for them if they said sorry i was taking the piss .Most just rant on and are so rude i explained next time i will ask for it to be towed away and that way you will realise we are serious .

[M3-FAST]

Tony - you seriously must now be able to have a case of officially rejecting the vehicle - it's long history of faults is unacceptable for any vehicle, never mind one of this cost and quality. It is not fit for purpose.

Do you not have any free legal aid policies with a bank account or insurance? Maybe getting a third party involved may be enough of a threat to just make BMW think 'sod it' and sort you a replacement.

I know how you feel, although (touch wood) mine seems OK now. Hasn't broken for over a month although my headlamp washer sticks out like most of the others on here, and the drivers seat STILL creaks but unless they replace the seat I doubt they will ever sort it.

I am so busy at work at the mo have not had the time to even think about sorting them out, but may book it in later this month and try and get the seat sorted out.....the creaking does wind you up, but that is nothing to what you are enduring

If I was you I would be looking at some serious advice on what your realistic options are?

Paul

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Right - very quick update.

1) Suspected chronic failure of turbos - possibly wastegate and ECU related too. Oil and water mix dripping from bottom rear of engine. Suspected blow through of oil into catalysts - new exhaust potentially

2) Dodgy rear brakes - major squealing and rattling from pads within calipers - reset/replace needed

3) Failed nearside headlight washer unit - replacement required

4) Condensation on inside of windscreen, nearside - suspected failure of seal

5) Noisy passenger door seal - faulty

6) Random xenon headlight levelling - adjustment/calibration required

7) Creaking from suspension over speed bumps - investigation required

8) Various trim parts loose, rattling

9) Job application submitted to BMW UK to be official guinea pig/durability tester for all 335i related products - commensurate renumeration required, official BMW Employee status demanded. Or might as well sell the sodding thing and go buy a used Audi A8 instead.

Hi E92

Sorry to here about your latest problems. No. 1 is the big issue and no. 2 for safety in my opinion all the others are annoying on an expensive car but they can be fixed with multiple trips to the dealer and not excepting there poor efforts in fixing what they deem minor. ( Not acceptable but just the case now adays with these sort of jobs and I have had my fair share of these.)

The turbo is nothing new to them. They should know exactly what to do, no excuse and have you back on the road in a few days.

I would be really suprised if the dealer cannot sort asap talk to the service manager there should be no issue.

BMW are mass market in 2008. The network is not the same as 10 yrs ago, the prestige has gone, lots of cars are contract manufactured - BUT the warranties are still the best in the business.

You will get this sorted lets just hope they don't damage anything else whilst its in their care. Good luck.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

Tony - you seriously must now be able to have a case of officially rejecting the vehicle - it's long history of faults is unacceptable for any vehicle, never mind one of this cost and quality. It is not fit for purpose.

Do you not have any free legal aid policies with a bank account or insurance? Maybe getting a third party involved may be enough of a threat to just make BMW think 'sod it' and sort you a replacement.

I know how you feel, although (touch wood) mine seems OK now. Hasn't broken for over a month although my headlamp washer sticks out like most of the others on here, and the drivers seat STILL creaks but unless they replace the seat I doubt they will ever sort it.

I am so busy at work at the mo have not had the time to even think about sorting them out, but may book it in later this month and try and get the seat sorted out.....the creaking does wind you up, but that is nothing to what you are enduring

If I was you I would be looking at some serious advice on what your realistic options are?

Paul

Thanks for the advice Paul, and others. The problem we have in the UK is that there is no 'Lemon Law' policy like there is the States. Therefore we only have the option of relying on a subjective assessment of what is 'reasonable' under the Sale of Goods Act in terms of quality, longevity, and suitability for for purpose

The supplier or manufacturer, in this case BMW UK, have to ensure that 'reasonable' steps are taken to ensure that where a product is faulty, that it is repaired to 'as new'. In the event that the item in question is unrepairable, then a suitable replacement can be offered. However in the case of motor vehicles, this is a hugely grey area. What is deemed reasonable and unreasonable? The fact is that things in cars go wrong - they are a mechanical item and longevity is never guaranteed. There are many variable factors, not least the fact that the end-user may choose to treat the car unsympathetically, leading to the possibility of premature mechanical failures.

The fact also remains that my car was built in September 2006 - I bought it as an ex-demo in March 2007, and it's now February 2008. Regardless of the faults the car has had, this is the first engine-related fault and under the Provision of Goods laws in the UK, BMW are entitled to attempt to fix the problem, regardless of the history of the car (which is now 17 months old). Unfortunately what this means is that I have no choice but to let BMW get on with the job of fixing it

In saying that, I also have no problem with them affecting a repair, as that effectively may mean rebuilding the entire engine with new parts. It sounds a little strange, but I might actually end up having the most reliable, most sorted car of any, as I have made the dealer go through the entire structure from running gear upwards to ensure that each and every part is working well within tolerance, and is mechanically and structurally sound

For instance, there is not a single creak or rattle from the rear of the cabin as all fixtures, clips and brackets are set to the tightest tolerances possible. The front seats are both creak free. There are only creaks/rattles from the dashboard, but once that is fixed I'm almost certain I won't have any repeat issues.

All the door/window seals will, by the end of this visit to the dealer, be completely replaced, lubed, and sealed tightly. The running gear (suspension, tracking, bushes etc) is arguably more accurately setup than when new out of a factory. And I have a new exhaust on there, with some new mechanical parts for the engine. The IDrive computer has been replaced to the very latest hardware specification with software to match.

So I guess at the end of the day, yes I'm massively frustrated, and unhappy at the reliability of the car. I feel strongly that BMW must review the case (which they are doing) and they will suggest some means of compensation I am sure. But once it's all done and dusted, I'll have a car that I know works. And it's a car which I know every inch of, back to front, top to bottom, inside and out

Who's to say that an Audi S5 won't offer similar problems down the line? I desperately want to throw my toys out of the pram, sell the car, and buy something else... but my head's also telling me that I will have had my car rebuilt to a standard probably higher than when it came out of the factory... strange thought that isn't it ?!

Oh, and as a quick update - the dealer is moving extremely rapidly in fixing the car - work on the engine has been underway all day, with the engine management checked and updated, fault codes checked and reset, headlights realigned on the MOT ramp, IDrive controller replaced, headlight washer assembly installed. New rear brake pads have been ordered to cure the squealing, and an oil service is being done as well...... put it this way, they really aren't hanging around!! I guess my history with the dealer has elevated the urgency surrounding my car

So in marked contrast to last time, credit where credit's due and top marks to the dealer so far

[Gibbo]

Good luck Tony.

Can you keep all the old parts, you will soon have enough and we can build a 335i at UK8.

[mjh93sa]

Good luck Tony, at least they seem to recognise that they need to pull their fingers out this time.

Although it doesn't deflect from the problems a bit of proper customer service goes a long way to making you feel better.

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by Bumps

as is the E46 320d turbo problem (and look at how many of those that they sold), and, potentially the E9x 320i and d issue. Not good. .

What potential 320d issue?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by 1stnewcar

What potential 320d issue?

Turbo failures. well actually butterfly type flap which breaks and chews turbos and pistons.

[- Paul -]

Is this a known e9? problem - I've never heard of it?