Taking my car in for waste-gate rattle in the Bay Area

fly_lancair360 · 06-22-2015, 05:34 PM

I'm in the Bay Area due to short-term work location. My car is getting close to the turbo warranty period. Waste gates sound like they are a can of lose change that some is shaking. Quite embarrassing. Car is 100% stock. I'm thinking Steven's Creek as they are the closest. Which SA is the best at Steven's Creek? Are there better dealers and or SA to work with? I saw a name of Kevin Evans as a decent SA at Steven's Creek? Anyone care to share their opinions both good and bad?
Thank you,

derrick603 · 06-22-2015, 08:44 PM

I've taken my car to Stevens Creek BMW a few times and had Claude Luu as an SA. He seemed like a pretty good guy.

gabylonfive · 06-23-2015, 08:55 AM

I've worked with Kevin before, good guy. Nick Lal at BMW Fremont is also pretty good from my experience.

fly_lancair360 · 06-23-2015, 11:44 AM

Thanks for the info. After reading some online reviews, I've decided to give Stevens Creek a try. I'll post my experience (good or bad).

Dmacc · 06-23-2015, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly_lancair360

Thanks for the info. After reading some online reviews, I've decided to give Stevens Creek a try. I'll post my experience (good or bad).

I would steer clear from Steven's creek. I've had several friends go there with n54s with negative feedback. Your best bet by far is going to Fremont BMW and asking for Justin Carlos. Let him know what's going on and he will take care of you.

fly_lancair360 · 07-07-2015, 07:27 PM

I had dropped my car off at Steven Creek before I left town for a week. I had the SA (Julie) get the lead tech to listen to the turbo rattle. His first response was "it's normal". However, when I started discussing the SIB for the turbos, he started to change his tune. He did the quick test of unplugging the vacuum canisters. The car was 100% stock. It also had a 30FF low boost code. They called me a day later and said they were replacing the turbos. They also found the OFHG leaking and fixed it. My CPO is over next week so it all worked out. I did enquire about extending the warranty but at $4K+ I decided it wasn't worth it. The car does boost quick so I'm glad to get this done. My car is an 09 e93 with ~76K miles. Total cost was $50.

For those that need to get this done, my advice is to have your car 100% stock and to have at least one instance of 30FF in the diagnostic history. Make sure your have read the SIB and can articulate the symptoms. Have clean car as that shows it is being well cared for. Also, treat the SA with respect as they can swing a deal if its borderline. Good luck.

06-22-2015, 05:34 PM	#1
fly_lancair360 New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2009 e93 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	Taking my car in for waste-gate rattle in the Bay Area I'm in the Bay Area due to short-term work location. My car is getting close to the turbo warranty period. Waste gates sound like they are a can of lose change that some is shaking. Quite embarrassing. Car is 100% stock. I'm thinking Steven's Creek as they are the closest. Which SA is the best at Steven's Creek? Are there better dealers and or SA to work with? I saw a name of Kevin Evans as a decent SA at Steven's Creek? Anyone care to share their opinions both good and bad? Thank you,
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06-22-2015, 08:44 PM	#2
derrick603 Captain 57 Rep 592 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fremont, CA iTrader: (0)	I've taken my car to Stevens Creek BMW a few times and had Claude Luu as an SA. He seemed like a pretty good guy.
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06-23-2015, 08:55 AM	#3
gabylonfive First Lieutenant 52 Rep 335 Posts Drives: 04 M3, 05 Elise Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (3)	I've worked with Kevin before, good guy. Nick Lal at BMW Fremont is also pretty good from my experience.
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06-23-2015, 11:44 AM	#4
fly_lancair360 New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2009 e93 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. After reading some online reviews, I've decided to give Stevens Creek a try. I'll post my experience (good or bad).
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07-07-2015, 07:27 PM	#6
fly_lancair360 New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2009 e93 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	New turbos I had dropped my car off at Steven Creek before I left town for a week. I had the SA (Julie) get the lead tech to listen to the turbo rattle. His first response was "it's normal". However, when I started discussing the SIB for the turbos, he started to change his tune. He did the quick test of unplugging the vacuum canisters. The car was 100% stock. It also had a 30FF low boost code. They called me a day later and said they were replacing the turbos. They also found the OFHG leaking and fixed it. My CPO is over next week so it all worked out. I did enquire about extending the warranty but at $4K+ I decided it wasn't worth it. The car does boost quick so I'm glad to get this done. My car is an 09 e93 with ~76K miles. Total cost was $50. For those that need to get this done, my advice is to have your car 100% stock and to have at least one instance of 30FF in the diagnostic history. Make sure your have read the SIB and can articulate the symptoms. Have clean car as that shows it is being well cared for. Also, treat the SA with respect as they can swing a deal if its borderline. Good luck.
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