[iamjim]

29-01-2010 I went to Scotthall BMW Hampshire to have a Inspection service - it's kind of a glorified MOT. In essence they check a number of items mostly serviceable components and advise if replacement is necessary etc, they also should check a number of safety features. They provide a checklist of items that have been checked and attach to your invoice - I guess for peace of mind.

Today my RFT red indicator lit up on the way home and stayed on for the duration. So I'm like ffs not just before holiday next week, 2 x tyre $$ shock (always replace in pairs - right?).

So I pull in to my trusty Sainsbury’s service station to find which of the tyres it is. Fast forward 10 mins and luckily no punctures but I have the following:

Rear O/S = 2,7 bar
Rear N/S = 2,5 bar
Front O/S = 2,5 bar
Front O/S = 2,5 bar

I referenced the driver’s door sill crease to see what they should be and adjust accordingly and reset the RFT initialize. They should be (for 255/35/18 and 225/40/18):

Rear O/S = 2,5 bar
Rear N/S = 2,5 bar
Front O/S = 2,3 bar
Front O/S = 2,3 bar

So I'm like hang on a second my car was serviced as above and my tyres are over inflated... Did they check these? I'm the first to put my hands up for not checking or adjusting my tyres; I'm lazy you see so nothing has changed since the service.

So it got me thinking if my £179 bill stapled to the invoice was a complete sham and if they did actually check the car at all? Or if they did, do it properly? Did they just give the car a cursory check?

I phone up the Dealer and ask for the service manager, I’m told straight away that he isn’t in today. Fine so I explain to the receptionist my findings and ask if anyone else is there to speak too. I also say I will complain to BMW UK if I don’t get a satisfactory response. Suddenly the Service Manager is available although now may be with a customer?!

Service Manager asks what is the problem, I go on to explain the above issue and ask how my tyres came to be overinflated over the recommendation and why the tyres were not adjusted as the checkbox indicates they were. A bit annoyed because I had doubts that my car was checked as fully as it should have been because there was a double booking issue when my car went in and they took on the 2 booking regardless.

He has a right attitude, throwing all sorts of excuses why they wouldn’t/couldn’t be liable:

"Our machines are calibrated weekly" - I replied - "doesn’t prove that my car was even checked for tyre pressures".

"You have no proof that the car wasn’t serviced" - I replied - "neither do you"

"How do you know the Sainsbury’s machine is working correctly" - I replied "because I have checked the other machine (Sainsbury’s has two in Hedge End)."


He is being quite provoking as asking question like:

"Why has it taken you two months to realise this?" - I replied "didn’t you listen to why I came about contacting you in the first place?"

To top it off they charged me £40 for investigating a washer issue when I already told them that the bottle was blocked, they didn’t actually fix it. Why didn’t they spend that £40 on fixing the issue rather than confirming what I already told them? Clearly I was wrong and my washers still don’t work properly!

He also didn’t realise my car had a extended warranty and was just so arrogant.

In the end he agreed to take my car in to be re-serviced at their expense. I certainly don't appreciate being taken for a ride on £170 glorified MOT and been told to "quit my accusations" whilst raising his voice saying "go ahead complain to BMW UK my name is **** **** and see what happens!".

BMW Customer service / after care = a bloody joke.

Can someone explain why I have to take my car in for re-servicing again? Surely the car should have been serviced correctly first time?

PS. They put the wrong oil in my 123d M Sport last year.

SO sorry for the rant but is this a good stealer or bad stealer? Name and shame - you decide!

and relax

[NFS]

Sorry to say this, but I think you have a slow puncture in the rear n/s tyre.

The tyre pressure indicators only pick up sudden changes. When I first bought my 5 series I had a series of 'false alarms', which I eventually traced to a screw in the back tyre. It was losing hardly any air, but it was there alright.

It looks to me as if the dealer went for 2.7 bar on the rears and 2.5 on the fronts. Just guessing, but I reckon the difference may be on the load levels (there is a range on the car door).

I suspect that the n/s rear has dropped from 2.7 to 2.5 due to a slow puncture.

Sorry

[iamjim]

They shouldn’t guess the load out and give specific adjustments - I paid for this...

As for the tyre it could well be - I’m off out in a min to see if it has dropped any after a good run, The manual does say it could have been down to various issues:

Spirited driving
RFT not initialized.
Puncture.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

They shouldn’t guess the load out and give specific adjustments - I paid for this...

As for the tyre it could well be - I’m off out in a min to see if it has dropped any after a good run, The manual does say it could have been down to various issues:

Spirited driving
RFT not initialized.
Puncture.

Unfortunately, in my experience it's only going to be the last one.

[iamjim]

Hi NFS,

So should the RFT indicator let you know of a 7.4% deflation?

Like I said my tyres were not completely deflated - they were at 2,5 bar on the rear say if they were at 2,7 bar.

7.4% is not an awful lot

also how long did you last on the defalted tyre before changing it.

Going on holiday next week - looks like I will bring the compressor with us.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

Hi NFS,

So should the RFT indicator let you know of a 7.4% deflation?

Like I said my tyres were not completely deflated - they were at 2,5 bar on the rear say if they were at 2,7 bar.

7.4% is not an awful lot

also how long did you last on the defalted tyre before changing it.

Going on holiday next week - looks like I will bring the compressor with us.

It lets you know if you lose air quickly. The amount isn't really the point. If you imagine a nail going into a tyre, you could lose 0.2 bar in an instant, then nothing more as the tyre seals itself round the nail.

If you have a holiday planned I would recommend a trip to a tyre fitter tomorrow to check it out. If the tyre has not been driven on flat it can be repaired (although you may struggle to find someone prepared to do it).

I could be wrong, but I reckon this is the most likely cause. On my 530d, the pressures held steady for 2 weeks with the tyre pressure indicator going off intermittantly. Then after a while is started to lose air noticeably and I found a screw in the tyre.

[zltm089]

Name and shame!!!!....NAME THEM.....NO PITY FOR STEALERS OR BAD AFTERSALES SERVICE...

WORKED HARD FOR THAT MONEY...AND THEY TAKE IT FROM US FOR SAYING THINGS LIKE "How do you know the Sainsbury’s machine is working correctly"

Not acceptable!...it pisses me off when big businesses take the piss with my money!...

[Dr Dave]

Not that I would trust a Sainsbury's forecourt tyre gauge over a BMW workshop calibrated gauge.........

[iamjim]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Not that I would trust a Sainsbury's forecourt tyre gauge over a BMW workshop calibrated gauge.........

I tried both of the machines that are on their forecourt much to the annoyance of people waiting...

This morning after a sleepless night (the tyres have only done 8,000 miles and have plenty of tred left) I took each wheel off this morning and found no punctures, bulges and most importantly no nails or screws or other foreign material stuck in the rubber.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

I tried both of the machines that are on their forecourt much to the annoyance of people waiting...

This morning after a sleepless night (the tyres have only done 8,000 miles and have plenty of tred left) I took each wheel off this morning and found no punctures, bulges and most importantly no nails or screws or other foreign material stuck in the rubber.

In this case I am delighted to be wrong. Hopefully you won't see the RFT indicator again.

Just keep an eye on your pressures.

[iamjim]

Upshot is that F1 qualifying is on

Thanks for your help mate.

[iamjim]

Appears that the RFT inidcator is damaged on the Front N/S. Its concave where as the Front O/S is convex.

Also where the sensors sit there is a box just below and it seems to collect gravel/stones/gunk. I think a stone may have damaged the sensor.

Time will tell.