Fuel system has extended warranty but still have to pay for reprograming!?!?!

gville335 · 05-12-2011, 07:39 AM

Ok so here is the issue. I drive a 07 335i that has had 4 fuel pumps replaced, the last time it was replaced I was told that my warranty for my fuel system was extended to 10yrs/100K. The other day I experienced the all to familiar problem again. When to get on the power a bit and the car stutters and dies, later on the drive home I randomly get the half check engine light, car shaking at idle and then it just shut off in the middle of an intersection, long crank after etc. Luckily I was only a few blocks from my home and I limped home going about 4 mph, didn't even have enough power to make it up the ramp of my parking garage. So even though this is a huge annoyance I figured no big deal, its all covered. I started up the car in the morning and everything seemed ok. I took my car in for service and got a phone call later that afternoon saying that before they can even do anything with the fuel pump, they have to reprogram my ecu and see if that might fix it, and that the reprogramming isn't covered on my extended warranty (im at 56k miles now so out of my original warranty.) I tried to reason with the service adviser saying that I would never of needed the reprogramming if there wasn't an issue with the fuel system, and that I shouldn't have to pay. That got me nowhere and I was forced to cough over 292 bucks. They did replace 3 of my injectors, 3 gasket rings, and 6 decoupling elements all covered under warranty.

I feel like given that this is the 5th time I've experienced fuel system issues with this car I shouldn't have to pay a damn thing. Anyone have any advice or maybe someone at BMW NA that I could contact about this, maybe threaten to not buy another BMW again and get an audi or mb haha. Thanks in advance for all of the help.

OldSeeker · 05-12-2011, 01:02 PM

Did you already have the software updated under the recall? If not, that should be free as part of the recall.

Saloonracer · 05-12-2011, 01:13 PM

I had the exact thing happen to me. 60k miles. Car stuttered and had to drive it home. Dealer calls me up and says i need software update but it costs 300 bucks. After a long argument they refused to pay for the update seeing as they had to replace injectors hpfp etc. I went over there to face to face with the service manager and they said it was not the dealers policy. Bmwna does not let them flash a car without a license so they have to charge for it.

Long story short. Too many issues with this partiular car, i traded it in. I see alot of 335 of all years being traded with really low miles too. No surprise really. Seems thats a way for bmw to get some of that money back they spend on fixing the hpfp.

D

roho3323 · 05-12-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSeeker

Did you already have the software updated under the recall? If not, that should be free as part of the recall.

This is spot on... no way you should pay for a software update...but make a point of investigating if you had an update before...I assume you did if you have had multiple pumps replaced. As a matter of fact, the last two that I had replaced, they updated the software for me.

I would make some serious noise with BMW NA over this stealership!

gizmo335i · 05-12-2011, 01:23 PM

I just know this is going to happen to me...

drummer12 · 05-12-2011, 02:38 PM

4 pumps replaced!? Sell the car. Make sure the next one is NOT a 335. Problem solved. Or, lemon it.

Lucky13 · 05-12-2011, 02:51 PM

I would contact BMW NA also. I has an issue with a dealer a couple of years ago and had good results going to BMW NA to get help.

Turkeybaster115 · 05-12-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gville335

That got me nowhere and I was forced to cough over 292 bucks. They did replace 3 of my injectors, 3 gasket rings, and 6 decoupling elements all covered under warranty.

Always go to more than one stealership! I was told the same thing at one, and another thing when i went to the next one, which replaced my HPFP, and reprogrammed me for free.

redline2001 · 05-12-2011, 03:58 PM

Lemon the car.

gville335 · 05-13-2011, 07:17 AM

Thanks for all the replies, does anyone know of a specific person to get ahold of at BMW NA? I'm going to write a letter but I wanna be sure it goes to someone who actually cares and not just the general office.

As for the software update I know for sure that it was done the last time I took it in as well, but I'm not sure if that was before they came out and did the recall for all the 335's.

ceb · 05-13-2011, 08:10 AM

The car can't be lemoned at 56k miles so that isn't an option.

The fuel system does not have an extended warranty, only the HPFP is covered for 10 yrs or 120k miles.

That said, the first step of the "fix" is to reprogram the system. Your dealership is full of the brown smelly stuff. Call BMWNA or simply go to a different dealer.

Rustler · 05-13-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gville335

Thanks for all the replies, does anyone know of a specific person to get ahold of at BMW NA? I'm going to write a letter but I wanna be sure it goes to someone who actually cares and not just the general office.

As for the software update I know for sure that it was done the last time I took it in as well, but I'm not sure if that was before they came out and did the recall for all the 335's.

I had pretty good luck dealing with BMW NA directly. My first letter was addressed "to whom it may concern" at customer relations at the corporate headquarters in NJ (website has address). I had a call back within a few days, and then I had a representative (and email address) that I've communicated directly with as problems have come up.

I would also cc the service manager, the general manager and the owner of the dealership, stamps are cheap. This accomplishes two things: When an underling has even a glimmer of fear that the boss may make an inquiry they are more likely to respond to your letter, and it also creates a paper trail. When they continue to f*&k you you'll be glad all your complaints are in writing, and well documented at BMW.

timmahh · 05-13-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceb

The car can't be lemoned at 56k miles so that isn't an option.

The fuel system does not have an extended warranty, only the HPFP is covered for 10 yrs or 120k miles.

That said, the first step of the "fix" is to reprogram the system. Your dealership is full of the brown smelly stuff. Call BMWNA or simply go to a different dealer.

My TL was bought back by the dealer with 98k on it.

05-12-2011, 07:39 AM	#1
gville335 New Member 0 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 07 335i, 09 R6 Raven Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl iTrader: (1)	Fuel system has extended warranty but still have to pay for reprograming!?!?! Ok so here is the issue. I drive a 07 335i that has had 4 fuel pumps replaced, the last time it was replaced I was told that my warranty for my fuel system was extended to 10yrs/100K. The other day I experienced the all to familiar problem again. When to get on the power a bit and the car stutters and dies, later on the drive home I randomly get the half check engine light, car shaking at idle and then it just shut off in the middle of an intersection, long crank after etc. Luckily I was only a few blocks from my home and I limped home going about 4 mph, didn't even have enough power to make it up the ramp of my parking garage. So even though this is a huge annoyance I figured no big deal, its all covered. I started up the car in the morning and everything seemed ok. I took my car in for service and got a phone call later that afternoon saying that before they can even do anything with the fuel pump, they have to reprogram my ecu and see if that might fix it, and that the reprogramming isn't covered on my extended warranty (im at 56k miles now so out of my original warranty.) I tried to reason with the service adviser saying that I would never of needed the reprogramming if there wasn't an issue with the fuel system, and that I shouldn't have to pay. That got me nowhere and I was forced to cough over 292 bucks. They did replace 3 of my injectors, 3 gasket rings, and 6 decoupling elements all covered under warranty. I feel like given that this is the 5th time I've experienced fuel system issues with this car I shouldn't have to pay a damn thing. Anyone have any advice or maybe someone at BMW NA that I could contact about this, maybe threaten to not buy another BMW again and get an audi or mb haha. Thanks in advance for all of the help.
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05-12-2011, 01:02 PM	#2
OldSeeker New Member 0 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Conv Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Did you already have the software updated under the recall? If not, that should be free as part of the recall.
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05-12-2011, 01:13 PM	#3
Saloonracer New Member 5 Rep 28 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Same here I had the exact thing happen to me. 60k miles. Car stuttered and had to drive it home. Dealer calls me up and says i need software update but it costs 300 bucks. After a long argument they refused to pay for the update seeing as they had to replace injectors hpfp etc. I went over there to face to face with the service manager and they said it was not the dealers policy. Bmwna does not let them flash a car without a license so they have to charge for it. Long story short. Too many issues with this partiular car, i traded it in. I see alot of 335 of all years being traded with really low miles too. No surprise really. Seems thats a way for bmw to get some of that money back they spend on fixing the hpfp. D
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05-12-2011, 01:23 PM	#5
gizmo335i Colonel 163 Rep 2,979 Posts Drives: 07 SBM E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (51) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [9.42]	I just know this is going to happen to me... __________________ In the process of restoring an 07 335i
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05-12-2011, 02:38 PM	#6
drummer12 First Lieutenant 19 Rep 307 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	4 pumps replaced!? Sell the car. Make sure the next one is NOT a 335. Problem solved. Or, lemon it.
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05-12-2011, 02:51 PM	#7
Lucky13 Lucky13 212 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30X Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbia, S.C. iTrader: (0)	I would contact BMW NA also. I has an issue with a dealer a couple of years ago and had good results going to BMW NA to get help. __________________ 1995 325i, 1996 328ci, 1997 528i, 1997 Z3 2.8, 2000 528i, 2001 X5 3.0, 2001 330i Convertible, 2002 M3 Convertible, 2003 M3 Coupe, 2004 M3 Coupe, 2004 Z4 3.0, 2004 X3 3.0, 2007 X3 3.0, 2007 335i Convertible, 2013 X1 28 sdrive, 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30i Xdrive
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05-12-2011, 03:58 PM	#9
redline2001 Captain 66 Rep 675 Posts Drives: AW 328i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: LI, NY iTrader: (0)	Lemon the car.
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05-13-2011, 07:17 AM	#10
gville335 New Member 0 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 07 335i, 09 R6 Raven Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl iTrader: (1)	Thanks for all the replies, does anyone know of a specific person to get ahold of at BMW NA? I'm going to write a letter but I wanna be sure it goes to someone who actually cares and not just the general office. As for the software update I know for sure that it was done the last time I took it in as well, but I'm not sure if that was before they came out and did the recall for all the 335's.
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05-13-2011, 08:10 AM	#11
ceb NHTSA Nazi 28 Rep 1,983 Posts Drives: 335ix Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (1)	The car can't be lemoned at 56k miles so that isn't an option. The fuel system does not have an extended warranty, only the HPFP is covered for 10 yrs or 120k miles. That said, the first step of the "fix" is to reprogram the system. Your dealership is full of the brown smelly stuff. Call BMWNA or simply go to a different dealer.
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