Thought about a new BMW...All 4 I "drove" today broke!!!

[deutsch100]

This is really, really unbelievable to me, and would have been a Horrible! representation of BMW to a first time owner, or someone new to German cars!

Have been thinking about a 750i, 550i or 650i for some time now. I made an appt. with our regular sales guy to drive all 3 today. I arrived late morning at our local BMW dealer for the drives.

Car #1- 2006 550i Mystic Blue with natural brown leather (amazing in person). Got in the car, started it, and our sales man kicked the AC on. It wouldn't go on...it just dribbled air. We tried manually overriding the Auto setting, but it still wouldn't work. I-Drive would not allow us to access the Climate Control, it kept giving us radio settings, and then mpg/trip info...even though we mouse clicked on Climate (way to go brilliant I-Drive). Not a good start. I drove it anyway to get a feel for the car. It drives beautifully. Strong, quiet and solid. But...the Brake warning would not go away on the dash, the DSC symbol was on for no reason, and the warning triangle would not leave the dash also. Got on the freeway (this car is a blast), signaled to change lanes...the signal would not go off. Had to manually turn it off. Got off the freeway, signaled again, made a sharp right turn..signal would not go off (even manually). So we drove with the AC not working in some random i-Drive menu, various warning lights on the dash and a right directional that was always on. Pretty pathetic. We had to drop the brand new car off in the service bay. Nice!

Car#2- 2006 650i Black on Black. Wouldn't even start. Electronics worked, car just wouldn't turn over. Nice!!

Car #3- 2006 650i Silver Gray on Black. Great combo. It started, and the AC worked- yeah! Started the test drive...the brake light, DSC light and warning triangle appeared on the dash...would not go away. Signaled....blinker would not go off. Dropped this new "test drive" car off in service (as we had to do with the blue 550i). Way to go BMW!!

Car #4- 2006 750i Monaco Blue with Blue Lava leather (probably one of the best combos I have ever seen). Sat down, I put the chip/key in the slot, put my foot on the break, and hit the Start/Stop button. Nothing. A chime sounded, and some warning appeared about not recognizing the key. Tried another one...still did not work. I got out of the car, and told our sales guy "I've seen enough of BMW's marvels today". I went home very saddened and deflated.

They tried to say it was due to some new supplier of some optical sensor behind the steering wheel, that is affected by heat. It was 95F outside, and the cars on the storage roof were easily 120F inside...but that happens when cars are parked in the sun. They also blamed it on the 23 computers that are on each car, and when it's hot out, they don't like to communicate. CA, NM, AZ, UT...we get hot in the summer. I can't believe a BMW needs a constant 75F for everything to work well!!! BMW is ruining beautiful cars, engines and transmissions with too many electonics. Today was really sad & pathetic!!

 

[Kirby]

Wow Adam! That's a terrible experience!

But clearly it was your fault, you just don't understand BMW technology and no doubt it was "User Error".

For example everyone who uses Windows knows that you use the START button to shut down!!! Maybe that's the result of BMW & Microsoft working together!

Seriously, you are so right, BMW (and others) are ruining there reputation with this stuff. I was at a Dr.'s office today, and overheard someone talking about their test drive of a 6er, and how they hated I-Drive. He said he would not buy it BECAUSE of the stupid I-Drive.

Bangle, et al can say what they want- the fact is they are loosing sales with some of the over engineering gee-whiz tech stuff.

My old saying - "Just because you CAN automate something doesn't mean you SHOULD."

 

[Big Daddy]

Bad experience Adam, but I must say that I have a good friend who just bought a 750Li and he loves it. Great car, no problems thus far. Hope you find what you want and it works right next time!

 

[epj3]

They can blame it on the computers all they want... just makes me hate all the TOTAL BS they throw into these cars that take away from the driving experience anyways (except AC.)

My car doesn't have those problems becuase it doesn't have any of those systems! Oh well, pretty sure e46 is the newest bmw i'll ever buy, unless they change their crap. Can't even really "tune" a new bmw becuase it's all computer controlled, even the throttle!

 

[deutsch100]

Hey Kirby, Dan & Eric!! Doesn't this just suck? I was so excited to drive these cars, especially the 650i and 550i. It was such a let down when all 4 were defective. That is a really high %, on one visit to the dealer, with 3 differnet models and prices. It actually ruined my afternoon, and I felt bad that Bangle and other engineers are ruining BMW (as are MBZ, Audi, etc...) Ein sehr trauiger Tag für deutsche Autos!!!

 

[Big Daddy]

What are the odds? It does suck because even loyal Bimmwads like us get disappointed and depressed over it.

 

[Tom]

LOL, that's quite funny. And I agree about the first time owner comment. If I was in the market for a luxury car and experienced this, I would have gone to another make.

 

[Kirby]

Check out the latest JD Powers Survey. REALLY APROPOS to this thread!!!! In summary, JD Powers changed their survey to consider ANNOYANCES as a defect and BMW fell way down. Read BMW's response! UN-F&*&%-BELIEVABLE response!
============================================================

According to J.D. Power's survey of new vehicle owners, Porsche had 91 problems per 100 vehicles. Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, came in a close second with 93 problems per 100 vehicles. Korea-based Hyundai ranked third with 102. The industry average was 124.

Toyota and Lexus ranked highest in most vehicle segments in the survey.

This year's scores are not comparable to those of previous years because this year, for the first time, J.D. Power considered design flaws that bother consumers as well as actual defects. Had the ranking been based on defects alone, Lexus would have ranked first and Porsche second.

"In the eyes of consumers, design flaws can have as much of an impact on their perceptions of quality as can a defect," said Joe Ivers, executive director of quality and customer satisfaction research for J.D. Power and Associates. "Yet, many manufacturers have tended to address quality solely on the plant floor without considering design factors."

"For example, BMW vehicles have among the fewest defects and malfunctions, along with Toyota," said Ivers. "But BMW approaches controls and displays in a way that creates some problems for customers, leading to more design-related problems overall than Toyota incurs."

BMW ranked well below average in the survey with 142 problems per 100 vehicles.

A BMW spokesman attributed the large number of design-related issues to the amount of advanced technology in the company's vehicles.

"We are known, and we are expected to be, a leader in cutting edge technology," said David Buchko, a BMW spokesman.

New owners may have trouble using some of the vehicles' technology simply because it is unfamiliar to them, he said.




What's really sad is they COULD still be a leader in cutting edge technology. The just need to focus on their core business - PERFORMANCE BASED LUXURY CARS, not competing with Boeing and Airbus for hi tech cockpits!!!

My future M Roadster is looking more like a Porsche every day if they keep up this crap.....

 

[Big Daddy]

Wow, unbeliveable!

 

[epj3]

Geesh, they just dont get it, do they?! The reason for porsche, honda's, etc. success is because they listen to what the customer wants. This whole "we'll tell you what you want" idea gets on my nerves...

 

[sinisterE36]

if most of the automakers kept it simple cars nowadays would be so much more enjoyable to drive.
which is the reason why id buy a used car over a brand new car with all the new technobullsh t

 

[epj3]

if most of the automakers kept it simple cars nowadays would be so much more enjoyable to drive.
which is the reason why id buy a used car over a brand new car with all the new technobullsh t

Um, what? I assume the i'm with stupid is directed towards the topic of the thread, not my post...because we basically said the same thing (except i was a little more long-winded)

 

[shadymilkman]

I'm curious, what dealership were you at?

 

[nadroj]

it was user error read the manuel noob




lol jk

 

[codex57]

A BMW spokesman attributed the large number of design-related issues to the amount of advanced technology in the company's vehicles.

"We are known, and we are expected to be, a leader in cutting edge technology," said David Buchko, a BMW spokesman.

New owners may have trouble using some of the vehicles' technology simply because it is unfamiliar to them, he said.

As is usually the case when a spokesperson speaks, that is complete and utter BS. The Japanese are loaded with electronics. Especially in the Japan market vehicles. They can get this stuff right but the Germans can't. So what if they came out with it first? You can do updates. They never can fix them cuz they were designed wrong in the first place.

BMW isn't the only one with this problem. I've run into enough headaches with Mercedes too. The bottom line is GERMANS CAN'T DO ELECTRONICS. That's all there is too it.

They should suck it up and strip out what they can. If consumers expect/demand it, just license the tech from the Japanese or use their suppliers.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Should be german engineering with Panasonic/ Sony electronic haha.

 

[epj3]

As is usually the case when a spokesperson speaks, that is complete and utter BS. The Japanese are loaded with electronics. Especially in the Japan market vehicles. They can get this stuff right but the Germans can't. So what if they came out with it first? You can do updates. They never can fix them cuz they were designed wrong in the first place.

BMW isn't the only one with this problem. I've run into enough headaches with Mercedes too. The bottom line is GERMANS CAN'T DO ELECTRONICS. That's all there is too it.

They should suck it up and strip out what they can. If consumers expect/demand it, just license the tech from the Japanese or use their suppliers.

They CAN do electronics, but they try to design electronics like they design everything else.

 

[adrean8j]

But German electronics are NOT well known....take TV's, Stereo's and other electronic items you would find in your local Circuit Shitty or Media Markt/Saturn(here in Germany). The vast majority of the items are NOT German brands...they are Japanese(JVC, SONY, TOSHIBA) and other non-german brands.....

 

[epj3]

But German electronics are NOT well known....take TV's, Stereo's and other electronic items you would find in your local Circuit Shitty or Media Markt/Saturn(here in Germany). The vast majority of the items are NOT German brands...they are Japanese(JVC, SONY, TOSHIBA) and other non-german brands.....

Electrolux (who also owns eureka, frigidaire, westinghouse)? But stuff like stereo's, you're right... though I believe there are a few very high end TV/audio manufacturers from germany? Can't remember the names.

 

[MrElussive]

That is disgustingly bad luck, Adam. There had to be some kind of correlation with all four cars and their not starting up? No way the chances are THAT bad that four TEST-DRIVE vehicles were all messed up like that.

Come join Tom and I on the dark side good buddy. Japanese reliability, European driving spirit, and trendy styling all in one package. You can't go wrong:

You can thank me later.