Problems with BMW 1 series

bluett87

Hi I am just looking got some advice as I am in a desperate state with my car.

I currently own a BMW 120d 57 plate and my timing chain has snapped destroying the engine.

I have been quoted nearly £5k from an independent specialist after BMW wanted £1800 just to inspect the car.

My question is about what options do I have,

I have outstanding finance on this car with over half of the agreement payed.

I have written an email to BMW head office explaining the situation but I will be surprised if they will help me even though it is known problem with their engines.

Can anyone provide any advice?

Thank you in advance,[STRIKE][STRIKE][STRIKE][/STRIKE][/STRIKE][/STRIKE]

LandyAndy

bluett87 wrote: »

Hi I am just looking got some advice as I am in a desperate state with my car.

I currently own a BMW 120d 57 plate and my timing chain has snapped destroying the engine.

I have been quoted nearly £5k from an independent specialist after BMW wanted £1800 just to inspect the car.

My question is about what options do I have,

I have outstanding finance on this car with over half of the agreement payed.

I have written an email to BMW head office explaining the situation but I will be surprised if they will help me even though it is known problem with their engines.

Can anyone provide any advice?

Thank you in advance,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74/features/bmw-chains-snap-n47-engine-2007-2009


includes this:-

BMW offer ‘goodwill gestures’ towards some of the cost of repairing the timing chain. So are clearly aware of the problem.


But this goodwill gesture is only extended to customers who have maintained a regular BMW service history, and who have had repair work carried out at BMW-approved garages.


In both Mr Staples and Mr Greenwood’s case, BMW refused to contribute towards the cost of repair as they had instructed repair work from non-approved BMW garages.


Mr Staples and Mr Greenwood insisted that they had no choice but to accept a lower quote for repair since BMW’s quotations were so high.

LandyAndy

bluett87 wrote: »

Hi I am just looking got some advice as I am in a desperate state with my car.

I currently own a BMW 120d 57 plate and my timing chain has snapped destroying the engine.

I have been quoted nearly £5k from an independent specialist after BMW wanted £1800 just to inspect the car.

My question is about what options do I have,

I have outstanding finance on this car with over half of the agreement payed.

I have written an email to BMW head office explaining the situation but I will be surprised if they will help me even though it is known problem with their engines.

Can anyone provide any advice?

Thank you in advance,

I think your options are pretty limited.


Can you afford to repair the car?


Even though you have paid over half the finance you can't VT it with a scrap engine.

motorguy

bluett87 wrote: »

Hi I am just looking got some advice as I am in a desperate state with my car.

I currently own a BMW 120d 57 plate and my timing chain has snapped destroying the engine.

I have been quoted nearly £5k from an independent specialist after BMW wanted £1800 just to inspect the car.

My question is about what options do I have,

I have outstanding finance on this car with over half of the agreement payed.

I have written an email to BMW head office explaining the situation but I will be surprised if they will help me even though it is known problem with their engines.

Can anyone provide any advice?

Thank you in advance,[STRIKE][STRIKE][STRIKE][/STRIKE][/STRIKE][/STRIKE]

Source a good second hand engine and have it fitted is probably the cheapest option.

forgotmyname

Do the chains just let go or do they rattle at 1st? Hydraulic tensioner problem?

Whats the service history like?

Used engine with a new chain is probably the way forward. If you can afford it.

teabelly

How long have you had the car and did it have a full BMW service history?

If you can prove the chain snapped due to an intrinsic fault then you may have some recourse under SOGA from the supplying dealer/finance company if you bought less than 6 years ago.

http://prestige-german-engines.co.uk/engine-issues/bmw-timing-chain-failure/

They're quoting £2500k to repair.

As it has been on watchdog then I'd be tackling BMW and the finance provider to pay some of the cost. It is a 7 year old car though and probably not spending that much on repairing it. Old 1 series are only about £5k to buy anyway.

force_ten

unless your car has a full and complete BMW service history from within the dealer network, and any repairs have been carried out by BMW approved garages then you have very little chance of a good will payment from BMW

you say the car is with an independent specialist, have they stripped any of the engine down?, if so then you have very little chance of help from BMW

BMW are playing hard-ball with the N47 timing chain problem and are not admitting that they have a problem so no good will or free repair for anybody who has a problem

looks like your only option is to pay for the repair yourself and i would shop around to see where you can get the best deal on the repair but where ever you go it will not be cheap

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

BMW do not seem to have a good reputation on their handling of well known problems, including cars catching fire.

A customer of mine had an X6 subject to recall, which I think was one of the fire related ones, had the car fixed at the dealers and returned home. They awoke at 3am to a car on fire, which burnt part of their house down, nearly trapping one of the family members.

New drive, rebuilt house, replacement car all to be paid for by BMW/dealer. The dealership were not in a position to argue and when they arrived to see the manager they were rapidly removed from the shop floor.

motorguy

teabelly wrote: »

How long have you had the car and did it have a full BMW service history?

If you can prove the chain snapped due to an intrinsic fault then you may have some recourse under SOGA from the supplying dealer/finance company if you bought less than 6 years ago.

http://prestige-german-engines.co.uk/engine-issues/bmw-timing-chain-failure/

They're quoting £2500k to repair.

As it has been on watchdog then I'd be tackling BMW and the finance provider to pay some of the cost. It is a 7 year old car though and probably not spending that much on repairing it. Old 1 series are only about £5k to buy anyway.

BMW will be quoting telephone numbers to repair the car. So even IF they make a contribution its going to be £2,000 of a very big number indeed so maybe leaving £4,000 of a bill for the O/P, when in reality a good used engine would cost around £1000 and maybe £500 to fit.

If you did take them to court, they'd be saying "hey, we offered to pay £2,000 towards the repair of a 7 year old car" and looking like heroes.

force_ten

BMW N47 engine.

BMW Group UK is committed to ensuring the best possible customer satisfaction and takes all customer concerns extremely seriously.

. In the case of unusual engine noise, or a more serious fault, there can be a wide variety of causes and further information is required before any conclusion can be reached.

If you are a BMW owner and are concerned about your car please call BMW Group UK directly on 08000 93 56 56. Lines will be open on weekdays between 9am and 6pm.

I like the way BMW say "Regarding concerns with the BMW N47 engine" notice the use of the word concerns at no point do they mention there being a problem

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/publicPools/campaign-pages/n47_response.html

it may be worth giving them a call on that number but your use of non approved garages will go against you

harveybobbles

Try getting the finance company involved too.