BMW 320i Cat/coil pack problem

Jayl35

I have a 2007 320i coupe I work away through the week so it has a low 52000 miles, I have had the coil packs changed 3 times now and the catalytic converter changed once (6 months ago) @ 48000 miles.

Again the engine light came on so I took it to a local garage (bmw trained mechanic) and he said the knock sensor has go in the cat and changed it.
40 miles later the light came back on he diagnosed it for free and said the catalytic converter has gone again it needs a new one, so I took the diagnostic reading to Williams BMW in Liverpool who sold me the cat and they said they can't use his diagnostic report they have to do it...... And it will be £158.00.

Can anybody help as I refuse to pay them £158 when I payed the other garage only £40 and I pay nearly £900 for the cat 6 months ago.

BMW customer service are polite but say as dealers are franchisees they can not waver or tell them how much to charge.

Any help on what I can do would be greatly appreciated as I have spent nearly £3000 in the last 2 1/2 years on a "common fault" as BMW call it!

forgotmyname

You need proper diagnostics. Not someone reading a fault code and replacing the parts.

If the CAT failed. What caused it to fail? Replacing a coil pack. But did something cause it to fail? Are they genuine parts or cheap copies?

The issue the dealer has is the other garage may have misdiagnosed the issue. Who pays for all the work in that case?

colino

As above, low mileage cars don't burn out cats without a fundamental fault pouring excessive fuel into them. Equally oem quality coil packs don't go so quickly either. You really need that car properly diagnosed and a good tech to sort it out. Then go on to reclaim the cash from the half-trained chimps you've been saving money with so far.

IanMSpencer

colino wrote: »

As above, low mileage cars don't burn out cats without a fundamental fault pouring excessive fuel into them. Equally oem quality coil packs don't go so quickly either. You really need that car properly diagnosed and a good tech to sort it out. Then go on to reclaim the cash from the half-trained chimps you've been saving money with so far.

Original cat was still going strong on my 15 year old Merc, 150,000 miles, when we got rid of it. Have to agree, fixing the symptom not the problem.

Jayl35

The coil pack went when I was on the motor way the breakdown said they could have been misfiring for a while because the light never came on until I had stoped. The unburned fuel gets in to the cat and breaks it down this causes it to fail.
I've spoken to a lot of mechanics who deal with bmw patrols and they say it's a common fault.
BMW have recalled the part but never told me until I had to buy the new cat. The cat was a bmw part as where all coil packs.
I know the mechanic who has been dealing with my car and he was trained and worked for bmw for about 15 years. I do not want to give bmw any more money as THERE good are faulty and feel they should change the cat for free at least diagnose it as they have admitted responsibility buy recalling coil packs.

colino

OK, you keep on believing that low mileage BMWs burn out oem coil packs, kill their cats and don't throw out early warning lights.
Keep on spending.

UsernameAlreadyExists

A new cat after 4000 miles? Seriously?

Nodding_Donkey

Were the coils fitted by the same BMW stealer that fitted the new cat?

If so I would:

Take the car to an MOT garage and ask them to do an emissions test (there is no way a failed cat will pass). The most this will cost is an MOT fee, probably less.

Go back to BMW with the emissions report and tell them the cat they fitted 6 months ago has failed and you want a warranty replacement.

anotherbaldrick

BMW had a known problem with coil packs on the 3 series , they swapped mine when it went into limp mode that was 2-3 years ago even though car was out of warranty.