[topsy]

Hi

I have a Cooper S and its in the BMW garage today for some strange rattles.

They have found these, and will fix them, but the car
is also pulling slightly to the left.

They have just called me to say that they can only solve this by putting it onto some diagnostic thingy that takes 2 hours and it will cost me £168.00 plus vat.

Is that right ??

What ever happened to the old fashioned tracking system ??

Any advice before I pick it up at 5pm ???

thanks guys

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Absolutely not - you do not pay for them to diagnose and fix a problem under warranty

[Martin L]

This is a warrantee issue and in no way should they be charging you
If they insist, just go to another dealer

[jasonfields007]

grrr they're taking the pith mate... go above their heads if they don't accept it as a warranty issue.

[topsy]

another point,

BMW say it was kerbed, and there is a mark on the wheel.
BUT there is a small mark/scratch and this car, our baby, has NOT been kerbed.

But then I dont see how a small scratchy bit would make the car pull to the left as much as i think it does.
Also the sensor for the ABS was replaced recently, could this be something to do with it ??
Thats was the back tyre and the scratched wheel is same sideon the front.

So, if i cant argue re the scratch, (although i think its a cop out) does it really cost £168.00 plus vat to sort this out ???

Thanks for your help...this is when this site comes into its own !!

[northandy]

I had a similarish incedent at my dealer at the weekend, it was in for other warranty work, and I asked them to take a look at the front brakes as they were squealing... and they said "we will have to charge you as we have to strip the brakes down and it might not be a warranty issue"... bear in mind my car isnt even three months old yet ?.... and they were squealing over a month ago but they forgot to look at it then !!!.... grrrr

[randap]

I think they'll charge you, but if they find that it is covered under warranty you'll get it refunded.

I suggest you pay, then fight it out once they've found the problem. Only if it is blatantly warranty related will they cover it all from the off. At least, that's my experience.......

[kxl]

Yes they will charge you, I had this recently although I had hit a crater in the road and buckled my wheel as well. Its a KDS check and I paid 150 for the pleasure. However since it was done my front tyres have worn badly round the outside edge. So I'm not happy but I will be having the alignment checked elsewhere not by BMW as it is £150 to check it and the adjustments are free!!

[Red7]

I had the same problem, mini pulling to the left. Took to my Garage who asked if I'd kerbed it. I said no, I do have 2 scuffs on the wheels but as a result of rolling scuff (eg 2mph) rather than a kerb impact.

left the car with them, they had to take it to a special workshop to do the tests. Said it was pulling to the left (fixed it) also said there was some misalignment with the rear suspension (fixed that too). End result, handling improved and an excellent service. (Cooper Reading) Sounds like it depends how nice your dealer is.

[alphavmini]

hi, the pulling to the left is apparently a suspension strut issue, however

i thought that the tracking was out on my car, so i asked them, they would charge me £200 to put it on the KDS and sort it out,

the kds is a suspension and wheel alinment thingy.

so i took it to a normal garage and they tracked it for me, great, it cured some of the turning to the left for about £20

but watch for the steering wheel going out of alignment.

[RedUn]

Well it's after 5pm now what happened????

[MiniFEB29]

MInes pulled to the left and the Steering wheel was out, I took it back and had it KDS under warrenty, it seems to be a common problem. Check to see if your steering wheel is out?

[topsy]

Well its all picked up, and they wouldn't do the tracking free, and they said that as the tyre was marked, they wouldnt be able to say if it was due to that, or a warrenty problem. Therefore, I wouldnt have been able to pay, and then be refunded if it had been found to be covered.
Therefore, I didnt have it done !!
And as an extra point, it went in as there are so many rattles in the car, its like being in Mothercare, and they didnt sort all of them out either !!
HoHum.
still our baby though !!! and it got a great clean and valet !!!

[alphavmini]

thats the problem, great car. bad service.

what you need to do is put your foot down with BMW, make sure that they FIX all of you problems, and get your car tracked somewhere else, but make sure that the wheel dont go out of alignment. if it does dont move the wheel yourself because you will damage the airbag.

just take it to BMW, they will do it under warranty.