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Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help!


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tek0011
New User

Nov 8, 2011, 11:08 AM

Post #1 of 6 (1747 views)
post icon Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

I purchased a 2001 530i with 65,008 miles on it, clean title, 1 owner, good history.
Since then I have put over $4,000 of maintenance into the vehicle and some issues have been fixed multiple times. Those same issues are arising again and I am wondering if there is anything I can do as a consumer?
The mechanic that has done all the work is now out of business and I can't even seem to get the warranty's to have another mechanic do the repairs (that is if warranties are even transferable to other shops?)

9/3/10 - 65,008 miles - Vehicle Purchase (1,000 mile 30 day warranty)

9/20/10 - 66,145 miles (past the 1,000 mile warranty): Check Engine light comes on - Scan reveals the following codes: Fuel Trim codes-228, 203, 227, 202. Miss fire codes-242, 243, 241, 240. O2 Sensor code-189.
Smoke tested and major leaks are found.

10/15/2010 - 67,382 miles - Car idles around 200rpm, shakes while accelerating, major lack of power:
Smoke test is performed. Intake Manifold Runner Valve replaced

10/18/2010 - 67,432 miles - Same problem. car idles around 200rpm, shakes while accelerating, major lack of power:
Crankcase vent valve replaced, vacuum hoses replaced, car now starts leaking oil from back passenger side of valve cover. Valve gasket replaced. Smoke test passes.

10/21/2010 - 67,460 miles - Same problem. Car idles around 200rpm, shakes while accelerating, major lack of power, oil leaking from valve cover:

Valve gasket replaced again. Fuel injector #3 replaced. Power and idle issues stop.

12/9/2010 - 69,461 miles - Temperature sky rockets. Code 168 for Thermostat, 189 for insufficient heat output and 222 for o2 sensor not active, oil still leaking from back passenger side of valve cover:
Thermostat replaced, Engine cleaned.

12/15/2010 - 69,557 miles - Major Oil leak from back passenger side of valve cover:
Gasket replaced along with Cylinder Head Cover.

1/7/2011 - 70,450 miles - No more oil leak. Now Vanos oil line is leaking as is power steering fluid.

2/15/2011 - 72,106 miles - No oil leaks, belts start to squeal showing signs of coolant leak from thermostat or water pump. Codes for lean fuel and o2 sensor:

All belts replaced, thermostat replaced again, oil cap replaced, air filters, o2 sensor, synthetic oil change, oil filter all replaced.

3/4/2011 - 72,806 miles - Coolant leak again.
Water pump replaced.

8/4/2011 - 80,282 miles - Coolant leak again.
Water pump and thermostat replaced again.

8/20/2011 - 80,921 miles - Coolant leak again.
Coming from same place. Call mechanic. Mechanic is out of business.

It is now November and I still have a coolant leak coming from water pump, which requires about 2-3 cups of coolant each morning. This is the 3rd time I am having the same issue. Not to mention the belts squeal non stop now, due to having so much coolant leaked on to them.

Can someone please help me with what my options are at this point? This is the 1st used car I have purchased and the first BMW I have owned.
This is close the the worst issue I have ever dealt with in my life.

Total cost to date: $4,084.98 in maintenance.

What can I do? Contact a lawyer? Contact BMW to have another mechanic replace the parts under warranty? Sue the owner of the shop that went out of business? Contact BMW directly and tell them about this?
I am so lost right now, I just wish the car would go away.

Any help at all, is much much appreciated no matter how small the consideration.
Thank you so much.

TL;DR - I have spent over $4,000 in maintenance on my vehicle and the same problem keeps happening. What can I do?


Sidom
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Nov 8, 2011, 12:17 PM

Post #2 of 6 (1725 views)
Re: Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

With the shop being out of business, there really isn't much you can do. All the warranties would be with that shop. Shops don't warranty other shops work.

I'm not a legal expert but even if there was some open avenue to purse on an out of business shop, if there is no money left, then getting a judgment would be a "hollow" victory and in the process you would've more than likely racked up way more in legal fees than what you are going after....

I don't have both sides so all I can go off of is what you posted.

In the future, it would be best to find a shop that is trained & tooled to work on your make. Some shops say they "work on everything" when in fact with some makes they are way in over their head.

Find a shop that is qualified to do Euro (they aren't going to be the cheapest). Talk to friends & co workers, see who they use & like. You can go to ase.com or iatn.net, they have shop locators you can look at. Any shop affiliated with these sites is at least attempting to better themselves & keep up with the times. You can check out the better business bureau.

Once you find someone you trust & does good work, stick with them. Keeping in mind that everyone has problems from time to time. Also sometimes other things will fail that has nothing to do with previous work.... A problem or 2 is no reason to fire a good shop BUT if it's a case of incompetence, then yes finding another shop would be in order...

Like I said I can only go off what you posted & don't have the whole story BUT my gut tells me, they were guessing on the driveability problem and have missed the real root of the coolant leak.....Just a guess.....

Good luck, hope this works out for you. Try not to dwell too much on this bad experience or throwing good money after bad. Chalk it up to a lesson learned, keeping mind that not everyone out there is a bad guy.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 8, 2011, 12:49 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1720 views)
Re: Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

Tons of bad luck. Was this a BMW dealership now out of biz? Read the warranty fine print but think you are screwed. Seems like this car had a serious overheat even before you got it and cracked pars.

Multiple replacements of same parts is nuts. There has to be a common denominator if legit and something missed OR tech wasn't wasting any time checking out why.

If whole shop is out of biz they probably owe everyone in the area too for something too - tons more than 4 grand but I can only guess.

Contact BMW and see what they say,

T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 8, 2011, 1:30 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1715 views)
Re: Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

You might want to contact the BMW zone office if this was a BMW dealer. They may have some leverage on the old dealer.



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Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Nov 8, 2011, 2:50 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1706 views)
Re: Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

If this was a dealer, then the BMW might do something, it would be a long shot since they are independently owned...

I guess I misread the original post, I was under the impression this was an independent shop.....


samg.
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Nov 8, 2011, 7:16 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1697 views)
Re: Multiple maintenance issues of the same type - Mechanic goes out of business. Help! Sign In

You wonder why he's out of business? haha

I doubt this was a dealer, I really doubt a bmw dealer would make you go through this much stuff. I bet it was a ind. shop. It sounds to me like maybe he went a bit crazy on the engine when he replaced the water pump with a grinder, seen it too many times. Or, though i'm not familiar with bmw engines specificly, I'd wonder if you don't have a water jacket leak. Are the water pumps on those acces belt drivin or timing belt drivin?






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