Subframe class action lawsuit information

[GunnerNell]

Contact those same lawyers and see if they think there would be a case.

[NYCPilot]

We should get a class action lawsuit together to have BMW fix the sedan tail lights as well...

Oh no another issue!

Whats the problem with the tail lights. I havent seen anything.

[redrum0486]

Oh no another issue!

Whats the problem with the tail lights. I havent seen anything.

A wiring harness failure in one or both tail lights that is know to affect the light operation and show false bulb outage earnings on the check control. A lot of cars have this problem and BMW refuses to fix it as a recall. The cost to Dix it can be upwards of $800.

[G. P. Burdell]

A wiring harness failure in one or both tail lights that is know to affect the light operation and show false bulb outage earnings on the check control. A lot of cars have this problem and BMW refuses to fix it as a recall. The cost to Dix it can be upwards of $800.

If your tail lights show no signs of damage, you can use less than $20 worth of materials to prevent the damage from occurring.

[E39Chris525i]

If your tail lights show no signs of damage, you can use less than $20 worth of materials to prevent the damage from occurring.

Duct tape and a little patience < $20. Fixed this problem last year.

[G. P. Burdell]

Duct tape and a little patience < $20. Fixed this problem last year.

You made an additional ground wire with duct tape?

[MillerTime1nine]

So I read some of this thread, but i didnt see anything about it.
What EXACTLY does this settlement cover?
All I see is "sub-frame"
Does this cover the reverse drum that seems to go out in every e46?
im just curious. thanks in advance

[miyata]

A wiring harness failure in one or both tail lights that is know to affect the light operation and show false bulb outage earnings on the check control. A lot of cars have this problem and BMW refuses to fix it as a recall. The cost to Dix it can be upwards of $800.

I found the problem occurring in wet days. I used to sand the bulb tail, however, only half time works.

[E39Chris525i]

You made an additional ground wire with duct tape?

I think my problem was different

[BakaN20]

Since we have until early September of 2010 to get this checked out, I recommend taking the car to your indy mechanics for inspection first since taking it to a dealer now and if they find nothing, you are out of luck. This way if the indy doesn't see anything now, bring it in to the dealer around July-August 2010 for inspection. I haven't heard/scene the xi's having this problem (mine is a 03 with auto) but I'm gonna have my shop look at the car soon. Also, if it takes 2-3 weeks for the repairs and if anyone is in the tri-state area with these symptoms, bring it in to Prestige BMW in Ramsey, NJ. They provide free BMW loaners regardless if you purchased from them or not. Even BMW of Mount Kisco does this as well.

I'll definitely check them out once this has been finalized, hopefully i don't have problems, just got my e46.

[328ci906]

Have any of you heard of any issues with BMW refusing to repair the damage because of mileage? My 2000 328ci has just over 165,000 miles on the clock and I was planning on having my rear subframe inspected the next time I have my oil changed. From what I understand, cars with the manual trans. seem to be liable to have this issue? Im just afraid that if BMW finds that the whole rear subframe needs replacing, that they might just total the car and attempt to give me the KBB value for the car. I paid $6500 for it about 4 months ago, but since then I have put just about $1500 into it for preventative maintenance, repairs, tires etc... And KBB right now says its worth $6400 on a trade in. Have any of you had a similar experience with a high mileage car brought to BMW for this repair?

[GunnerNell]

Millertime1nine -- nope, only the sub-frame inspection/repair is covered by this litigation. Some of us with slushboxes would have to file a new lawsuit about the reverse drum failures, and then we'd have to marshal our evidence that those failures are the result of a design flaw or a manufacturing defect of some kind, and not due to abuse. For now and for this settlement, sub-frame issues only.

[sho24vdohc]

I just recieved my car back and it took 16 days. I get my car back from BMW of NORTH HAVEN and the car is wandering all over the road and is scary to drive. Now they are giving me a hard time and saying i have a worn rear diff bushing which to me would have nothing to do with it driving so bad AFTER i got my car back. There has always been a little thud during shifting which is common for a rear diff bushing but the entire rear suspension feels like it is wandering on its own while i drive now especially over bumps.

Make sure you document how the car drives before and after. Im sure this is going to be a big ordeal.....

[GunnerNell]

Sounds like they welded it back on in a mis-aligned position. My advice -- Give 'em one time to get it right, and then go directly to BMWNA. If no satisfaction there, lawyers.

[sho24vdohc]

Ok so I asked BMW of NH if they had done an alignment after the recall and they said that their body shop should have performed that as part of the recall. I call the body shop and they say that the dealership is responsible for the alignment, and it IS NECESSARY because the rear trailing arms can be way out of whack after just bolting them back in. SO now i call BMW of NH back and shes "seeing if it was performed here". I have a feeling they are just going to say yes it was performed here actually, even though it obviously wasnt. Hopefull they will man up.

P.S. If i have too, how should i go about contacting BMWNA???

[GunnerNell]

Hmmm, your owner's manual, your dealer, or Google. Any of those should have contact information. Just keep asking for someone who can help with your problem. And if you don't get some satisfaction, keep going up the line until either you do, or until someone tells you to f**k off and die.

[E39Chris525i]

P.S. If i have too, how should i go about contacting BMWNA???

Try this:

BMW of North America, LLC
300 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677-7731
Customer Relations: 1-800-831-1117

[sho24vdohc]

Try this:

BMW of North America, LLC
300 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677-7731
Customer Relations: 1-800-831-1117

thanks...

[2002bmw325i]

Does anyone know if this is still active? Its been months now that my E46 has making some crunky rusted metal noise when i come in and out of the car.

Thanks

[Critter7r]

BMW just sent out notice saying that the court finalized the settlement yesterday. So in theory (barring any more appeals from BMW), today starts the one-year clock for inspections.

[E46soap]

I filed paper work cause I had mine repaird last year out of pocket and reinforced. Does anyone know when reimbursment might happen?

[deadly1]

Below are some pics of the subframe panel fracture.

I was getting some noise coming from the rear of the car when I take off from start. Also hear some going over bumps. I went over to a friends house to have a look and we couldn't determine where the noise was coming from. We took both shocks off and bounced the car and the noise was still there on/off. Then we found the subframe panel fracture. Man I was pissed. This was the last straw for me in staying with BMW. Have been looking at Audi's S series.
Over the years on this car i have gone thru...multiple vapor barrier repairs due to water in passenger side foot well, replaced the rear window because the antenna inside the glass was broken and massive static on AM stations, repair the sunroof cassette multiple times, replaced the blower climate control resistor, replaced the door weather stripping multiple times due to the inside molding separating from the actual weather strip. Most work was done under warranty at no charge. It just sucks that the engine and drivetrain is fine but other shitt starts breaking down.

I will take it over to BMW dealer next week and see what they tell me on the subframe fracture.
The panel fracture happened at the driver's side rear subrame support.

Got my car back and they seem to fix the sub-frame. I took it in Nov-9 and got it back Jan-10. Nice 2 months. They probably started on the last couple weeks of that time. Gave me a loaner so I didn't complain too much. Couple days after I got it the 'service engine' light came on. I read the codes and there is a EVAP issue now. EVAP small leak and EVAP large leak. I cleared the codes and the faults come back after a day or so. Have to look into it. Will take it back to the dealer. In the mean time I cleared the codes couple of times and now am getting error code 90 which is 'EVAP large leak detected'.

2000 328Ci
165k miles
Manual Trans
Sports Package (17" rims)
K&N/Cold Air Intake
Subframe failure on drivers side

[325xiT]

Has anyone tried to go in with any kind of suspension? I have an 01 325xiT with 235k and the stock suspension has long since worn itself to pieces hence a new H&R Springs with bilstien shocks. I have oversize tires but still have a set of stockies somewhere in the garage.

Thanks for any help

[UtahYork]

From what I've read here and other forums, if you go in with non-stock suspension and non-stock tire/wheel size they'll reject your claim.

From post #2 -
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have suspension mods or even aftermarket wheels, you are specifically excluded from this lawsuit!

Excluded from the Class are:
(7) Any current or former owner or lessee of a Class Vehicle whose Class Vehicle was modified for racing, whether sanctioned or not;
(8) Any current or former owner or lessee of a Class Vehicle that has been modified with suspension parts and/or wheels of a different size;

[ryanjayhawk]

(8) Any current or former owner or lessee of a Class Vehicle that has been modified with suspension parts and/or wheels of a different size;

Could someone help me clarify this... I recently purchased a 2004 325CI 5-speed manual. The car when I pruchased it had a set of aftermarket wheels. If the aftermarket wheels are the same as the sport package wheels would I still be excluded from having my vehicle inspected? If my vehicle wasn't sport packed would it limit me to the stock wheel that came on my car from the factory etc.