if you ever need roadside assistance, make sure to use the magic words - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

MEnthusiast · 5th January 2003, 04:15

The darn 7 broke down on us! we went for a nice dinner and then when we were leaving the resturant the car started jerking all over the place and every warning light came on.

It then warned of “DSC failure” and “engine failure”. So I pull over and call roadside assistance. The first person is polite- but he was just a call router. Then we get to the actual roadside assistance. And you can tell they hired the lowest bidder. But the person was polite. I tell them we are not at home, but OK and in a safe place and we need to get home and get the car dealt with. We then get a call from the flat bed company. The guy sounds like hes on drugs and then tells us he has no way to get us home.

So after moving the car around the parking lot (there were no spaces so I had to move it to let cars out of their spots) I decide to drive the car home- its 2 miles. Drive 20mph with the blinkers on. Car jerking around.

I then call roadside assistance to tell them and they tell me that I have to use the words “I need your help to get home” otherwise they wont help you! Im not gonna fight with this guy- but what a load of (you know what)!

I am absolutely livid that this is my 2nd 7er and these stupid things are going wrong with it. This is supposed to be the family hauler. When the Z8 has 0 problems in over 2 years and 2 7s in less than a year have tons of them, that’s saying something and it aint a good thing for BMW.

Aussie2U · 5th January 2003, 04:33

ME, sorry to hear about this trouble again. Keep us updated as to the problem. I suppose we assume every BMW will rival the near bulletproof standard that the E39's have set but maybe thats not the case when there's the huge jump in technology that the seven's implemented. Glad to hear you were not stranded out in 15 degree temps 40 miles from home!

Chris Foote · 5th January 2003, 07:11

Awwww man ME, I am so sorry to hear about what happened

Everything was going so WELL for you up until this point.

Not to sound stupid but did you try restarting the car later that evening? Did everything work OK or was the car still having problems?

BMW *really* needs to get better programmers. End of story.

-Chris

beanboy · 5th January 2003, 08:07

Our 7 SUCKS. It is HORRIBLE. It's been in on at least 4-5 occasions (maybe more?) for updates-often receiving several updates at time.
Major issues:
1. The car just randomly ejects the key onto the floor- while the car is on. Lights go on and say all this crap about it being very dangerous because the car will slam itself into park (imagine if this hpapened at 70mph). IT's been in and supposedly they fixed it - told us it would never happen again. It's done it twice since then...
2. Car just went into limp mode one time-had to have it towed. Apparently was a fuel control module...this was like 2 weeks after we got it.
3. GPS didnt work right until this Oct, or so...we got the car back in January. It went in at least 4-5 times for this problem, they told us it was fixed each time.
4. The keys SUCK! Finally got fixed like a month ago...before they wouldnt even work from 3 feet away sometimes. Replaced at least 2-3 times before they finally got it right.
5. Tons of problems with the phone-told us it was fixed, then didnt work on the way home from the dealership.
6. General ECU gayness. Wouldnt hold settings, went back to metric stuff OVER AND OVER.
7. Last, but definitely not least, and the most recent of our problems. The trunk will not open-not with the key, the inside switch, or the manual switch. Annoying since something is in the trunk that we need....luckily its not like meat or milk or some food that would spoil and ruin the car. Sheesh.

The car is FULL of bugs. IT's my moms car. She is extremely, extremely sick of it. She does not like it. I do not like it. The idrive is WORTHLESS. The car drives INCREDIBLE - i love the way it handles, accelerates, brakes, etc. Definitely not worth it though. I think she should just get rid of it. Im very, very dissapointed in BMW. A year later and the car STILL runs like crap. Blegh
Parker

BlueBiturbo · 5th January 2003, 13:05

Remember my old post?
http://www.bmwm5.com/vbulletin/showt...threadid=21679

Small wonder that my wife now bought S500 in Singapore.

I think i-drive is STUPID for RHD cars since you have to control the 'mouse' with your left hand. It's ok for lef-handed people I guess but neither me or my wife can navigate that. I also think it is VERY dangerous to control the i-drive while driving. I choose to play safe, buy the S-Class.

Sorry Bimmerfans....

MIB · 5th January 2003, 13:38

Wow, sorry to hear that ME & Beanboy.

Stories like those make you feel ill. This is not a $15K holden (chev) were talking about here. This is supposed to be BMW's flagship. Nothing less than perfect should do.

Sounds more like BMW's Anchor. It sounds like BMW needs to be doing some serious damage Control.

In Oz ME. would have over $500,000 worth of Vehicles just with his 7 and Z8 and would be treated accordingly. The flatbed owner would not have that contract very long here if he ever treated a 7 series customer like that.

Just when I was warming up to the 7. If there are any BMW reps watching this thread, that has just lost you the sale of another new 7 series. There is no-way I would buy one now after those two stories.

Philip · 5th January 2003, 20:21

Sorry to hear that. From what I've been reading (e.g. mags and bimmer.org) the new 7 series is full of electrical problems, so I am not considering it for our family car. Too bad since it drives so nice.

Gustav · 6th January 2003, 05:20

Oh my

How come Mercedes did such a nice solution with Keyless go?

Hope the new 5 doesn't get as much inspiration from the 7 series...

6th January 2003, 06:07

Keep your e39's

.

When the e39's first came out, did they also have so many problems? The new 7 is just not a finished product. and was rushed to market in order to compete more effectively with Mercedes and Audi. What a botched product management decision.

livenupe · 6th January 2003, 07:39

Bean,
Any chance that your mom's car qualifies for the lemon law? Wasn't the car in a wreck last year? If so, is there any chance that the provlems are the result of a poor repari job and not poor build quality?