No battery warranty because not enough miles?

NYCM3 · 30th January 2006, 15:51

This is a new one. My battery died over the weekend. Totally dead. Jump started it (with great difficulty - roadside assist couldn' do it). Drove the car for an hour, took absolutely zero charge. Took it to a local service station - they confirmed its dead. The car is still under warranty and I was told the battery should be covered too. When I called BMW Manhattan this morning, they told me that since I only have 15,000 miles on the car, the battery isn't covered because I haven't driven it enough. Huh?! And they want $400 for a new battery? Anyone have any experience with this?

exE46M3 · 3rd February 2006, 21:47

Something similar happened to me a long time ago...

Took the car (E46 325i) in for service and the service rep said BMW would not replace the battery under warranty because the car was not driven often - the car was almost a year old and had only 8K miles on the clock... I had my sales advisor sort it out with the service rep - he knew the car was driven every week day to and from the office (3 miles away from home).

davem3smg · 22nd February 2006, 05:10

that's rubbish...go insist that they replace the battery or try another dealership or talk to someone else...50,000/4yr means less than that amount.

NYCM3 · 23rd February 2006, 05:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by davem3smg

that's rubbish...go insist that they replace the battery or try another dealership or talk to someone else...50,000/4yr means less than that amount.

Oh I talked to plenty of people. You would not believe the way the customer relations rep spoke to and treated me. It has not helped motiviate the $100k purchase I had been contemplating. Actually, the dealer was the least of my problems. I also wrote to Purves. No response. Happily, however, the A/G's office and Dept of Consumer Affairs were very responsive and have taken the matter up with BMWNA. Honestly, prior to this I wouldhave bet $10,000 that BMWNA would never have behaved like this. I will of course prevail because BMWNA's position is absolutely untenable, unconscionable and illegal. But, I have a bitter taste in my mouth that has me thinking about M5 alternatives.

davem3smg · 23rd February 2006, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCM3

Oh I talked to plenty of people. You would not believe the way the customer relations rep spoke to and treated me. It has not helped motiviate the $100k purchase I had been contemplating. Actually, the dealer was the least of my problems. I also wrote to Purves. No response. Happily, however, the A/G's office and Dept of Consumer Affairs were very responsive and have taken the matter up with BMWNA. Honestly, prior to this I wouldhave bet $10,000 that BMWNA would never have behaved like this. I will of course prevail because BMWNA's position is absolutely untenable, unconscionable and illegal. But, I have a bitter taste in my mouth that has me thinking about M5 alternatives.

I'm not particularly happy with BMWNA right now either. I bought a redhat M3 (driven by the owner of the dealership) with 6k mi on it, titled new to me. It now has 15k mi and a few weeks ago, I noticed some paint litterally flaking from the front bumper. I took it in to the dealership by me and they told me to come back when the BMWNA reps were there because the dealership could not authorize that kind of work. I did this and was told that the bumper had been repainted and it would not be covered! They said to try talking to the dealership I bought it from. I'm going there tomorrow, but this is disturbing for 2 reasons. I bought the car with 6k miles on it, but it was sold to me as though the car was pristene, which it appeared to be, thus I didn't get a break price-wise. Secondly, was it rock chips that they were covering up or has the car been in an accident?!?!

Well, I've heard it before on the board and this is just further proof that you really have to fight them to get things replaced.

Lately I've been noticing some mild wheel flaking too...I guess that can wait until summer...

...

MT JTN · 24th February 2006, 19:51

Dave,

Didn't know about these new little gremlins.

Hope the car is okay.

Keep us updated...