Need (legal) advice: BMW brake replacement procedure

[scoopz]

I'm hoping one of you may be able to help me out here, it's not an issue with my E60 M5 it's an issue with my dad's older E39 530i and the local BMW dealership hence I've put it on Off Topic.

History:

• My dad had strange wheel vibrations on the motorway a few weeks ago. Call ed out RAC roadside assist.
• Brake pads were worn right down and there was no brake pad warning light on dash.
• Caliper had seized at full extension and caused pad to be pressing on disc, lots of friction, disc overheated etc etc
• RAC freed up caliper enough for car to be driven to local BMW dealer who were informed of the breakdown, seized caliper, etc
• BMW replace front pads and discs as necessary and charge £260 for the priviledge.

All seemed well for 100 miles and then my Dad noticed last night the same strange vibration was back and when he got home the disc/pad was red hot again.

Took it back to the dealer who have just called to say the caliper has seized up and it needs a new caliper and new disc and pad again, after 100 miles!!!

I am argueing that we shouldn't have to pay for new disc and pad again as the caliper should have been checked on prior visit. They say "we push the piston back in and if it goes back ok that's the only check we can do" so you are liable to pay for new disc and pad...again. That's the only check they do when they're looking at a car with fried pads and discs from a faulty caliper!!

Summary:

1. Break down on motorway/freeway and have to call RAC because pad seized onto disc due to seized caliper.
2. Drop car at BMW dealer informing of situation.
3. BMW install new disc/pad and return car.
4. 100 miles later car back at BMW needing new pad and disc again as caliper seized. BMW stating it needs new caliper now too.
5. BMW say they were not to know the caliper was faulty (errr...read No.1 & 2)

My legal helpline said I need to locate an official BMW service schedule stating the exact procedure that should be carried out when replacing disc/pad due to faulty seized caliper. Can any of you help me locate this document (Euro spec preferably for a 2002 E39 530i sport, front brakes).

Any help or legal advice will be much appreciated guys, hopefully one of you has the document I'm after sitting there as a PDF I have done a search but I'm not too technical so been able to find nothing.

Scoopz

[unfoundhorsepower]

Scoopz, the only advise I can offer is that of the mechanic end of the problem...Here goes..If your dad stated that the caliper was frozen due to a full extension, the caliper should have been replaced, and both sides not just the one, when a disc. brake caliper cup has been fully extended and won't retract the cup (piston) gets cocked sideways and distorts or mars the surface, the caliper should either be rebuilt or replaced.

Now the dealership, techinally doesn't have to pay to do the job over but they should do it for political reasons....or give you the parts at cost with free labor..it is really all up to them..

What happens, is the mechanic, collapses the piston, under pressure and doesn't notice that the piston is tight because he uses a tool that exerts great pressure to collapse the cup...It doesnt take much to hang up the piston espically when it gets hot...once its on the road again...
In conclusion.. the job was NOT done to perfection in the first place. What was needed was.. both front calipers replaced, Two front rotors and pads AND a FULL system flush of fluid...

Hope this was of some help...

[scoopz]

unfoundhorsepower thank you for such a lengthy and detailed response, you covered every single base and then some.

I printed it off and my Dad's just had a read over it and is amazed how well you managed to explain it (and at how quickly you can get such concise advise for free on the board), he said "make sure you tell them thank you very much indeed!", so thank you from us both.

Not sure how the dealer will play their cards, we're picking the car up tonight and service manager will call next week when he's back off holiday to discuss the situation. In the mean time we've asked to keep all the parts they take off in a box in the boot for us.

[unfoundhorsepower]

Scoopz, your welcome...Many years of car Building and repair and owning my own business. I always expect perfection when the dealer works on my cars, (their under warranty) and they know it !!! If you tell an SA in detail, everything on your mind, he/she can write it up so the mechanic will understand the situation and fix it PROPERLY.

Nice to help you, please let me know the final outcome...greg

[ard]

Uh, I'd keep looking for the procedure out of the BMW TIS... As you legal helpline recommended you need the official BMW guidance, not a pst from someone on a website.

I believe the BMW dealer should not have given you the car back with a faulty caliper.

To think that their culpability and liability is dictated by what your dad tells them is silly. The are the experts, NOT the customer. They need to do the job right on the first visit.

A

[scoopz]

Originally Posted by ard

I'd keep looking for the procedure out of the BMW TIS.

Don't worry I've not given up on this yet.

I have just found a CD I have labelled BMW TIS 2005 which IIRC has all the parts, exploded views, etc on. Does this also contain instructionson how to fit each part, I though it just detailed part numbers? If it does have instructions too then I'm on a winner and will reinstall the CD and have a look.

[unfoundhorsepower]

ARD, If you read my post, and understood what it said, you would know it was just an observation from a long time mechanic and advisor....an opinion..I think anybody would appreciate a little imput on the subject from someone who knows what their talking about....

Scoopz asked for and opinion and help, I try to be there for my fellow board members........

The ultimate decision is between the owner and the dealer, that is UNDERSTOOD by anybody with common sense.

Your comment, was understood by me, even though it wasn't needed, in my opinion.............thanks though, greg