Hi – I have a 2006 BMW M Roadster. When I ordered it the salesperson explained to me in some detail how the alarm system works and how to turn the motion sensor off on hot sunny days because that could set the alarm off due to air viscosity and how it effects the closed roof. I was most impressed. I was never told that it was not a standard feature. It was implied that the car came with the alarm system/motion detector etc. etc. etc.
I got the car on March 30, 2006. Did the 2000 km running-in period and took the car on for servicing. I had noticed that the alarm did not seem to be working. I asked the service consultant about this & he said he would look into it. When I went to pick up the car I was told that my CAD $75,000 car did not come with an alarm and I would have to pay CAD $800 to have it installed. He was surprised that the car did not have an alarm because all Z4’s to-date had alarms fitted in the factory. I was a little ticked at not being told this up-front and being lead to believe that it was a standard option by the salesperson. Told them to go ahead and put it in - I paid them my dues. It took TWO DAYS to fit the alarm. I picked the car up at 5 pm and within 15 minutes I could hear this squeaking coming either from the folded roof or the mid-console. Please note that there was no squeaky noise when the roof was up. Took the car right back the next day. The dealership worked on it for TWO more days and then returned it on Friday evening. I was disgusted and drove my Infiniti over the weekend. On Sunday I take the BMW M out and within 70km the noise has returned. Tuesday the car is back at the dealership for another TWO days. They finally fix that problem!!
Then I drive around for another 300km or so with the roof down. We than have a cold day and I close the roof. It starts creaking & squeaking right behind my left ear (driver side is left hand drive) with the roof up!! That noise had never been there before the alarm was put in and the noise with the roof down had not been fixed. The service manager tells me that the creaking and squeaking is normal because it is a rag-top. NO IT’S NOT – is my opinion!! It was not there before and it only comes from the left side. I am no BMW technician but I am not stupid.
Now questions –
1) Was BMW lying in the beginning when they told me how the alarm worked and implied that it was a standard feature or was it incompetence? What should be the consequence for the waste of my time and the 7 days the car has already spend in the shop due to BMW either lying or not passing on information to the dealership i.e. incompetence? I do not like dealer installed options because the fitting is never ‘right’ and I would have ordered the alarm to be fitted in the factory. They tell me that I cannot order the alarm from the factory. If I had known this up-front I would have ordered the SL 55 AMG. Would this be a breach of contract – if I was not misinformed then I would not have ordered the BMW product?
2) Has anyone else had the alarm system installed because it is not a factory installed item? If yes then what has been your experience?
3) Has anyone had issues with the Z4’s or Z4 M’s roof creaking and would you accept the service technician’s opinion that a new noise that is only on one side is normal and is a design feature and that the car will do that because it is a rag-top?
4) Should I talk to a lawyer?
Thanks and I look forward to your advice.
I got the car on March 30, 2006. Did the 2000 km running-in period and took the car on for servicing. I had noticed that the alarm did not seem to be working. I asked the service consultant about this & he said he would look into it. When I went to pick up the car I was told that my CAD $75,000 car did not come with an alarm and I would have to pay CAD $800 to have it installed. He was surprised that the car did not have an alarm because all Z4’s to-date had alarms fitted in the factory. I was a little ticked at not being told this up-front and being lead to believe that it was a standard option by the salesperson. Told them to go ahead and put it in - I paid them my dues. It took TWO DAYS to fit the alarm. I picked the car up at 5 pm and within 15 minutes I could hear this squeaking coming either from the folded roof or the mid-console. Please note that there was no squeaky noise when the roof was up. Took the car right back the next day. The dealership worked on it for TWO more days and then returned it on Friday evening. I was disgusted and drove my Infiniti over the weekend. On Sunday I take the BMW M out and within 70km the noise has returned. Tuesday the car is back at the dealership for another TWO days. They finally fix that problem!!
Then I drive around for another 300km or so with the roof down. We than have a cold day and I close the roof. It starts creaking & squeaking right behind my left ear (driver side is left hand drive) with the roof up!! That noise had never been there before the alarm was put in and the noise with the roof down had not been fixed. The service manager tells me that the creaking and squeaking is normal because it is a rag-top. NO IT’S NOT – is my opinion!! It was not there before and it only comes from the left side. I am no BMW technician but I am not stupid.
Now questions –
1) Was BMW lying in the beginning when they told me how the alarm worked and implied that it was a standard feature or was it incompetence? What should be the consequence for the waste of my time and the 7 days the car has already spend in the shop due to BMW either lying or not passing on information to the dealership i.e. incompetence? I do not like dealer installed options because the fitting is never ‘right’ and I would have ordered the alarm to be fitted in the factory. They tell me that I cannot order the alarm from the factory. If I had known this up-front I would have ordered the SL 55 AMG. Would this be a breach of contract – if I was not misinformed then I would not have ordered the BMW product?
2) Has anyone else had the alarm system installed because it is not a factory installed item? If yes then what has been your experience?
3) Has anyone had issues with the Z4’s or Z4 M’s roof creaking and would you accept the service technician’s opinion that a new noise that is only on one side is normal and is a design feature and that the car will do that because it is a rag-top?
4) Should I talk to a lawyer?
Thanks and I look forward to your advice.
