Any Help Appreciated

Uptown · Apr 9, 2005

I recently purchased a 2001 M3 E46 - I have been looking for about a year for a really clean car with low miles - Carbon Black / loaded - I love it!!

Couple of issues and the response I'm getting from the dealer is for the most part these issues are within dealer specifications. Any input from readers will either help me press the issue with the dealer or learn to deal with it and enjoy the car...

1.) Every time the car is started the climate control system comes on. I can change the temp. prior to turning off the car and it will start up with the new temp., however, if I turn it off prior to shutting down the car and then restart the car it comes right back on. The dealer has indicated that the module is within specifications. I think it's faulty. I have driven a number of BMW's over the past year, M3's, 330 convertibles, Z's, I have friends with BMW's, not to mention my 5 that I drive several times a week - none of the cars do this. Suggestions?

2.) The clunking noise in the drivetrain/transmission when you shift from 1st to 2nd. I have done some research and am aware that this is normal behavior, however, this car seems worse than some of the other that I have driven - there are times when I feel like I would have to explain it away should someone be with me in the car. Are there times when it is this noisy?? By the way the car only has 20,000 miles.

... 3.) Cold starting in the morning - car is alway in my garage about 50 degrees. In the moring the first start - I always turn the ignition - wait until all the check lights go out - and then fire the car - it seems like it turns over too long - to the point where instinct causes me to release then I fire it again and it fires right up. The software upgrade has already been installed by the dealer prior to my purchase. Is this really normal starting behavior for a car like this?

Again I think the car has had wonderful care - hardly driven and always serviced by Rasmussem BMW who have been great in the past. I just need some input from those who drive the cars daily not those who sell them..... Thanks Jordan

deutsch100 · Apr 9, 2005

Uptown said:

Congratulations on the M3. My 2005 M3 does all 3 of your above concerns. In regards to the climate coming on automatically, I switched keys, and it has never done it again (the salesman for some reason did some programming on my new car :-o). The person who owned the car before you, most likely had a comfort option programmed on the key. Try the other key, and if that does not work, ask the dealer to un-program the keys. Our 2004 X5 4.8is does the same thing. Every time we start it up, the climate comes on....and for some reason, the dealer also cannot stop this on this car. It drives me crazy...luckily the key swap fixed the problem on my M3. Hope this works for you.

If you have SMG the "clunking" noise in the transmission is normal. In regards to having to hold the key when starting....that is totally normal. Some days it does it, and some days not. Do not stress...totally normal.

Enjoy your M3. Carbon black is one of our favourite colours. We have seriously toyed with the idea of painting the Z8 carbon black.

Uptown · Apr 9, 2005

Thanks for the information - no I don't have SMG just the standard 6 - is the clunking bad enough that it is almost embarasing at times?? And I did have them reprogram both keys didn't work climate still came on. Thanks again feedback is great - I love the car.

Tom · Apr 9, 2005

Welcome aboard, sounds like #2 and #3 are normal. On really cold days mine also seems to take alittle longer than normal.

As for problem #1, how are you it turning off? Did you decrease the fan speed until it completely shuts off?

Uptown · Apr 9, 2005

Yep, completely decreased the fan speed until the entire display goes black. Then when I restart the car it comes right back on at whatever temperature it was at when I shut it off??? I have never been in any other car that doesn't start up with the climate control system where you left it when the car was last shut down - whether on or off. It's annoying to have to immediately turn of the system every time you start the car.

Tom · Apr 10, 2005

Sounds like it's a memory feature that needs to be programmed into your Key. Mine completely shuts off and doesn't automatically restart.

You can print out this URL and discuss it with your dealer.
http://bmwnation.com/tech/glossary/tech_carkeycfg_1999.html

Or better yet, try calling a second dealer for their opinion.

///M SPEED · Apr 10, 2005

deutsch100 said:

Don't you dare!! You better leave that car in it's original state. [nono]

Anything other would be sacrilegious..... [;)]

That's an Alpina Z8. It is not a regular Z8 (funny as that may sound). They are very rare. There really aren't that many standard Z8 around either. That car needs to stay original. I love the current Black that is on it….[headbang]

deutsch100 · Apr 13, 2005

Ok, sorry for even toying with the idea, please accept my apology [;)]

We were just thinking that in a couple of years, if the original black needs some sprucing up, we would try carbon black, because it is so beautiful....but I get what you are saying. It came out of it's womb black in München, and it should stay black.

Right you are once again [cheers]

debbie · Apr 18, 2005

Hi! Just wanted to let you know that after two years of dealing with East Bay BMW here in Pleasanton, CA about the noise in the rear end, I took my car to a mechanic in Livermore where I live and guess what? There is a recall for 01 M3's for differential whine that the dealers choose to ignore. I have been told that I'm imagining the noise, they've kept my car for a week at a time and said there is nothing wrong. I've had the noise off and on for so long I can almost tell when its going to come on. All it takes is them taking the differential apart, replacing whats in there with 3 quarts of a special oil designed for this particular problem. I asked on the board a while back if anyone had heard of such a thing. I thought it was coming from my wheels or brakes, but nope. In this recall/release there is information about the noise happening in low gears, specifically first but sometimes in second and on tight turns, very tight, like parking lot or in my case it was just making a tight left at a light. I thought I was dragging tin cans around for a while. My car clunks in first to second and that is a normal noise. The worst part, I think, is the fact that the mechanic I took my car to doesn't work on European automobiles AND he found the problem within 2 hours. Sad, huh? [:(]

MrElussive · Apr 18, 2005

That is strange that the M3 needs such a long time to startup. Usually, high-compression motors start up quite instantly. I guess the M3's engine is so big, it just requires a lot of effort from the starter motor to get it going. It is definitely nothing abnormal. Our 03 RX300 also takes a really long time to start up for some reason. My brother usually uses it and he always over-starts it like an idiot because he thinks it's just not going to turn on...but it is always 100% reliable.

Uptown · Apr 19, 2005

Hey Debbie, Rasmussen did tell me about the differential issue and they did check that out thoroughly - not the problem it's all fine. There is also apparantly an upgrade of software that is supposed to take care of intermitent starting issues. My car has already had that upgrade. They have had my car for about a week and a half and have been able to duplicate the starting issue, are checking with BMW to see if the will replace the climate control module that they state is operating within specs. and the slight grinding noise was apparently a build up of debri in my emergency brake. I have not heard anything about the clunking/clutch noise in lower gears (I still think it is louder than normal.) I'll keep all informed of progress. Thanks again for all input... Jordan

///M SPEED · Apr 19, 2005

debbie my car has done this at times. I have taken in the car multiple times and they did change the differential fluid. Since that time I have had it happen a couple of times, but nothing bad. I have heard this noise in a while now. It sounds like a rock is stuck between caliper and break guard...

debbie · Apr 19, 2005

Hi Jordan, I had an e brake issue too, it wouldn't hold and it also had debris in it as well, once they cleaned it out it helped and on occasion it still doesn't hold but the noise from that is gone. I had electrical issues that took about 6 months to iron out with the dealer. I got so angry that I finally started to talk kinda loud and got somewhere. They ended up calling BMW and replaced a chip in the computer system. My tire pressure light kept coming on and there was nothing wrong. My electrical would blank out for a split second for no reason. Pretty much they told me to not drive where it was happening, since it seemed to be happening in the same place around town, duh. I've had the thing with the fuel regulator chip happen, too. I haven't experienced any problem with starting, starts right up. Did have the climate control module replaced though. Hope any of this helps. The nice thing that the mechanic told me was that the cars are well built and don't really have the serious issues most other cars do. Our particular year has only had 2 recalls, and about 12 minor issues. Keep us posted, I'm curious to hear what they have to say. [bmwdance]

Debbie

debbie · Apr 19, 2005

///M Speed, thats the sound exactly! Guess the dealership here is just full of wannabe's who don't know what that sound is. LOL!

///M SPEED · Apr 19, 2005

My dealer told me on rare occasions some of the E46's need to have the rear-end replaced. This is very rare occurrence, but has been known to happen and is known by BMW.

debbie · Apr 19, 2005

Swell.

Uptown · Apr 19, 2005

Hey there Debbie, You indicated in an earlier post that you did have the climate control module replaced. Did you have the same issue as I have? The system comes on every time you start the car... and did your dealer cover this under the warranty? Are you the original owner of the car? Rasmussen BMW is telling me that it is within specs and that BMW is not going replace the part - when I mentioned that there was another individual that had theirs replaced by the dealer I was told that this was most likely a courtesy to an original owner of the car and that the dealer foot the expense not BMW. I am the 2nd owner of this car. - seems to me that I may have to trade in my 5 for a new one at another dealer... Jordan

debbie · Apr 20, 2005

Hi Jordan, I did have the climate control replaced but it was something the dealership did on their own without explanation to me, well, without a direct answer as usual. Gave me some bs line about how it was affecting how the ac worked and that it came up on the usual servicing. Of course, I have to take into consideration that the majority of the stuff they said they did, they probably didn't. So with that in mind, I will say I assume they did do it, as a courtesy, I had been in about 4 or 5 times within a month before having the service work done, they probably felt sorry for me. LOL! I am not the original owner of the car, I got it at 10 months old. They have been very good about transferring the warranty from Jason the guy I got it from to me and following through on the warranty service work. They do tend to stall on brake work until you have to pay. But I'm not there yet. I have not paid for any work in the time I've had the car, until yesterday and it wasn't the dealer, it was the mechanic outside of the dealer. My car sounds great, runs great (it was hard not to jump on it in town this morning [burnout]

, especially after driving a jeep 13" over stock with granny gears for a couple days) and it didn't cost me a bucket of licorice either. That is what one BMW tech told me, that he would make sure my car got serviced right if I brought him a costco bucket each time I came in. Nice, huh? I have half a mind to go to the dealership and ask them what their problem is, but I already know the answer. One of my friends had a 325 with all kinds of problems, it was 2 years old. Had full electrical blow out, same dealer told her there was nothing wrong with the car. Happened again, and they told her not to come back. She bought a Corvette yesterday. They are pretty cars, but I can't do that one, just can't. LOLOLOL!!!
Deb

///M SPEED · Apr 20, 2005

I would take it to a different dealer even if it was 50 miles away....

brahtw8 · Apr 20, 2005

MrElussive said:

The long cranking on start up may be related to the emissions system. I believe that some cars have a cold starting procedure that may delay the start until certain emissions parameters are satisfied. I recall Honda saying similar things when similar problems with the 3rd Gen TL appeared. They blamed the ULEV system. I don't know if this is the problem with this particular M3 or any M3.

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