[derrick603]

I brought my car to my mechanic the other day to diagnose what seemed to be a misfire that isn't throwing a CEL and on the way there, both rear window regulators failed with the windows down. That turned out to be the least of my worries.

The mechanic found a valve cover leak and a damaged serpentine belt. He quoted me 3k for the work including both window regulators (they hadn't even gotten to the misfire yet) and I thought, "No big deal, my warranty covers all of these things."

Well, I guess Route 66 really only covers up to the value of the car for total repairs during the life of the policy, and I've already exceeded that after three years, so they won't be paying out anymore.

My 2007 335i has been a great car and still looks fantastic inside and out, but 3k here, I'm guessing another 1-2k for the misfire, AT fluid change coming up, and no confidence that I won't be in for another 2k or more next year, so I think it's time to move on.

[CTinline-six]

Wow 3 grand for a valve cover, some window regulars and a belt? The valve cover is the most time consuming and probably is a 1000 dollar job.

[F30lolz]

The misfire could be as simple as plugs/coils. You need to pull 'soft' codes that are stored that don't throw a CEL. The chances of both rear window regulators failing at the exact same time is crazy, however, at $3K to replace the VCG and two regulators? Your mechanic is banking on the parts for sure. Local shops near me have quoted me from $350-$600 parts/labor for VCG. Belt/pulley/tensioner parts IIRC from ESC Tuning was around $200. Shop around.

[xForceGhost]

Don't give up hope! I would recommend getting a second opinion and do some price shopping if possible. Just an example, last year I had 2 cylinders misfiring as a result of oil leaking from a busted valve cover gasket, and my drivers side rear window regulator went out with my window down. Local indy shop diagnosed for free and had me out the door 3 days later with new coils/plugs, VCG and window regulator for $721. In that particular case I was preparing to spend what I thought was gonna be $1200 or so because that's what I had grown used to expecting.

The fair priced shops are out there bro, mixed in with the shady places for sure, but it sounds like those are minor issues on an otherwise great ride!

[lukasB]

When you rely on others to take care of all your car's needs you may form an opinion that everything about this car is difficult/expensive.
Valve cover gasket and serpentine belt with pulleys should cost no more than $700 including labor and parts if you look around. Not sure about window regulator but I can guarantee it's not $2300

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

Wow 3 grand for a valve cover, some window regulars and a belt? The valve cover is the most time consuming and probably is a 1000 dollar job.

A friend gave me another shop suggestion, so I'll see what they think. Either way, I think I may just have the windows closed and leave the broken regulators in. I rarely have anyone sitting back there anyway.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

The misfire could be as simple as plugs/coils. You need to pull 'soft' codes that are stored that don't throw a CEL. The chances of both rear window regulators failing at the exact same time is crazy, however, at $3K to replace the VCG and two regulators? Your mechanic is banking on the parts for sure. Local shops near me have quoted me from $350-$600 parts/labor for VCG. Belt/pulley/tensioner parts IIRC from ESC Tuning was around $200. Shop around.

I had a cylinder 6 misfire a couple of months ago, so I replaced all of the spark plugs (it was about time) and the #6 coil, but it still seems to misfire. If only the car would hurry up and throw a code so I know where to go from here...

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by lukasB

When you rely on others to take care of all your car's needs you may form an opinion that everything about this car is difficult/expensive.
Valve cover gasket and serpentine belt with pulleys should cost no more than $700 including labor and parts if you look around. Not sure about window regulator but I can guarantee it's not $2300

I still do some of the work on my car, but I honestly don't have the time for big jobs anymore. Labor here is pricey though.

[Wksk]

What is the value they quoted your car at?

[lukasB]

open fuse box in your glove box and replace 30A fuse #62 and thank me later.
regarding your vcg and belt like I said don't pay more than $700

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by Wksk

What is the value they quoted your car at?

I'm not sure but they've covered about $10k so far. The big items were new turbos and new ECU, with many small items (water pump, several injectors, etc.).

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by lukasB

Attachment 1732752
open fuse box in your glove box and replace 30A fuse #62 and thank me later.
regarding your vcg and belt like I said don't pay more than $700

This is for the windows? The shop already diagnosed it as bad regulators. I took both rear windows down and only one came back up. A few minutes later, I tried the second one again, which went down, but did not come back up. Blown fuse would mean they both stop working at the exact same time, right?

[lukasB]

#62 fuse is only for rear windows. If your shop is quoting you 3k for window regulators vcg and belt you should send them where the sun doesn't shine instead of listening what they got to say. Replace the fuse yourself and see if that helps

P.S. Check your 63 & 64 fuses as well

[triax37]

Originally Posted by derrick603

I'm not sure but they've covered about $10k so far. The big items were new turbos and new ECU, with many small items (water pump, several injectors, etc.).

If they covered $10k, I think you did ok in the whole process. I signed up yesterday for Route 66 on my car worth $9k, and I think it's still a pretty impressive deal.

[TemjinX2]

route 66 has been more adamant about warranty denials.... they denied my ofgh so i had to diy....still debating whether to keep them

[Maestro]

The rear window regulator is most likely the cheap green plastic part which you can find on the internet for a few $. I have a couple for the driver side, my passenger side went out and I order them and everyone just had the driver side and wanted to believe they are the same for both sided. I ended up replacement everything except the motor for $50, you can get the entire assemble for about $50 each side. It is a 20 minute job to replace, the hard part is get the system to reset and go up and down to the correct points without getting stuck. There is DYI on here on how best to do this.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by TemjinX2

route 66 has been more adamant about warranty denials.... they denied my ofgh so i had to diy....still debating whether to keep them

Maybe they are catching on to the reliability issues with the N54.

If your ofhg (which is preventative) was denied, and you didn't do it which led to the belt getting ingested and destroying the engine, I wonder if they would cover a new engine?

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by triax37

If they covered $10k, I think you did ok in the whole process. I signed up yesterday for Route 66 on my car worth $9k, and I think it's still a pretty impressive deal.

Yeah, I'm definitely not complaining, there's no question that I got my money's worth and I would definitely recommend the warranty to anyone looking for one. I just wanted to let people know about the stipulation in the contract about coverage limits and that they will definitely enforce it.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by TemjinX2

route 66 has been more adamant about warranty denials.... they denied my ofgh so i had to diy....still debating whether to keep them

Did they say why they denied it? In my brochure (which is a bit old, current as of 2014 when I bought the policy), it clearly says that with Main Street coverage (I assume this is what you have), seals and gaskets are covered.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by xForceGhost

The fair priced shops are out there bro, mixed in with the shady places for sure, but it sounds like those are minor issues on an otherwise great ride!

I got a quote of $1k from my favorite speed shop for the VCG, pullies, and drive belt. I guess I need to shop around more when it's coming out of my pocket and not Route 66's.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by derrick603

I had a cylinder 6 misfire a couple of months ago, so I replaced all of the spark plugs (it was about time) and the #6 coil, but it still seems to misfire. If only the car would hurry up and throw a code so I know where to go from here...

Finally got a CEL this morning. I guess a new coil and plug will be going into cylinder #4 this weekend.

[F30lolz]

Originally Posted by derrick603

Finally got a CEL this morning. I guess a new coil and plug will be going into cylinder #4 this weekend.

Good, better than injectors.