Need help - refused approved warranty for 335i as apparently was chipped

olegmukhanov · 11-08-2012, 11:19 AM

Dear forum,

About 6 months ago I bought a lovely low mileage 335i SE auto as an Approved Used from a dealer. It is a low mileage car and had no problems with the exception of occasional hard auto shifting into the 3rd.

Anyway it didn't bother me too much so I asked BMW to look into that only at my annual service today - they confirmed that there is a problem but refused to do the warranty repair as apparently there is / was a chip installed. One thing I know for sure is that I didn't pay an extra for the approved warranty to install a chip and lose it.

Therefore the question is - could it be that during the approved used preparation BMW didn't notice that there is / was a chip (it is a clean low mileage car with 1 previous owner so I could see that happening) and only discovered that during the in-depth diagnostics in connection with my gearbox problem? Or could that just be an excuse not to provide the service? (guess warranty fix of an auto gearbox on a 56 reg 335i is not very economical)

I just want to get this problem fixed instead of finding who has done that as honestly couldn't care less.

Therefore dear forum members have you been in a similar situation and whether the above could be the case?

Thank you,
Oleg

F32Fleet · 11-08-2012, 11:59 AM

Back in 2007 I told people to be careful when buying a used 335i because all the @sshats who would tune their leased cars may shoulder you with a problem used car. It's entirely possible your car was tuned/chipped when new and either the dealer didn't notice when it was turned in OR they ignored it (leasee was a "good" customer so the dealer didn't want to saddle him with a steep end-of-lease charge over the tune.)

Good luck with this. I would want more info from the dealer.

Meeni · 11-08-2012, 12:46 PM

What does the "approved" part of the sale warranted ? Seems like selling a car as "approved" when it is actually not under warranty anymore because it has been "tampered with" is not ethical, and could very well be plain illegal.

UncleWede · 11-09-2012, 09:45 AM

Is the selling dealer and the denying-service dealer the same? If so, unless they can prove YOU chipped it after they sold to you, I'd think that was on them for falsely representing the car at the time of sale.

11-08-2012, 11:19 AM	#1
olegmukhanov Private 6 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2006 335i E92 Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Need help - refused approved warranty for 335i as apparently was chipped Dear forum, About 6 months ago I bought a lovely low mileage 335i SE auto as an Approved Used from a dealer. It is a low mileage car and had no problems with the exception of occasional hard auto shifting into the 3rd. Anyway it didn't bother me too much so I asked BMW to look into that only at my annual service today - they confirmed that there is a problem but refused to do the warranty repair as apparently there is / was a chip installed. One thing I know for sure is that I didn't pay an extra for the approved warranty to install a chip and lose it. Therefore the question is - could it be that during the approved used preparation BMW didn't notice that there is / was a chip (it is a clean low mileage car with 1 previous owner so I could see that happening) and only discovered that during the in-depth diagnostics in connection with my gearbox problem? Or could that just be an excuse not to provide the service? (guess warranty fix of an auto gearbox on a 56 reg 335i is not very economical) I just want to get this problem fixed instead of finding who has done that as honestly couldn't care less. Therefore dear forum members have you been in a similar situation and whether the above could be the case? Thank you, Oleg
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11-08-2012, 11:59 AM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3570 Rep 10,351 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Back in 2007 I told people to be careful when buying a used 335i because all the @sshats who would tune their leased cars may shoulder you with a problem used car. It's entirely possible your car was tuned/chipped when new and either the dealer didn't notice when it was turned in OR they ignored it (leasee was a "good" customer so the dealer didn't want to saddle him with a steep end-of-lease charge over the tune.) Good luck with this. I would want more info from the dealer.
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11-08-2012, 12:46 PM	#3
Meeni Gateropode 329 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	What does the "approved" part of the sale warranted ? Seems like selling a car as "approved" when it is actually not under warranty anymore because it has been "tampered with" is not ethical, and could very well be plain illegal.
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11-09-2012, 09:45 AM	#4
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 17998 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Is the selling dealer and the denying-service dealer the same? If so, unless they can prove YOU chipped it after they sold to you, I'd think that was on them for falsely representing the car at the time of sale.
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