BMW accusing me of being tuned

Enjoiyourlife · 07-02-2009, 10:30 AM

Hey guys, I picked up my vehicle report from BMW of SD. They had performed the 30k mile routine maintenance. When I picked my car up, I looked at the report and saw these notes, "Aftermarket Engine and Exhaust modifications causing driveability problems. VEHICLE DME HAS BEEN FLASHED WITH AFTERMARKET SOFTWARE. Vehicle is not designed to run with fitted equipment. Return vehicle to stock for best performance."

I am the original owner of my car, and despite wanting to tune for the past year, there has NEVER been any sort of chip/flash on my car.

I spoke with my SA who looked into it with the tech. They are adamant on the fact that my car has a flash, saying that I have Dinan or other aftermarket performance enhancing software not covered by BMW. I have denied this, obviously.

What are my options at this point?

Thanks in advance.

F32Fleet · 07-02-2009, 11:45 AM

This story doesn't sound right to me. Dealership says you have a flash installed yet you claim that you don't. I would want to know how that came to that determinatio, and if you obtain an unsatisfactory answer I would insist a field engineer take a look at the car.

I wonder what it would cost to have the dealership update the programming?

What other mods do u have on the car?

txusa03 · 07-02-2009, 11:50 AM

If you truely did not have anything done to your car, I would fight it to the end. I would keep that piece of paper incase you go to court to show that BMW is falsely accusing you if they have no concrete evidence of such modifications. I would ask to see their report that leads them to that conclusion.

kjrulz · 07-02-2009, 12:47 PM

tell them to prove it right then and there.

chrisE92 · 07-02-2009, 12:53 PM

that's ridiculous. Like Socom said, you should ask them how they came to determine that your car is tuned. I would be extremely irritated if any BMW dealer accused me of such, without providing some sort of proof.

Enjoiyourlife · 07-02-2009, 02:07 PM

I just talked to the master tech and he noted that the DME threw a code that only shows up if there is an aftermarket tune on the car.

I have denied this and brought it up to management but no matter what I say, they are trying to put the blame on me.

They told me, "I dont know what kind of angle you're trying to play here but there is obviously a flash on your car and it is not within stock parameters." which is complete fucking bullshit.

Only other mods I have were DCI and a muffler delete. And no, my car has never been tuned, EVER.

Might have to write a nice letter to BMW NA ..

virtualbong · 07-02-2009, 02:19 PM

What kind of customer service is that? They accuse the customer of something and will not say that it could be a technical glitch? Why don't you try another dealership to see what they say? If all else fails...it's time to call BMW USA.

200Duece · 07-02-2009, 05:11 PM

Call NA right away

Fritzables · 07-03-2009, 03:14 AM

Hmmm interesting, based on previous posts this particular crowd (dealer) don't have Customer Satisfaction. Despite what they are saying you need to ask them for their analysis then take this to the TOP.

Not sure there this dealer is but they need exposing.

uberschnell · 07-03-2009, 09:28 AM

I think you are on the verge of figuring out they hold all the power.

ToadHollow · 07-03-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MteK

I think you are on the verge of figuring out they hold all the power.

........... OP, can you find out what specific code was thrown and do some research on the reasons "it" can appear? Obviously, you'll need to post the results!!

Andy M · 07-03-2009, 12:21 PM

Remind the dealership this: they are just TECHNICIANS, NOT ENGINEERS. They follow what the engineers have written in the manual. And when it comes to engineering, it's all based on the normal distribution (i.e. probability). So there will be cases where something happens and it doesn't fall in the normally distributed statistics.

This is what I'd do. Call BMW Customer Support. They're very good actually and they'll make a file for you describing the problem (i.e. legal documentation on their end in case things go wrong). Then go back to the dealership and have them put in a Puma ticket in so they can have a BMW engineer assess it. Quote the support call number. It doesn't take much effort on the dealership's behalf and to get BMW engineers to give them a second opinion on it. If the dealership won't refer you to BMW's engineers and since you've involved Customer Support (which is BMWNA) they might start to listen.

1clean335i · 07-03-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enjoiyourlife

I just talked to the master tech and he noted that the DME threw a code that only shows up if there is an aftermarket tune on the car.

Did he give you the fault code or description of the fault?

hasrice · 07-07-2009, 01:50 AM

Hope you get this cleared up Charlie. Keep us updated.

Marcus-SanDiego · 07-16-2009, 10:47 AM

Charlie, call Shane over at Euro Auto Spot (http://www.euroautospot.com). Tell him what's going on. You should get a third party (Shane) to throw the car on a GT-1. See what the situation looks like. Shane knows these cars inside and out.

You're in San Diego. Shane is in San Diego.

07-02-2009, 10:30 AM	#1
Enjoiyourlife Sensei 52 Rep 1,054 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego iTrader: (3)	BMW accusing me of being tuned Hey guys, I picked up my vehicle report from BMW of SD. They had performed the 30k mile routine maintenance. When I picked my car up, I looked at the report and saw these notes, "Aftermarket Engine and Exhaust modifications causing driveability problems. VEHICLE DME HAS BEEN FLASHED WITH AFTERMARKET SOFTWARE. Vehicle is not designed to run with fitted equipment. Return vehicle to stock for best performance." I am the original owner of my car, and despite wanting to tune for the past year, there has NEVER been any sort of chip/flash on my car. I spoke with my SA who looked into it with the tech. They are adamant on the fact that my car has a flash, saying that I have Dinan or other aftermarket performance enhancing software not covered by BMW. I have denied this, obviously. What are my options at this point? Thanks in advance. __________________
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07-02-2009, 11:45 AM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3575 Rep 10,352 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	This story doesn't sound right to me. Dealership says you have a flash installed yet you claim that you don't. I would want to know how that came to that determinatio, and if you obtain an unsatisfactory answer I would insist a field engineer take a look at the car. I wonder what it would cost to have the dealership update the programming? What other mods do u have on the car?
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07-02-2009, 11:50 AM	#3
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	If you truely did not have anything done to your car, I would fight it to the end. I would keep that piece of paper incase you go to court to show that BMW is falsely accusing you if they have no concrete evidence of such modifications. I would ask to see their report that leads them to that conclusion. __________________ under construction!
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07-02-2009, 12:47 PM	#4
kjrulz Mastermind 71 Rep 1,360 Posts Drives: girls krazy Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: your mother iTrader: (5)	tell them to prove it right then and there.
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07-02-2009, 12:53 PM	#5
chrisE92 Brigadier General 245 Rep 4,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: LA to HB iTrader: (21)	that's ridiculous. Like Socom said, you should ask them how they came to determine that your car is tuned. I would be extremely irritated if any BMW dealer accused me of such, without providing some sort of proof. __________________ photos Last edited by chrisE92; 07-03-2009 at 12:25 PM..
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07-02-2009, 02:07 PM	#6
Enjoiyourlife Sensei 52 Rep 1,054 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego iTrader: (3)	I just talked to the master tech and he noted that the DME threw a code that only shows up if there is an aftermarket tune on the car. I have denied this and brought it up to management but no matter what I say, they are trying to put the blame on me. They told me, "I dont know what kind of angle you're trying to play here but there is obviously a flash on your car and it is not within stock parameters." which is complete fucking bullshit. Only other mods I have were DCI and a muffler delete. And no, my car has never been tuned, EVER. Might have to write a nice letter to BMW NA .. __________________
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07-02-2009, 02:19 PM	#7
virtualbong Lieutenant Colonel 103 Rep 1,760 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X5 MSport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (2)	What kind of customer service is that? They accuse the customer of something and will not say that it could be a technical glitch? Why don't you try another dealership to see what they say? If all else fails...it's time to call BMW USA. __________________ 2015 BMW X5 35i M-Sport (White/Brown) - 4/16/18 (Current) 2011 BMW 550i M-Sport (Jet Black/Cinnamon Brown) - 4/30/14 \| 2007 BMW 328xi e92 (Jet Black/Coral Red) - PAST \| 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe (Ivory White/Stone) - PAST \| 2005 Acura TSX (Obsidian Black/Black) - PAST \| 1998 Acura Integra (Black/Black) - PAST
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07-02-2009, 05:11 PM	#8
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	Call NA right away __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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07-03-2009, 03:14 AM	#9
Fritzables Private First Class 8 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2007 323i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA iTrader: (0)	Hmmm interesting, based on previous posts this particular crowd (dealer) don't have Customer Satisfaction. Despite what they are saying you need to ask them for their analysis then take this to the TOP. Not sure there this dealer is but they need exposing.
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07-03-2009, 09:28 AM	#10
uberschnell Brigadier General 675 Rep 4,080 Posts Drives: Wide Body 1 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (48)	I think you are on the verge of figuring out they hold all the power.
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07-03-2009, 12:21 PM	#12
Andy M 77 Rep 1,208 Posts Drives: 09 BMW 335i xdrive Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (5)	Remind the dealership this: they are just TECHNICIANS, NOT ENGINEERS. They follow what the engineers have written in the manual. And when it comes to engineering, it's all based on the normal distribution (i.e. probability). So there will be cases where something happens and it doesn't fall in the normally distributed statistics. This is what I'd do. Call BMW Customer Support. They're very good actually and they'll make a file for you describing the problem (i.e. legal documentation on their end in case things go wrong). Then go back to the dealership and have them put in a Puma ticket in so they can have a BMW engineer assess it. Quote the support call number. It doesn't take much effort on the dealership's behalf and to get BMW engineers to give them a second opinion on it. If the dealership won't refer you to BMW's engineers and since you've involved Customer Support (which is BMWNA) they might start to listen.
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07-07-2009, 01:50 AM	#14
hasrice MOAR POWERRRR 29 Rep 823 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: warehouse iTrader: (5)	Hope you get this cleared up Charlie. Keep us updated.
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07-16-2009, 10:47 AM	#15
Marcus-SanDiego Lieutenant Colonel 164 Rep 1,588 Posts Drives: 2008 X5 4.8i (E70) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	Charlie, call Shane over at Euro Auto Spot (http://www.euroautospot.com). Tell him what's going on. You should get a third party (Shane) to throw the car on a GT-1. See what the situation looks like. Shane knows these cars inside and out. You're in San Diego. Shane is in San Diego. __________________
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