£1500 Wastegate Diagnosis!! - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

veearrsix · 11-22-2012, 04:56 AM

Hi all,

I have a 2006 335i with 55k, un-modded which I have owned since 20k miles and not driven it hard (honestly!). It is currently out of warranty.

It went in for a CBS oil service and the dealership highlighted a potential problem with the turbo/wastegate, so far nothing unusual or unexpected...

I agreed to a nominal charge for a diagnosis, and was told that the first course of action was a software update, again so far nothing really unexpected...

I agreed to have the software update done (at a cost to myself, bloody expensive considering they plug it in and let it do its stuff!!)

The dealership had been in contact with me all the way through this process telling me they thought I was a good candidate for a good will claim to have the turbo's replaced (I had obviously told them I was aware of the common problem of wastegate rattle)

Then the bombshell...

The dealership tells me that BMW have instructed them that the next stage of diagnosis is to remove the turbo's from the car and attempt to do a 'Manual Adjustment' of the wastegates to rectify the rattle at a cost of £1500 + vat!!!

Obviously I told them I was not going to authorise that work, as £1500 to tighten the rod on the wastegate only for the rattle to come back in a month or 2 is ridiculous.

I have contacted BMW customer service and they have pretty much fobbed me off saying that "If BMW technical has instructed the dealership they need to do this work to diagnose the problem, then theres nothing else that can be done"

Has anyone else has a similar experience? Has anyone managed to get a good will claim without having to spend £1500 to do so?

Currently my only cause of action is to get a set of recon turbo units and do the job myself, which I am dreading!! I'm handy with spanners, but this is by all accounts a fairly epic job.

enrita · 11-22-2012, 05:07 AM

lol tell them that you dont want them to do that. Normally they change the turbos completely at their own cost if there is rattle and a will claim is filed.
Really thats BS.

veearrsix · 11-22-2012, 05:15 AM

I spoke to BMW customer service and told them it was unacceptable, and that the turbo/wastegate problem was clearly a known common issue, but they just re-iterated that they need to do the diagnosis at a cost of £1500 before a good will claim will be honoured.

enrita · 11-22-2012, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veearrsix

I spoke to BMW customer service and told them it was unacceptable, and that the turbo/wastegate problem was clearly a known common issue, but they just re-iterated that they need to do the diagnosis at a cost of £1500 before a good will claim will be honoured.

i would pull the car out of there. if the car runs fine is just rattle that everybody has and can probably be cured with software or tune.

veearrsix · 11-22-2012, 05:51 AM

I've already taken the car back, it's had the software update to 'cure' the rattle, however the rattle is still there.

I want to sell the car, but I don't want to pass the problem onto someone else.

335iLondon · 11-22-2012, 06:46 AM

This can be fixed by adjusting the actuators in some cases.
Try contacting Birds Auto for proper advice

enrita · 11-22-2012, 07:07 AM

well if you are selling the car than add that to the price, easier to sell with new turbos from BMW.

4doorbmwpower · 11-22-2012, 09:00 AM

I just got 7000$ in Parts and Labor for Free with my BMWNA New turbos claim, and BMWNA ran the whole thing they told the shop to send them diagnostics and what not, The diagnostics (if they found parts or what ever) would be charged to me at a cost of $210 dollars and they wouldnt do the work unless I told them to. They are completely ripping you off Diagnosis is a flat rate of 2 hours of labor and a small fee to use the computer. PLUS on top of all this your turbos are covered under the new Service bulletin that got a lot of us BRAND NEW TURBOS (caused by failing wastegates) I dont know why any BMW dealer would push anyone away they make money no mater what?!

Joe- · 11-22-2012, 10:50 AM

He's from London BMWNA doesn't cover there

In either case your dealership should be smart enough to get around this by just telling BMW that they did the adjustment and it did not resolve the issue. They should know they aren't going to get 1500 for something stupid like that out of a customer that may not even work.

enrita · 11-22-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-

He's from London BMWNA doesn't cover there

In either case your dealership should be smart enough to get around this by just telling BMW that they did the adjustment and it did not resolve the issue. They should know they aren't going to get 1500 for something stupid like that out of a customer that may not even work.

Exactly, u lucky in the US since you can take a bird to court because it shit on your shoulder. In EU we dont get all those easy/free recalls

phil200tdi · 11-22-2012, 02:32 PM

I paid Â£1500+vat to replace my turbos.

Piss takers!

veearrsix · 11-22-2012, 04:50 PM

Well, I spoke to BMW customer service this morning, they said they would contact the dealership to discuss the situation and then get back to me. Not heard from them, so I will probably have to go through the same infuriating call with the next drone in the call centre tomorrow!!

I hinted to the dealership that it doesn't matter where the money comes from, whether it's me or BMW for the work, as long as they got some work out of it, but they didn't bite. They were happy for me to take the car back, so long as they mentioned on the invoice for my service that they had made me aware of a possible turbo defect, cheers guys!!

I think i'm at the point know, where I need to price up doing the replacement (with recon units) myself. I've also seen on the ecs website, thats its possible to buy brand new wastegates for just over $30 each. Does anyone know if this would fix the problem?

Alternatively, I guess I could just upgrade the turbo's, does anyone know how much a set of rob beck units be sent to the UK?

veearrsix · 11-26-2012, 08:11 AM

Quick update...

I have just heard from BMW customer service that in order to fully diagnose the wastegate issue, before they are able to submit a 'good will claim', they need the units to be removed from the car and inspected. The cost of such diagnosis is £1500 + vat.

They have apologised that they cannot help me any further (yea thanks!), but without a diagnosis they cannot submit the claim.

I stuck my hand down the side of the engine over the weekend, and managed to give the rear wastegate actuator rod a wobble, and its wobbles a lot. the rod and locking nut are tight, but the wastegate are have a lot of movement.

11-22-2012, 04:56 AM	#1
veearrsix Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 335i e92, Monaco Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	£1500 Wastegate Diagnosis!! Hi all, I have a 2006 335i with 55k, un-modded which I have owned since 20k miles and not driven it hard (honestly!). It is currently out of warranty. It went in for a CBS oil service and the dealership highlighted a potential problem with the turbo/wastegate, so far nothing unusual or unexpected... I agreed to a nominal charge for a diagnosis, and was told that the first course of action was a software update, again so far nothing really unexpected... I agreed to have the software update done (at a cost to myself, bloody expensive considering they plug it in and let it do its stuff!!) The dealership had been in contact with me all the way through this process telling me they thought I was a good candidate for a good will claim to have the turbo's replaced (I had obviously told them I was aware of the common problem of wastegate rattle) Then the bombshell... The dealership tells me that BMW have instructed them that the next stage of diagnosis is to remove the turbo's from the car and attempt to do a 'Manual Adjustment' of the wastegates to rectify the rattle at a cost of £1500 + vat!!! Obviously I told them I was not going to authorise that work, as £1500 to tighten the rod on the wastegate only for the rattle to come back in a month or 2 is ridiculous. I have contacted BMW customer service and they have pretty much fobbed me off saying that "If BMW technical has instructed the dealership they need to do this work to diagnose the problem, then theres nothing else that can be done" Has anyone else has a similar experience? Has anyone managed to get a good will claim without having to spend £1500 to do so? Currently my only cause of action is to get a set of recon turbo units and do the job myself, which I am dreading!! I'm handy with spanners, but this is by all accounts a fairly epic job.
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11-22-2012, 05:07 AM	#2
enrita Major General Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden Posts: 6,831 iTrader: (0)	lol tell them that you dont want them to do that. Normally they change the turbos completely at their own cost if there is rattle and a will claim is filed. Really thats BS. __________________ 07 335i AT - TD St.2 Turbos - COBB (Custom Cobb mapping by http://www.protuningfreaks.com/) - JB4G5 ISO - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - E85 Walbro - Injen Intake - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - AR DPs - midpipes 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - Level 10 AT upgrade - Alpina AT Flash

11-22-2012, 07:07 AM	#7
enrita Major General Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden Posts: 6,831 iTrader: (0)	well if you are selling the car than add that to the price, easier to sell with new turbos from BMW. __________________ 07 335i AT - TD St.2 Turbos - COBB (Custom Cobb mapping by http://www.protuningfreaks.com/) - JB4G5 ISO - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - E85 Walbro - Injen Intake - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - AR DPs - midpipes 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - Level 10 AT upgrade - Alpina AT Flash

11-22-2012, 02:32 PM	#11
phil200tdi Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 335i M Sport E90 LCI manual Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 1,767 iTrader: (0)	I paid Â£1500+vat to replace my turbos. Piss takers! __________________ 2008 E90 335i LCI M Sport / Manual / Black / Red Leather / Avon ZZ3 / VMR710 Mods: JB4 / BMS DCI /AR Design DPs / ETS FMIC / Water Meth Injection / BMS Chargepipe / BMS OCC / Cool Carbon Brake Pads / Rob Beck PCV Valve / Forge Diverter Valves Wish List: LSD / Bastuck Quads / Birds Suspension / M3 Arms

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11-22-2012, 05:15 AM	#3
veearrsix Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 335i e92, Monaco Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	I spoke to BMW customer service and told them it was unacceptable, and that the turbo/wastegate problem was clearly a known common issue, but they just re-iterated that they need to do the diagnosis at a cost of £1500 before a good will claim will be honoured.

11-22-2012, 05:51 AM	#5
veearrsix Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 335i e92, Monaco Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	I've already taken the car back, it's had the software update to 'cure' the rattle, however the rattle is still there. I want to sell the car, but I don't want to pass the problem onto someone else.

11-22-2012, 06:46 AM	#6
335iLondon Captain Drives: 07' 335i Msport Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: London Posts: 905 iTrader: (0)	This can be fixed by adjusting the actuators in some cases. Try contacting Birds Auto for proper advice

11-22-2012, 09:00 AM	#8
4doorbmwpower Second Lieutenant Drives: Blue E90 335i Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 249 iTrader: (0)	I just got 7000$ in Parts and Labor for Free with my BMWNA New turbos claim, and BMWNA ran the whole thing they told the shop to send them diagnostics and what not, The diagnostics (if they found parts or what ever) would be charged to me at a cost of $210 dollars and they wouldnt do the work unless I told them to. They are completely ripping you off Diagnosis is a flat rate of 2 hours of labor and a small fee to use the computer. PLUS on top of all this your turbos are covered under the new Service bulletin that got a lot of us BRAND NEW TURBOS (caused by failing wastegates) I dont know why any BMW dealer would push anyone away they make money no mater what?!

11-22-2012, 10:50 AM	#9
Joe- Lieutenant Drives: 07 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Greenwich CT Posts: 524 iTrader: (2)	He's from London BMWNA doesn't cover there In either case your dealership should be smart enough to get around this by just telling BMW that they did the adjustment and it did not resolve the issue. They should know they aren't going to get 1500 for something stupid like that out of a customer that may not even work.

11-22-2012, 04:50 PM	#12
veearrsix Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 335i e92, Monaco Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	Well, I spoke to BMW customer service this morning, they said they would contact the dealership to discuss the situation and then get back to me. Not heard from them, so I will probably have to go through the same infuriating call with the next drone in the call centre tomorrow!! I hinted to the dealership that it doesn't matter where the money comes from, whether it's me or BMW for the work, as long as they got some work out of it, but they didn't bite. They were happy for me to take the car back, so long as they mentioned on the invoice for my service that they had made me aware of a possible turbo defect, cheers guys!! I think i'm at the point know, where I need to price up doing the replacement (with recon units) myself. I've also seen on the ecs website, thats its possible to buy brand new wastegates for just over $30 each. Does anyone know if this would fix the problem? Alternatively, I guess I could just upgrade the turbo's, does anyone know how much a set of rob beck units be sent to the UK?

11-26-2012, 08:11 AM	#13
veearrsix Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 335i e92, Monaco Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	Quick update... I have just heard from BMW customer service that in order to fully diagnose the wastegate issue, before they are able to submit a 'good will claim', they need the units to be removed from the car and inspected. The cost of such diagnosis is £1500 + vat. They have apologised that they cannot help me any further (yea thanks!), but without a diagnosis they cannot submit the claim. I stuck my hand down the side of the engine over the weekend, and managed to give the rear wastegate actuator rod a wobble, and its wobbles a lot. the rod and locking nut are tight, but the wastegate are have a lot of movement.