New car with a rear left shock absorber problem (photo)-need experts' advise

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 09:21 AM

I've been driving my new 328i car like a grandma so far (1000 miles). After having this problem (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59942), I thoroughly checked all my tires.

Then, I realized that the rear left shock absorber looked kinda funny. I always thought that the rear left side of the car felt funny everytime I went over road bumps.

Could you guys let me know if this is normal? Would this be covered under warranty?

I have not gone over any major pot holes either.

Thank you.

ska///235i · 05-05-2007, 09:25 AM

take it back to the dealer.....is a spacer/block that they forgot to take off

and remember to give them hell

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ska

take it back to the dealer.....is a spacer/block that they forgot to take off

Could you further explain what spacer/block is (color on the picture)?

ska///235i · 05-05-2007, 09:28 AM

the blue & white plastic

ska///235i · 05-05-2007, 09:30 AM

those are there from the factory and should be taken off when it reaches the states

ElCapitan · 05-05-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c56250

Could you further explain what spacer/block is (color on the picture)?

It is on the car for sea transport mode. As part of PDI, they are supposed to remove all of them. They obviouly forgot at least this one, inacceptable, they have checklists to follow.

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 09:33 AM

Unbelievable!! No wonder why that side of the car felt funny.

ska///235i · 05-05-2007, 09:34 AM

I think its to protect the car from dipping too low when loading onto the trunks/ships

Roundelman · 05-05-2007, 09:35 AM

If they missed those spacers during PDI, who knows what else they forgot to do or check? I would insist they re-PDI the car again and give you some form of good faith payback. Free tweener oil change? fob cover?

ska///235i · 05-05-2007, 09:35 AM

sometimes I think those people working for BMW is just as bad as the guys at Kia

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roundelman

If they missed those spacers during PDI, who knows what else they forgot to do or check? I would insist they re-PDI the car again and give you some form of good faith payback. Free tweener oil change? fob cover?

At this point, I just want to make sure it didn't cause any damage to my car. The car runs fine though. This is my first BMW coming from Acura TL. My car is amazingly tight, no rattles, etc. TPM malfunctioned yesterday which went away.

Thanks for all your comments! I will ask the dealer to do PDI again.

E90Fleet · 05-05-2007, 09:54 AM

Can I slap your dealer ?

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Can I slap your dealer ?

Go right ahead, please!

Brunotheboxer · 05-05-2007, 11:02 AM

noob tech. at your dealer. get some compensation for your troubles.

Str8EJ · 05-05-2007, 11:44 AM

that's lame.
one of my colleagues picked up a new s2000 about two years ago with, as he would later find out, the exact same issue.
dealer forgot to remove a spacer/wedge fitted to the rear spring.
he ended up spinning his car out on a wet on-ramp, because the suspension had (essentially) zero travel. the results were not good - body damage to the rear passenger quarter where it smacked a hwy guard rail.

please be careful driving until you can have this corrected.

natedogg · 05-05-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Can I slap your dealer ?

e90fleet i will come with u too.

RiXst3r · 05-05-2007, 11:54 AM

Take it in and tell them that the rear left of the car doesnt feel right... let them diagnose it, and then see if the bastards fix it real quick, and then try and lie to you about what caused it... then you can whip out your photos... and get some REAL compensation

Its a good way to check the honesty of your service department

ElCapitan · 05-05-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiXst3r

Take it in and tell them that the rear left of the car doesnt feel right... let them diagnose it, and then see if the bastards fix it real quick, and then try and lie to you about what caused it... then you can whip out your photos... and get some REAL compensation

Its a good way to check the honesty of your service department

While doing this could be really satisfying, it could make the SA and his tech minions hate this particular customer. I prefer approaching them the way I would like to be approached. Everybody makes mistakes and trying to slap it in a humiliating way could only create unnecessary tension complicating things for when the service dept could be needed.

A good nature goes a long way.

RiXst3r · 05-05-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElCapitan

While doing this could be really satisfying, it could make the SA and his tech minions hate this particular customer. I prefer approaching them the way I would like to be approached. Everybody makes mistakes and trying to slap it in a humiliating way could only create unnecessary tension complicating things for when the service dept could be needed.

A good nature goes a long way.

Good point... you wouldnt want them to hate you

jfulcher · 05-05-2007, 01:02 PM

The spacers are there I think because they bolt the cars down to the boat when they put them on. it keeps the shocks from being under load the entire journey.

stressdoc · 05-05-2007, 01:17 PM

Completely unacceptable. If you don't rat them out to BMW AG then you are a better soul than me. Stuff like this should never happen. If you needed to make a high speed manouver that could potentially cause you to crash.

c56250 · 05-05-2007, 03:31 PM

The funny thing is that that side of tire felt like somone dropped a large rock on my car everytime I went over little bumps. Everytime that happened, I was thinking to myself "hmmmm, maybe it is one of those BMW things" or "Why don't these bastards fix the freakin roads"!

I am just glad that I didn't get into any accidents, etc (after reading your responses, it really got me thinking). Thanks.

05-05-2007, 09:21 AM	#1
c56250 Private First Class 16 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	New car with a rear left shock absorber problem (photo)-need experts' advise I've been driving my new 328i car like a grandma so far (1000 miles). After having this problem (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59942), I thoroughly checked all my tires. Then, I realized that the rear left shock absorber looked kinda funny. I always thought that the rear left side of the car felt funny everytime I went over road bumps. Could you guys let me know if this is normal? Would this be covered under warranty? I have not gone over any major pot holes either. Thank you.
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05-05-2007, 09:25 AM	#2
ska///235i ***** noob 1372 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	take it back to the dealer.....is a spacer/block that they forgot to take off and remember to give them hell __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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05-05-2007, 09:28 AM	#4
ska///235i ***** noob 1372 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	the blue & white plastic __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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05-05-2007, 09:30 AM	#5
ska///235i ***** noob 1372 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	those are there from the factory and should be taken off when it reaches the states __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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05-05-2007, 09:33 AM	#7
c56250 Private First Class 16 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Unbelievable!! No wonder why that side of the car felt funny.
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05-05-2007, 09:34 AM	#8
ska///235i ***** noob 1372 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	I think its to protect the car from dipping too low when loading onto the trunks/ships __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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05-05-2007, 09:35 AM	#9
Roundelman Private 1 Rep 85 Posts Drives: '08 335 (pending) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	If they missed those spacers during PDI, who knows what else they forgot to do or check? I would insist they re-PDI the car again and give you some form of good faith payback. Free tweener oil change? fob cover?
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05-05-2007, 09:54 AM	#12
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Can I slap your dealer ? __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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05-05-2007, 11:02 AM	#14
Brunotheboxer Colonel 373 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: 2014 Shelby GT500. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston/Cape Cod iTrader: (0)	noob tech. at your dealer. get some compensation for your troubles. __________________ "...I maybe drunk, but you're ugly, and I can sober up..."
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05-05-2007, 11:44 AM	#15
Str8EJ Master of Ceremonies 1 Rep 111 Posts Drives: '07 328xi Jet Blk/Blk/6Spd Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NoVirginia iTrader: (0)	that's lame. one of my colleagues picked up a new s2000 about two years ago with, as he would later find out, the exact same issue. dealer forgot to remove a spacer/wedge fitted to the rear spring. he ended up spinning his car out on a wet on-ramp, because the suspension had (essentially) zero travel. the results were not good - body damage to the rear passenger quarter where it smacked a hwy guard rail. please be careful driving until you can have this corrected.
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05-05-2007, 11:54 AM	#17
RiXst3r 274 Rep 6,510 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ohio iTrader: (14)	Take it in and tell them that the rear left of the car doesnt feel right... let them diagnose it, and then see if the bastards fix it real quick, and then try and lie to you about what caused it... then you can whip out your photos... and get some REAL compensation Its a good way to check the honesty of your service department
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05-05-2007, 01:02 PM	#20
jfulcher Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 281 Posts Drives: '07 Monaco E92 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia iTrader: (0)	The spacers are there I think because they bolt the cars down to the boat when they put them on. it keeps the shocks from being under load the entire journey. __________________ 335i E92 / Monaco / Cream / Burl Walnut / ZPP / ZSP / CA / Nav / Heated Seats / PDC / SAT / Ipod/USB / HD
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05-05-2007, 01:17 PM	#21
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Completely unacceptable. If you don't rat them out to BMW AG then you are a better soul than me. Stuff like this should never happen. If you needed to make a high speed manouver that could potentially cause you to crash. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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05-05-2007, 03:31 PM	#22
c56250 Private First Class 16 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	The funny thing is that that side of tire felt like somone dropped a large rock on my car everytime I went over little bumps. Everytime that happened, I was thinking to myself "hmmmm, maybe it is one of those BMW things" or "Why don't these bastards fix the freakin roads"! I am just glad that I didn't get into any accidents, etc (after reading your responses, it really got me thinking). Thanks.
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