[Simann]

Pretty wild to see the problem I hypothesized would occur 2 years go viral like it is now. I had mine fixed 2 years ago, spoke to a few shops and found a part through Koala Motorsports, they built a few race motors with VANOS delete kits and had a bunch of the hubs laying around. Instead of paying BMW $1000.00 for the part, I paid $100.00 through Koala for newer piece.

This will undoubtedly be a huge problem later on down the road for these cars.

[JREEVES197]

Originally Posted by M3_MANN

The problem is that the material they used to make the hub is too weak. The tabs are a high (and only) impact zone. Every time the slot hits the tab, it transfer energy. Since the tab doesnt have much surface to dilute the energy, tab takes all the hit. Energy absorbed by the tabs will cause the metal deformation. Enough hits and ka-boom, vanos failure. I'm sure BMW didn't intentionally use a material that will break. Just a miscalculation.

Ok, I would like BMW to admit the problem and offer a soultion.. They need to recalculate..

[bimmerfan08]

Originally Posted by Angrywhopper

Doesn't a thread like this come up like every month? Nothing will happen with a car that will be out of production for 6 years now and started 11 years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This thread is the first of the kind if you read the title. All the other threads have been failures after failures after failures. Something needs to be done to fix this issue.

[¿safxtacy!]

Kept my receipts for my Vanos unit/solenoid :thumb sip: would love to get some of that money back.

[16V-Dub]

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

This thread is the first of the kind if you read the title. All the other threads have been failures after failures after failures. Something needs to be done to fix this issue.

These are engine parts on an old car. Not rotting out frames, failing brakes, airbags blowing themselves up.

BMW's been done honoring warrantees on these for years. What needs to be done? Aftermarket solution, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Need a couple companies to produce upgraded versions and compete for our business. Might happen, might not. Either way, nothing is free.

[ravfox]

"Were not in the business of buying new BMWs."

Well, actually some of are. But more importantly, and I say this as someone who works peripherally in the industry, if you make this clear BMW will never pay any attention. You need to phrase it very differently: we are just the sort of people they can have as easy customers in the primary market - and secondary - but whom they will lose if they do not pay some sort of attention to the issue. Unfortunately, they are very, very much more interested in people who buy (or lease) at least one premium car from them, every 3-4 years than they are in people who buy their cars used on the private market. The latter group represent virtually no money going into BMW's collective pocket. The former group are covered already by the warranty and the service contract. To make a suit work you need to think like an exec at BMW, possibly like a dealer principal, and probably like a lawyer, not like an aggrieved owner.

Good luck. I've had a VANOS issue on one of my cars, but not one of the normal problems.

[Dan4hockey99]

I agree that BMW should cover an issue that a) costly and b) a common problem. I support it but do not think it will happen.

[bimmerfan08]

Originally Posted by 16V-Dub

These are engine parts on an old car. Not rotting out frames, failing brakes, airbags blowing themselves up.

BMW's been done honoring warrantees on these for years. What needs to be done? Aftermarket solution, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Need a couple companies to produce upgraded versions and compete for our business. Might happen, might not. Either way, nothing is free.

Thats understandable and yes I agree somewhat. Even a permanent aftermarket solution that puts out solid test data saying to the public "look we have a solution and a fix to this problem, we would be glad to do core swaps etc and take your business for $XXX" or whatever the offer would be. Its just ridiculous that as BMW loyalists to the brand and their parts, that people are getting shafted on a problem that should have never happened in the first place. This is a mechanical/engineering mistake that shouldve been addressed or required further testing and calculations. The fact of the matter is if VANOS hubs were $50-$100 a pop and not sending pieces through engines, then I dont really think people would complain. The expenses arent the cheapest for something that has nothing to do with the way the car is driven by the owner. Its material and mechanical design fault at play here.

[bimmerfan08]

Originally Posted by ravfox

"Were not in the business of buying new BMWs."

Well, actually some of are. But more importantly, and I say this as someone who works peripherally in the industry, if you make this clear BMW will never pay any attention. You need to phrase it very differently: we are just the sort of people they can have as easy customers in the primary market - and secondary - but whom they will lose if they do not pay some sort of attention to the issue. Unfortunately, they are very, very much more interested in people who buy (or lease) at least one premium car from them, every 3-4 years than they are in people who buy their cars used on the private market. The latter group represent virtually no money going into BMW's collective pocket. The former group are covered already by the warranty and the service contract. To make a suit work you need to think like an exec at BMW, possibly like a dealer principal, and probably like a lawyer, not like an aggrieved owner.

Good luck. I've had a VANOS issue on one of my cars, but not one of the normal problems.

Right but for now this is just a discussion/rant thread. Nothing is set in stone. Hell who knows how far this will ever get, but its nice for members to come forth and say "hey I had an issue, I would be in support of this settlement if it went forth". Obviously the issue would be presented in a more appropriate and defined matter. New cars give a company like BMW a good revenue, but if I recall the majority of their sales come through service, and BMW still gets a lot of my $$$ for the oil I put into this car because I buy directly through dealerships.

[RedM3/4]

OK, but what's your true objective here? I think many of us agree we'd like BMW to step up, but are YOU willing to find the law firm that did the subframe class action, or another firm that does automotive class actions, and call them to get this started? Are you not, and just hoping somebody else that reads this will? Not trying to bust your chops, just want to make the point that until somebody is willing to do exactly this, it is in fact, just another wind-blowing thread that goes nowhere.

By the way, I think it best that whomever starts the class have had a failure, but I'm not a lawyer, I could be mistaken.

ADS

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

This thread is the first of the kind if you read the title. All the other threads have been failures after failures after failures. Something needs to be done to fix this issue.