[quackman]

Originally Posted by pharding

This is an e90 board. Why are you posting here? Also posting the same message on more than one board is spam.

Yeah, there IS an offtopic section, however this is not it.

[Lash2578]

Well I am sorry to try to inform you about BMW, the car you own and how they treat thier customers. I was just seeing if anyone had any info and letting everyone know what they have bought into.
Heath

[roburado]

Originally Posted by Lash2578

Well I am sorry to try to inform you about BMW, the car you own and how they treat thier customers. I was just seeing if anyone had any info and letting everyone know what they have bought into.
Heath

I appreciate hearing about this story for those reasons. Thank you. I don't think I would have heard about this had you not posted it here. I seriously doubt I would have gone to the E46 forum on any site.

[deutschmann59]

Hey Heath. Well, I appreciate the info, even though maybe it's in the wrong section. Sorry to hear about your car...that's kind of screwed up. I'm just glad to know there aren't a lot of stories like this, so I still have all the faith in the world about my new E90 325i.

I think voltron1011 and timzerofive make the best points. From a business standpoint, BMW--or any car manufacturer--would be better off getting sued for an apparently rare, isolated incident, rather than you just filing a claim with your insurance. Who knows? Maybe you've discovered a major problem in the way they were built.

In any case, I think BMW gave you the best advice, and I wouldn't look at it as them being unhelpful or even rude or unsympathetic to your plight. They don't know if you modded the car, and they most definitely don't want negative publicity, especially if the malfunction wasn't their fault. The best thing you can do is take the case to court and have special independent investigators (most likely appointed by the court) decide which party deserves proper legal remedy.

Good luck, Heath.

[Lash2578]

Thank you for the advice. I am waiting for a call back from a lawyer(he is in Guam right now) but he will back thurs. I hope he gives me good advice.
Heath

[Lash2578]

I talked to the lawyer yesterday and he gave me the bad news. He said since there was no injuries that it would be hard to get anything more that the loss of your car. He also stated that it will take a lot of time and $$$$$$$$$$ to win against BMW. This is a good example of the big guy just walks all over the little guy. I cant stand it. So, I calle my ins and told them to process the claim, I gave them a detailed story and statement about the entire thing. They said they would send a forensic team to find the origin of the3 fire. They also said most likly they would start a lawsuit. So I am waiting to see how much they are going to give me for my pile of crap, so I can go buy a new car. We are going to still write letters and continue to tell everyone that we can. I hope everyone takes my case and learns from it. Good luck.
Heath
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by Lash2578

I talked to the lawyer yesterday and he gave me the bad news. He said since there was no injuries that it would be hard to get anything more that the loss of your car. He also stated that it will take a lot of time and $$$$$$$$$$ to win against BMW. This is a good example of the big guy just walks all over the little guy. I cant stand it. So, I calle my ins and told them to process the claim, I gave them a detailed story and statement about the entire thing. They said they would send a forensic team to find the origin of the3 fire. They also said most likly they would start a lawsuit. So I am waiting to see how much they are going to give me for my pile of crap, so I can go buy a new car. We are going to still write letters and continue to tell everyone that we can. I hope everyone takes my case and learns from it. Good luck.
Heath
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I understand your anger and frustration. But without knowing what started the fire, there is actually nothing to learn from your case.
The behaviour from BMW is simply normal, what should be expected, and quite frankly exactly what I would have done if in their place.
That picture may change though once the cause of the fire is established for certain. Then how BMW reacts to it will become relevant.

I know und fully appreciate that you feel violated. I would too beeing in your situation. But it´s an emotional reaction, not a logical one.

My best guess is, that if you really haven´t done ANY modifications to your car and if only BMW mechanics have worked on it, then it seems most likely that during some repair or maintenance work an error was made that lead to the fire (maybe something that lead to an oil-spill in the vincinity of the exhaust manifold). I believe, given the volume of cars of that type built, that a serial manufaturing error or a bad construction is not very likely. And BMW know that too, so they´re right to be relaxed on the matter. If at all, there´s more likely to be a problem for the dealer that did maintenance and repairs.

I personally would like to hear from you again on this story if and when the cause of the fire is established. Before that, there´s little to learn from the story.

[Lash2578]

Update, Allstate found the cause of the fire and it was the high current b power cable was pinched causing the ignition of the ac/heater box. I thought I would just let the guys that were interested in the fire know the outcome. Allstate is sueing BMW to get the money that they paid out on the claim. Talk to you later.
Lash

[obLu]

That sucks and all, I'm sorry your car burnt. But I just don't see why it's BMWNA's responsibility. You get flat tires, collisions, bent suspension pieces from potholes ... sh*t happens but it's not the manufacturer's fault.

That's what insurance is for. Are they totalling it, or are they going to pay to fix it? If they're fixing, make sure you get a diminished value payout too.

Conversely, if the dealership I bought it from knew I was buying a replacement car from them and didn't put out for a loaner in the meantime and made ride around in a rental I'd be kind of hacked off.

[obLu]

Ah...I spoke too soon, didn't see your previous post.

[fatass]

Sweet, call CSI. They usually solve it in an hour, sometimes it takes two episodes though...

[MCS]

I agree with Pharding. Take your insurance money and buy another car. If its truly a design or construction flaw with your car, then I'm sure you'll be compensated. Use the funds to look and perhaps buy another 3 series that won't go up in smoke...

Point is, no one was hurt. The engine compartment shielded you and your passenger from any harm.

[F32Fleet]

You guys remember when Siemens was manufacturing the aux cooling fan on the x5's and E46 around 2000-2002. The motor would just run and run eventually overheating and catching fire. Now THAT scared BMW.

Ofcourse don't forget the recall on heated seats for the E60. Those seats were catching fire.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Socom

You guys remember when Siemens was manufacturing the aux cooling fan on the x5's and E46 around 2000-2002. The motor would just run and run eventually overheating and catching fire. Now THAT scared BMW.

Ofcourse don't forget the recall on heated seats for the E60. Those seats were catching fire.

The seats didnt catch fire, they just smouldered in a small area ( around 1" x 1" ) if the system was left on too long

[F32Fleet]

ok ok..no flames per se, but burning nonetheless.

[roburado]

Thanks for the update.

[Tierfreund]

Good info. Thanks for the update. Now what´s really interesting is: What caused the cable to be pinched?

I guess we´ll never know. With a single incident and an insurer sueing BMW, I bet it´ll be settled in no time.

Anyhow, good to know your covered.

[davinet78]

i hope they give you a new car and that this kind of things doesnt happen to anyone again