Dear BMW:
BMW with Hole in Engine at 55,614 Miles
“BMW with a hole in the engine at 55,614 miles.” I bet if you saw that headline somewhere you would just laugh and say to yourself, “this is just an Internet rumor with no basis.” Well, you would be wrong. My 2009 328i BMW has a hole in its engine at 55,614 miles and is leaking coolant and is not drivable.
I am the original owner of this vehicle. I emphasize that I am the original owner because everyone that I have spoken with at BMW has asked that same question. I purchased the car new from West German BMW in Fort Washington, PA. I thought after doing my research on Edmunds and talking to other owners and car enthusiasts that a BMW would be a better, more reliable brand. I purchased my car believing that I was purchasing quality, reliability and buying a brand in which the dealers and manufacturers would stand behind its product; and that I would have a car in operative order for at least 15 years. It appears that I was wrong on all accounts.
The engine began to manifest problems as early as 1,500 miles and continued to break down causing the heat to malfunction. My car was well within the warranty when the engine began breaking down; however the certified BMW mechanics at West German BMW did not uncover the root cause. The service advisor told me when I had taken the car in for the third time for the same issue, that he had put his best mechanic on the job. The best mechanic failed the BMW brand and me. As a certified service center, when I brought my car in for the fourth time for the same issue, they should have reached out to a BMW engineer for a consult.
I drive less than the national yearly average mileage. I have had the recommended service performed on the car and my car is leaking coolant and is now un-drivable, due to a porous magnesium block, which means my car was built with a defective engine. The metal did not cure properly during the manufacturing process.
Certified Mechanics at West German BMW worked on my heating-cooling system multiple times for the same problem, but failed to provide me with the true root cause of the problem. I am not sure if the mechanics at West German are poorly trained or if they just kept applying band aids until the car was out of warranty. The BMW certified mechanics at West German should have uncovered the faulty engine. Now that the car is no longer under warranty, a certified BMW mechanic at Towson BMW has determined the root cause as to why a $40,000 car has no heat; “my engine has a hole and is leaking coolant.” I am hopeful that the misdiagnosis in the past had nothing to do with BMW not taking responsibility for its mistake.
BMW North America has made a Goodwill offer of 60 percent to replace my engine, and I would be responsible for 40 percent. My case went to the Executive office and the response from that office was the same—“this is a generous offer.” Even if I had the resources to repair my car, I would not consider paying 40 percent to replace a manufacturer’s defect that should have been uncovered by the certified BMW mechanic a generous offer.
I was told that the following factors are considered when making a Goodwill offer:
The number of BMWs that I have owned in the past – my first
The age of the car – 7 years
The car mileage – 55,614 miles
The Executive office further stated that this is a fair offer because the car is three years out of warranty. However, no one has addressed the fact that the car was misdiagnosed while under warranty.
I thought that I had found a brand to which I could be loyal and from which I could purchase future cars. My plan was to move to the 6 series after my 328i.
I am not asking for BMW to replace my car. I am only asking BMW to stand behind its product and take responsibility for its mistake. I have had a number of people say that my only mistake was buying a BMW, please don’t make them right.
Regards,
Shevon Kaintuck
