[JackieChan]

I just spoke to my SA at my local BMW dealership. It's a 2 day fix. They replaced the power steering rack and electric module. Apparently, the electronic module is built into the steering rack as 1 component. That is what I was told.

Now they need to update the software tomorrow which will take 4-6 hours.

And here's a newsflash. My BMW SA told me that this may be a temporary fix and if after all this it happens again, BMWNA will have another software update to hopefully rectify this problem 100%. Apparently, they are working on part 2 of this fix but it won't be available until March.

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by sfax

The list price of the base 20d X3 is only £31k. I think a lot of people expect more quality because they put a load of options and a bigger engine in it but it doesn't make the whole car better quality, just more expensive

Good logic. A base 5 series is £30k so the quality of the X3 should be the same.

I'm not talking about build quality, which I think is fine (unless my wind noise is a build issue). My comment is more about the inherent designed-in quality. Everything is just a little flimsy feeling, not by a lot and normally BMW address this with clever damping materials giving a higher quality feel. Knowing the car better I would still buy one now but I do feel quality or perception of quality has slipped. I've spent £30,000+ on BMWs over the years so my views I feel have some weight, unlike the car J.

[sfax]

@dnw Aren't you contradicting yourself by saying that you have "owned multiple new BMWs over the years" and then talking about how your comparisons are only based on "up to date" experience? Any intelligent reader can see the huge hole in this argument.

Not sure what you mean on my £31k argument either. Because it's not included in the thread, I can't comment on it? Try spending some time reading the other 1000s of threads on this forum rather than taking such a blinkered view.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by clivem2

Good logic. A base 5 series is £30k so the quality of the X3 should be the same.

Really? I thought the clue would be in the number: 3 (not 5). It's an SAV/SUV, not a saloon

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by sfax

Really? I thought the clue would be in the number: 3 (not 5). It's an SAV/SUV, not a saloon

You brought in the idea of price, now you change the logic saying a saloon should be more solid feeling than an SUV. I can't agree with that, the reverse is what I'd expect.

[sfax]

You were being sarcastic. Expect to be treated accordingly. 3 door hatch costs less than a 5 door hatch. Reason? More materials needed. X5 costs more than a 5 series, not just the extra materials. Wow, is it really that difficult?

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by sfax

You were being sarcastic. Expect to be treated accordingly. 3 door hatch costs less than a 5 door hatch. Reason? More materials needed. X5 costs more than a 5 series, not just the extra materials. Wow, is it really that difficult?

You're very naive about how pricing vs costing is done. The cost of a car is in development and setting up production lines. The cost of developing a 7 series is little different to a 3 series but the volumes are very different and of course the market will stand differentiated pricing. The difference in the parts cost is really, I mean REALLY small relative the price difference.

[sfax]

I am incredulous. 5 < 3. R&D? lol. Surely the price tag on the X5 is wrong then?

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by sfax

I am incredulous. 5 < 3. R&D? lol. Surely the price tag on the X5 is wrong then?

Where did I say that?

You really don't understand costing vs pricing and perception of value. Do you have a technical or commercial background?

[sfax]

Thank you for pointing out how naive I am and what I do and don't understand. I just wish my life had been enriched by buying more BMWs and then maybe I'd know as much as you do. My incredulity knows no bounds but I'll leave it up the discerning reader to form an opinion

[Rodion]

Originally Posted by jt2

The X3 has electric power steering, which means no direct coupling.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/2...ering-failure/

Really? Sounds awkward, I never heard of a car that is "fly-by-wire". (see picture below)

And in your link it says:

"a control module in the crossover's electric power steering system may malfunction, resulting in a loss of power steering."


And as I know human nature, it is to overestimate the problematic issue and its consequences. Especially these days as the media started the whole trend.

[dnw]

Originally Posted by sfax

@dnw Aren't you contradicting yourself by saying that you have "owned multiple new BMWs over the years" and then talking about how your comparisons are only based on "up to date" experience? Any intelligent reader can see the huge hole in this argument.

Not sure what you mean on my £31k argument either. Because it's not included in the thread, I can't comment on it? Try spending some time reading the other 1000s of threads on this forum rather than taking such a blinkered view.

Oh dear. Touched a nerve have we?

Any intelligent reader would surely pick up the correlation between my comments about relative frequency of issues reported in user forums and keeping up to date on said forums..

...and as to the comments you introduced in relation to pricing and larger engine sizes and options, it's pretty clear who they were aimed against.

And what do you think you know about the threads I read and my general views after debating one topic?

Your recent swathe of replies towards clivem2 and myself have turned from heated debate to personally aimed attacks and as a result I'm checking out of this thread. Goodbye.

[Earlofessex]

Is there a way to mark a thread as "pissing contest", so casual readers know that the discussion has strayed from debate to diatribe?

[LFC]

Update,

I dropped the car off Jan. 16th, on the 19th I was notified that they were going to replace the entire steering and that the part should arrive 23-24. Today, Jan 26th, I was notified that the part is backordered without a current ETA. Anyone know with if I'm eligible for compensation or car replacement under the lemon law if the car cannot be fixed because of part unavailability if this issue continues for another couple of weeks? Thankfully, I'm in an X3 loaner for the time being after noting that I wasn't especially satisfied with the ford focus rental for the first 4 days.

Originally Posted by LFC

I have an 2011 X3 28i with the Dynamic Handling Package. In the last week the steering has completely failed 2 times upon starting the car and driving. There was a warning light with a steering wheel! on both the nav screen and dash which said to drive moderately to the nearest BMW center. The steering acted if it was completely locked and it was not possible to drive or turn. I had to completely turn off the car 4 times and wait a bit each time before the warning light finally turned off and the steering returned back to normal.

I just dropped off the car yesterday at BMW, anyone else have this problem.

I thought maybe my car was probably one of the cars listed in the recall since it was built Mid May 2011, but BMW said there were no recalls for the car.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/2...ering-failure/

Scary issue, if it happens when driving/turning, you're completely screwed.

[02420X3]

See the Mass.Gov Office of Consumer Affairs Website:

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer/a...lemon-law.html

[GuitarDTO]

Is this an issue with 2012 models? The recall only said 2011 so was just curious.