[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

I just got home from the dealer where the shop foreman thinks that this might be a characteristic of DHP. I.e. that the DHP suspension can't react fast enough when you hit even a modest sized speed bump at more than slow speed.

I bought DNP to provide a better ride and handling. I'm seeing the opposite! If what I'm seeing is true, then DHP is cr@p!

Do you really think BMW engineers signed off a suspension system that 'knocks' in moderate use?

Your vehicle has a fault, get them to sort it. Then I hope you can enjoy the drive, if not, as said, best to sell it and move on.

HighlandPete

[VinX3]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

I just got home from the dealer where the shop foreman thinks that this might be a characteristic of DHP. I.e. that the DHP suspension can't react fast enough when you hit even a modest sized speed bump at more than slow speed.

I bought DNP to provide a better ride and handling. I'm seeing the opposite! If what I'm seeing is true, then DHP is cr@p!

X3 owners with DNP - do you get a bad bump and noise when you go over a modest speed bump at say 27 mph?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dan.

p.s. My opinion of BMW it dropping fast! I'm starting to hate this car. I haven't the time for this.

Don't listen to the BS. If it's a loud BANG, there must be something wrong. No suspension should make noise, even if it's a 20k car or 60k car.

However, to me, this is a sign that you should take your car elsewhere.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

Thanks for the feedback. I don't expect that any car will be perfect, however having a bad strut on a 4-day old car is totally bizarre. That only time that happened to me was with a 10 year old Honda CRV with 75,000 miles. But on a brand new BMW with 78 miles on it? Not even remotely reasonable.

But wait! It gets better...

The service department called me this morning saying that BMW had sent the WRONG replacement strut. At best, it will Wednesday evening before the car is fixed!

I should not have cancelled my order for a Mercedes GLC.

Dan.

A catastrophic failure like this on a new part is incredibly rare and shouldn't be conflated with poor design/assembly that manifests as premature wear/tear/damage.

[BookemDano]

Originally Posted by DonC

sell it.

Probably a good idea, but I'd probably lose at least $10,000. If I'm going to lost that kind of money, I'll sue BMW for false advertising.

[BookemDano]

Originally Posted by cSurf

A catastrophic failure like this on a new part is incredibly rare and shouldn't be conflated with poor design/assembly that manifests as premature wear/tear/damage.

cSurf,

Frankly, I don't care what is causing the problem. I simply want it fixed. If that means replacing it with another X3 that does not have that problem, so be it!

Dan.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

cSurf,

Frankly, I don't care what is causing the problem. I simply want it fixed. If that means replacing it with another X3 that does not have that problem, so be it!

Dan.

Sounds like that's what they're doing?

[BookemDano]

Originally Posted by cSurf

Sounds like that's what they're doing?

At this point they are not convinced that it's a problem on a DHP equipped car. They don't have many X3s ordered in that dealership, so they have little experience with DHP. They are bringing in someone from BMW regional or corporate to look at it.

This is a new record for me - the first time I ever found a major problem with a car 4 days after I bought it. Absolutely amazing on a $60K car.

Dan.

p.s. I believe the dealer's department are giving their best effort to find the problem.

[02420X3]

Document, document, document. Your experience may turn 180 degrees into a fantastic one. On the other hand, it may not. Just in case, check out the WA Lemon Law and make sure that you're doing everything required - and document, document, document.

[djrobx]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

X3 owners with DNP - do you get a bad bump and noise when you go over a modest speed bump at say 27 mph?
.

I have DDC on my X4. I have no trouble whatsoever going over speed bumps in any mode. I always go over them at excessive speeds too because they annoy the sh*t out of me.

[TonyX3driver]

Dan,

if you look around here, will find many posts about steering rack clicking.
Could be this your issue??
My complete steeting rack was changed FOC, because there was nocking over the curb or faster speed on the bad road. Metal sound nocking right from down of the steering rod....

[guyver626]

I have DHP and have no issues at all going over bumps. I own a 14 35i msport. If they can't fix the car in a few more weeks I would start asking them for a trade assist. Have them replace your car entirely with another exact build.

[Pitiful Old Man]

Regarding your comment on American assembly quality: I have a hard time believing it is an issue. First of all, very little actual assembly is accomplished by humans; nearly everything is done by robot. The humans are there to keep the robots supplied with parts and to repair or adjust them when needed.

This is true for most any large vehicle assembly plant anywhere in the world.

Secondly, these are assembly plants; very few components are actually manufactured at the assembly site. At the Spartenburg, SC plant the "frame" components are welded together by robot. The body is painted. Everything else, engines, transmissions, wiring harnesses, light assemblies, you name it, arrives in a just-in-time delivery system from vendors all over the world.

The issues with vehicle quality today are much more related to the engineering (do the components work together to achieve the manufacturer's goals) and the quality of the individual components. Component quality is obviously a big issue. All manufacturers have strict specifications for every component and perform quality checks. Any consistent problems with a component are quickly remedied; one doesn't want to manufacture thousand of cars with defective (and possibly unsafe) components. Just ask Toyota or GM or VW how a one defective component has affected their profits (not to mention lives).

Despite all of this, defective parts are manufactured and are not caught by the vendor or during the assembly process. This is inevitable, regardless of the manufacturer or how much the vehicle costs; none are perfect and chance (call it luck if you must) plays a roll. Are some manufacturers better than others with overall reliability? Sure. Are there differing engineering goals, approaches, and levels of competence? Sure.

The good news is that, due to all of the individual component and system checks, these component problems tend to be isolated occurrences. A good dealer network can solve most of them. And one bad component is not indicative of other bad components. Unless there is a supply chain or engineering problem, the issue is resolvable and other issues are unlikely.

[Tjalle]

I can add to what POM is saying - there are many foreign manufacturers assembling products in the US with same quality as at home.

Front struts are probably made by Fichtel&Sachs - in Germany or US. They are the best.
BMW would not - nor F&S - release a shitty product- but shit happens.

[NOITALL]

LOL thread of the year

[JohnAG]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

I just got home from the dealer where the shop foreman thinks that this might be a characteristic of DHP. I.e. that the DHP suspension can't react fast enough when you hit even a modest sized speed bump at more than slow speed.

I bought DNP to provide a better ride and handling. I'm seeing the opposite! If what I'm seeing is true, then DHP is cr@p!

X3 owners with DNP - do you get a bad bump and noise when you go over a modest speed bump at say 27 mph?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dan.

p.s. My opinion of BMW it dropping fast! I'm starting to hate this car. I haven't the time for this.

Dan,

I'm curious what the resolution was with this issue since I too have the DHP and have the same loud bang issue when going over speed bumps at slightly faster speeds. I thought this was mainly due to my 310 wheel set up with the low profile run flats which has little give on the tires sidewall on bumps thus reaching the limits of the suspension system pre-maturely.

[BookemDano]

Originally Posted by JohnAG

Dan,

I'm curious what the resolution was with this issue since I too have the DHP and have the same loud bang issue when going over speed bumps at slightly faster speeds. I thought this was mainly due to my 310 wheel set up with the low profile run flats which has little give on the tires sidewall on bumps thus reaching the limits of the suspension system pre-maturely.

John,

BMW is sending out a specialist to inspect my car on the 20th. I'll report back when I know more.

Regards,

Dan.

[BookemDano]

Specialist examined it yesterday. Says that it's normal.

Lesser problems include mushy, inconsistent braking and inconsistent throttle response. Especially bad in comfort mode.

I'm extremely disappointed. But I haven't the time or patience for running back and forth to the dealer. So I'll just have to live with the damn thing for a while.

Dan.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

Specialist examined it yesterday. Says that it's normal.

Lesser problems include mushy, inconsistent braking and inconsistent throttle response. Especially bad in comfort mode.

I'm extremely disappointed. But I haven't the time or patience for running back and forth to the dealer. So I'll just have to live with the damn thing for a while.

Dan.

Are these unique to your example? Ask for a loaner or a demo to discern if you're car is uniquely bad or you just have buyers remorse.

[JohnAG]

Originally Posted by BookemDano

Specialist examined it yesterday. Says that it's normal.

Lesser problems include mushy, inconsistent braking and inconsistent throttle response. Especially bad in comfort mode.

I'm extremely disappointed. But I haven't the time or patience for running back and forth to the dealer. So I'll just have to live with the damn thing for a while.

Dan.

Dan,

Sorry to hear that this is considered normal. I'm also disappointed that a luxury car has this issue. I'd be more willing to accept it if it was one of those practically priced automobiles.

I'm curious if you are using the 310 wheels also because of the lower profile non-run flat tires. I think this exacerbates the issue as well, so I'm always wondering how it is for non-310 wheel set up.

John

[emil111]

I'm just here to read the funny comments