[MechX3M40i]

Purely speculating here... different tolerance of liability risk might have played a part on why one dealer decided not to release the car back while waiting for part, and a different dealer was ok with letting the owner drive the car away.

I'm also wondering if the first dealer had a hard time turning and keeping the Check Engine Warning Light off. I can understand not giving the car back to customer while the warning light is active.

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

From what I learned from BMW after they repurchased my previous 2018 X3 M40i is that BMW will very, very seldom obtain a replacement part from an assembly plant. All parts are assigned to a vehicle on the schedule to be built.
Also even though many parts for all BMW X vehicles (well maybe not the X1) are made in the US, hardly any parts are kept in the US. Everything is kept in Germany.
Does seem crazy that the parts are made in the US, then shipped and stored in Germany, then when needed, shipped back to the US. Though I would think for vehicles about to start production, US made parts are shipped in time from the US plants to Spartanburg.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is never a good thing for any supply chain. The disruption could create a chain reaction and impact multiple cars to be built, aggravating multiple new car owners and dealers. This is more damaging than letting one grieving owner to wait for replacement parts shipping to States.

Regarding why they decided not to warehouse parts in US despite most of their SAV are built in their biggest plant in the world, that's beyond me... :

[freitz]

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is never a good thing for any supply chain. The disruption could create a chain reaction and impact multiple cars to be built, aggravating multiple new car owners and dealers. This is more damaging than letting one grieving owner to wait for replacement parts shipping to States.

Regarding why they decided not to warehouse parts in US despite most of their SAV are built in their biggest plant in the world, that's beyond me... :

I'm wondering the same thing as I wait for my left rear output drive shaft from Germany.

[nickX3]

I have a 2018 BMW X3 M40i. My check engine light came on as well at about 5500 miles. Ran the OBD diagnostics and the active air shutter was stuck on. Took the car to the dealer and was also told the part was back ordered in Germany. The dealer turned the check engine light off and told me its fine to drive my car till the part comes in.

[transcendid]

Originally Posted by freitz

Interesting they have you in a loaner so long. Which dealership are you at in Maryland? I am also in Maryland.

Silver Spring. I'm going to take the couple of posts here of people's dealers returning cars after clearing this light to the service manager and ask for my car back. Who knows when these will be back in stock!

[bmtespar]

My car was bought back after the replacement parts had been recalled and they couldn’t provide a time frame as to when the car would be fixed. At that point, my car had been in shop for about 3 months. Although my issue was relatively minor in the overall operation of the vehicle, I wanted to drive the car I was paying for. I guess my point is that regardless if the issue is a bad engine or bad ambient lighting, at a reasonable point, BMW needs to step up and make it right. The more cars they have to replace or reimburse monthly notes is the only way to ensure they are keeping standards for quality control high. I love my x3 but it has already proven to be more problematic than any of the other 12 BMW’s I have owned in the past.

[rangerfan94]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

I love my x3 but it has already proven to be more problematic than any of the other 12 BMW’s I have owned in the past.

This is not something I like reading. Lucky 13 perhaps?! Hope BMW makes it right!!

[transcendid]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

My car was bought back after the replacement parts had been recalled and they couldn’t provide a time frame as to when the car would be fixed. At that point, my car had been in shop for about 3 months.

Wow, 3 months! after they didn't provide a time frame, Did it stay in the shop waiting on backordered parts after that, or did you get it back?

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by transcendid

Wow, 3 months! after they didn't provide a time frame, Did it stay in the shop waiting on backordered parts after that, or did you get it back?

It was 3 months cumulative time. It would spend a week to two weeks at a time in the shop. After 30 days, bmw has to get more actively involved. The normal process is 30 days in the shop, 3 attempts to repair by dealer and then a bmw field engineer. If none of those terms yield a repair it’s time to start pushing.

[transcendid]

Got it. It'll be 30 days on Thursday. I just sent an email requesting they clear the codes and return the car while they wait on the part to become available. I would think that'd be preferable for them too, vs. just holding the car in their garage while I fume at BMWNA and send certified letters etc.

Do you have your car back now? All fixed?

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by transcendid

Do you have your car back now? All fixed?

I have a replacement vehicle now.

[alexc93]

I would request they take the part off of a dealer car if they really have no timeline estimate on being able to replace it. There are many many many new X3's available sitting on lots for them to do this

[transcendid]

Originally Posted by alexc93

I would request they take the part off of a dealer car if they really have no timeline estimate on being able to replace it. There are many many many new X3's available sitting on lots for them to do this

Good thought. I did that and they declined. :

[transcendid]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

I have a replacement vehicle now.

Man. Are you happy with the replacement? Did they do an even exchange for you, or buy back the problem vehicle? I've never been through anything like that before so have no idea how the logistics work out to replace a car.

[bmtespar]

They allowed me to order a car with all of my original options plus a few more options. It sounds like a wonderful thing and on paper it is, but 8 months of going back and forth made me never want to return to my dealer again. Thankfully we have multiple BMW dealers in my city.

[alexc93]

Originally Posted by transcendid

Good thought. I did that and they declined. :

Sorry to hear that, sounds more like they aren't being very helpful.

An M2 at my local dealer sat on a lift with no brakes for 3 months when they first starting delivering because they needed them for a customer car who was having issues with noises and brakes were back ordered.

[transcendid]

Got the car back today. Engine light is on but they warned it would be because they disconnected the shutters and the computer would pick that up and error out. I guess they can't permanently clear it. Still no ETA on replacement shutters. I'll be submitting a downtime reimbursement request with BMWNA and hoping nothing else goes wrong that I miss due to engine light being on. Thanks all for the advice, I mentioned the forum posts and other owners getting their cars back when insisting they release mine.

[KevinAC]

I had the same issue with the check engine light coming on, but would clear itself the next day. After about the 3rd time, I took it in and they told me the same thing about the shutters not closing. The part was coming from Germany, probably 2-3 weeks; nothing about it being backordered. That was 4 days ago. They didn't hesitate at giving me the car back, but the light is not currently on.

[transcendid]

Originally Posted by KevinAC

I had the same issue with the check engine light coming on, but would clear itself the next day. After about the 3rd time, I took it in and they told me the same thing about the shutters not closing. The part was coming from Germany, probably 2-3 weeks; nothing about it being backordered. That was 4 days ago. They didn't hesitate at giving me the car back, but the light is not currently on.

this is starting to seem like less of an isolated issue. I'd be really curious to hear if your part ships without issue. They initially told me 1-2 weeks and I had to contact them at week 3 to find out it's backordered.

[Tax2017]

I had the same issue with my 2018 x3. Took it to dealer one month back and they returned it saying the part is back ordered. They said it's safe to drive the car. I will reach out to the dealership tomorrow and check the status on the part. I haven't driven much after they returned thinking it might cause more damage. Based on the comments here it looks like its safe to drive the car.

[transcendid]

Update: dealer contacted me yesterday; the radiator blinds unexpectedly arrived even though the status in the system is still showing "backordered." My car is back with them to hopefully be fixed for good.

[greg2step]

strange, I am also in Maryland - I found out today I have the same problem - but my check engine light only came on 3 times in 4 months, and cleared on its own. The first time it happened they did a software update, but that apparently didn't fix it. Now its been diagnosed. I was also told the part is backordered but this hasn't caused me anything other than a rare check engine light - so I am content driving my X3 and not a loaner

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1522962

Late January (~6 weeks)

I bought and go for service at Northwest in Owings Mills

Greg