[LSB M]

Some of you may remember, we rejected delivery of the first car about 1.5 months ago because the rear quarter had a dent and scratch on it.

Last week, we went to pick up the re-ordered car. All went well... we drove it home (2 miles away) and then kept it in the garage until yesterday when we took the car to Wheel Dynamix to have it clear bra'ed.

When we got home, as we were inspecting the clear bra work, lo and behold, guess what we discovered?

One of the side mirrors was Sapphire Black. Nothing weird, except our car is Jet Black!!!

So we're wondering -- who out there has our Jet Black mirror?!

To the person who said I was being "too picky" and had too high a standard when I complained about the QC at the new NC plant... .*ahem*... case in point.

The dealer confirmed that it came from the factory like this. Now, this really makes me wonder, did they give me a 28 engine instead of a 35? What else did they not check before releasing the car?

R I D I C U L O U S... is all I can say. I am simply flabbergasted.

[Powerrunner]

Interesting, for as expensive as these cars are I also had a manufacturing defect in the rear quarter panel that passed BMWs quality control. Small paint chip, looks like the metal was protruding from the back side. Not big at all but it caused a paint chip and paint spider like cracking. BMW was all over it and took care of it with tenacity. Just have to wonder about QA.

[LSB M]

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

Interesting, for as expensive as these cars are I also had a manufacturing defect in the rear quarter panel that passed BMWs quality control. Small paint chip, looks like the metal was protruding from the back side. Not big at all but it caused a paint chip and paint spider like cracking. BMW was all over it and took care of it with tenacity. Just have to wonder about QA.

Agreed. Our dealer (Paul and Nik at HC in Boston) have been really great to deal with. Awesome guys, but you're right, the QA/QC at the new plant is a little off... I guess they still have kinks that needs to be sorted out.

[JSH3]

Originally Posted by LSB M

To the person who said I was being "too picky" and had too high a standard when I complained about the QC at the new NC plant... .*ahem*... case in point.

North Carolina or South Carolina? I only know of the South Carolina plant, and it's not new. Is there a North Carolina plant now?

[Upgrade15]

Omg...how did that even happen! Ugh!

[MA78]

Wow. Just...wow.

Feeling lucky that my car was all the right colour. Good thing they only do one shade of white.

[flash3]

Clear Bra'd?

[MA78]

Originally Posted by flash3

Clear Bra'd?

It's a film that can be installed on the bumper and parts of the hood to protect against chips. Personally, not a fan. It's hard to clean, and it just looks off to me. But some people love it.

[flash3]

Originally Posted by MA78

It's a film that can be installed on the bumper and parts of the hood to protect against chips. Personally, not a fan. It's hard to clean, and it just looks off to me. But some people love it.

Thanks for the clarification. I think I'll opt out of that. I actually found a self service car wash down the street today that I plan to use. My apartment complex only has well water available to use for car washing.

[jt2]

Originally Posted by flash3

My apartment complex only has well water available to use for car washing.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...th+fittings.do

Works great, and I get about a year's worth of washes out of a filter. I'd probably double that if I used it only for rinsing.

[MA78]

Originally Posted by flash3

Thanks for the clarification. I think I'll opt out of that. I actually found a self service car wash down the street today that I plan to use. My apartment complex only has well water available to use for car washing.

Use this stuff:
http://optimumcarcare.com/onrwns.php?li=2

[sfax]

Originally Posted by LSB M

Some of you may remember, we rejected delivery of the first car about 1.5 months ago because the rear quarter had a dent and scratch on it.

Last week, we went to pick up the re-ordered car. All went well... we drove it home (2 miles away) and then kept it in the garage until yesterday when we took the car to Wheel Dynamix to have it clear bra'ed.

When we got home, as we were inspecting the clear bra work, lo and behold, guess what we discovered?

One of the side mirrors was Sapphire Black. Nothing weird, except our car is Jet Black!!!

So we're wondering -- who out there has our Jet Black mirror?!

To the person who said I was being "too picky" and had too high a standard when I complained about the QC at the new NC plant... .*ahem*... case in point.

The dealer confirmed that it came from the factory like this. Now, this really makes me wonder, did they give me a 28 engine instead of a 35? What else did they not check before releasing the car?

R I D I C U L O U S... is all I can say. I am simply flabbergasted.

This is unbelievable. You are due some serious compensation for this farce.

I'm checking my mirrors are both titanium silver not mineral silver as soon as i get home!

[TarHeelFan]

Count me as a fan of the Clear Bra. I'm now back in my home state of California but it was living in NC that was my inspiration. Just felt like there were a ton of rocks on the road and my 335i Convertible had plenty of rock chips on the front and hood - and that was with a silver car. Now that I've got the Deep Sea Blue, the Clear Bra is a no-brainer. So far so good (Touch wood).

http://avoclearbra.com/Fundamentals.html

[LSB M]

Originally Posted by TarHeelFan

Count me as a fan of the Clear Bra. I'm now back in my home state of California but it was living in NC that was my inspiration. Just felt like there were a ton of rocks on the road and my 335i Convertible had plenty of rock chips on the front and hood - and that was with a silver car. Now that I've got the Deep Sea Blue, the Clear Bra is a no-brainer. So far so good (Touch wood).

http://avoclearbra.com/Fundamentals.html

Agree!!! Especially on a black car, clear bra is a must... rock chips on a black car looks like crap!

I don't understand why people have issues with cleaning / maintaining clear bras, I have it on 3 of my cars, it's really not that difficult to deal with. Only thing is need to be a bit more careful when waxing. Putting blue tape on the edge while waxing does the trick.

[Hawkshaw]

My question is what are they doing to make it up to you?

[LSB M]

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

My question is what are they doing to make it up to you?

Not much other than to pay for the Jet Black mirror to be clear bra'ed.

I told them I am not charging them for taking time off work and gas to go back to the shop again (it's quite far for me), so they should throw in the iPod cable.. LOL... I think it's the least they can do! We'll see.

Sapphire Black mirror on a Jet Black car... I still cannot get over it.

[Radioactive]

Hey....sometimes I get a navy blue sock mixed up with a black sock.

I've read you always give BMW six months to workout the kinks on new models.

[sfax]

If people do get issues with their new X3s, they are much more likely to post on a forum like this. The number of issues posted on this forum against the number of X3s that people have taken delivery of already gives me confidence that so far, at least, there really is nothing to worry about.

My main concern is run flats and whether to bother with tyre insurance or not.

[Powerrunner]

I have to agree with sfax, the previous post. Given the number of X3's delivered the quality issues identified above are not of any real concern or of any real major issues to worry about. As for the insurance on the run flat tires, if you can get a reasonable it might just be worth in investment. Given that it does not seem to have been around long enough to determine otherwise.

[Nahoa]

+1