[randelissimo]

Hello all,

I bought my dream car (2015 i8) from a dealership in Aug 2020. A few weeks back, it developed a drive train error (which I see has been documented many times already).

I paid £170 for BMW roadside assistance who suggested sending it to a service centre for further investigation.

They spent 3 hours looking into the issue. The upshot is:

Parts = £8800
Labour = £9000

I'm floored by this. It's nearly half what I paid for the car in the first place and I haven't even had it a year.

They're saying that the wire loom was repaired in a non-standard way elsewhere based on what they've seen but my seller has no record of this.

I've looked into independent i8 specialists in the London area but there don't appear to be any...

I'm in a total bind and may very well end up with a written off car here... or one that I'll need to put on bricks because I simply can't afford the repairs...

Would really appreciate thoughts, suggestions, advice...

R

[CnSky]

Not an I8 owner but almost bought one few months back and may still next year.

I'd be interested to see what the parts are?

8k for a wire loom seems outrageous should be possible to repair it (even in a non standard way) by an Indy.

Do you have part numbers of what they are changing?

As for man-hours I'm sure you can get that massively reduced by using an Indy garage electronics specialist.

[randelissimo]

Originally Posted by CnSky

Not an I8 owner but almost bought one few months back and may still next year.

I'd be interested to see what the parts are?

8k for a wire loom seems outrageous should be possible to repair it (even in a non standard way) by an Indy.

Do you have part numbers of what they are changing?

As for man-hours I'm sure you can get that massively reduced by using an Indy garage electronics specialist.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I'll ask for the part numbers.

Here are some photos - do you think it's just a soldiering job?

[fbuzila]

It could be so simple…I would try to fix those wires first, maybe one of them is totally broken.
I bet the dealership quoted you to replace the entire wire harness. Ask them for all details with part numbers.

[thesubmitter]

No legal recourse against the original seller.? In Quebec, we have potential recourse with things like "hidden defects"

Also try contacting BMW to see if they would do a good faith repair? Especially if you bought it from a BMW dealer. I had luck with this method with my MDX which I bought from an auction and was repo'd but it had an extended warranty that just ended (they paid 2/3 of the repair)

[randelissimo]

So, I'm currently doing the following:

• waiting on BMW re good will
• waiting on BMW for part IDs -yes, they want to replace the whole harness
• trying to find a local independent garage that will fix the wires

Accumulating costs like this is super stressful!

[CnSky]

I agree with Fbizila could be simple to fix but BMW have to follow the manual and change the entire loom hence expansive loom and loads of man hours to strip it all out.

Almost looks like rodent damage to me on the brown wire, maybe the last owner had a rodent issue and self repaired.

The brown wire looks freshly damaged you sure a rat/mouse isn't getting in there they love that natural wire coating BMW use?



QUOTE=fbuzila;27762010]It could be so simple…I would try to fix those wires first, maybe one of them is totally broken.
I bet the dealership quoted you to replace the entire wire harness. Ask them for all details with part numbers.[/QUOTE]

[MolarBear]

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...th-a-used-car/

You should have rights in the UK - clearly this problem existed before you bought the car, if from a dealer. I'd contact the dealer.

[Manivxr]

The dealer would have offered a period of warranty. If the problem arises after the warranty period, ask for a gesture of good will and some contribution towards the bill. Something is better than nothing.

[nike13]

Not to be an asshole, but I'll never understand how people get surprised on repair costs for cars that are 150k+ new. Part of the depreciation is factoring in repair costs. Expensive to make = Expensive to repair, especially for a premium German brand. Repairs dont just get cheaper because the car is older. It's still the same work and parts. If you get this car or any other high priced priced car that you can only afford at a major discount, it is pivotal you get some type of warranty or guarantee, and then hot potato it to the next guy when it runs out. If you are relying on "good will", you already lost.

[Manivxr]

Warranty is the best policy

[CnSky]

I would agree to some point but let's be honest modern maintenance practices are rubbish it's a throw away world driven by the profit margins of the OEMs

Dumping a loom because of a broken wire or two that can be easily repaired in situ because that is manufacturer policy is madness these are not passenger Aircarft we are dealing with.

And even if they aircraft trust me we would repair a wire via a manufacturer repair scheme not tear out a loom that runs through the machine requiring an entire tear down.

Get an Indy to repair it and you will be happy!!


QUOTE=nike13;27764790]Not to be an asshole, but I'll never understand how people get surprised on repair costs for cars that are 150k+ new. Part of the depreciation is factoring in repair costs. Expensive to make = Expensive to repair, especially for a premium German brand. Repairs dont just get cheaper because the car is older. It's still the same work and parts. If you get this car or any other high priced priced car that you can only afford at a major discount, it is pivotal you get some type of warranty or guarantee, and then hot potato it to the next guy when it runs out. If you are relying on "good will", you already lost.[/QUOTE]

[randelissimo]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment. Very reassuring.

I think you guys are spot on. I'm going to try to get the wiring fixed independently and the "a$$hole's" point earlier - yes, you're right - warranty makes absolute sense - lesson learned

Will keep you all posted.

R

[randelissimo]

Originally Posted by thesubmitter

No legal recourse against the original seller.? In Quebec, we have potential recourse with things like "hidden defects"

Also try contacting BMW to see if they would do a good faith repair? Especially if you bought it from a BMW dealer. I had luck with this method with my MDX which I bought from an auction and was repo'd but it had an extended warranty that just ended (they paid 2/3 of the repair)

I'm looking into this now...

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...th-a-used-car/

Not sure how I can prove that the damage/repairs were not done whilst in my care... that's a tricky one...

[thesubmitter]

Originally Posted by randelissimo

I'm looking into this now...

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...th-a-used-car/

Not sure how I can prove that the damage/repairs were not done whilst in my care... that's a tricky one...

Normally, these things are balance of probabilties - it shouldn't be that hard. The consumer protection laws are generally fairly pro-consumer. I had the impression that UK is a pro consumer locality (like Quebec).

There might be a government body that can help you with this or a lawyer.

It seems like within 6 months in the UK, there is a presumption that fault lies with the dealer. I guess after 6 months the onus is on you but considering the type of issue. I think its doable

Good Luck, I think you have a shot.

[CnSky]

Did you buy from a dealer?

I know here in Ireland which mirrors most UK consumer laws if you didn't buy from a dealer these rules don't apply.

QUOTE=randelissimo;27773292]

Originally Posted by thesubmitter

No legal recourse against the original seller.? In Quebec, we have potential recourse with things like "hidden defects"

Also try contacting BMW to see if they would do a good faith repair? Especially if you bought it from a BMW dealer. I had luck with this method with my MDX which I bought from an auction and was repo'd but it had an extended warranty that just ended (they paid 2/3 of the repair)

I'm looking into this now...

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...th-a-used-car/

Not sure how I can prove that the damage/repairs were not done whilst in my care... that's a tricky one...[/QUOTE]

[dragonsdreams]

Hi, have you tried posting in the i8 Facebook group? They are usually really helpful with this kind of stuff.

[fbuzila]

Originally Posted by dragonsdreams

Hi, have you tried posting in the i8 Facebook group? They are usually really helpful with this kind of stuff.

What's the group name? I would like to join.

[Manivxr]

Just search bmw i8 once logged in on Facebook.
Its a bit more lively than here.

[ian_i3S_iX]

They have just connected the diagnostic machine and it has advised the loom replacement. I had a similar issue on a 330d where the diagnostics stated replace the main cable battery to the starter. I knew it wasn't this but the alternator the battery voltage was going up and down. They wanted £1100 labour to replace the cable costing £150 2 weeks later the car failed completely and the alternator was replaced under the extended warranty at 165,000 miles the battery cable would not have been covered.

If the car was supplied from a BMW dealer clearly they didn't do a proper pre delivery check but difficult to prove the vehicle was delivered in that condition

[CnSky]

Ian you hit the nail on the head!!

This is the whole issue with modern car mechanics most aren't really mechanics in my opinion, they don't fault find and repair they just do what the diagnosis computer tells them.

This is why if you have an issue not throwing a fault it's so hard to figure it out as the main dealers have no interest or ability to think it out properly.

You need to find an Indy who is an actual mechanic who attempts diagnosis, then fix before replacing.

This is coming from a mechanic (aircraft) and it pains me to see the skill base being eroded and no one being able to think through a problem properly.





QUOTE=ian_i3S_iX;27790782]They have just connected the diagnostic machine and it has advised the loom replacement. I had a similar issue on a 330d where the diagnostics stated replace the main cable battery to the starter. I knew it wasn't this but the alternator the battery voltage was going up and down. They wanted £1100 labour to replace the cable costing £150 2 weeks later the car failed completely and the alternator was replaced under the extended warranty at 165,000 miles the battery cable would not have been covered.

If the car was supplied from a BMW dealer clearly they didn't do a proper pre delivery check but difficult to prove the vehicle was delivered in that condition[/QUOTE]

[PaulMoe]

I'm experiencing a similar issue (2016), re: Drivetrain Vehicle cannot be restarted. Received a quote for $14,000 repair. Dealer "thinks" it's the EME module (Electric Motor Electronics). Cost of EME is a little over $8,000 and 20 hrs labor (apparently they need to drop the entire rear end to get to the EME). Needed to pay for EME up front in order for dealer to order from Germany. BMW had a recall back in 2019 which only affected 139 cars. Dealer said that my car is not part of this recall. I tried to find a local independent repair shop but could not find anyone to work on the i8. Main reason was that the i8 is a very complicated car, not very many on the road so most independent shops lack any experience with repair of i8. Just an FYI.