What would you do?

[Shock96]

Hey guys, here is the scoop. I bought a CPO 2013 35i X1 last April. It had about 11.5k on it and now I am at 22.4k. It has been in the shop for work 8 times in the last year. Some trivial, some not:

First time for a squeeky dash. No big deal.

Second time was a non functional door lock actuator.

Third time was for a oil change and to diagnose a noise coming from the back of engine on the passenger side. They replaced a collapse vacuum hose.
I took it back the next day for the same noise. They then replaced the valve cover assembly. 2 weeks later it was back for the same noise. Turned out it was the solenoid that opens the flapper (golf T mod). Finally fixed. Had a 5k oil change done on my dime at this time.

7th time was a few weeks later for a small vibration rattle coming from the engine compartment. Sounded like a loose piece of plastic trim. Only did it during the first 5 minutes of operation and only when stopped in gear. Once it warmed up, it went away. They had the car for 2 weeks and finally narrowed it down to either the HPFP or the AIR pump as they are right next to each other, so they replaced both. Noise is gone.

Finally I get my car back!! Love it! Running great! I get off the freeway and there is a very light whine coming from the center console area from between 32-40mph. Sounds like a whiny gearbox to me. I call the dealer and my service writer just can't believe I can't seem to get a break.

I gave it a few days to see if it was just a fluke or my imagination and I could reproduce it at will. So I make an appt and take it in. One of the mechanic team leads does a ride around and confirms he can hear the noise, but thinks it is a vacuum noise. I say "great!". They were just in there so that makes sense.

Well, I have to say I hate being right. I just got a call that the transfer case is being replaced. They tried the mount with no change and the new TC just arrived. I get the car back on Wed or so.

And there we are. I love this car. It is a ton of fun with a lot of utility, but I would have gone broke if I had to pay for these repairs. The TC alone was $4722 just for the part.

I am thinking of getting rid of the car. I don't believe that BMW's are unreliable and it is more likely I just got a lemon. My factory warranty is good until 12-28-17 and the CPO take over for 2 years after that.

Frankly there just isn't a good replacement for this rig. Small fun wagon, rear or AWD with a decent auto. Volvo V60 Polestar is about the only thing.

What you do in my situation? Hang tough? Maybe I will end up with a completely new car after all the parts replacements. But I sure can't see myself repairing this car every month.

[neverdone]

If I were you I would wait to out until warranty is over and see what happens from there. I can't believe that much has happened and it does sound like a lemon, BUT, now that you have all of that replaced, hopefully you're good from here on in...that being said First thing that happens after warranty, i would get rid of it for a GLA45. That's just me though.

[vstolpner]

Yeah I would either see if you can swap it out for another 35i CPO or something similar that you round like. Or I would just keep it until the warranty runs out. It really does sound like a lemon and I would not keep it past warranty.

[Shock96]

Yeah, it is hard to say. I really love the X1 with that 3.0 turbo engine. I think it is a great car and I am leaning towards keeping the car.

The biggest issue is that the X1 is not what you would call a hot seller on the used car market. It is worth about as much as it will ever be with all the warranty left. There are 2015's with CPO selling for amazing prices.

I am looking forward to getting it back on Wed. I will talk with my sales guy to see what they might be able to do.

I do have to say that the service folks at BMW Northwest have been great. Everyone I have met is a real car guy and that is always good.

[Teutonic]

I am sorry to hear that you had so much trouble with the X1. Mine is a 2012 that started its life in 2011. I own it since new and except recalls and some just pretty minor stuff, never got a problem.
I am out of warranty and decided to keep it.
Don't care about market perception or price, for me the car is worth a lot and would not let it go except when the time will come, and even then, the price must be as I want or stays with me. If you are into driving experience, this one rules over the new one, so for me that one values nothing in comparison with the E84 RWD biased system.
Anyway, if yours got so much trouble, and it was repaired so often, I would probably get rid of it. I just don't know how good the techs that worked on it are, once they start to play around, I just not feel comfortable anymore. The less I see the dealership, the happier I am.

If you really like it, sell it and buy another one. You can still find some good E84's.

I really hope that you will find a solution that will make you happy!

[Alfisti]

This is a no brainer, absolute no brainer. Do not, under any circumstance, own that vehicle out of full warranty. It is clearly just one of those ones that wants to break every 5 minutes.

[Shock96]

Hehe thanks for that man. I hear ya. I am looking forward to getting my car back on Wed.

[Shock96]

Ok, got the car back. No more whining coming from the transmission area. They followed a pretty decent flow chart starting with the mount, then fluid change then new transfer case.

Well, after driving home (40 miles or so) the whine is back. It has changed pitch (higher) and does it cold or hot. I drove the car for 2 more days to see if anything changed.

Took the car back in on Monday and the tech (Jared) who has been working on my car rode along and confirmed the whine was there.

Sigh, anyways, the car has been there since Monday and my SA called and said there is a specialist coming from BMW NA to check it out. Either tomorrow or Monday.

I took some time and studied the transfer case diagram and frankly I can see where it would make a gear whine.

Maybe it is a misaligned output shaft on the transmission. It is hard to tell.

On the plus side I am driving a 228i M Sport. That is a pretty fun little car! Road & Track just did a shoot out with the M2, M235i, 228i and featuring the 1M and E30 M3. They felt the 228i represented the best BMW coupe driving experience. Most like the 2002 of old. Not sure I agree as I love the M235i I drove at the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience.

[zeevette]

The noise may not be mechanical. There could be a resonance, or vibration causing the noise.

[Shock96]

You could be right Z. I am not sure any longer.

The field engineer came out and said that the noise was normal.

Well I will tell you that every loaner I have had has been an xDrive and none of them make that noise. Including the 228i I am driving now.

Does anyone else have a slight whine coming from their transmission area? Most noticeable from 30-40 mph, especially noticeable upon dropping off throttle decel.

I did call BMW NA today and they started a case on it. They asked me to chat with the Service Manager at the dealer to get the ball rolling. I did call and chat with him today. He tells me is somewhat familiar with my car. I am going in on Monday to pick up the car an meet with him to see what we can do.

I am hopeful. It is just beginning, but so far things have been positive.

[vstolpner]

I can tell you no noise like that in mine, I would have been getting it checked out...

[Shock96]

How many miles?

[vstolpner]

56,000km.... too late in the night for me to do the conversion... lol

[Shock96]

Thanks man! That is pretty close to mine.

[Teutonic]

No noise on mine either. 55,000 k on board.
Get that field engineer in other X1's and ask him why there is a difference.

[AndrewMBaines]

Look on the bright side, by the time everything is fixed, there'll be nothing left to go wrong ��
We had a similar lemon from Mercedes, slight difference being that rattling A classes are very common and the dealer took no interest in making aproper attempt to fix it. In the end, after 18 months, took the hit and traded it in for an X1.

[Shock96]

Sorry for the delay in updating the thread. Just got back from a 2000m trip in the X1. Everything worked pretty well.

During the trip, BMW NA authorized a full buy back of my car minus mileage from the first major repair as per US law.

http://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...php?p=20237830

[nicknaz]

congrats on getting the buy back. best possible outcome

[Shock96]

Thanks! I am just in a holding pattern waiting for the company (Stericycle) to get the funds.

2-3 weeks.