BMW admits to fuel pump flaw

[rh71]

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/bmw-admits-fuel-pump-flaw-turbo-cars/story?id=11968495

the 10-year warranty on the new ones don't give it away? 😀

BTW, it's ridiculous they won't allow people to get theirs replaced until it actually fails. This after sending a mailer to their customers that it *could* fail. This is so much worse than actually recalling.

 

[Zenmervolt]

People "afraid for their lives" because of hesitation or stumbling? Really? Come on ABC News. Anyone who is, "scared out of [her] mind" when a car stumbles or hesitates needs to have her driver's license revoked because she's clearly not fit for driving.

That said, BMW really does need to address the issue; design flaw is a design flaw and it needs to be corrected.

ZV

 

[mb]

I hope they will finally fix the issue. Extended warranty or not, I wouldn't want to have to worry about there being a problem and having it in the shop for repairs is no fun.

 

[rh71]

People "afraid for their lives" because of hesitation or stumbling? Really? Come on ABC News. Anyone who is, "scared out of [her] mind" when a car stumbles or hesitates needs to have her driver's license revoked because she's clearly not fit for driving.

That said, BMW really does need to address the issue; design flaw is a design flaw and it needs to be corrected.

ZV

This hesitation could happen as you're making a left turn across oncoming traffic... that would be bad. Maybe they're thinking what could happen instead of what did happen. I've actually seen someone complain of this on the X6 forums - he was pretty pissed since he was in the middle of a turn and had his family in the car with him.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'll have to watch the video later, but I've been hearing about this problem for a long time. Does anyone have technical details on what exactly is going wrong with the Fuel Pump and why BMW does not seem to want to redesign it?

 

[Demo24]

I'll have to watch the video later, but I've been hearing about this problem for a long time. Does anyone have technical details on what exactly is going wrong with the Fuel Pump and why BMW does not seem to want to redesign it?

Article says they have a fix for it. I read somewhere it might be mostly on the automatic cars, but I could be rather wrong there.

 

[LTC8K6]

Trying to merge, trying to turn, trying to pull out in traffic...

I don't know that I'd be too afraid to drive, but I'd be damn worried...

I'd probably adjust my driving so as not to put myself in some situations.

 

[LTC8K6]

DP

 

[Doggiedog]

I've had 3 HPFPs replaced in 9K miles or so. I had my first one replaced at 2.5K miles only 2 months after I bought my car. This really is a safety issue. I've read stories on the BMW forums of guys engines just conking out while on the highway. While I haven't had that problem my car did go into reduced engine mode and I could barely get up to highway speeds. It's about time they acknowledged and fixed this problem and not swept it under the rug as isolated issues.

On that note, my freaking headlight broke on me this weekend. My adaptive headlight is pointed down so my car looks like it has one lazy eye. This car has been nothing but trouble since I got it 1.5 yrs ago. 3 HPFPs, replaced fuel injectors and turbo, broken L7 stereo, 5 blown tires, lights, 2 rear end accidents (once while stopped another while my car was parked)..I lost track...Ugh...

 

[PricklyPete]

I've had 3 HPFPs replaced in 9K miles or so. I had my first one replaced at 2.5K miles only 2 months after I bought my car. This really is a safety issue. I've read stories on the BMW forums of guys engines just conking out while on the highway. While I haven't had that problem my car did go into reduced engine mode and I could barely get up to highway speeds. It's about time they acknowledged and fixed this problem and not swept it under the rug as isolated issues.

On that note, my freaking headlight broke on me this weekend. My adaptive headlight is pointed down so my car looks like it has one lazy eye. This car has been nothing but trouble since I got it 1.5 yrs ago. 3 HPFPs, replaced fuel injectors and turbo, broken L7 stereo, 5 blown tires, lights, 2 rear end accidents (once while stopped another while my car was parked)..I lost track...Ugh...

ugh...you certainly have not had much luck. Sorry to hear the car has been such a problem.

 

[Doggiedog]

ugh...you certainly have not had much luck. Sorry to hear the car has been such a problem.

Figures I bought the car too. My previous car was a leased 05 G35S sedan. I had only 2 problems with it. The cruise control twice shut the engine off when I was on the highway. That was scary because I lost all power at 85MPH. I stopped using it after the second time. The second problem was that CD-Rs did not work in the stereo unless they were audio (slimmer) CD-Rs or else they would get stuck. That was it in 39 months. Otherwise, I was very happy with the car.

 

[PricklyPete]

Figures I bought the car too. My previous car was a leased 05 G35S sedan. I had only 2 problems with it. The cruise control twice shut the engine off when I was on the highway. That was scary because I lost all power at 85MPH. I stopped using it after the second time. The second problem was that CD-Rs did not work in the stereo unless they were audio (slimmer) CD-Rs or else they would get stuck. That was it in 39 months. Otherwise, I was very happy with the car.

So are you planning on dumping your 335?

 

[rh71]

I've had 3 HPFPs replaced in 9K miles or so.

Doesn't the lemon law apply if it goes in for the same fix 3 times? You should be able to get a whole new car... which may help with your other misfortunes with it.

In 3 years I've had wear/tear items replaced prematurely and also my idrive screen went out completely. JD Power only gave BMW 3/5 stars for reliability. 😉

 

[Doggiedog]

Doesn't the lemon law apply if it goes in for the same fix 3 times? You should be able to get a whole new car... which may help with your other misfortunes with it.

I believe so. But I put a lot into the car like an Mtech bumper, spoiler, lights, etc. If I lemon it, they basically buy back the car and put me in a new one minus depreciation right? I didn't think it was worth it. Now after two accidents (which are all cosmetic), who knows what I would get for it. I think I'm stuck.

 

[mb]

I believe so. But I put a lot into the car like an Mtech bumper, spoiler, lights, etc. If I lemon it, they basically buy back the car and put me in a new one minus depreciation right? I didn't think it was worth it. Now after two accidents (which are all cosmetic), who knows what I would get for it. I think I'm stuck.

Plus the risk that the new car will be problematic too.

 

[Doggiedog]

Plus the risk that the new car will be problematic too.

Yes and the new ones are single turbo.

Don't get me wrong, I love driving the car. It's just I've never had so many problems with a car in my life. The service agent knows me by name. That's how bad it is. I have to give the dealership credit though. They are wonderful. Best service by far I've ever had.

 

[exdeath]

This hesitation could happen as you're making a left turn across oncoming traffic... that would be bad. Maybe they're thinking what could happen instead of what did happen. I've actually seen someone complain of this on the X6 forums - he was pretty pissed since he was in the middle of a turn and had his family in the car with him.

Then he should have allowed adequate distance between him and oncoming traffic instead of cutting it close trying to "beat" the other car in his BMW.

Seriously, if you're that close to causing an accident because your engine stumbles for a second as you pull out into traffic, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Vette73]

"software updates"?

How is a software update going to FIX a bad fuel pump? Sounds like it will reduce pressure and also HP to keep from having to fix the cars. Can;t wait for someone to dyno the car before and after the update.

 

[Doggiedog]

"software updates"?

How is a software update going to FIX a bad fuel pump? Sounds like it will reduce pressure and also HP to keep from having to fix the cars. Can;t wait for someone to dyno the car before and after the update.

I had a software update done when my 2nd HPFP was acting up. In a month I needed a third one. It only temporarily masked my problem. I'm 6K into the third one now and I can tell the latest software put some turbo lag into the engine. It's definitely not as responsive.

 

[rh71]

Then he should have allowed adequate distance between him and oncoming traffic instead of cutting it close trying to "beat" the other car in his BMW.

Seriously, if you're that close to causing an accident because your engine stumbles for a second as you pull out into traffic, you're doing it wrong.

doing it wrong? How populated is the area you live in? Because there are times you have to high-tail it across regardless... there are tons of vehicles on the road here even in suburbia. Doing it wrong is when you have to wait behind an old lady who is afraid turn despite having 5 car lengths.

This isn't about a 3-banger limping along at a consistent pace and people get pissy & impatient about it... this is a regular vehicle making a turn which suddenly loses power which could cause the oncoming vehicle who was timing his "cruising-along" so he could miss you... to actually hit you. It could easily happen.

How often do you hit the brake when a vehicle makes their left turn in front of you as you go straight through? Happens all the time here... probably everyone goes through with their foot ready to hit the brake.

 

[bruceb]

Don't blame the car for the 5 tires or the 2 rear enders. Tires were probably just normally road hazards or potholes. Rear enders the car had nothing to do with it.

 

[KentState]

doing it wrong? How populated is the area you live in? Because there are times you have to high-tail it across regardless... there are tons of vehicles on the road here even in suburbia. Doing it wrong is when you have to wait behind an old lady who is afraid turn despite having 5 car lengths.

This isn't about a 3-banger limping along at a consistent pace and people get pissy & impatient about it... this is a regular vehicle making a turn which suddenly loses power which could cause the oncoming vehicle who was timing his "cruising-along" so he could miss you... to actually hit you. It could easily happen.

How often do you hit the brake when a vehicle makes their left turn in front of you as you go straight through? Happens all the time here... probably everyone goes through with their foot ready to hit the brake.

Exactly. Try driving in a place with a lot of congestion and you will find that putting through an intersection is not a good idea. Plus, around here, oncoming traffic tries to make a point and I could see someone actually speeding up try to hit a car limping through an intersection.

 

[Doggiedog]

Don't blame the car for the 5 tires or the 2 rear enders. Tires were probably just normally road hazards or potholes. Rear enders the car had nothing to do with it.

I'm not blaming the car for the rear enders. It's just part of the bad luck I've had with this car. The tires I will blame on the car. I had my G35 for over 3 years and didn't have a single issue with the tires. In fact, I wore them out without ever having one flat. The RFTs that come on the 335i are well known for the propensity to bubble (either due to the 335i's suspension or easy to damage nature of the tire). The tires are definitely part of the car issue. I've never had to dodge little bumps in the road like they were landmines (they feel like them when you hit them). Go on the BMW forums and you will see story after story on them.

 

[mb]

Don't blame the car for the 5 tires or the 2 rear enders. Tires were probably just normally road hazards or potholes. Rear enders the car had nothing to do with it.

Really? You really thought he was blaming the car for the accidents? Wow.

 

[ShawnD1]

This hesitation could happen as you're making a left turn across oncoming traffic... that would be bad. Maybe they're thinking what could happen instead of what did happen. I've actually seen someone complain of this on the X6 forums - he was pretty pissed since he was in the middle of a turn and had his family in the car with him.

lol this. My friend with a good car tried driving my shitbox 3 gear <100HP Ford Tempo. With 3 people in the car, you'd swear it took like 20 seconds to make a left turn. Pedal all the way to the floor and it still feels like we're about to die because we're stuck in the turn for such a long time. Having a car randomly hesitate is even worse because you expect to complete the turn in maybe 2 seconds but it actually takes 5 seconds because the car is fucking around. That's easily enough time to die. It's even worse in winter when your speed is slower and oncoming cars cannot stop if you fuck up.