E46 convertible top malfunction

Jerry wrote:
> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't trust
> my BMW dealer....
>
> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the
> car working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three
> wires I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>
> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>
> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work, false
> time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
> this from them).
>
> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in - I'll
> go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>
>

Find yourself a good independent BMW specialist. It will do your car
and your blood pressure much good. There are lots of them out there.
Perhaps it's because the dealers are so inept and at the same time so
expensive that the independent dealerships thrive so?


--
-Fred W

I would not suspect the dealer of screwing up your car.

The gas tank lives under the back seat. You can lift the seat out, pull the
felt back and remove a round cover to expose the hoses that connect the gas
tank to the engine.





"Jerry" > wrote in message
...
>I filled up my gas tank today for the first time since getting the car back
>from the dealer, and a fair bit leaked out... I could smell it right after
>I filled up, which is unusual. The bottom of the tank is moist too (after
>a day outside). I did really fill it up when it was cool this am, and the
>day got sunny & warm, but shouldn't the tank be dry 12 hrs later? I've
>got it outside with the cardboard test after the 10 mile drive home from
>work..
>
> Is this an incredible coincidence, or could the dealer have possibly
> messed up my gas tank/lines when they reinstalled the interior?
>
>
> "Jerry" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't trust
>> my BMW dealer....
>>
>> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
>> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
>> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
>> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the car
>> working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three wires
>> I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>>
>> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
>> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
>> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
>> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>>
>> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
>> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work, false
>> time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
>> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
>> this from them).
>>
>> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
>> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in - I'll
>> go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>>
>>
>> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>> news:Vil5i.7980$YW1.361@trnddc04...
>>>
>>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Well, I broke down and took it to the dealer a couple weeks ago. The
>>>> pulled apart the rear and found "extensive mouse damage"! After $120
>>>> for the diagnosis, they gave me an estimate of $600 to do enough
>>>> repairs to finish the diagnosis, so I told them I'd take the car and
>>>> find someone to fix it - I was quite dejected.....
>>>>
>>>> Yesterday, I mustered up the courage to take a look at the car. I
>>>> didn't see a tremendous amount of damage, but 3 wires were chewed. I
>>>> fixed them in about 15 mins and everything works now - so much for the
>>>> BMW dealer credibility.... I probably have to take it back to them to
>>>> put the interior back together, maybe that estimate will be a little
>>>> less ;-)
>>>>
>>>> Jerry
>>>>
>>>
>>> Excellent!
>>>
>>> If you were able to locate three wires to repair, you can likely install
>>> the interior trim. Typically that stuff just snaps into place, and you
>>> should be able to figure out which piece goes on first and which goes on
>>> last. HINT, if you put the last piece on first, you'll cover holes that
>>> the first piece needs to use.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Sounds like great advice Fred, I'm going to do that tomorrow. I must admit,
my blood is boiling as I think about what the dealership may have done.
I'll get an assessment from the mechanic and then take it up with the BMW
"zone" folks...

"Fred W" > wrote in message
. ..
> Jerry wrote:
>> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't trust
>> my BMW dealer....
>>
>> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
>> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
>> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
>> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the car
>> working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three wires
>> I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>>
>> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
>> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
>> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
>> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>>
>> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
>> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work, false
>> time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
>> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
>> this from them).
>>
>> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
>> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in - I'll
>> go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>>
>>
>
> Find yourself a good independent BMW specialist. It will do your car and
> your blood pressure much good. There are lots of them out there. Perhaps
> it's because the dealers are so inept and at the same time so expensive
> that the independent dealerships thrive so?
>
>
> --
> -Fred W

Hmm, that's exactly where the dealer service guys were working, they
reinstalled the back seat of the car after I fixed the wires. Thanks for
the tip, maybe before I take it to another mechanic, I can try to pull out
the bottom of the backseat and check myself! The leak is on the passenger
side of the car, about a foot in front and foot in from the rear tire - so
it would be coming out under the passenger side rear seat...

I haven't taken the bottom of the backseat out before, but I noticed two
"tabs" near the front of the bottom cushion when the dealer had it out -
maybe I can just "pop" those...

Thanks!!!


"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
news:O%I9i.5990$UD4.5001@trndny07...
>I would not suspect the dealer of screwing up your car.
>
> The gas tank lives under the back seat. You can lift the seat out, pull
> the felt back and remove a round cover to expose the hoses that connect
> the gas tank to the engine.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jerry" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I filled up my gas tank today for the first time since getting the car
>>back from the dealer, and a fair bit leaked out... I could smell it right
>>after I filled up, which is unusual. The bottom of the tank is moist too
>>(after a day outside). I did really fill it up when it was cool this am,
>>and the day got sunny & warm, but shouldn't the tank be dry 12 hrs later?
>>I've got it outside with the cardboard test after the 10 mile drive home
>>from work..
>>
>> Is this an incredible coincidence, or could the dealer have possibly
>> messed up my gas tank/lines when they reinstalled the interior?
>>
>>
>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't trust
>>> my BMW dealer....
>>>
>>> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
>>> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
>>> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
>>> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the
>>> car working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three
>>> wires I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>>>
>>> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
>>> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
>>> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
>>> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>>>
>>> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
>>> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work, false
>>> time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
>>> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
>>> this from them).
>>>
>>> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
>>> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in - I'll
>>> go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>>>
>>>
>>> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>>> news:Vil5i.7980$YW1.361@trnddc04...
>>>>
>>>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Well, I broke down and took it to the dealer a couple weeks ago. The
>>>>> pulled apart the rear and found "extensive mouse damage"! After $120
>>>>> for the diagnosis, they gave me an estimate of $600 to do enough
>>>>> repairs to finish the diagnosis, so I told them I'd take the car and
>>>>> find someone to fix it - I was quite dejected.....
>>>>>
>>>>> Yesterday, I mustered up the courage to take a look at the car. I
>>>>> didn't see a tremendous amount of damage, but 3 wires were chewed. I
>>>>> fixed them in about 15 mins and everything works now - so much for the
>>>>> BMW dealer credibility.... I probably have to take it back to them
>>>>> to put the interior back together, maybe that estimate will be a
>>>>> little less ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Jerry
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Excellent!
>>>>
>>>> If you were able to locate three wires to repair, you can likely
>>>> install the interior trim. Typically that stuff just snaps into place,
>>>> and you should be able to figure out which piece goes on first and
>>>> which goes on last. HINT, if you put the last piece on first, you'll
>>>> cover holes that the first piece needs to use.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

On my E36 cars, the seat cushion simply lifts out. It has clippy things that
act as a detent that you have to overcome, but I'm pretty sure there are no
screws to pull first.

There is felt (tar paper) under the seat that you can pull back to expose a
round cover that in turn will expose the fuel cell and the hoses that
connect it to <whatever>.








"Jerry" > wrote in message
...
> Hmm, that's exactly where the dealer service guys were working, they
> reinstalled the back seat of the car after I fixed the wires. Thanks for
> the tip, maybe before I take it to another mechanic, I can try to pull out
> the bottom of the backseat and check myself! The leak is on the passenger
> side of the car, about a foot in front and foot in from the rear tire - so
> it would be coming out under the passenger side rear seat...
>
> I haven't taken the bottom of the backseat out before, but I noticed two
> "tabs" near the front of the bottom cushion when the dealer had it out -
> maybe I can just "pop" those...
>
> Thanks!!!
>
>
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
> news:O%I9i.5990$UD4.5001@trndny07...
>>I would not suspect the dealer of screwing up your car.
>>
>> The gas tank lives under the back seat. You can lift the seat out, pull
>> the felt back and remove a round cover to expose the hoses that connect
>> the gas tank to the engine.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>I filled up my gas tank today for the first time since getting the car
>>>back from the dealer, and a fair bit leaked out... I could smell it
>>>right after I filled up, which is unusual. The bottom of the tank is
>>>moist too (after a day outside). I did really fill it up when it was
>>>cool this am, and the day got sunny & warm, but shouldn't the tank be dry
>>>12 hrs later? I've got it outside with the cardboard test after the 10
>>>mile drive home from work..
>>>
>>> Is this an incredible coincidence, or could the dealer have possibly
>>> messed up my gas tank/lines when they reinstalled the interior?
>>>
>>>
>>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't
>>>> trust my BMW dealer....
>>>>
>>>> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
>>>> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
>>>> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
>>>> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the
>>>> car working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three
>>>> wires I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>>>>
>>>> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
>>>> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
>>>> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
>>>> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>>>>
>>>> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
>>>> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work,
>>>> false time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
>>>> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
>>>> this from them).
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
>>>> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in -
>>>> I'll go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>>>> news:Vil5i.7980$YW1.361@trnddc04...
>>>>>
>>>>> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> Well, I broke down and took it to the dealer a couple weeks ago. The
>>>>>> pulled apart the rear and found "extensive mouse damage"! After $120
>>>>>> for the diagnosis, they gave me an estimate of $600 to do enough
>>>>>> repairs to finish the diagnosis, so I told them I'd take the car and
>>>>>> find someone to fix it - I was quite dejected.....
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yesterday, I mustered up the courage to take a look at the car. I
>>>>>> didn't see a tremendous amount of damage, but 3 wires were chewed. I
>>>>>> fixed them in about 15 mins and everything works now - so much for
>>>>>> the BMW dealer credibility.... I probably have to take it back to
>>>>>> them to put the interior back together, maybe that estimate will be a
>>>>>> little less ;-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jerry
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Excellent!
>>>>>
>>>>> If you were able to locate three wires to repair, you can likely
>>>>> install the interior trim. Typically that stuff just snaps into place,
>>>>> and you should be able to figure out which piece goes on first and
>>>>> which goes on last. HINT, if you put the last piece on first, you'll
>>>>> cover holes that the first piece needs to use.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Well, we found the gas leak. It turns out, that under the back seat, under
the passenger side access panel, one of the "nubs" on the top of the gas
tank had cracked and was leaking. I can only assume the dealer mechanic hit
it with a wrench or similar - they were poking around there the exact day
that the light went on in the exact spot. The check engine light was for
'gross evap leak something or another' - my mechanic explained probably the
tank could no longer maintain pressure. Because the tank was low when the
dealer (oops, when the dealer allegedly) did it, the actual leak didn't
happen until I filled up.

Next - off to BMW to complain, but no more with this dealer.


"Jerry" > wrote in message
...
> Sounds like great advice Fred, I'm going to do that tomorrow. I must
> admit, my blood is boiling as I think about what the dealership may have
> done. I'll get an assessment from the mechanic and then take it up with
> the BMW "zone" folks...
>
> "Fred W" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Jerry wrote:
>>> Thanks for the input - this is the 'final chapter' and why I don't trust
>>> my BMW dealer....
>>>
>>> After the estimate of $600 and my fixing the problem in minutes, I did
>>> take it back to the dealer to have them reinstall the interior. Before
>>> the estimate was 30 mins, but this time it was actual time. After they
>>> started the service manager told me they can't be responsible for the
>>> car working because I did the work myself - I told them there was three
>>> wires I soldered and heat wrapped, I wasn't worried.
>>>
>>> Then they finish the car and the service manager said it took the full
>>> hour to do the repair - I pointed out that I'd only been at the dealer
>>> for an hour and 10 mins, and it took them 20 mins to get the car in the
>>> garage... The red faced service manager reduced the charge.
>>>
>>> I dare BMW to call me for the customer sat survey (they haven't - I
>>> suspect the dealer suppressed it). Grossly over quoting the work, false
>>> time charges. Such a shame such a great car has such a terrible
>>> dealership (and this isn't the first time, nor am I the only one to get
>>> this from them).
>>>
>>> Anyway, car works fine, I opted not to give them the $150 to reset the
>>> fault code that was triggered the first time I brought the car in - I'll
>>> go to Autozone, per the other post, thanks!!
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Find yourself a good independent BMW specialist. It will do your car and
>> your blood pressure much good. There are lots of them out there. Perhaps
>> it's because the dealers are so inept and at the same time so expensive
>> that the independent dealerships thrive so?
>>
>>
>> --
>> -Fred W
>
>