Bad news news from the mechanic - $1,200
May. 8th, 2021 08:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerAfter Hawk took our BMW to the dealer for service on Thursday for some engine trouble we got bad news. The engine problem we thought would be covered under warranty was not. We'd need to spend $1,200 out of pocket.
"Wait," you may say, "Haven't you had this car for a long time? Isn't it way beyond the warranty period?"
![Our BMW convertible, "Hawkgirl" [Pic from 2016]](https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/canyonwalker/33413618/248180/248180_original.jpg "Our BMW convertible, \"Hawkgirl\" [Pic from 2016]")
Yes, "Hawkgirl" has been around a while. She's a 2008 model we've owned since 2012 and has nearly 150,000 miles. That's all waaay beyond the normal warranty. But in the auto industry, manufacturers occasionally put out things called Technical Service Bulletins or Service Information Bulletins. They're like mini recalls. They're not filed with the government, and the company doesn't contact you proactively or fix it proactively, but if your develops the problem that matches the TSB/SIB, the manufacturer pays for it. Our independent mechanic found an SIB that matched the engine trouble codes Hawkgirl was displaying and recommended we go to the dealer. We were right under the line on eligibility, too— this specific, unadvertised warranty is good for up to 15 years or 150k miles.
The dealer, unfortunately, disagreed with the independent shop's reading of the SIB. They said it didn't apply to our car. We had a copy of the bulletin so we argued back and forth a few times with the dealer's service department. No dice. I even called BMW USA's national customer support number to ask if the SIB covered our car. Also no dice.
Well, we're not not going to fix it. Yeah, spending another $1,200 to keep this car running is a pisser, but we can afford it. And it's cheaper than buying a new car. We're thinking we can get another 2 years out of this car. Heck, maybe we can drive it to 200k miles!
"Wait," you may say, "Haven't you had this car for a long time? Isn't it way beyond the warranty period?"
Yes, "Hawkgirl" has been around a while. She's a 2008 model we've owned since 2012 and has nearly 150,000 miles. That's all waaay beyond the normal warranty. But in the auto industry, manufacturers occasionally put out things called Technical Service Bulletins or Service Information Bulletins. They're like mini recalls. They're not filed with the government, and the company doesn't contact you proactively or fix it proactively, but if your develops the problem that matches the TSB/SIB, the manufacturer pays for it. Our independent mechanic found an SIB that matched the engine trouble codes Hawkgirl was displaying and recommended we go to the dealer. We were right under the line on eligibility, too— this specific, unadvertised warranty is good for up to 15 years or 150k miles.
The dealer, unfortunately, disagreed with the independent shop's reading of the SIB. They said it didn't apply to our car. We had a copy of the bulletin so we argued back and forth a few times with the dealer's service department. No dice. I even called BMW USA's national customer support number to ask if the SIB covered our car. Also no dice.
Well, we're not not going to fix it. Yeah, spending another $1,200 to keep this car running is a pisser, but we can afford it. And it's cheaper than buying a new car. We're thinking we can get another 2 years out of this car. Heck, maybe we can drive it to 200k miles!
no subject
Date: 2021-05-09 05:36 pm (UTC)That is a pisser; I'm not sure there's anyone who welcomes $1,200 of unanticipated car repairs with cries of joy…
The question that's starting to dominate in my mind is when will the tipping point arrive at which electric cars become truly, reasonably viable for the average person (i.e. me)? I'd like my next car to be electric, but the price and selection and (very importantly) infrastructure aren't there yet. So for me, the question becomes, how many more years can I nurse my 2015 Prius?
no subject
Date: 2021-05-09 06:24 pm (UTC)The first EVs from many manufacturers in the 21st century had ranges of 70 miles or less on a full charge. That's enough for many people's daily job commute, or a day of running errands around town... but not enough for long commutes and definitely not enough for longer drives like one might take on even a weekend trip. Thus if you bought an EV you also needed a second car for everything that wasn't strictly local travel. That left them in the domain of the wealthy, who could afford owning multiple cars.
Tesla shook up that equation several years with its Model S. With a range of ~250 miles it could go way farther than anything else on the market... and with the Tesla Supercharger network they built out boldly attacked the chicken-and-egg problem of infrastructure.
Teslas are not cheap, though. And even with high sticker prices the company is losing money. That's why other makers are struggling to catch up with the vehicle technology. But soon, maybe, 250+ mile ranges will be available in volume priced cars.
We'll also need to see charging infrastructure get built out further. Today people can go on long roadtrips with EVs... though it takes significant planning. How, and how soon, can electrical recharging be as easy as pulling in to a roadside gas station?