20k Service;Good-Bad-Ugly!

[Feyd]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

You absolutely can. I sold my GTO with 70k miles on it, and the seats weren't showing any wear at all, other than being a little shiney. Same for the Trans Am before that. My 318ti wasn't much worse than my 135i is right now, and it had 140k miles on it.

I'm not sure how BMW has conditioned so many owners to think that this is just the nature of the beast. It's a quality issue with the leather they're using, and nothing more.

Here's a GTO seat for example:

Just playing devils advocate here but are you sure the side bolsters on that are real leather? I'm not suggesting you didn't get "leather" seats, but I have heard that sometimes companies will use leatherette on high wear areas (bolsters/backs of seats, etc) to combat this issue and leave the real leather for the actual seating surfaces/headrests, etc.

Certainly not condoning the shittyness of BMW leather seats, but I thought I'd ask.

[AntonV]

When I started reading this, I saw you were on the Island...then as I read more, I just knew that you took your car to Rallye BMW for service.

Rallye is a terrible dealer and service shop. DONT GO BACK THERE.

Who was your SA? That short bald guy? He has terrible customer service skills.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Feyd

Just playing devils advocate here but are you sure the side bolsters on that are real leather? I'm not suggesting you didn't get "leather" seats, but I have heard that sometimes companies will use leatherette on high wear areas (bolsters/backs of seats, etc) to combat this issue and leave the real leather for the actual seating surfaces/headrests, etc.

Certainly not condoning the shittyness of BMW leather seats, but I thought I'd ask.

I'm pretty sure they're all leather. It was the same material on the bolsters and the seating surfaces. The leather on those was more course than we have in the BMWs, so maybe that's why it holds up better.

On the Trans Am though, it was smooth, much like what we have now. Those would start to show some wear as they got older (over 100k miles) but nothing like what we see on these cars. Mine was showing cracks by the time it was a year old.

[Dackelone]

Its pretty hard to rotate ones tires when they are unidirection AND staggered! I would just burn thru them and get a fresh set when needed.

as for the Clown Nose Blinking...

Someone posted in the last few days(I forget where & what topic - maybe under Alarm DYI ???) - that they got the clown nose to blink JUST by installing the alarm kit. No programing was needed. All they did was to mount the siren under the fendar and install the motion sensors inside the dome light. Then the clown nose would blink!

BUT... if you want all the functions of the alarm system, you need to have the dealer download the software. Thats what $400 or so>?

For me... I plan on buying the alarm kit thru one of our site sponsors ($200 ish)and call it a day. That way I will get my clown nose to blink blink.

Btw.... I asked my German dealer about this last week. They said it can not be done via a software download. You need the Alarm kit. AND.... that sells for 500 euros for JUST the kit! And then another 600 euros for the install and software!!!! Forget that!!!!! I will just go with a mail order alarm($200) from one of this sites dealers.

bye,
David

[Feyd]

As far as I know the 2008's were shipped pre-wired for an alarm. With all other model years if you didn't order it with an alarm from the factory it is impossible/so expensive its not worth it to try and retrofit one.

[Xyloft]

i thought the leather wear was only a problem on the sport package?

AND if you had the sport package then your wheels are staggered, which means they CANNOT be rotated.

agreed. my Tiburon GT had full leather seats and they did not show any wear - my 128's showing a slight wear like an old pair of gym shoes (cracks). it's all in how the tan the leather. obviously BMW owners like soft leather over durable leather.

[oneintheory]

just wanted to express how much i love GTO seats. even the back seats are incredible.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by oneintheory

just wanted to express how much i love GTO seats. even the back seats are incredible.

For a car that could be bought for under $27k, they were outstanding. They could have used some side bolster adjustment to fit a wider range of people, but they were perfect for someone my size (5'11", around 200lbs and in decent shape). I've heard thin people talk about how they didn't support them well enough, and larger people complain that they were tight, but the overall design was comfortable and supportive, and held up really well.

[ulrichd]

Wait as minute, the rear wheels and tires are larger than the fronts. You can't rotate those.

[135iUSN]

135's have staggered sizes - narrow fronts vs wide (er) rears...215/40 front, 245/35 sport pk

128 with sport pk 205/50R-17 front, 225/45R-17 - so you can't rotate

128 msport 205/50 front, 225/45 rear 17's as well

STD 128 is 205/50 run-flat all-season tires - so you can rotate these...

[ulrichd]

Originally Posted by 135iUSN

135's have staggered sizes - narrow fronts vs wide (er) rears...215/40 front, 245/35 sport pk

128 with sport pk 205/50R-17 front, 225/45R-17 - so you can't rotate

128 msport 205/50 front, 225/45 rear 17's as well

STD 128 is 205/50 run-flat all-season tires - so you can rotate these...

Wow, did not know that. Thanks.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by 135iUSN

135's have staggered sizes - narrow fronts vs wide (er) rears...215/40 front, 245/35 sport pk

128 with sport pk 205/50R-17 front, 225/45R-17 - so you can't rotate

128 msport 205/50 front, 225/45 rear 17's as well

STD 128 is 205/50 run-flat all-season tires - so you can rotate these...

And to further confuse matters, the 135i convertible without SP comes with 205/50 run-flat all-season tires at all 4 corners, just like the non sport 128i.

Tom

[tgxmike]

[QUOTE=Midgad;7030638] Someone who worked there even wrote their initals on the rim (WTF) in the grease.
QUOTE]

Were the initials in your wheels something like FL, FR, RR, RL, DR, DL, PL, PR...???? I had those in mine too....

Front Left, Front Right, Rear Right, Rear Left, Drivers Right, passengers right etc?

[Doc GTO]

Originally Posted by Midgad

So just brought my 128 vert for its 20k service.
Rather than post in mulitple threads will just sumize here.
Issues;
Oil Change
Check Brakes
Window Rattles
Premature seat wear
Tire Rotation
70% Tint
Do Not Wash (NO WASH)
I-Pod connection loose..goes off by itself
Program only to get clown nose to bink

Well here's how it went.
We'll to start at least my car was not misplaced upon pick-up only took 15-20 minutes to get car (not 1 1/2 hours like last time).
No problems with oil and brakes.
I explained that window is rattling on certain roads. They could not duplicate rattle. (of course)!
My seat is wearing by the lubar area they claim it is normal wear.
See pic below...should real leather seats wear like this aftert 2 years.. (on a luxury car)
They rotated my tires and alos had no problem charging me $55 to do it!
When discussed same with SA was told that tire rotation is not part of "routine maintenance".
When discussed I said it probably even says in manual to rotate after 10k. He said it is not part of BMW no cost maintaince program. We got into a whole discussiion about tire wear etc, and after a whil he said "np, I will remove that charge".
Btw, I told him really wanted to rotate tires also so can clean front ones better since the front get soo much brake dust than rears. Also asked him to please clean rims.
When car came back not only were the rims not clean, they were black with grease and muck! Someone who worked there even wrote their initals on the rim (WTF) in the grease.
When asked to please clean I was told..."You said no wash"!
...they cleaned the rims and left soap residue all over the car.
I really like the 70% tint. It just darkens a bit and know the cops will not bust chops. Would of liked a bit darker but then I know would be flirting with trouble. (will post pic asap)
They replaced my I-Pod cable, guess will find out if that was the problem!
Finally, was told program alone will not make clown nose blink, told the system needs a "receiver" to activate CN. ...sounds like BS to me!
Overall not a terrible experiance but not totally happy either but I still love my 1 and could'nt wait to give back the 328XI loaner!
[IMG][/IMG]

That seat wear is excessive for 20K miles. I have 70K in my GTO and the seats look 90-95 like new. I use Lexol on them on a regular basis though. Good luck with the dealer.

Not for nothing, when I bought my 1-owner, 27K mile 2005 LAnd Rover LR3 it was still under factory warranty and the drivers seat has a little wear. The warranty covered my seat and they took care of it. I didn't even have to bitch.

[Doc GTO]

Originally Posted by Feyd

Just playing devils advocate here but are you sure the side bolsters on that are real leather? I'm not suggesting you didn't get "leather" seats, but I have heard that sometimes companies will use leatherette on high wear areas (bolsters/backs of seats, etc) to combat this issue and leave the real leather for the actual seating surfaces/headrests, etc.

Certainly not condoning the shittyness of BMW leather seats, but I thought I'd ask.

Every part of the 2004-2006 GTOs seats are leather. The only other car I've owned to have that good of leather was my 164 Alfa Romeo and my P35 Range Rover. The leather in my two previous bimmers, S/C Jag, ect was a thinner leather material that didn't hold up as well.