What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Yup, South Bay BMW.

The Service Advisor said I needed to log about 1000 miles/month to keep the battery fully charged... Total rubbish.

Ask them why they do 10k mile a year leases then? Who on earth would think that if you don't drive 1000 miles/mo your battery dies after 2.5 years?

[Gray_Panther]

Logical question^
I put on a total of 13k miles on my GTi since I got my 1er and the battery died once but only because it was 0'F for a week and I only drove it 2 miles during that week.
Dealer is giving BS!

[Ed P]

I gotta ask... Why use the dealer for a battery, esp. if it's not covered?

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by Ed P

I gotta ask... Why use the dealer for a battery, esp. if it's not covered?

Battery still has to be coded by the dealer either way. one stop shopping.

[Gray_Panther]

Does the BMWwhat app have the ability to code new batteries?

[bmw1racer]

Not sure if it'll do any good, but I submitted a complaint to the BMW Customer Relations and Services department just to get the ball rolling...

[sparky1_2007]

replaced a burnt out HID headlight bulb.

Swapped them around first to make sure it was an issue with the bulb and not the ballast/wiring.

woohoo $100 for 1 replacement bulb/lamp

[mr.fabulous]

$100?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00265FXTA

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by sparky1_2007

replaced a burnt out HID headlight bulb.

Swapped them around first to make sure it was an issue with the bulb and not the ballast/wiring.

woohoo $100 for 1 replacement bulb/lamp

Yikes.

Makes you miss the old days with the round headlights that cost about $10-$20.

[Marc08EX]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Yup, South Bay BMW.

The Service Advisor said I needed to log about 1000 miles/month to keep the battery fully charged... Total rubbish.

Total bull crap!

My SA also said the same thing when I told him that my battery feels weak...

[Marc08EX]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

The batteries in these cars should last a hell of a lot longer than they do and absolute highway robbery too that they then need to be "registered" and "coded." For them to not cover it under warranty is BS.

Totally agree with Greg on this one. And they still get paid for doing warranty work anyway (AFAIK).

[Ed P]

Originally Posted by HooningB2G

Battery still has to be coded by the dealer either way. one stop shopping.

I'm sure there are independent shops around that can do that in So. Calif... shoot, I found a couple here in sleepy St. Pete, FLA...

[muddtt]

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

Does the BMWwhat app have the ability to code new batteries?

The BMWwhat app is supposed to have battery coding available now. Not sure if our model is included. It is an additional purchase in app though.

[bmw1racer]

Finally got my car back after they held it hostage for the entire day... How freaking long does it take to replace and register a battery????

Total cost: $636.73... And my service advisor was conveniently nowhere to be found.

Now I know what it feels like to be someone's bitch in a prison.

And I'm filing my complaint with the Better Business Bureau right now.

[mr.fabulous]

Isn't there a regional BMW guy you can(should be) talking to? I wouldn't know how to finesse that, but maybe here's a good time for us to all learn that.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Isn't there a regional BMW guy you can(should be) talking to? I wouldn't know how to finesse that, but maybe here's a good time for us to all learn that.

Ah, you mean an ombudsman... Good idea, worth a try.

Oh, I bought a CTEK battery tender so I don't get caught unaware again.

[Marc08EX]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Oh, I bought a CTEK battery tender so I don't get caught unaware again.

That's what I have ever since the car started to sound weak whenever I start it. I put the car on the ctek tender everytime I come home.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Marc08EX

That's what I have ever since the car started to sound weak whenever I start it. I plug put the car on the ctek tender everytime I come home.

I wish the car had given me some indication: It started just fine in the morning, but after I got to work and tried to start it again after opening up the office, the dashboard lights went nuts and flickered like crazy.

[bmw1racer]

Received my CTEK battery charger/tender in the mail today and just hooked it up... I used the hot terminal in the engine compartment rather than directly connecting to the battery since it's inconveniently located in the trunk...

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Ah, you mean an ombudsman... Good idea, worth a try.

Oh, I bought a CTEK battery tender so I don't get caught unaware again.

Which model did you buy and where?

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Received my CTEK battery charger/tender in the mail today and just hooked it up... I used the hot terminal in the engine compartment rather than directly connecting to the battery since it's inconveniently located in the trunk...

I just ordered a CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3 charger for $73.06 via Amazon Prime. No way this battery is going to make it to the end of the lease without a charger. I've been getting the battery discharge warning from time to time, especially after really cold overnights. My commutes are short, and I'm just coming up on 15K miles in 19 months. I have an upcoming trip and the car will be sitting for at least two weeks... I don't want to return to a dead battery and the associated cost, inconvenience, and frustration of having the dealer replace the battery.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Which model did you buy and where?

I bought the CTEK 0.8 charger... $43 at Amazon.