Yay! New M4 DOA!

[Mxm]

Hi guys,

I've been lurking around the forums for quite a few years now, ever since I purchased my first BMW back in 07 (e92 335); never got around to making an account or posting, but this time, I just needed somewhere to vent my frustration.

I would consider myself as an amateur enthusiast since I have close to zero mechanical knowledge, don't spend a lot of time following car related news and I am not very educated in terms of BMW history. However, I've been in love with the m3 for the past 10 years. (Yes, I know this is nothing compared to most of you guys on the forum )

Now, I'm currently based in China and imported cars are just so damn expensive here. After being "car-less" for the past 3 years, partly because I'm unwilling to settle for a mediocre vehicle, I finally decided to pull the trigger on a M4. After countless hours of inner struggle and soul searching, I decided on the MW/SO combination, annnnnnd this is where everything started to go wrong.

First, I called all my local BMW dealers and they all gave me the same reply, "Sorry, we don't have any M4s in stock and we haven't gotten any allocation for quite a while. If you like, we can contact BMW and see if we can order one for you, but the wait will most likely be 6 months or more." 6 MONTHS! No, I am not going to wait that long for my car. So, I started calling dealerships all over China and, after 20 phone calls or so, found a dealership in Beijing that had a MW/SO M4 in stock! Perfect right? Or so I thought. I told them that I would need a few days to figure out my finances and get the paperwork started for a license plate (the government limit the number of license plates they issue every month in order to deal with the massive traffic), called them back a few days later when everything was done and they told me that they already sold the car. I guess it was my fault since I should have put down the deposit right away, but they told me that they've had the car for 2 months already so I thought that I could get away with a few extra days until I sorted out all the paperwork. Fortunately, the dealer had another AW/SO M4 in stock so I decided to just go with that.

So, I flew to Beijing on a Friday (June 12th), saw the car, paid for it, and flew back to wait for the car to arrive. They told me they would have the car picked up on Sunday, and I would have it by the following Friday.

Sunday: I get a call that the transport would be delayed until Monday. Okay, minor setback, no problem.

Monday: They told me that the car had been picked up by the transport company but they were still waiting for their truck to return so I'd have to wait till Wednesday before they can move. Estimated arrival date was pushed back to Sunday. Fine...

Saturday: I called them to confirm delivery, they told me that the truck had problems so it couldn't go very fast. Pushed back delivery for another day.

Monday: I got a call at 7AM thinking that my car had arrived but NO! Truck driver told me that while trying to unload my car onto a smaller tow truck for easier city transport, they found that my car would not start at all. I told them not to touch it anymore and had it delivered to a BMW dealership nearest me.

So, the car finally got here late Tuesday afternoon, too late for the dealership to do any work; therefore, another day wasted. Got a call this morning from the dealership with a diagnosis: broken engine belt. WTF! The amount of money I paid for this car when converted to USD is close to 185k, and I get it delivered with a broken engine belt? Now, I honestly don't have any kind of mechanical knowledge so I can't judge the severity of the problem myself. HOWEVER, I would expect nothing short of perfection after paying 185k for a car.

All I can say is, this totally ruined my excitement of owning my first M. At this point, I just hope they can get the parts ordered quickly and I pray that there won't be any more problems in the future.

[Lups]

They will sort it out, and you need to learn something really important.

When life is perfect, we don't value it so much. You have gotten the shittiest service and the shittiest luck, and idiots have been in your case, but try remembering all that 1 day after getting the car.

It's like a baby. Us mothers can complain endlessly about how hard they were to get or to get out from us, but give the damn spawn to our lap and try to rip it out after that.

I'm sorry for you for your experience but I can assure you, the car when perfect makes up for it. Because of minor cultural differences I would actually like to see this broken belt too.

[jballs16]

Geeze, man, what a terrible experience this has been for you. Hopefully they fix it soon so you can enjoy the car you waited so long for.

[Mxm]

Thank you for the support, Lups and jballs, I guess I'll just have to wait it out. They called me again and said that there are no available spare parts in China. They are gonna have to order from Germany, which is gonna take around 20 days to get here. Should I try and contact BMW directly and see if there's anything they can do?

Sighhhhh, I'm trying really hard to suppress my anger.

[nicknaz]

Sorry about the issues. If it makes you feel better, i waited 7 month for my car from order to US pick up after euro delivery.

By the way is your car 6mt or dct and was it fine at the dealer before shipping?

Do you know which belt exactly?

[TonySCV]

Originally Posted by Mxm

The amount of money I paid for this car when converted to USD is close to 185k, and I get it delivered with a broken engine belt?

Look at the bright side... at least you don't live in Singapore, where an M4 will set you back approx. $255,000USD.

It's a broken belt. Easy fix. You'll love the car.

[Mxm]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Sorry about the issues. If it makes you feel better, i waited 7 month for my car from order to US pick up after euro delivery.

By the way is your car 6mt or dct and was it fine at the dealer before shipping?

Do you know which belt exactly?

Oh wow, 7 months, I feel a little better now.

My car is a DCT and it was fine at the dealer before they shipped it. I called the dealer and they said it's actually the electric generator belt that's broken.

[Mxm]

Originally Posted by TonySCV

Look at the bright side... at least you don't live in Singapore, where an M4 will set you back approx. $255,000USD.

It's a broken belt. Easy fix. You'll love the car.

Hahah true, I remember visiting friend in Singapore and was really surprised that he drives a S5 coupe considering how much money he makes..... until I asked how much he paid for his car....

[Laiyo]

sorry about your problems, I am sure you will figure it out eventually. Curious since you are a import car in Asia, but did you get to see the Mileage on the car if there was any?

[Mxm]

Originally Posted by Laiyo

sorry about your problems, I am sure you will figure it out eventually. Curious since you are a import car in Asia, but did you get to see the Mileage on the car if there was any?

Thanks =) Picked it up from the dealership in Beijing with 27kms on the odometer.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Mxm

Oh wow, 7 months, I feel a little better now.

My car is a DCT and it was fine at the dealer before they shipped it. I called the dealer and they said it's actually the electric generator belt that's broken.

Should be an easy fix and just a dead battery kept it from starting.

Just a weird random failure in my opinion

[Ghetto2315]

Now post some pictures!

[Mxm]

Only have the pictures that my SA took for me before they shipped my car off.

Quick update: The dealership said that they can't find any spare parts so they have to order from Germany and it's gonna take around 20 days for it to get here. I also found out today that my SA broke his arm; he's gonna be on sick leave until next week.

I guess I'll just go find a hole somewhere and wait

[Doctor///M]

Best of luck in sorting out the issue and report back with updates.

[Vigilant]

Well gee whiz OP...sounds like you need to avoid the stock market and sharp implements for the foreseeable future. I hope it all works out.

Not to be insensitive, but what is the vehicle to the right of your M4?

[M3SSY]

11287848605

order one and have it overnighted?

[Mxm]

Originally Posted by Vigilant

Well gee whiz OP...sounds like you need to avoid the stock market and sharp implements for the foreseeable future. I hope it all works out.

Not to be insensitive, but what is the vehicle to the right of your M4?

Hahaha, oh man, I actually did lose quite a bit of money in the stock market over the weekend. It's been one tough week =(

The car on the right is a Huracan, the owner of the dealership also has a porche/lambo dealership so I guess he sometimes puts other vehicles on display here.

Originally Posted by M3SSY

1128784860

order one and have it overnighted?

Where? I'm totally clueless when it comes to ordering parts!

[M3SSY]

Originally Posted by Mxm

Where? I'm totally clueless when it comes to ordering parts!

probably help if I gave you the proper part number

11287848605

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2733921/

[Duder]

sorry to hear.... sucks. if it makes you feel any better I've owned mine for 4 weeks and the dealership has had it for more than half that time at this point. still don't have it..... try actually driving it for two weeks and then having to give it back to drive crappy loaner cars hahahaha it sucks! you'll love it when you get it. it'll be worth the wait.

[Mxm]

Originally Posted by M3SSY

probably help if I gave you the proper part number

11287848605

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2733921/

Thanks! Do you happen to know if they ship internationally? I tried their online chat but my browser refuses to open it for some reason.

Originally Posted by Duder

sorry to hear.... sucks. if it makes you feel any better I've owned mine for 4 weeks and the dealership has had it for more than half that time at this point. still don't have it..... try actually driving it for two weeks and then having to give it back to drive crappy loaner cars hahahaha it sucks! you'll love it when you get it. it'll be worth the wait.

Looked up your post and man, the way they treated your leather is quite appalling. But at least you still get a loaner! Here in China they don't provide you with loaner cars unless you ask and even when you do, the chances of them actually having a loaner car on site is close to zero... =(

[Just Drive]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Sorry about the issues. If it makes you feel better, i waited 7 month for my car from order to US pick up after euro delivery.

By the way is your car 6mt or dct and was it fine at the dealer before shipping?

Do you know which belt exactly?

did you have to make payments on those 6 months? was it lease or buy?

[MDIVISION]

Boy if only all people of this world had these issues. You will be fine and will love the M4. Its just a car. Better something go wrong in the car than in you.
Be thankful of your health and then wealth.