Denied roadside assistance

isabayo · 05-10-2010, 07:28 AM

I drove to my parent's house and noticed a burning smell on the highway halfway there, I didn't think anything of it thinking it was coming from another car. When I got home I noticed the car was leaking A LOT of oil. Anyways, I called bmw roadside assistance to get it towed but they said my car does not come with free roadside assistance,

I told them specifically that the website even states that the cars come with 4 years of free roadside assistance and I have an 08 model. Is this guy just an idiot? He told me to talk to my dealer about it.

Why would my car just start leaking that much oil? The last oil change was done at a BMW dealer.

tailgate1234 · 05-10-2010, 07:48 AM

Did you register for BMW assist when you bought the car? I thought that there was lifetime road assistance on the E9x M3, possibly due to the lack of spare tire

LIKEWATER · 05-10-2010, 07:57 AM

I would be more concerned with the oil leak.....
What's going on there ?

isabayo · 05-10-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIKEWATER

I would be more concerned with the oil leak.....
What's going on there ?

I am more concerned about the oil leak. They better not say its because the car is lowered by .75" I paid $110 to bmw roadside assistance to get it towed to the local dealer. Waiting for a call from them to see whats up, I really hope the engine is fine... If anything it would be BMW's fault because they were the ones that did the last oil change.

M3Alpine · 05-10-2010, 08:36 AM

Keep us updated. Hopefully it will have nothing to do with you being lower lol

Boost3dm3 · 05-10-2010, 08:40 AM

did you do the paperwork when you bought the car regarding roadside assistance?

isabayo · 05-10-2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost3dm3

did you do the paperwork when you bought the car regarding roadside assistance?

I bought the car used, and did the paperwork for bmw assist. I didn't know there was paperwork for bmw roadside assistance.

mkoesel · 05-10-2010, 09:02 AM

Did you get the roadside assistance card for your wallet when you got the car? If not, you might not have been signed up.

Alex1911 · 05-10-2010, 09:22 AM

Not to get off topic, but a new one comes with 4yrs of RA free right? I do the paperwork when I do my final purchase/title/etc.

Sorry for your troubles OP.

besiktas · 05-10-2010, 09:34 AM

Keep us posted with the oil leak

CarForHire · 05-10-2010, 10:11 AM

Subscribed. Good luck.

frenchM3dreamer · 05-10-2010, 10:30 AM

welcome to my situation... different brand, different car, exact same issue... did an oil change at the dealer, they FU**ED UP big time, major oil leak... and now they're denying all responsibility for the damage (engine seized)... i have to pay out of pocket for a replacement engine... i did file a complaint with the local BBB. if nothing happens there i'm off to a Small Claims court...
if you end up in the same situation and need some input on who to contact, let me know... as you said, i would be less worried about paying the towing fee than finding out exactly what's wrong with the engine...
good luck...

Moxie · 05-10-2010, 11:06 AM

The filler cap has been known to leak on the 08's. Do a search here for other posts.

edlin303 · 05-10-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailgate1234

Did you register for BMW assist when you bought the car? I thought that there was lifetime road assistance on the E9x M3, possibly due to the lack of spare tire

Lifetime roadside assistance for tire issues. I was just told 4 years for all other issues when I picked mine up last week. I don't believe they had me fill anything out for it though.

moog55 · 05-10-2010, 11:38 AM

that sucks. more worried about your oil leak though. keep us updated.

JCtx · 05-10-2010, 11:58 AM

BMW offers 4 years of roadside assistance, not lifetime. I asked.

OP, I bet they didn't reinstall the cap carefully. It's a crappy design. If the gasket is not lubricated, it bunches up while twisting the cap, and creates a gap. Unfortunately, the cam gear drive shoots oil straight to the oil cap, so if not seated perfectly, it'd make a royal mess like you described.

You CAN'T really trust a dealer anymore; that's why I'm doing my own maintenance, even when I have to pay for it (don't drive the car much). Yeah, most of the time there're no problems, but if YOU are one of the few, it's no consolation. You should always check the oil cap on your car after an oil change; sorry you learned the hard way. I can bet you cash money that was your problem: hood and all around the cap full of oil, right? Just make sure they leave the engine squeaky clean, and recheck the cap yourself, putting a layer of oil with your finger (like if it was an oil filter), and you should be fine. But check under the hood after you arrive home, just in case. Good luck.

Faceman · 05-10-2010, 02:45 PM

I took mine in last week for an oil change. Got the car back and they had overfilled the engine by 1 1/2 quarts. The nav did not the error, I just happened to check it. Took the car back and the tech said that it could have started leaking profusely if I had not noticed it...

Anyway...probably dealer error.

Good luck!!

foosh · 05-10-2010, 02:52 PM

Yes, since an oil change had just been performed, there is a 99% chance your oil cap was not re-installed correctly. When that happens it does make a mess and creates a burning smell, but you probably lost much less than a qt. of oil.

There have been multiple reported incidents of that here. Ask the dealer nicely to clean up this mess, and stop worrying about it.

foosh · 05-10-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faceman

I took mine in last week for an oil change. Got the car back and they had overfilled the engine by 1 1/2 quarts. The nav did not the error, I just happened to check it. Took the car back and the tech said that it could have started leaking profusely if I had not noticed it...

Anyway...probably dealer error.

Good luck!!

Some technicians forget that there are 2 drain plugs on the E9X M3 engine. If they remove a certain single plug they'll only get a little more than a quart to drain. If they fail to remove that same plug, they'll leave a little more than a quart in the engine and more than likely overfill it.

SonnyJack · 05-10-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3pyun

I drove to my parent's house and noticed a burning smell on the highway halfway there, I didn't think anything of it thinking it was coming from another car. When I got home I noticed the car was leaking A LOT of oil. Anyways, I called bmw roadside assistance to get it towed but they said my car does not come with free roadside assistance,

I told them specifically that the website even states that the cars come with 4 years of free roadside assistance and I have an 08 model. Is this guy just an idiot? He told me to talk to my dealer about it.

Why would my car just start leaking that much oil? The last oil change was done at a BMW dealer.

Sorry to hear about your oil leak. Did you use a dealer in Maryland? VOB has been good to me in the past, but when I went in for 1200 mile service last May they pinched the gasket on my oil filter and I leaked oil all over my garage floor. Thankfully no engine damage was incurred.

By any chance were you able to see where the oil was leaking from? In my case I could actually see the oil streaming from the oil filter casing when the motor was running. Scared the crap out of me.

JohnnyRoaster · 05-10-2010, 03:18 PM

If it turns out to be their fault I would ask to be reimbursed for the tow. I hope you get it all sorted out soon. Keep us posted.

EJ_92606 · 05-10-2010, 04:30 PM

I'm still wondering why you weren't covered for roadside assistance? I heard of one other person that this happened to as well.

05-10-2010, 07:28 AM	#1
isabayo First Lieutenant 44 Rep 319 Posts Drives: G05 X5 50i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MD iTrader: (7)	Denied roadside assistance I drove to my parent's house and noticed a burning smell on the highway halfway there, I didn't think anything of it thinking it was coming from another car. When I got home I noticed the car was leaking A LOT of oil. Anyways, I called bmw roadside assistance to get it towed but they said my car does not come with free roadside assistance, I told them specifically that the website even states that the cars come with 4 years of free roadside assistance and I have an 08 model. Is this guy just an idiot? He told me to talk to my dealer about it. Why would my car just start leaking that much oil? The last oil change was done at a BMW dealer.
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05-10-2010, 07:48 AM	#2
tailgate1234 Private First Class 15 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan Silverstone II Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Did you register for BMW assist when you bought the car? I thought that there was lifetime road assistance on the E9x M3, possibly due to the lack of spare tire
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05-10-2010, 07:57 AM	#3
LIKEWATER Private 1 Rep 57 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I would be more concerned with the oil leak..... What's going on there ?
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05-10-2010, 08:36 AM	#5
M3Alpine Lieutenant Colonel 52 Rep 1,512 Posts Drives: M4 AW/SO Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (11)	Keep us updated. Hopefully it will have nothing to do with you being lower lol __________________ 2002 AW/IR : Sold 2004 AW/BLK : Sold 2009 AW/FR : Sold 2015 AW/SO
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05-10-2010, 08:40 AM	#6
Boost3dm3 Lieutenant 27 Rep 471 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (0)	did you do the paperwork when you bought the car regarding roadside assistance? __________________ Become a BMW CCA member; please use member #405205 as a reference . Click here to join online
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05-10-2010, 09:02 AM	#8
mkoesel Moderator 7525 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	Did you get the roadside assistance card for your wallet when you got the car? If not, you might not have been signed up.
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05-10-2010, 09:22 AM	#9
Alex1911 Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 210 Posts Drives: M3 Sedan 2011 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Not to get off topic, but a new one comes with 4yrs of RA free right? I do the paperwork when I do my final purchase/title/etc. Sorry for your troubles OP.
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05-10-2010, 09:34 AM	#10
besiktas Ultimate Driver for the Ultimate Driving Machine 146 Rep 1,146 Posts Drives: BMW M3 E92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Keep us posted with the oil leak __________________ BMW M3 E92 - Silverstone II BPM Sport Stage II Tune + Test Pipes, GTS DCT Tune
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05-10-2010, 10:11 AM	#11
CarForHire Major 29 Rep 1,309 Posts Drives: Slow in the left lane. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E90 328i [0.00]	Subscribed. Good luck. __________________ Race car driving is like sex...all men think they are good at it. - Jay Leno
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05-10-2010, 10:30 AM	#12
frenchM3dreamer Captain 8 Rep 784 Posts Drives: 08 Mitsu Eclipse Spyder GTP Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB iTrader: (0)	welcome to my situation... different brand, different car, exact same issue... did an oil change at the dealer, they FU**ED UP big time, major oil leak... and now they're denying all responsibility for the damage (engine seized)... i have to pay out of pocket for a replacement engine... i did file a complaint with the local BBB. if nothing happens there i'm off to a Small Claims court... if you end up in the same situation and need some input on who to contact, let me know... as you said, i would be less worried about paying the towing fee than finding out exactly what's wrong with the engine... good luck...
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05-10-2010, 11:06 AM	#13
Moxie Lieutenant Colonel 67 Rep 1,895 Posts Drives: AW 328d Touring/SG 335d Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (12)	The filler cap has been known to leak on the 08's. Do a search here for other posts.
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05-10-2010, 11:38 AM	#15
moog55 Major 55 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	that sucks. more worried about your oil leak though. keep us updated.
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05-10-2010, 11:58 AM	#16
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	BMW offers 4 years of roadside assistance, not lifetime. I asked. OP, I bet they didn't reinstall the cap carefully. It's a crappy design. If the gasket is not lubricated, it bunches up while twisting the cap, and creates a gap. Unfortunately, the cam gear drive shoots oil straight to the oil cap, so if not seated perfectly, it'd make a royal mess like you described. You CAN'T really trust a dealer anymore; that's why I'm doing my own maintenance, even when I have to pay for it (don't drive the car much). Yeah, most of the time there're no problems, but if YOU are one of the few, it's no consolation. You should always check the oil cap on your car after an oil change; sorry you learned the hard way. I can bet you cash money that was your problem: hood and all around the cap full of oil, right? Just make sure they leave the engine squeaky clean, and recheck the cap yourself, putting a layer of oil with your finger (like if it was an oil filter), and you should be fine. But check under the hood after you arrive home, just in case. Good luck.
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05-10-2010, 02:45 PM	#17
Faceman Enlisted Member 20 Rep 47 Posts Drives: SSII FR Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	I took mine in last week for an oil change. Got the car back and they had overfilled the engine by 1 1/2 quarts. The nav did not the error, I just happened to check it. Took the car back and the tech said that it could have started leaking profusely if I had not noticed it... Anyway...probably dealer error. Good luck!!
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05-10-2010, 02:52 PM	#18
foosh Major 27 Rep 1,314 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (0)	Yes, since an oil change had just been performed, there is a 99% chance your oil cap was not re-installed correctly. When that happens it does make a mess and creates a burning smell, but you probably lost much less than a qt. of oil. There have been multiple reported incidents of that here. Ask the dealer nicely to clean up this mess, and stop worrying about it. __________________
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05-10-2010, 03:18 PM	#21
JohnnyRoaster Captain 42 Rep 959 Posts Drives: 09 Jerez Black M3 Sedan Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Outside Beantown iTrader: (0)	If it turns out to be their fault I would ask to be reimbursed for the tow. I hope you get it all sorted out soon. Keep us posted. __________________
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05-10-2010, 04:30 PM	#22
EJ_92606 Ultimate Driving Machine 16 Rep 381 Posts Drives: '13 F10 550i; '11 R1200GS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (1)	I'm still wondering why you weren't covered for roadside assistance? I heard of one other person that this happened to as well.
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