Broken rear springs E46

scratch · 4 Jul 2013 at 13:36

Hi guys,

My car is with BMW at the moment having the brake pressure sensors replaced under warranty (BMW Comprehensive) to cure an issue I was having.

I've just received a call from their service department to tell me that they have found two broken could springs on the rear of the car. I asked them to get it sorted under warranty but they tell me that it's a wear and tear part and isn't covered!

Does this sound reasonable to you? The car has only done 62k miles! After a quick google there seems to be others with similar mileages getting their springs replaced, but my dealer doesn't want to know. They have offered to put in a goodwill claim for me but I can imagine what the response is going to be!

Should I push the dealer to put a claim in anyway, or maybe try a different dealer? I'm starting to question why I'm paying them £40/month if they're just going to pull the same "wear and tear" trick that other warranties are well known for.

GravyMonster · 4 Jul 2013 at 14:10

Personally I'd consider springs a wear item, and there doesn't sound anything extra-ordinary about needing them changing at 62k.

Fight if you want, but I doubt you'll get far.

p1RATE · 4 Jul 2013 at 14:17

Wear and tear, Do you drive regularly on rough ground?

i cant see any dealer replace the springs on a 62k e46 under warranty.

alx · 4 Jul 2013 at 14:20

It's a well known wear and tear part unfortunately.

Six6siX · 4 Jul 2013 at 15:17

Happened to mine - replaced all round with Eibachs. Changing these soon for a full coilover setup.

rodenal · 4 Jul 2013 at 15:27

Must have happened to mine too as it has Eibach springs all round too - only realised this after someone suggested the rears looked broken

acemastr · 4 Jul 2013 at 15:56

As far as I know my rears haven't been touched in 92k, not really sure how to check as I believe they are... black... and that's it.

Atari · 4 Jul 2013 at 16:21

As above, mine had signs of corrosion when I got the car, replaced them with some H&R springs and never looked back.

rodenal · 4 Jul 2013 at 16:38

acemastr said:
As far as I know my rears haven't been touched in 92k, not really sure how to check as I believe they are... black... and that's it.

The Std springs have some markings on them, can't remember if it's 2 or 3 little lines, blue i think

Matt82 · 4 Jul 2013 at 16:59

Spunkey said:
Personally I'd consider springs a wear item, and there doesn't sound anything extra-ordinary about needing them changing at 62k.

Fight if you want, but I doubt you'll get far.

when did springs become a wear item?

[TW]Fox · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:32

Have they even bothered to submit a warranty claim or just decided for themselves it wouldnt accepted?

scratch · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:41

Quite surprised at the number of you who think springs are a wear and tear item. Shocks I can understand, but why should springs fail at 60k miles?! It certainly isn't the norm.

BMW have just phoned. Apparently they haven't refused my goodwill claim outright, but have asked for photos which the dealer is sorting for me tonight.

Another quick question - Does anyone know if there are varying ride heights for the 330Ci? Just looking at Eurocarparts and they don't ask for a trim level when picking your car, but I thought the Sport trim had lower suspension comlared to the SE for example? Was there even an SE coupe in the facelift model?

[TW]Fox · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:45

I think all the 330Ci had M-Tech suspension as standard?

SHEDDER1uk · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:46

There was talk the clubsport was slightly lower but never did confirm it.

scratch · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:47

[TW]Fox;24561519 said:
Have they even bothered to submit a warranty claim or just decided for themselves it wouldnt accepted?

They decided themselves without even speaking to Mondial. She went off and checked with somebody, who confirmed her thoughts. I told her how I didnt agree with them and how there are several reports online of people getting their springs done under the comprehensive warranty, but the best she could offer was to make a goodwill claim or to make a complaint to customer services.

That's why I'm thinking maybe I should get them to raise a claim anyway to see what the warranty company say, or take the car to another dealer who may be more willing to help.

[TW]Fox · 4 Jul 2013 at 17:49

I'd probably go down the different dealer route.

scratch · 4 Jul 2013 at 18:18

Just had another call from BMW who tell me that they had to take the springs out to get good photos of them and they've found that they're not actually broken at all, just non-genuine.

Apparently the mechanic mistook what was a jagged edge on the very bottom of the spring for a break, but it's actually just how they're made.

Numpties!

NickXX · 4 Jul 2013 at 18:28

My m3 failed its mot this year on 2 broken rear springs (both were oem).

It failed its mot on a broken oem spring 2 years/10k earlier. They are consumables unfortunately.

acemastr · 4 Jul 2013 at 18:38

[TW]Fox;24561577 said:
I think all the 330Ci had M-Tech suspension as standard?

My SE actually sits lower than the parents SE 325i

MacRS4 · 4 Jul 2013 at 19:04

[TW]Fox;24561519 said:
Have they even bothered to submit a warranty claim or just decided for themselves it wouldnt accepted?

This. Repeatedly. I've had numerous things fixed under warranty now - suspension bushes, couple other things...that were initially rejected by the dealer having not actually asked BMW Warranty. Stupid really - when I first rang them (while in the dealer) - the warranty company denied any knowledge of it, and simply asked the dealer for more details.