£196 for a BMW Software Upgrade ?

Sneaky Peaky · 8 Mar 2011 at 13:03

A friend of mine is having problems with an intermittent engine warning light (3 Series) and car is in the garage at the moment.

According to her though BMW want £196 for a 'software upgrade' to even allow them to trace the fault :eek:

Does that seem right and what is it ? I though normally ECU flashes were free ?

ta..

Sneaky Peaky · 8 Mar 2011 at 14:46

I think she has an E90 318i, out of warranty now although had a similar issue with no.1 injector last year which was fixed.

Was just suprised I suppose that they can get away with making you fork out for a software upgrade just so they can diagnose what is wrong with it !

Sneaky Peaky · 9 Mar 2011 at 09:15

I have to say the more I read the more unbelievable I find this, so let me get this right.

1) They have an inherent fault with these engines with injectors/coils/sparkplugs/DME
2) The fault diagnostics on the cars can't diagnose it without a software upgrade
3) They charge you £200 so that they can upgrade their deficient software to detect a known issue
4) It doesn't even require much in the way of man hours to do this as the car is unattended for most of the time yet they are charging 4 hours labour
5) You then have to fork out for the repairs that can run into 4 figures

Jeez, I'm suprised there's not a civil uprising of BMW owners banging on the doors of their local dealerships telling them where to stick their diagnositics..

Haven't heard the outcome yet but hopefully get an update today but doesn't look so good based on this thread !

Sneaky Peaky · 9 Mar 2011 at 10:29

Update - ok so the 'software upgrade' has told them new spark plug and coil needed, surely they could have diagnosed this using good old mechanical means. Anyways, no coils available in the UK apparantly so have to get one from Germany so won't get the car back until Monday at the earliest but they are providing a hire car in the meantime which I think they are paying for.

To add insult to injury though it's a 1.2 Chevrolet Aveo which Top Gear describe as 'Like an IT supervisor wearing an 'If your mother was any fatter' T-shirt, the Aveo manages to be impossibly dull yet slightly offensive at the same time' lol

Sneaky Peaky · 9 Mar 2011 at 11:21

Ok thanks - need some input here into extended BMW warranty options, Fox !

Had a quick look at the website and seems like loads of options, any clues on what's best value / what to go for ? Any advice welcomed ta..

In fact gonna spin this out onto another thread. Thanks all..