View Full Version : B*ll*cks!
glendog74
30-11-2008, 12:55 PM
10 minutes from the end of my Don Palmer car control day (which was awesome by the way!), the red battery warning light illuminated on the dash... Don said don't turn the engine off - leave NOW! Just leaving the track when it conks out! Got a jump start from Don and the car managed a whole mile before cutting out again with all manner of warning lights. Thus stranded in the middle of the Leicestershire countryside, rapidly getting dark and freakin f-f-f-freezing! :smt009
Joined the RAC and they arrived and checked the alternator feed - nothing... Eventually got collected and dropped off at the girlfriend's family in Barnsley many hours later. Just to round the day off nicely, the breakdown truck numpties smashed my nearside splitter getting it off the lorry... :banghead: :moan: :banghead: Trying to get it into BMW up in Yorkshire tomorrow.
Oh and i missed out on my Donington track day which i should have been on today - out of pocket by £110 plus track insurance of £160 :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
bryce
30-11-2008, 01:22 PM
Unlucky mate. :banghead:
Warranty?
Thats a shame mate! :bigcry:
Looks like the alternator strikes again! :whistle:
Shame about the track day, i was going to go but to cold for a race car with no heaters!
Also forgot to ask!
How was the Don Palmer day? I e mailed them yesterday to ask about the days as i fancy doing one myself!
What did you do, learn etc?
cheers
SpineOnABap
30-11-2008, 04:03 PM
How was the Don Palmer day? I e mailed them yesterday to ask about the days as i fancy doing one myself!
No need - just come out to the local test track with me and G :thumbs:
How was the Don Palmer day? I e mailed them yesterday to ask about the days as i fancy doing one myself!
No need - just come out to the local test track with me and G :thumbs:
Yea your right mate! Think i am going to do a drift day at Oulton with some help there from G!
Then off to Test Track! :thumbs:
houlbt
30-11-2008, 06:13 PM
Bad luck... hope it's all fixed up soon
dave1
30-11-2008, 06:32 PM
ah mate bad one!
E46ACS
30-11-2008, 10:30 PM
Bad news!!
Are the RAC not lible for the splitter?
Shame you are not nearer to Malton BMW (60 miles from Barnsley), as Stephane, the service manager, would look after you.
RichW
30-11-2008, 11:30 PM
Sorry to hear of your bad luck, as has been said previously, surely the RAC are responsible for the splitter???
Best of luck getting it repaired, as has been said, sounds like the alternator has packed in :banghead:
Gastro
01-12-2008, 12:03 AM
Deja Vous
Alternator..............
:119:
Andyk
01-12-2008, 10:01 PM
It's bad enough you had the problem but to get the splitter damaged I bet you were gutted.......did you :smt075 the RAC man....hope all is well soon Glendog.
glendog74
01-12-2008, 10:15 PM
Cheers for all your comments guys - i'm missing the CSL already! :smt055
Update:
Car went into Sandal BMW Wakefield today. Alternator f**ked as thought... They had none in stock surprisingly, but it will be sorted tomorrow. Gonna be about £550 all-in to repair - not as bad as i feared - maybe the lower VAT has helped after all! :-D
My warranty lapsed in August... At the moment it is set to cost £300 less than the warranty was to renew so hopefully it will be my only problem for the year! :whistle:
Haven't had the chance to pass my wrath on to the RAC yet. :moan: It was a sub-contractor that damaged the splitter. Ironically the driver had told me that his boss owns a CSL amongst other fancy motors. Apparently he rarely drives it though!
SMD The Don Palmer day was superb. He certainly is a character! He tailors the course to suit the individual. For me i wanted to explore the car limits and learn when i am approaching them as well as learning to go sideways! I feel i acheived the first rather well and am relatively confident driving with no DSC now but my drifting is a work in progress, lol! :hahaha:
dave1
01-12-2008, 11:13 PM
ouch! £550 for an alternator id be ill for weeks :119:
bryce
02-12-2008, 12:07 AM
Gonna be about £550 all-in to repair.
Ironically the driver had told me that his boss owns a CSL amongst other fancy motors. Apparently he rarely drives it though!
Ouch indeed. Have you tried for a discount? BMW offer a 4year+ discount on servicing, I wonder if they do this on parts? Also, Id try to go the route of there being a few cars having this problem - maybe they'll do you a good will?
I got this on my Cooper S when my steering pump went. 33k miles and 1.5years out of warranty. Quoted £550. Put it to them that it seemed to be a recurring problem. Two mins later - £101. Try it!
If he rarely drives it, his front splitters should be in good nick :whistle:
Mark CSL
02-12-2008, 12:20 AM
Glendog
Ask for a good will on it
they phone bmw warranty and you might get it for free :thumbs:
glendog74
02-12-2008, 05:14 PM
Got the car back now - total bill was for £513. The quoted price yesterday already had a 10% discount as i discovered.
In the end i managed to get 20% off parts as well as 10% off labour charges. They also fitted the spare set of PS2 front tyres that i had in the car free of charge (having destroyed what life was in the old ones at Bruntingthorpe). Maybe i could have got a slightly better deal but they did get me in at short notice so i'm happy with that. :-D
I also had a quote for the NSF Carbon Splitter to claim back from the RAC. Part price not including VAT £170.92. Total fitted price £249.68! I was advised of a possible long lead-in time as splitters have been on back order since January... No surprises there then! :banghead:
Andyk
02-12-2008, 06:50 PM
Glendog I believe Thorney has some front splitters. A friend was there last week and said they are good quality.
glendog74
07-12-2008, 06:32 PM
Glendog I believe Thorney has some front splitters. A friend was there last week and said they are good quality.
Cheers Andy. I'm still waiting on the RAC to make me a compensation offer just in case i need to get it done as a job by BMW to claim the money. The splitter is still holding together fine so can wait i suppose. I will do it myself if needed - doesn't look too difficult!
glendog74
20-02-2009, 08:04 PM
The RAC contractor finally admitted liability this week - almost 3 months after the event! :wav:
They will pay for the repair, so i popped into BMW to order a NSF Splitter - £203 - not including fitting! :hahaha:
The parts bloke was most optimistic and told me there is a delivery due in Germany on the 23rd Feb and that he should get one 7 days after that. I replied with "I'll hopefully see it in about 3 months then..." :smt104
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