[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by RigPig11

The insurance company is going to send an adjuster out to inspect soon. They asked if I want to have the work done at this dealership. I told them im not sure and want to think about it. Any reasons I shouldnt have the work done at this Dealership based off anything I have posted so far? So far I feel they have treated my fairly to be honest. Naturally, I was upset this morning when they told me via text and couldnt give me the courtesy of a phone call to allow me to talk to someone who knows exactly what they are talking about. My only gripe is the SA. Other than that they have been alright.

https://bbmwmrrbfl.mktext09.com/p/fUpZIo.jpg

Zoomed in photo in link

In terms of your comfort level with this dealer, that is really on you. I am just some guy on the internet making judgements based on your updates.

If you feel they are shooting straight and are pleased with their efforts so far, then by all means, go with your gut. 90% of my spend decisions based on gut feel and responsiveness to my needs, be it a contractor doing my kitchen over, a new roof or a car dealer. For example, I have 5 BMW dealerships within 10 miles of me and I travel 30 miles to the one I trust and like for service.

I was getting the impression your current dealer was guessing at resolutions. If your car was struck by lightning and they have a plan, then by all means, go with them.

I am guessing you need an entire new wiring harness throughout the car. Huge job.

[RigPig11]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

In terms of your comfort level with this dealer, that is really on you. I am just some guy on the internet making judgements based on your updates.

If you feel they are shooting straight and are pleased with their efforts so far, then by all means, go with your gut. 90% of my spend decisions based on gut feel and responsiveness to my needs, be it a contractor doing my kitchen over, a new roof or a car dealer. For example, I have 5 BMW dealerships within 10 miles of me and I travel 30 miles to the one I trust and like for service.

I was getting the impression your current dealer was guessing at resolutions. If your car was struck by lightning and they have a plan, then by all means, go with them.

I am guessing you need an entire new wiring harness throughout the car. Huge job.

Joe I appreciate your inputs brother. This is my first time having any major repairs done to a vehicle. Everything before this has been basic maintenance over 18 years of driving. Was hoping I could find someone who has gone through this exact process by giving updates part by part to see if my dealer seemed competent. Knowing that these machines are highly engineered and electronics not being a strong suit of mine any feedback is always appreciated.

I look forward to seeing, after the insurance adjuster inspects and they discuss the cost of repair, what they estimate it to be and get a further update on how they plan to proceed.

The dealership said they will provide me with a loaner vehicle the whole time my car is in their possession so that’s good to know. If it was a lightning strike which I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, then it was an act of god and out of my hands so I’m trying not to stress on it. Nothing I can do about it at this point but let it play out.

I’m in South Florida if anybody has any input on Dealerships whom they would or more importantly WOULDN’T let do a major electrical repair job, please let me know.

[RigPig11]

Also, I’m thinking this might be time to switch this thread over to the electrical thread section. Does anybody know how I go about doing that?

[LuvMyE92]

Pointless to continue most of this until after the adjuster makes his/her determination. I will suggest though that the dealership has a vested interest in resolving this, and if you change dealers, you end up with someone having to fix someone else's mess. No one likes that.

In my view, most dealerships are the same when it comes down to results. It's the luck of the draw as to which tech(s) work on your car, how good they are, how good their team lead is, if they check out the work... with my M2, it was in the shop for I believe 8 different times for what amounted to two different problems... half of the trips were to fix what they broke when they were doing something else. Very annoying.

Best of luck!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by RigPig11

Joe I appreciate your inputs brother. This is my first time having any major repairs done to a vehicle. Everything before this has been basic maintenance over 18 years of driving. Was hoping I could find someone who has gone through this exact process by giving updates part by part to see if my dealer seemed competent. Knowing that these machines are highly engineered and electronics not being a strong suit of mine any feedback is always appreciated.

I look forward to seeing, after the insurance adjuster inspects and they discuss the cost of repair, what they estimate it to be and get a further update on how they plan to proceed.

The dealership said they will provide me with a loaner vehicle the whole time my car is in their possession so that’s good to know. If it was a lightning strike which I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, then it was an act of god and out of my hands so I’m trying not to stress on it. Nothing I can do about it at this point but let it play out.

I’m in South Florida if anybody has any input on Dealerships whom they would or more importantly WOULDN’T let do a major electrical repair job, please let me know.

Nah, keep this thread right here. This really doesn't fall into the electrical category in which that sub forum is meant for. You seem to have the right perspective and are patient. I really interested in how this plays out, so please continue to update.

Selfishly for me and other G30 owners, I hope it is an act of god which means it's not a weakness of the G30 that can hit (no pun intended) one of us as a common issue.

Now only if you had been driving 88 mph when it got struck, you may have gone back or forward in time ;-)

[2022M550i]

“It was struck by lightning“ that’s a first for me. All the dealers are going to be using this one now

[Warp Ten]

I think Joe's advice to let your insurance company adjuster check it out is right. But that explanation is a bit puzzling to me. I looked at the picture you posted of your wheel but while a see a small nick, I truthfully could not really tell that would have been caused by lightning exiting the vehicle. While my electrical engineering studies are a long, long way behind me, I would think that if lightning really hit your car there would be very obvious burn marks somewhere on the top of the car. Hard to understand that lightning would strike the lowest part of the car (the wheel) and leave such a small mark. (Think of what a large tree looks like after a lightning strike). And in any event, without being able to examine the mark on your wheel in person, I might guess that it could just be an abrasion. Looking forward to hearing what the insurance guy says. On a small plus side, it seems that the dealership has been pretty good about regular communication with you, and maybe they are truly just as perplexed as you. Once the BMW engineer pronounces his verdict, I suspect it is out of the dealer's hands. --Bob

[Warp Ten]

Here's a note about lightning and cars from the National Weather Service. Does your car show evidence of a lightning hit on the satellite antenna or elsewhere on top? Were the tires ruined? How is your rear window? Inquiring minds would like to know --Bob

Safety -- National Program

Lightning and Cars
Weather.gov > Safety > Lightning and Cars

Lightning and Cars

Do the rubber tires on your car protect you if you are outside the car and you're leaning on it? NO! Like trees, houses, and people, anything outside is at risk of being struck by lightning when thunderstorms are in the area, including cars. The good news though is that the outer metal shell of hard-topped metal vehicles does provide protection to those inside a vehicle with the windows closed. Unfortunately though, the vehicle doesn't always fare so well.

A typical cloud-to-ground, actually cloud-to-vehicle, lightning strike will either strike the antenna of the vehicle or along the roofline. The lightning will then pass through the vehicle's outer metal shell, then through the tires to the ground.

Although every lightning strike is different, damage to the antenna, electrical system, rear windshield, and tires is common. The heat from a lightning strike is sufficient to partially melt the antenna of a vehicle and can cause what seems like a small explosion of sparks as tiny fragments of metal melt and burn. A portion of the discharge may find its way into the vehicle's electrical system and may damage or destroy electronic components, potentially leaving the car inoperable. The lightning may also find its way into the small defrosting wires that are embedded in rear windows causing the windows to shatter. Finally, it's very common for the lightning to destroy one or more tires as it passes through the steel belts to the ground. It's also possible for the lightning to ignite a fire which could destroy the vehicle.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

I think Joe's advice to let your insurance company adjuster check it out is right. But that explanation is a bit puzzling to me. I looked at the picture you posted of your wheel but while a see a small nick, I truthfully could not really tell that would have been caused by lightning exiting the vehicle. While my electrical engineering studies are a long, long way behind me, I would think that if lightning really hit your car there would be very obvious burn marks somewhere on the top of the car. Hard to understand that lightning would strike the lowest part of the car (the wheel) and leave such a small mark. (Think of what a large tree looks like after a lightning strike). And in any event, without being able to examine the mark on your wheel in person, I might guess that it could just be an abrasion. Looking forward to hearing what the insurance guy says. On a small plus side, it seems that the dealership has been pretty good about regular communication with you, and maybe they are truly just as perplexed as you. Once the BMW engineer pronounces his verdict, I suspect it is out of the dealer's hands. --Bob

Crazy huh Bob? This is definitely a first for me reading a thread like this and although it's unfortunate for the poster, I am quite intrigued by this and really hope the repair is quick and painless.

I was thinking the same thing about a lightning strike and clear evidence of damage. A hell of a lot more than a mark on a tire. Definitely out of my knowledge zone here. I do know that when a car is throwing faults like his was and it is not a module or two, the wiring harness is the next thing. I guess the jolt could have fried it in a few places. This would definitely cause the errors. I need a new one on my E39 and it's a big job. I can only imagine how intricate the wiring harness is on a G30.

[RigPig11]

Update: Just got off the phone with Insurance and they are going to submit for the car to be totaled. He told me the process and when I can expect to hear back from them with their appraised cash value but he did say there is a bit of an "issue" going on behind the scenes.....

When I signed the paperwork for BMW to do warranty work on my vehicle there was a clause in there that stated that if problem is not covered under the manufacturers warranty then I am responsible. At the time I had no reason to believe this car wouldn't be covered and totaled so I must have skimmed past that part. Geico said they are trying to negotiate the repair costs done, roughly $8k, down and his hope is to get it all covered by Geico so I do not have to pay for them.

I was expecting it to be totaled but the "who is going to cover the repairs done so far" part I was not expecting. Hopefully this works out in my favor but only time will tell.

I spent awhile looking for this car as it had the exact exterior and interior I was looking for and popped up in my backyard. I haven't found another online since. Really bummed about that but I guess now I am back in the market.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by RigPig11

Update: Just got off the phone with Insurance and they are going to submit for the car to be totaled. He told me the process and when I can expect to hear back from them with their appraised cash value but he did say there is a bit of an "issue" going on behind the scenes.....

When I signed the paperwork for BMW to do warranty work on my vehicle there was a clause in there that stated that if problem is not covered under the manufacturers warranty then I am responsible. At the time I had no reason to believe this car wouldn't be covered and totaled so I must have skimmed past that part. Geico said they are trying to negotiate the repair costs done, roughly $8k, down and his hope is to get it all covered by Geico so I do not have to pay for them.

I was expecting it to be totaled but the "who is going to cover the repairs done so far" part I was not expecting. Hopefully this works out in my favor but only time will tell.

I spent awhile looking for this car as it had the exact exterior and interior I was looking for and popped up in my backyard. I haven't found another online since. Really bummed about that but I guess now I am back in the market.

Damn, I am so sorry to hear this, but honestly, I would rather have it totalled than repaired. You could be chasing the damage forever.

That's kind of BS them trying to stick you or Geico with the bill. A point can be made they misdiagnosed it twice with the BDC and ECU replacements. At the very least, BMW NA can goodwill the work to the dealer and pay them at a discount. I am pretty sure you will find a way out of the $8k.

I know you are disappointed, but you can find another one that will meet your criteria with some patience.

[adhrp]

These retroactive 'not covered by warranty' repairs should be illegal. Charge a diagnostic fee and escalate to an engineer before misdiagnosing and changing out parts, but repairs from misdiagnosis cannot be the customer's fault. Sorry to hear about your predicament OP. This was certainly a unique thread that I was following closely. Hope it all turns out in your favor money-wise and that you find another car that meets your wants/needs. Thanks for keeping us posted by regularly updating this thread.

[NGT2]

That sucks. Good luck with the process. I’d think a lawyer could help if they try to stick you with the bill. It’s one thing to get in there and find problems that are not covered. It’s another to misdiagnose the problem a couple of times as warrantied issues and then go back on it later when they finally diagnose it correctly.

[NGT2]

What year was it and what were the specs on the vehicle that you were fond of? You know there’s a few of us that have Liam Neeson like skills when it’s come to hunting down our desired car…

[Joe-BMW33]

The more I think about the $8k bill and who is going to foot it, the likely scenario is that BMW NA Mastertech came out for a few reasons. The first was to validate the warranty work from the dealer so the dealer can get paid. The second is to see what was going on.

When he found the cause to be a lightning strike, he probably told the dealer shame on you, you should have caught this and the $8k is on you. Now the dealer is trying to pass it on to you. The dealer is out the $8k at the moment.

[weinerbarn]

Originally Posted by adhrp

These retroactive 'not covered by warranty' repairs should be illegal. Charge a diagnostic fee and escalate to an engineer before misdiagnosing and changing out parts, but repairs from misdiagnosis cannot be the customer's fault. Sorry to hear about your predicament OP. This was certainly a unique thread that I was following closely. Hope it all turns out in your favor money-wise and that you find another car that meets your wants/needs. Thanks for keeping us posted by regularly updating this thread.

It is in some states. I remember when I worked as a mechanic in California decades ago, they had the Bureau of Automotive Repair that handled those matters. The shops would get fined for misdiagnosis and charging customers for unnecessary parts/repairs. OP should check to see what protections FL has if any.

[RigPig11]

Originally Posted by NGT2

What year was it and what were the specs on the vehicle that you were fond of? You know there’s a few of us that have Liam Neeson like skills when it’s come to hunting down our desired car…

It was a 2021 Bernina Gray with White Dakota Interior.

There are other out there for sure but i havent seen any with the white interior. There is a 550 with Cognac Interior locally though.........

[RigPig11]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

The more I think about the $8k bill and who is going to foot it, the likely scenario is that BMW NA Mastertech came out for a few reasons. The first was to validate the warranty work from the dealer so the dealer can get paid. The second is to see what was going on.

When he found the cause to be a lightning strike, he probably told the dealer shame on you, you should have caught this and the $8k is on you. Now the dealer is trying to pass it on to you. The dealer is out the $8k at the moment.

Yeah i agree this should be the case. I contacted my adjuster this morning and told him to keep me posted and that I would be happy to escalate this issue to BMW NA and give them a call to see if they can help remedy the situation. We'll see.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by RigPig11

It was a 2021 Bernina Gray with White Dakota Interior.

There are other out there for sure but i havent seen any with the white interior. There is a 550 with Cognac Interior locally though.........

Having had both interiors on the G30 now, I would go with Dakota to get Congac I think. It’s a really cool color and the Dakota on multi contour seats is plenty comfortable. And it’s durable. No regrets on my black Nappa, just saying I think getting that tan-ish leather could be worth skipping the Nappa and the massage/ventilation features.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Having had both interiors on the G30 now, I would go with Dakota to get Congac I think. It’s a really cool color and the Dakota on multi contour seats is plenty comfortable. And it’s durable. No regrets on my black Nappa, just saying I think getting that tan-ish leather could be worth skipping the Nappa and the massage/ventilation features.

We will agree to disagree. I can agree that massage and ventilation is no biggie, but I don't think I could rationalize Dakota just because it is Cognac. Bernina does look sweet on that color though.

[Warp Ten]

Originally Posted by RigPig11

It was a 2021 Bernina Gray with White Dakota Interior.

There are other out there for sure but i havent seen any with the white interior. There is a 550 with Cognac Interior locally though.........

I would not hesitate on the cognac interior. I love mine on my Carbon Black 540xi and I am sure it would go brilliantly with the Bernina Gray. --Bob

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

I would not hesitate on the cognac interior. I love mine on my Carbon Black 540xi and I am sure it would go brilliantly with the Bernina Gray. --Bob

Is that Sensatec?