Is the skill of repairing lost?
Discussion
Just took my Z4 into my local BMW dealership as the rain sensor has stopped working. Can't complain about the level of service they give, it's excellent. However, the cause of my problem is that the clear doublesided tape pad holding the sensor in place has started to peel away from the windscreen. But to fix it they are going to replace the entire windscreen, and rear-view mirror unit, all under warranty. What ever happened to finding the problem and fixing or replacing the part that is broken! Now it appears entire units/assemblies are replaced rather than fix or replace the broken part. In an age when many companies strive for the ISO 14001 environmental standard why does the motor industry seem to be going the other way?
john_p said:
Because they can justify replacing everything under warranty and so extract maximum profits for the job?
One guy sorting out the tape = half hour work
Two guys replacing windscreen = couple of days work
No idea how much dealers claim back from BMW UK for warranty work per hour ..
I was about to ask why then.... until I realised that its a dealer and no the manufacturer - of course, profiteering!!!!
* Probably no skin off your nose...but your point is well made! It's a grotesque example of what these franchised (because that's all they are) dealers are up to.
Maybe someone should contact BMW 'centrally' and cite this example and ask what their opinion is!
ie. "Is it appropriate, under their prescribed warranty guidelines, to replace a whole windscreen plus rearview mirror as a complete unit because of a simple failure of the adhesive which holds the mirror on to the glass?"
I mean anyone could buy a bloody simple repair kit for a couple of quid in a local Halfords...and Halfords even make profit on that!
I'd 'c.c' it to the franchised dealer...that'll put the willies up them!
It's about time these jokers 'got real' !!!
>> Edited by derin100 on Monday 13th March 23:10
Maybe someone should contact BMW 'centrally' and cite this example and ask what their opinion is!
ie. "Is it appropriate, under their prescribed warranty guidelines, to replace a whole windscreen plus rearview mirror as a complete unit because of a simple failure of the adhesive which holds the mirror on to the glass?"
I mean anyone could buy a bloody simple repair kit for a couple of quid in a local Halfords...and Halfords even make profit on that!
I'd 'c.c' it to the franchised dealer...that'll put the willies up them!
It's about time these jokers 'got real' !!!
>> Edited by derin100 on Monday 13th March 23:10
The rain sensor optical part that is bonded to the screen is done in special way that cannot be redone in the dealer workshop hence the complete screen replacement, those that are bonded incorrectly usually show up pretty soon within the warranty period and generally are quite reliable, more often it is the small control module that gives problems that mounts on the rear of the optical sensor.
Out of all the screens I have replaced only 10 were due to faulty rain/light sensors and half of them were due to non-bmw screens where they had been cut off and stuck with glue
Out of all the screens I have replaced only 10 were due to faulty rain/light sensors and half of them were due to non-bmw screens where they had been cut off and stuck with glue
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