Ruined my day

[apar330i]

My a/c has not been working well for the past week and finally today it pretty much quit all together. So, I take it in thinking it just needs a recharge. WRONG...the evaporator is leaking so it needs to be replaced. $1800!!! Oh, and by the way, the power steering hoses are leaking and the control arm bushings needs to be replaced :mad:. I can't remember the total cost due to the shock from the $1800 a/c bill. I guess that extended warrantee isn't looking that expensive right now. Note to self: if you buy another BMW unload it after warrantee expires. Since the warrantee expired last Feb I have spent over $3,000 on repairs. Electric cooling fan, two window regulators, and now the list above. I won't count the back brakes or servicings. OK, I'm done whining.

[Clarke]

Is there no reliable independant shop to go to now that you are out of warranty?

[apar330i]

Is there no reliable independant shop to go to now that you are out of warranty?
I tried one for the brakes and their prices weren't that much better. Plus they don't have loaner cars.

[terry325xiwagon]

My brother's 540 has been out of warranty since 2000. Has had only routine maintence done, no major repairs. Some cars are lemons most are not.

[Patrick330i]

My a/c has not been working well for the past week and finally today it pretty much quit all together. So, I take it in thinking it just needs a recharge. WRONG...the evaporator is leaking so it needs to be replaced. $1800!!! Oh, and by the way, the power steering hoses are leaking and the control arm bushings needs to be replaced :mad:. I can't remember the total cost due to the shock from the $1800 a/c bill. I guess that extended warrantee isn't looking that expensive right now. Note to self: if you buy another BMW unload it after warrantee expires. Since the warrantee expired last Feb I have spent over $3,000 on repairs. Electric cooling fan, two window regulators, and now the list above. I won't count the back brakes or servicings. OK, I'm done whining.

A/C, what's that? :dunno: :angel:

Seriously, sorry to hear about your troubles!

[JonathanIT]

Plus they don't have loaner cars.
Seems like if you could find a good reliable mechanic with decent rates, spending $30/day on a rental car would still save you money.

:dunno:, JmHo.

--J.

[BahnBaum]

Plus they don't have loaner cars.

Seems like if you could find a good reliable mechanic with decent rates, spending $30/day on a rental car would still save you money.
:dunno:, JmHo.
--J.

I don't understand the value that people attach to free loaner cars. It's a nice perk, but not enough to make me pay any more for service than I would have to.

Alex

[apar330i]

My brother's 540 has been out of warranty since 2000. Has had only routine maintence done, no major repairs. Some cars are lemons most are not.The lion's share of my problems started after the warrantee expired. It seems kind of odd that a car becomes a lemon after it's 5 years old. I had an Acura Integra I bought brand new in 1990, kept it for 13 years, and probably didn't spend $2K on repairs for the 10 years after the warrantee expired.

[apar330i]

A/C, what's that? :dunno: :angel:

Seriously, sorry to hear about your troubles!
It's that device that makes it tolerable to drive a car when it's 100+ degrees out. Folks around here use it quite a bit.

[Desertnate]

Did the power stearing fluid that leaked corode anything else?

When the power stearing cooling tube in our Rover 820 sprung a leak, it sprayed fluid all over the radiator which inturn ate away many of the little heat dispersion vanes.

[apar330i]

Did the power stearing fluid that leaked corode anything else?

When the power stearing cooling tube in our Rover 820 sprung a leak, it sprayed fluid all over the radiator which inturn ate away many of the little heat dispersion vanes.
Not to my knowledge.

[HW]

The lion's share of my problems started after the warrantee expired. It seems kind of odd that a car becomes a lemon after it's 5 years old. I had an Acura Integra I bought brand new in 1990, kept it for 13 years, and probably didn't spend $2K on repairs for the 10 years after the warrantee expired.

same experience here. 90 integra and had it for almost 12 years. would have still had it if my sis hadn't totalled it. :eek:

[apar330i]

This has gone from bad to worse. After they completed the evaporator install they were test driving it and the a/c compressor siezed. They said one had nothing to do with the other. So I asked if I had not brought it in in the first place the compressor would have seized anyway? They said quite possibly. I can't help but to think they may have fuqued something up and now I'm paying for it. Does anyone have a thorough understanding of air conditioning systems? What would cause a compressor to seize, lack of refrigerant? This kind of **** should not be happening on a car with just over 65K miles.

[Mathew]

My sister's AC in her 2001 325i is having the same problems right now, and she is getting quoted $2,500 for an evaporator. :yikes:

Is there a better place other than the dealer that she can get it from?

[stewthebassman]

How many miles are you at? Seems like you drive quite a bit.

[hmr]

I'd get 2nd and 3rd opinions and I'd ask a lot of questions about how they diagnosed the problem.