no wonder i avoid dealer service....
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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From: milwaukee, wi., usa
no wonder i avoid dealer service....
So, last week whilst having a blast doing a track day at Blackhawk Farms, the car decides to pop out of gear (3rd) under acceleration along the front straight. "Hmmm... odd", I think to myself as I look in my mirror to see the yellow M3 behind gaining on me quickly... I shove it back in gear and continue on, only to have it pop out again and again under any type of acceleration.
So that put an end to my track day.... drag.
So I pack up and limp the car home... find out 6th gear is the same as 3rd (except a little crunchier feeling when I select the gear - but it pops out the same under acceration)... so I have to motor down I-43 to milwaukee in 5th....
So today, I drop her off at the dealer and explain the problem. They call a couple hours later saying they cannot properly diagnose the problem with the aftermarket short shifter in the car (B&M) and that they will have to either put the original back in (at my expense) or I can come get the car and then return it after I have replaced the shifter...
Arrrgh....
So I ride up on the bike and pick the car up and the guy was very nice about everything, mentioned that he should have charged me an hour of labour for the diagnostic but wasn't going to. I thanked him, took the car and returned it a couple hours later, stock shifter in place.
So we'll see what they say. He seemed to think that once the stock shifter was back in, the problem would go away! I know just enough about these things to be dangerous, but my intuition says inside the transmission, as opposed to outside.
Extended warranty company is GE Capital "Four Star", so we'll se what they're like to deal with.
trev
So that put an end to my track day.... drag.
So I pack up and limp the car home... find out 6th gear is the same as 3rd (except a little crunchier feeling when I select the gear - but it pops out the same under acceration)... so I have to motor down I-43 to milwaukee in 5th....
So today, I drop her off at the dealer and explain the problem. They call a couple hours later saying they cannot properly diagnose the problem with the aftermarket short shifter in the car (B&M) and that they will have to either put the original back in (at my expense) or I can come get the car and then return it after I have replaced the shifter...
Arrrgh....
So I ride up on the bike and pick the car up and the guy was very nice about everything, mentioned that he should have charged me an hour of labour for the diagnostic but wasn't going to. I thanked him, took the car and returned it a couple hours later, stock shifter in place.
So we'll see what they say. He seemed to think that once the stock shifter was back in, the problem would go away! I know just enough about these things to be dangerous, but my intuition says inside the transmission, as opposed to outside.
Extended warranty company is GE Capital "Four Star", so we'll se what they're like to deal with.
trev
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Does not B&M manufacture for Porsche their short shifter? Is not the only difference color? I have read on this board that some dealers install the shifter in new cars. Why wouldn't the dealer ignore the shifter and just "fix" the problem? You have an extended warranty, pay the deductible, and bill GE. It seems like these dealers are looking for any excuse not to provide service.
BTW did you buy the shifter from a Porsche dealer? I know Brandywine has sold quite a few. They didn't tell me I would be causing a warranty problem If I installed a part they sold. Good luck.
BTW did you buy the shifter from a Porsche dealer? I know Brandywine has sold quite a few. They didn't tell me I would be causing a warranty problem If I installed a part they sold. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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From: milwaukee, wi., usa
Well... it's been 2 weeks...
In that 2 weeks the dealer has firgured out:
- the cause is from inside the transmission
They have removed the tranny. A new (reman) porsche C4 tranny has to be ordered.
'99 C4 tranny: $4800 (the price he quoted me)
They have contacted the warranty company, and he said they may send out a guy to check everything over because of the amount of the part (the tranny).
The porsche service manager has been super nice, but man, how long does this have to take???
Will post more when I know more.
trev
In that 2 weeks the dealer has firgured out:
- the cause is from inside the transmission
They have removed the tranny. A new (reman) porsche C4 tranny has to be ordered.
'99 C4 tranny: $4800 (the price he quoted me)
They have contacted the warranty company, and he said they may send out a guy to check everything over because of the amount of the part (the tranny).
The porsche service manager has been super nice, but man, how long does this have to take???
Will post more when I know more.
trev
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 2
From: Newport Beach, Ca.
Be patient....I know it's a drag. I just bought a 99 C4 from a Porsche dealer, and on my test drive I thought the temp was high and while driving I saw and smelled oil smoke, not from the exhaust. Told the salesman, he says, "oh these, they smoke a little when you start them", even though this happened 10 minutes into the test drive, not on startup, and that "these cars run a little hot". I bought the car, and made sure to get the Certified Pre Owned warranty. In a week it was back for a fan failure and a valve cover oil leak. Also new rear tires and an appointment for new mufflers. Funny how the dealer wants to not look into problems, even on theri own cars. I guess if I didn;t get the warranty, then I would have to plop down a few grand in repairs to them.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 4
From: San Jose, CA
On the shift issue.
There is a tool that attaches to the shift lever to make sure the shift cables are adjusted properly. This tool will not fit on the B&M. My guess as to why they wanted the oem shift back on.
There is a tool that attaches to the shift lever to make sure the shift cables are adjusted properly. This tool will not fit on the B&M. My guess as to why they wanted the oem shift back on.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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From: milwaukee, wi., usa
update on the transmission saga...
So...
The car was taken into the shop exactly one month ago with the problem.
In that month, we have accomplished this:
1. dealer made me remove short shift to help diagnose problem.
2. dealer removed transmission and determined that problem existed inside the transmission, and that a new transmission would be required. I was informed that cost on a C4 trans was $4800, in case the warranty company decided to bail.
3. claim filed with warranty company.
4. Guy from warranty company comes out, wants the bad trans put back in the car so he can see the problem for himself!
5. dealer puts bad trans back in car, waits for guy to come back out, guy agrees to cover the repair.
Other than the fact that this has taken waaaaaaay too long, it has been no headache at all. Even with mods done to the car (PSS's, Fabspeed cans) the guy from the warranty company stood behind the claim with no questions asked. Obviously I am happy about that. Warranty was purschaed through the dealer when I bought the car.
So... we are now waiting for a new trans, which should be in next week.
Oh joy.... oh joy. At least I've had some time and space to do some cleaning in the garage... when I finally get the car back it'll be like getting a new car.
trev
The car was taken into the shop exactly one month ago with the problem.
In that month, we have accomplished this:
1. dealer made me remove short shift to help diagnose problem.
2. dealer removed transmission and determined that problem existed inside the transmission, and that a new transmission would be required. I was informed that cost on a C4 trans was $4800, in case the warranty company decided to bail.
3. claim filed with warranty company.
4. Guy from warranty company comes out, wants the bad trans put back in the car so he can see the problem for himself!
5. dealer puts bad trans back in car, waits for guy to come back out, guy agrees to cover the repair.
Other than the fact that this has taken waaaaaaay too long, it has been no headache at all. Even with mods done to the car (PSS's, Fabspeed cans) the guy from the warranty company stood behind the claim with no questions asked. Obviously I am happy about that. Warranty was purschaed through the dealer when I bought the car.
So... we are now waiting for a new trans, which should be in next week.
Oh joy.... oh joy. At least I've had some time and space to do some cleaning in the garage... when I finally get the car back it'll be like getting a new car.
trev
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: milwaukee, wi., usa
arrrrgh.... it still hasn't ended.
June 28th my car disappeared into the clutches of the service department... this is horrible.
They have finally said it will be ready by the end of the week - the new trans came in last week but I guess it takes them a while to schedule the work.
In the meantime I have been driving a pos Mazda 6...
Yea... zoom, zoom...
So guess what? Although the warranty company has covered the claim, they are not going to cover the additional cost of taking out the bad tranny and putting the bad tranny back in (so their inspector could see the problem). They say the dealer should have contacted them first before removing the tranny - the service guy says they had to remove the tranny to make sure the problem was in the tranny for sure.
So, the service manager is whining about 6hours of diagnostic time that he will not be able to bill for. I kind of feel the guy's pain, but why is this my problem???
I am tempted to meet him half way on the 6hours ($300), so my total repair cost will be $500 ($200 deduct + the $300).
I doubt I can be made to pay the stuff the warranty company won't, particularly when the overage is a result of miss-communication between the dealer and the warranty company. Still, it is common knowledge amonst several people at the dealer (both sales and service) that I track the car (one of the BMW techs was at Blackhawk the day this all happened), never mind the short shift, pss-9's, hawk pads (with no silencers) and slight discoloration on the front calipers are all pretty obvious signs what's going on with this car, and the dealer service guy made sure everything ran smoothly, which is why I'm thinking I'd be a cool thing to meet him half way on the labour.
What do you guys think?
I'm mostly pissed bacause all this screwing around has taken so long....
trev
June 28th my car disappeared into the clutches of the service department... this is horrible.
They have finally said it will be ready by the end of the week - the new trans came in last week but I guess it takes them a while to schedule the work.
In the meantime I have been driving a pos Mazda 6...
Yea... zoom, zoom...
So guess what? Although the warranty company has covered the claim, they are not going to cover the additional cost of taking out the bad tranny and putting the bad tranny back in (so their inspector could see the problem). They say the dealer should have contacted them first before removing the tranny - the service guy says they had to remove the tranny to make sure the problem was in the tranny for sure.
So, the service manager is whining about 6hours of diagnostic time that he will not be able to bill for. I kind of feel the guy's pain, but why is this my problem???
I am tempted to meet him half way on the 6hours ($300), so my total repair cost will be $500 ($200 deduct + the $300).
I doubt I can be made to pay the stuff the warranty company won't, particularly when the overage is a result of miss-communication between the dealer and the warranty company. Still, it is common knowledge amonst several people at the dealer (both sales and service) that I track the car (one of the BMW techs was at Blackhawk the day this all happened), never mind the short shift, pss-9's, hawk pads (with no silencers) and slight discoloration on the front calipers are all pretty obvious signs what's going on with this car, and the dealer service guy made sure everything ran smoothly, which is why I'm thinking I'd be a cool thing to meet him half way on the labour.
What do you guys think?
I'm mostly pissed bacause all this screwing around has taken so long....
trev
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 1
From: Newport Beach
I wouldn't cough up any more cash. You've done your part. You've paid for an extended warranty and are paying your agreed upon deductible. This has nothing to do with tracking your car. Tracking is not synonymous with racing.
