[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Poochie

That's exactly what I said in the last paragraph of my previous post; if BMW approves it, they dealer will happily comply with the claim, with absolutely no risk to them.

It's 100% different when the dealer makes the request the goodwill from BMW NA than when the consumer does, from the anecdotal claims you made.

The end-user has very little pull when they call to bitch about a problem.

I bet you anything that they're not going to help if they dealer already said no.

Now If they dealer appeals on his behalf, that's way different and would reach the powers that can actually help. Which they won't, since they already denied to.

They can submit a claim to cover the steering wheel under the warranty if they choose to, it's a typical process for them, the issue is the questionable damage has them worried than they might get some pushback if they do.
So to err on the side of safety, they rather just blame it on "wear and tear" to pacify the consumer and not risk it.

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

If you google "BMW steering wheel finish rubbing off" it'll kick back 598,000 hits with everyone, from new M3 owners to i3 owners, complaining about the same thing.
If BMW were to admit that it is a manufacturing problem and covers the defect, they'd be in for a significant financial hit.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...67.8SJOH411O64

Wow, thanks; I'm going to purchase a backup wheel today, eBay had a new M4 (heated) steering for $300..

I'm sold after seeing all this..

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

If you google "BMW steering wheel finish rubbing off" it'll kick back 598,000 hits with everyone, from new M3 owners to i3 owners, complaining about the same thing.
If BMW were to admit that it is a manufacturing problem and covers the defect, they'd be in for a significant financial hit.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...67.8SJOH411O64

Damn.

The day I got the car, I thought to myself "You're going to have to be careful with this wheel". The tactile feel is perfect, BUT it I felt that the top coat finish felt fragile. I'll definitely look into used wheel options, but for $200-300 spent on the used wheel that could have the same issue, it really makes me rethink getting another one.

Brian at Sun Motor BMW shot me a bonkers price for the M Performance alcantara wheel for well over a hundred bucks less than his best price for the stock wheel which was already amazing. I'd loose the heated function though, but the wheel is warmer feeling in the cold months. We'll see.

[Lucky13]

I assume the shift knob is made of the same material because it is wearing exactly like the left side of my steering wheel.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Wow, thanks; I'm going to purchase a backup steering wheel today, eBay had a new M4 (heated) for $300..

I'm sold after seeing all this..

Not exactly, perhaps I didn't word it properly.
BMW NA is not ONLY a liason, they do have some weight behind them.

In both of my examples, the dealer was doing things out of line, and BMW NA came in and straightened them out.

While they don't have direct power to force them, their "soft push" tends to get results. So if you can get BMW NA on your own to uphold it, dealer will comply. Lot of times the SA will try and get it warrantied, but tech, or head of service will say no. Or BMWNA will just blanket deny a claim it seems unnecessary. Pursuing it further can get you results is all I am saying here.

My girlfriend went back and forth between BMW NA for a couple of months, until they finally started exerting extra pressure on the dealer, I don't know in what way exactly, but dealer was non responsive for months to my girlfriend directly. Nothing, no replies etc. Finally one day she got a call from BMW NA rep, saying that Rick Hendrick BMW will pay, and she should just schedule an appointment with her local dealer in San Diego.

All I am getting at here, is it is a worthwhile avenue pursuing going to BMW of NA directly. There is no guarantee, but there is no harm in trying.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

All I am getting at here, is it is a worthwhile avenue pursuing going to BMW of NA directly. There is no guarantee, but there is no harm in trying.

That's my take. I didn't debate my service adviser's response as he said the decision came directly from the Dept. Service Manager. No sense in going any further with my adviser or the manager at this point.

There's no harm in trying with BMW NA. I'm a pretty nice, level-headed guy plus I do litigation and expert witness work (not an attorney though) and I love a good debate

[Rocky58]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Just an OEM BMW leather care product every three to four months and monthly wet wash cloth cleaning. Nothing else.

You know, this made me think of something I just saw waiting for my car at the dealer. The BMW leather lotion contains silicone. It says so on the bottle. And they tell you never to use silicone products on leather. Not saying the leather on the steering wheel is not poor quality (defective) but I think I am going to junk the OEM BMW stuff and just stick with Lexol that I have used for decades on car seats.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

That's my take. I didn't debate my service adviser's response as he said the decision came directly from the Dept. Service Manager. No sense in going any further with my adviser or the manager at this point.

There's no harm in trying with BMW NA. I'm a pretty nice, level-headed guy plus I do litigation and expert witness work (not an attorney though) and I love a good debate

Check out this beauty, it even retains the heated element.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F382807932456

I'm usually anal about only OEM or go home but seeing how they can't even withstand water, I don't mine rolling the dice at this immaculate aftermarket attempt.

This same company or some one eBay also purchases messed up wheel cores to refinish, so you might be able to recoup some money back. I sold mines for a $100.

Also, I don't know if you're aware of this but the girth of the wheel for the newer model year actually shrunk a little, this company adds back some padding so it's actually a thicker wheel. Good stuff.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24398060

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Check out this beauty, it even retains the heated element.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F382807932456

I'm usually anal about only OEM or go home but seeing how they can't even withstand water, I don't mine rolling the dice at this immaculate aftermarket attempt.

This same company or some one eBay also purchases messed up wheel cores to refinish, so you might be able to recoup some money back. I sold mines for a $100.

Also, I don't if you know this but the girth of the wheel for the newer model year actually shrunk a little, this company adds back some padding so it's actually a thicker wheel. Good stuff.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24398060

Those are the same guys who did my wheel who I suggested initially for a recover job. Donald Li runs the business and does amazing work. I shipped him my wheel and had it back in a couple of weeks.

The quality is infinitely superior to stock and he will do whatever design and materials you want. I enjoy driving the car so much more now that I've had the wheel redone. Materials and workmanship are top notch.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Not exactly, perhaps I didn't word it properly.
BMW NA is not ONLY a liason, they do have some weight behind them.

In both of my examples, the dealer was doing things out of line, and BMW NA came in and straightened them out.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All I am getting at here, is it is a worthwhile avenue pursuing going to BMW of NA directly. There is no guarantee, but there is no harm in trying.

It would seem to me that it would the dealer who may have an incentive to do something to retain customer loyalty, but I doubt if BMW NA would want to set the precedent of covering the cost of replacing a delaminated steering wheel as that would open up a Pandora's box of similar claims.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

It would seem to me that it would the dealer who may have an incentive to do something to retain customer loyalty, but I doubt if BMW NA would want to set the precedent of covering the cost of replacing a delaminated steering wheel as that would open up a Pandora's box of similar claims.

I had a tearing shifter boot replaced before and also when my driver side headrest had a blotch in the leather. I was honestly surprised when the fresh-faced advisor called and told me the headrest on backorder. I was expecting them to tell me to go kick rocks, you greasy mo-fo, specifically on a leather defect claim but it seems it's 50/50, depending on how they see it the damage.

That same advisor was no longer there four months later, coincidence :
Thanks for the headrest, Chris..
I'm sure you'll find another day job..


They could of covered that dudes steering wheel and it would of probably just sip through the cracks but beside setting precedence for class action repairs, they felt he was partially responsible for the abrasion or they felt it would it would of gotten kicked back, based on prior history of similar claim payment.

[Big boi m5]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Ok, now I'm getting worried:


Steering wheel faded https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1170047

Oof looks like my used 2006 e60. But it's basically new.

Also, used leather cleaner the other day and filled up 2 microfiber rags with black shit before I stopped. Is it clean or am I tearing up the leather? Idk but it feels much better.

As for fixing that leather? I think it's replace or rewrap

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

It would seem to me that it would the dealer who may have an incentive to do something to retain customer loyalty, but I doubt if BMW NA would want to set the precedent of covering the cost of replacing a delaminated steering wheel as that would open up a Pandora's box of similar claims.

They might quietly do it, they have good willed stuff in the past, without officially acknowledging fault, they might word it as, due to customer loyalty blah blah blah.