The High Cost of FD Failures

[buckeyeclark]

Winters

I believe that a lot more of the US has better Winter riding weather than Germany does.

Spent 35 winters in Ohio and 2 winters in Germany. As far as my experience goes the winters here, at least in my area, are relatively mild compared to the two I spent in Germany.. Cold as crap and snowed all the time......

 

[globalrider]

I believe that a lot more of the US has better Winter riding weather than Germany does.

And the fact that "a lot more of the US has better Winter riding weather" means riders can ride more of the year which is probably why you have a mileage-limited warranty.

 

[PGlaves]

And the fact that "a lot more of the US has better Winter riding weather" means riders can ride more of the year which is probably why you have a mileage-limited warranty.

And, I'll be the contrarian again! A warranty explicitly covers defects in materials or workmanship in the manufacture or assembly of the motorcycle. It does not cover and is not intended to cover every part that eventually wears out. I know there are exceptions but typically a defective part will fail within 36,000 miles. Companies (BMW included) treat defects and failures much like life insurance companies treat diseases and lifestyles. Numbers, averages, estimates, etc. Sometimes a company will cover all or part of an out-of-warranty failure as "good will" and sometimes they won't. My cynical part tells me that when they feel that a specific type of failure is a potential class action or governmental action waiting to happen they try to keep folks happy. And if not, go pound big rocks into little rocks. Their legal obligation is spelled out in that LIMITED warranty.

And, today my truck is in the shop for a camshaft position sensor, one of four oxygen sensors, and a few ignition parts - $1,027 to bring it home when they are done. Ugh! It was making new "check engine" fault codes faster than I could read and clear them.

 

[roostershooter]

And, I'll be the contrarian again! A warranty explicitly covers defects in materials or workmanship in the manufacture or assembly of the motorcycle. It does not cover and is not intended to cover every part that eventually wears out. I know there are exceptions but typically a defective part will fail within 36,000 miles. Companies (BMW included) treat defects and failures much like life insurance companies treat diseases and lifestyles. Numbers, averages, estimates, etc. Sometimes a company will cover all or part of an out-of-warranty failure as "good will" and sometimes they won't. My cynical part tells me that when they feel that a specific type of failure is a potential class action or governmental action waiting to happen they try to keep folks happy. And if not, go pound big rocks into little rocks. Their legal obligation is spelled out in that LIMITED warranty.

And, today my truck is in the shop for a camshaft position sensor, one of four oxygen sensors, and a few ignition parts - $1,027 to bring it home when they are done. Ugh! It was making new "check engine" fault codes faster than I could read and clear them.

So, are you gonna rant and rave about how the manufacturer of your truck has let you down and now you can't compete in the pickup truck Iron Butt?

 

[globalrider]

I know there are exceptions but typically a defective part will fail within 36,000 miles.

Paul, up here they probably give you an unlimited mileage warranty simply because they can afford to...not from a monetary point, but as a selling feature. People see "unlimited mileage" and do backflips in their excitement. BMW Canada knows full well that the average rider won't even get close to 60,000 kms over three years, partly due to our climate.

 

[globalrider]

And, today my truck is in the shop for a camshaft position sensor, one of four oxygen sensors, and a few ignition parts - $1,027 to bring it home when they are done.

Cause I like you so much Paul, TIP: get a Toyota Tundra truck and worry no more. Don't worry, they're made in the USA down in Texas.

 

[godzilla]

Cause I like you so much Paul, TIP: get a Toyota Tundra truck and worry no more. Don't worry, they're made in the USA down in Texas.

Tundras are made here in Princeton, IN!

 

[The_Veg]

I'm not aware of Toyota building anything in TexSux, but GM has a plant in the Dallas area that the last time I heard made a lot of trucks. The same plant made one of my stepdad's Cadillacs back in the early '80s.

 

[PGlaves]

So, are you gonna rant and rave about how the manufacturer of your truck has let you down and now you can't compete in the pickup truck Iron Butt?

Nope!

I'm gonna pay the shop to pay the tech who is probably underpaid to start with. I could have fixed it myself, probably - except for the special tools I don't have. But between leaning over off the stepstool (camshaft position sensor) and lying on the floor (O2 sensor), and most awkward positions in between I chose not to.

Oh, and dang is their diagnostic computer neat or what??

 

[beemerdons]

Alex: If you don't mind doing the research, I'm curious to which countries have what!

Guten Abend Alex,

The following is from our MOA Club www.azbeemers.org AZ Beemers Website:

"Hello My Friends,

We safely and successfully completed our motorcycle loop through the Alps of Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland. Incredible friends and great scenery!

You can view Don Stanley's ride report at http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=537.0 and view his pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/beemerdons/Alps2007Ride

You can view Uri Schumm's ride report at http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0 and view his pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/beemerguyRT/europemay2007pictures

Best Regards, Don"

Mein Freund: Are you going to be attending the www.alpineroads.com Meeting in Barcellonnette, France in July of 2008? I am already reserving the same black R1150RT I rode last May from Stefan Knopf; and I intend to meet Karza and his Crew from Finland and Norway in Imst, Austria on the evening of Monday July 7.

Viel danke, Don

 

[osbornk]

Tundras are made here in Princeton, IN!

They built a new plant in Texas to build the new Tundra.

 

[globalrider]

Tundras are made here in Princeton, IN!

Well my won't-buy-anything-but-an-American-vehicle friend bought a Toyota Tundra...finally.

Because I tease him as to where it was built (I thought Japan) with "that's downright un-American driving one of them thar imports", he came back with "its built in Texas". Maybe he has it wrong...anyway, its built in the USA.

BTW, its the best vehicle he has ever owned...according to him. They usually come around.

 

[OfficerImpersonator]

As the owner of a 2005 Tundra, I can assure you that mine was made in Indiana, and that Toyota built a new factory in Texas (outside of Houston, I believe) to manufacture 2007 and beyond Tundras (coinciding with the introduction of the redesigned model).

 

[globalrider]

Mein Freund: Are you going to be attending the www.alpineroads.com Meeting in Barcellonnette, France in July of 2008? I am already reserving the same black R1150RT I rode last May from Stefan Knopf; and I intend to meet Karza and his Crew from Finland and Norway in Imst, Austria on the evening of Monday July 7.

Viel danke, Don

I always head back the first week of July to avoid the crowds there, so chances are good that I won't make it. Barcellonette usually has good weather, so you'll be set and the roads there are great.

But I do drive through Imst on my way back almost every year.

PM me your user name on Alpine Roads.

 

[globalrider]

As the owner of a 2005 Tundra...

His is that or older and he claims/thinks its made in Texas. How are you finding yours?

 

[OfficerImpersonator]

His is that or older and he claims/thinks its made in Texas. How are you finding yours?

It's what the dealer told me when I bought the truck. A car salesman would never lie, so it's obviously the unvarnished truth!

Also, Toyota has full-paged ads in many magazines touting their U.S. manufacturing plants - and I specifically remember seeing an ad that had a half-page photo of their Indiana truck assembly facility.

In the absence of perfect information for me, I'd suggest a Google search of Toyota Texas manufacturing plants to obtain perfect information.

 

[OfficerImpersonator]

Or I can do the Google search myself...

The San Antonio Tundra plant produced it's first Tundra on November 16, 2006. Prior to commencing Tundra production of the 2007 model in San Antonio in November, 2006, Tundras were manufactured in Indiana.

http://www.toyota.com/about/news/manufacturing/2006/11/16-1-texas.html

Here's another link with all of Toyota's manufacturing facilities over the years...

http://www.toyoland.com/toyota/plants.html

 

[MOTOR31]

My last 2 and only American trucks were interesting. The Dodge had a made in Canada sticker on it and metric fittings. The Ford had a Hecho en Mexico tag on it. Dodge was also owned by Daimler Benz making the phrase "made in America" a bit ironic when compared to Honda, Toyota and other "foriegn" manufacturers who do make the vehicles in America.

 

[globalrider]

Here's another link with all of Toyota's manufacturing facilities over the years...

http://www.toyoland.com/toyota/plants.html

Notice that they have a few more plants on the way. These guys aren't messing around.

Are they the world's largest automaker yet? Last year or so they were a close number one with reports that they would soon take over.

 

[PGlaves]

My last 2 and only American trucks were interesting. The Dodge had a made in Canada sticker on it and metric fittings. The Ford had a Hecho en Mexico tag on it. Dodge was also owned by Daimler Benz making the phrase "made in America" a bit ironic when compared to Honda, Toyota and other "foriegn" manufacturers who do make the vehicles in America.

I had two that were interesting. My Chevrolet K1500 was imported from Canada by a U.S. Corporation and my Nissan Frontier was made in Tennessee by a Japanese company.