This car started out like any other. We get water drips that are mistaken for a leak from time to time. In this particular case, major problems were found, and when asked about them, the customer denied their existence as if they were not aware of the warning lights. The battery story didn’t make sense and the overall condition of the car didn’t seem right when factoring in the story that was offered by the customer. If a mechanic or technician can’t get the whole story, or a true, we really can find a path to proceed. Most off our job is customer service. This is one of those things that I wish I could have recorded there interactions with the owner. This whole situation was just “off” and nothing seemed to add up. Reeeeeee! In the comments section!
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Something fishy here
Firstly, that is not a 2002 model E46, it's a pre 2000 model which you can tell by the steering wheel style.
Secondly, the dash is showing a 'tamper dot' which usually means that the instrument cluster has been replaced with another car's cluster or the vehicle's milage has been tampered with hence why the Code reader detected that the VIN number did not match because the VIN is stored in the cluster and the LCM.
The ultimate problem… its a piece of shit German car
Sensor in the seat was disconnected, someone did not want to hear the bell.
I think the person intentionally didn't mention things expecting to get some free repairs.
Shady to say the least…I'm thinking stolen parts collection all wrapped in BMW body
Awfully clean for sitting for a year!
Good. That's how it should be. You wanna work on bmw all day long, go find a specialist, or become a dealer tech. Or if you're too keen, go buy a vista scan tool and pay your subscription. Then you'll have no problems. It's like complaining that you can't be doing 65mph on a bicycle. Buy the right equipment, you'll be able to do whatever you wanna do.
I don’t think tires run that smoothly after sitting for a year – they should be bumpy.
This car looks too clean for having been sitting for a year inside and out. Something not right.
Nicely done 👍😁
more german junk
BMWs e46 are easy to work on and you can fix the vin mismatch with just one click. You can diagnose relatively quickly and accurately any trouble codes as they are more detailed. replacing parts is super easy (but expensive). Like you said, unless you have the BMW software, you are not going to be able to do much without a lot of learning, troubleshooting, throwing money at it and way too much time. I would definitely send this customer to an establishment that is already familiar with BMW/Mercades and has the tools (software)
I'm assuming it was in a crash and they are trying to do a quick flip. Either way the second I saw the BMW logo I'd have Just said nope take it to the dealership lol. Every car should run the ole Buick 3800 Series 2 S/C! Yes they have the odd issue but are damn reliable and cheap to fix and have a beautiful 90% torque at 1500rpm. Only downside is they sound like a ford Taurus power steering whine when the S/C is doing it's magic. 😉
It's now BMW's wisdom,it's BMW's stupidity in engineering.
A two-dollar pistol seems pretty cool by the end of this video.
Blue Driver is a great bluetooth scantool and works great with my 03 325i. It is usually very good at telling me exactly what my codes mean
Any fool knows that water dripping under the is from the AC system.
You know if you always think your customers are trying to scam you at some point you need to look at your attitude as the source of the customer issues.
if I had my own shop…I wouldnt work on any foriegn cars or Fords.
BMW stands for garbage
I bought one of these cars in 2019, paid 2k at 160k miles it sat almost 2 years with blown tranny until guy I got it from replaced tranny with 60k miles unit Been a great car but I’ve spent like 10k on parts and labor, interior work, catback exhaust, headers, CCA and 8k on the audio system. Running 0 gauge into trunk with 400amp alternator and 12k watt lithium battery system. I don’t live next to a dealer but have a European car only mechanic that has everything under the Sun for foreign cars and can do fabrication.
The only reason the customer didn't mention all those faults your scan tool found is because they are normal for a BMW.
I worked an an independent oil change place years ago.. we turned down BMWs all the time.. even just an oil change on these things has the potential for being a nightmare. People who love these cars are in a serious denial over them.. haha
Sounds like my wife…"I don't know what those lights on the dash are for….the car just makes funny noises and stalls a lot. FIX IT! I have to get my nails done at 2."
Snow birds and car sat in garage while they sat out Covid up north?
FYI – A BMW car is a Bimmer and a BMW motorcycle is a Beemer (Beamer?).
my mustang has CEL ever since i put in a 347 swap in it. been ignoring it forever lol
The airbag light is on because the front passenger airbag has been turned off to allow a rear facing child seat to be installed. If the airbag is turned back on using the key hole in the dash just inside the passenger door the light will go out.
I read the book on the car depending on what the check engin light does and can do. if its blinking that's a big no no got to pull over right away get it fixed . If its just on and seems to run fine to hell with it. I throw tape over the damn thing. I'm not spending tons of money just to chase bull shit EPA crap. 90% of the time its pollution control crap cause the light to be on to begin with. This has been the case for every single car I have ever owned. just my thoughts though yall do what ya want.
I guess I don’t understand why someone would not relay all the information. Such an odd scenario.
Some jobs are not worth it. I think you did the right thing.
This is why "right to repair" laws are important! If everything is proprietary and the only ones who can fix their product is a stealership, THAT's a form of monopoly where the consumer is easily taken advantage of. It also cuts out work for independent shops/mechanics like Ray. It ALSO, in the case of farmers or transportation and their eqmt., puts them at the mercy of factory service which is unreliable and under staffed and puts large quantities of crops and merchandise at risk of total loss. Not to mention that the manufacturers can make it so products become more and more disposable so they can push new products on you instead of fixing what you are already overpaying for. Wait till everyone has hi-tech electric vehicles. Good luck trying to repair one of those when they remotely lock you out when the car notifies the factory that an unauthorized entity is trying to fix it..
Maybe as a mechanic you could try to diagnose and fix the car instead of trying to think of a conspiracy that does not matter at all.
These European cars were known for their quality are for the most part junk. Great when new but you can't afford ti fix them after they get up in miles.
They lied about the battery, why should they be believed about anything else? A liar is a liar.
"this code is universal"
The world is bigger than America.
I'm really not the "bash America" type, but you guys don't make it easy.
F J B
Like the Rainman's professonalism, especially not scaming the vehicle owner and directing that owner to a BMW dealership. Debo Excellent!
These no issues in Europe they have to provide information to everyone.
BMW: break my wallet. Over engineered hot garbage.
Bmw makes everything difficult. Towing the thing is annoying on a wrecker because of their oil pan design. But waiting for their, "recommended flatbed" means customers are stuck for hours in some cases.
I get the job done in the wrecker for those that don't want to wait for a flatbed but its tripple the work and in the worst conditions at times.
It would be nice if they would work with everyone a little better.
Engine heat kills hood struts. The only people that should ever open the hood is your service guys. They don't mind a good old fashioned hood rod. People say AAA when it is probably some random roadside service guy or a tow truck company. Saying AAA is just a generic term a lot of the time. They are conveying "we had a dude come and do a thing". Not to be taken literally.
Watching this one again: could it have been garaged?
As a german I have to say this 'poppin ze hood' was very impressive
Clear fluid? Water from the AC?
There is no clear fluid in a vehicle
Sorry Ray, I still say You need a better service writer!
Crush it!
Oooohhh the Snap on van of shiny dreams !!
if this was a scam, what was the scam?