| Repair and maintenance history for Axel's 1989 BMW 750iL | |||||||||
| Repair No. | Brought in | Picked up | Mileage | Miles since last repair | Repair estimate when car brought in | Actual Cost | What wasn't working when I brought the car in and is specified on work order | The repairs that were completed, according to the repair order | Follow-up notes (all repairs at a BMW dealership, unless otherwise noted) |
| 110 | 1-7-02 | 1-9-02 | 109,462 | 1040 | $250 | $305.65 | Strong smell of raw fuel in passenger area and engine compartment; coolant leak | Pressure fuel lines replaced | Notated that coolant collector and pipes are leaking- I decline the work |
| 109 | 1-2-02 | - | - | - | - | $0 | While driving in the rain at night, a windshield wiper arm stops working. | I pull over and tighten the bolt. Only reason I notate this is because I had the wipers worked on recently. | On a related note- shortly after the washer nozzles had been finally cleared (Repair #104), they clogged again. Only two of the four are functioning. |
| 108 | 11-27-01 | 11-29-01 | 108,422 | 1436 | $350 | $744.20 | All coolant suddenly drains out while on the freeway. Car immediately overheats and I have to pull off at the next exit with the engine billowing steaming. This is at least the 18th time the cooling system has failed. | Auxiliary water pump replaced, also thermostat and heater valve. This part was replaced once before- see Repair #66; this time it was nearly twice as much. | Upon picking up the car, I notice the starter is sounding rough. When I inquire, I am told the starter will soon be in need of replacement- a $900 part. |
| 107 | 8-10-01 | 8-10-01 | 106,986 | 30 | - | $0 | Power steering sluggish | Topped off fluid, although it was at a normal level | Power steering still sluggish intermittently |
| 106 | 8-1-01 | 8-9-01 | 106,956 | 512 | - | $900 | Front windshield molding needs replacing. | Front windshield molding replaced, along with front windshield | - |
| 105 | 6-18-01 | 6-19-01 | 106,444 | 3274 | $650 | $597.24 | Coolant system failure while driving on the freeway and the car overheats. I pull over onto the shoulder and have the car towed and dropped off. | Replaced A/C & water pump idler pulleys, A/C and alternator pulleys, new fan belts | This is the 17th time the cooling system has failed. Notated that the water pump is leaking. |
| 104 | 1-22-01 | 1-23-01 | 103,170 | 629 | - | $64.80 | Coolant leak still present since last repair; washer nozzle still blocked; two metal caps left off from last repair (which turn out to be from the A/C); "Check System" light keeps coming on for no reason. Asked that car be checked over "cus[tomer] going on trip will be traveling at high speeds" | Washer nozzle unclogged; caps put back on A/C lines | I'm told coolant leak
will cost $2500 to repair- I don't do it. "Check System"
problem light still comes on. Finally, this being the 4th request
and 5 months later, washer nozzle is cleared. On my trip, the
windshield molding flies out.
 |
| 103 | 12-14-00 | 12-15-00 | 102,541 | 1574 | $300 | $536.77 | Small coolant leak; washer nozzle clogged; A/C isn't very cold anymore | Breather hose replaced (same as on 4-12-00?), pressure tests show no leaks | Washer nozzle still clogged. Next day, I notice there is still a coolant leak, more than before. I'm told A/C will cost $2500 to repair, and was charged $102 to check it. A/C goes from being not very cold to warm, and I later notice two metal caps appeared to have been left off from somewhere |
| 102 | 9-25-00 | 9-25-00 | - | - | - | $0 | Coolant low warning | Stop in to have it checked & filled | - |
| 101 | 9-18-00 | 9-22-00 | 100,967 | 662 | $200 | $597.35 | Doesn't always start on first try; washer nozzle clogged | Fuel pressure regulators replaced; washer connector replaced | Stopped in 9-21-00, but is wasn't ready. Washer nozzle still clogged |
| 100 | 8-15-00 | 8-17-00 | 100,305 | 93 | $102 | $310.26 | Wipers sometimes inoperable, nozzle clogged; parking light sometimes inoperable; trunk latch fell off; doesn't start on first try often | Washer pump replaced; light relay replaced; installed trunk latch | Washer nozzle still clogged; car still often doesn't start on first try. For the first time in more than a year, the parking light & chime and warning system isn't malfunctioning, but it doesn't last |
| 99 | 8-7-00 | 8-11-00 | 100,212 | 509 | $102 | $1961.94 | Oil level light on, smoke on freeway, oil leak from front; parking light warning comes on for no reason | Valve cover gaskets; fuel pressure regulator; vacuum hose; fuel lines; parking light bulb replaced | Parking light warning still malfunctioning |
| 98 | 7-19-00 | 7-20-00 | 99,703 | 1279 | $300 | $1038.23 | Coolant light and engine gauge shows hot; rear tail light assembly malfunctioning | Radiator replaced; thermostat replaced; tail light bulb replaced | This is the 4th radiator
for this car! Tail light assembly and warning system still malfunctioning |
| 97 | 5-3-00 | 5-5-00 | 98,424 | 282 | $200 | $1814.40 | Gas leak; parking light warnings coming on for no reason | Replaced fuel tank; rear brake pads & rotors; upper control arm bushings | Parking light still comes on. |
| 96 | 4-20-00 | 4-20-00 | - | - | - | $0 | Warning system still malfunctioning | Control module put in, but doesn't fix it so it's taken out | Warning system remains malfunctioning |
| 95 | 4-12-00 | 4-14-00 | 98,142 | 3621 | $400 | $1186.21 | Engine running on half power; oil service needed; coolant light comes on; tail lights & warning malfunctioning; steering shimmy, driver-side seat heat not working; groaning sound when steering sometimes | Electrical connector for air mass sensor; oil service performed; breather pipe for cooling system; transmission mounts, exhaust hangers, steering feed hose & regulator switches | Tail lights & warning still malfunctioning; wheels still shimmy (I'm told a rim is slightly bent, although I don't think I've done anything that could have bent it); I'm told seat heat pad burnt out and needs replacing, but I don't do it; steering still groans |
| 94 | 11-25-99 | Shimmy in wheels since new tires installed | 4 wheels balanced a 2nd time | Wheels still shimmy! | |||||
| 93 | 11-24-99 | 11-24-99 | - | - | - | $0 | Warning system still malfunctioning | Replace control module | Warning system still malfunctioning and the $333.19 control module is returned |
| 92 | 11-22-99 | $845.30 | 4 new tires purchased | This is not included in any dollar totals | |||||
| 91 | 8-9-99 | 8-9-99 | 94,521 | 987 | $230 | $280.82 | Car wouldn't start (have it jump-started); tail light warnings for no reason | Battery replaced | Tail light warnings still malfunctioning |
| 90 | 7-23-99 | 7-23-99 | - | - | - | $0 | CD changer jammed | Changer reset | Days later, I replace the in-dash CD player for $461.97 at a car stereo shop. This is the 5th time the stereo system has needed work. I have CD changer removed from trunk |
| 89 | 7-20-99 | 7-22-99 | 93,534 | 520 approx. | $350 | $1279.78 | A/C blows warm; CD player malfunctioning; brake fluid cap broken, dipstick broken, fuse cover broken | Recharge A/C with freon; cap, dipstick, cover replaced | CD player still malfunctioning |
| 88 | 7-7-99 | 7-9-99 | - | - | - | $336.78 | Coolant leak | Coolant reservoir replaced | Repair not by BMW dealership |
| 87 | 6-30-99 | 6-30-99 | - | - | - | $12.67 | Front grill rubber boot | Rubber boot put on | - |
| 86 | 6-22-99 | 6-23-99 | 93,014 | 38 | $0 | $0 | Radiator cap recall | cap replaced | I had received a notice in the mail |
| 85 | 6-18-99 | 6-21-99 | 92,976 | 12 | $500 | $577.54 | Windows & door locks not working; tail lights not working; wipers not working; fluid leaking; CD player not working; front grill loose | General module replaced; tail light bulbs replaced. No leak found and no CD trouble found; part ordered for grill | Tail lights still malfunctioning; still fluid leaking; CD player still not working |
| 84 | 6-9-99 | 6-18-99 | 92,964 | 441 | - | $2270.19 | Heavy oil leaks; drive train noise; brakes worn; exhaust fumes; gas fumes; CD player short circuit; wipers malfunctioning; trunk won't stay open; fog bulb out; warning system malfunctioning; fan belts cracked (some of these expressed verbally and are not on work order) | Oil pan gaskets done, front brake pads & rotors replaced; fuel hose replaced; replaced muffler; replaced trunk shocks; replaced belts; drive train cover plate adjusted | Work not performed at dealership. Finally, after 10 months, my car doesn't smell like exhaust & fuel, and noises from drive train gone. Electrical system still malfunctioning |
| 83 | 5-17-99 | 5-19-99 | 92,523 | 4238 | $1100 | $0 | Medium oil leaks, drive train noise, steering control irregular and noisy, exhaust fumes in the car; gas fumes in the car ever since Major service No.2; CD player malfunctioning when brakes applied; wipers malfunctioning; trunk lid won't stay open & latch broken; other fog lamp bulb out, parking lights & warning malfunctioning | No work done | Most of these problems
had been present for months. Estimate from BMW dealership was
in the range of $9000 and I declined to do the work there. Three days later, I send a FAX to the Head of Customer Relations for BMW of North America. Her response is, sorry, it's out of warranty |
| 82 | 8-24-98 | 8-26-98 | 88,285 | 1307 | $700 | $106.37 | Fog lamp bulb out; gas fumes in rear area; drive train clicking sound and noises when on rough roads; small oil leak; wipers malfunctioning | Fog lamp bulb replaced ($10.50 part, $95 labor!). No fumes found; no drive train clicking found; suspension found normal | Oil pan gaskets will need replacing and it was suggested that I get a new motor for wipers. I didn't do either. I still smell both exhaust and raw fuel. Still hear odd noises when driving over rough road |
| 81 | 6-28-98 | 6-30-98 | 86,978 | 3654 | $900 | $1226.78 | Major service No. 2 due; A/C not cold | Service No. 2 performed; A/C charged; rear brake pads | Returned few weeks later to have A/C dye inspected- no leaks detected |
| 80 | 6-25-98 | 6-25-98 | - | - | - | $0 | A/C not cold | No work done | They were unable to take my car that day |
| 79 | 1-10-98 | 1-12-98 | 83,324 | 1054 | $200 | $365.39 | Hose bursts while driving and car loses all coolant | Water valve replaced | - |
| 78 | 12-3-97 | 12-3-97 | 82,270 | 128 | $500 | $522.43 | Engine running on half power | Fuel pump replaced | - |
| 77 | 11-24-97 | 11-25-97 | 82,142 | 2740 | $92 | $1198.11 | Brake lining warning on; A/C temperature erratic; coolant smell through A/C | Front brake pads & rotors replaced; A/C found normal; engine mounts | A/C temperature setting still erratic |
| 76 | 11-10-97 | 11-10-97 | - | - | - | $0 | Brake light bulb out | Replace brake light bulb | - |
| 75 | 11-7-97 | 11-7-97 | - | - | - | $0 | Tail light bulb out | Replace tail light bulb | - |
| 74 | 6-16-97 | 6-17-97 | 79,402 | 636 approx. | $85 | $813.03 | Engine overheating; coolant leaking; washer fluid leaking from headlight area | Radiator replaced; hoses replaced; washer fluid leak repaired | This is the car's 3rd radiator |
| 73 | 5-28-97 | 5-28-97 | - | - | - | $24.68 | Coolant level sensor malfunctioning | New sensor installed | - |
| 72 | 5-19-97 | 5-20-97 | 78,766 | 1364 approx. | $100 | $162.58 | Coolant leaking | Radiator hoses replaced | - |
| 71 | 5-1-97 | 5-1-97 | - | - | - | $0 | Coolant leak | No repairs made | There's a leak- I bring it it and it's put up and looked at, but no leak found |
| 70 | 4-25-97 | 4-25-97 | - | - | - | $0 | "Coolant level" warning | Coolant added | - |
| 69 | 4-24-97 | 4-24-97 | - | - | $0 | $0 | CD changer malfunctioning | CD changer sent again to Pioneer for "repair" | This was repaired at no cost because it was less than 30 days since it had just been "repaired." Took several weeks to get it back |
| 68 | 4-4-97 | 4-4-97 | 77,402 | 303 | $85 | $123.83 | Coolant leaking; CD changer ready | Inlet hose replaced; CD changer, which had been getting repaired, is put back in | - |
| 67 | 3-24-97 | 3-24-97 | 77,099 | 10 | $200 | $164.76 | Engine gauge shows overheating | Thermostat replaced | - |
| 66 | 3-21-97 | 3-22-97 | 77,089 | 707 approx. | $150 | $397.94 | Lose all coolant, have it towed in | Auxiliary water pump replaced | Cost includes car rental |
| 65 | 3-17-97 | 4-4-97 | - | - | $200.27 | $200.27 | CD changer malfunctioning | CD changer sent to Pioneer, they "repair" it | Days later, it's malfunctioning again |
| 64 | 3-6-97 | 3-14-97 | - | - | - | $0 | CD changer malfunctioning | No repairs made | Not a BMW dealership- this place had repaired it in October 1996 |
| 63 | 2-27-97 | 2-28-97 | 76,382 | 213 | $85 | $703.97 | Vibration on acceleration; brake pressure light | Transmission mounts changed; brake accumulator replaced | - |
| 62 | 2-21-97 | 2-21-97 | 76,169 | 652 | $100 | $95.83 | Brake light stays on | Brake light switch replaced | - |
| 61 | 1-27-97 | $894.54 | 4 new tires installed | This is not included in any dollar totals | |||||
| 60 | 1-22-97 | 1-27-97 | 75,517 | 2505 approx. | $1000 | $4468.33 | Oil service needed; sunroof seal worn; headlight jet loose; window switch broken; engine noisy; steering sluggish; brakes squeal; rear shocks worn; rear window leaks | Oil service performed; sunroof seal replaced; headlight jets replaced; window switch replaced; belts changed; brake booster replaced; front end bushings & wishbones replaced; rear shocks replaced; 4 wheel alignment | - |
| 59 | 1-20-97 | $2313.85 | 4 new BMW wheels purchased | This was an elective addition and is not included in any dollar totals | |||||
| 58 | 1-8-97 | 1-8-97 | - | - | - | $85 | Rear window leaking | Rear window sealed | Days later, it still is leaking |
| 57 | 11-8-96 | 11-8-96 | - | - | - | $3.28 | Rubber seal and gasket worn | Replaced rubber seal and gasket | - |
| 56 | 10-30-96 | 10-30-86 | - | - | - | $13.86 | Brake fluid low warning | Put in brake fluid | - |
| 55 | 10-22-96 | 10-22-96 | 73,012 | - | - | - | - | - | Axel purchases the 1989 750iL |
| Repair No. | Brought in | Picked up | Mileage | Miles since last repair | Repair estimate when car brought in | Actual Cost | What wasn't working when I brought the car in and is specified on work order | The repairs that were completed, according to the repair order | Follow-up notes (all repairs at a BMW dealership, unless otherwise noted) |
| This page chronicles the
repairs and maintenance while under my ownership. Here is the repair and maintenance history prior to my ownership. |
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