As of last night, I am the new owner of a 1995 740i. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. I saw it on eBay and flew up to Chicago to buy it before the auction ended. Because of the high miles (170,000) I was able to buy it for $6900. The seller is a dealership not an individual but the "dealership" is run by two men with no car lot--they buy cars at auctions and sell them on eBay. One of them met me at the airport. The car looked great and drove great so I bought it. The only problem I was aware of was that the trunk did not open. Seller said it was open right before I arrived and he must have slammed it too hard and now it must be frozen shut. I figured that I could get it open for $100.
So now it is the next day and I am in Lexington, KY, 400 miles from Chicago and 450 miles from my wife and children in Durham, NC. And I have serious problems. The "Trans. Failsafe Program" light comes on when I come up to a red light. And sometimes the car dies at a red light.
I took it to the BMW dealership here in Lexington and they said that the transmission goes into Failsafe mode "because of faulty pressure activators in valvue body." They also said that the "trans fluid is burnt." They recommended replacing the transmission with a remanufactured unit at a cost of $6137.
I asked them about the burnt fluid--could we try changing it? The dealership said this the service schedule did not call for replacing the fluid. When it was burnt, it was time to replace the transmission. I said that I would still like to start by replacing the fluid. Doug the service manager told me that I would be wasting my money (c. $500) but he would see if they had the parts to replace the fluid. He came back and said that they did not have the parts (pan gasket, etc) and that he could not get them until Monday.
Also, even if we replaced the transmission it would not solve the problem of the car stalling at a red light. He said that this was probably happening because I needed to replace both catalytic converters. This is going to cost $2750.
Other things that need to be done include:
Power steering hose leaking: $159.
A/C belt cracked/dry rotted: $159.
Replace storage bin in center console: $399
Replace center armrest between front seats: $599
Hazard button sticks: $55
Central door lock button is cracked: $72
One of the interior lamps has broken contact: $95
Replace instrument cluster backlight bulb behind odometer: $99
Replace throttle plate switch (because ASC light came on): $179
Door pocket has cracked plastic: $299
Front cupholder broken: $295
Trunk latch faulty and lock cylinder jammed: $759
Steering column trim snaps broken: $215
Faulty level switch on windshield washer tank: $299
Replace 4 cabin filters and disinfect evaporator and heater core: $399
Airbag light on due to excessive resistance in internal left-front seatbelt buckle: $249
So the dealership said that they could get these items repaired and my bill would be $13,048. I just about fainted. My wife is in tears.
I asked the service manager if he thought that I could drive the rest of the way to Durham and he said that he thought I could since the transmission gets out of Failsafe mode once I get going more than 30 mph. And it only sometimes enters that mode at slow speed.
I found a local transmission shop and the owner was wonderful and he said that the dealership's prices were way too high and that if I wanted him to rebuild the transmission he could do it tomorrow for $1500-$2000. So I am going to spend the night here in Lexington and go see him at 7:45 AM Friday.
Am I doing the right thing? Should I keep this car? Should I just drive it back to Durham without replacing the transmission and sell it "as is," disclosing all of these problems of course. What could I get for it "as is."
I am hoping that someone out there will respond to this and tell me that I should repair the transmission at the local transmission place and try to fix some of them other things outside of the dealership and keep this car that we have wanted to own for sooooo long.
Thanks.
So now it is the next day and I am in Lexington, KY, 400 miles from Chicago and 450 miles from my wife and children in Durham, NC. And I have serious problems. The "Trans. Failsafe Program" light comes on when I come up to a red light. And sometimes the car dies at a red light.
I took it to the BMW dealership here in Lexington and they said that the transmission goes into Failsafe mode "because of faulty pressure activators in valvue body." They also said that the "trans fluid is burnt." They recommended replacing the transmission with a remanufactured unit at a cost of $6137.
I asked them about the burnt fluid--could we try changing it? The dealership said this the service schedule did not call for replacing the fluid. When it was burnt, it was time to replace the transmission. I said that I would still like to start by replacing the fluid. Doug the service manager told me that I would be wasting my money (c. $500) but he would see if they had the parts to replace the fluid. He came back and said that they did not have the parts (pan gasket, etc) and that he could not get them until Monday.
Also, even if we replaced the transmission it would not solve the problem of the car stalling at a red light. He said that this was probably happening because I needed to replace both catalytic converters. This is going to cost $2750.
Other things that need to be done include:
Power steering hose leaking: $159.
A/C belt cracked/dry rotted: $159.
Replace storage bin in center console: $399
Replace center armrest between front seats: $599
Hazard button sticks: $55
Central door lock button is cracked: $72
One of the interior lamps has broken contact: $95
Replace instrument cluster backlight bulb behind odometer: $99
Replace throttle plate switch (because ASC light came on): $179
Door pocket has cracked plastic: $299
Front cupholder broken: $295
Trunk latch faulty and lock cylinder jammed: $759
Steering column trim snaps broken: $215
Faulty level switch on windshield washer tank: $299
Replace 4 cabin filters and disinfect evaporator and heater core: $399
Airbag light on due to excessive resistance in internal left-front seatbelt buckle: $249
So the dealership said that they could get these items repaired and my bill would be $13,048. I just about fainted. My wife is in tears.
I asked the service manager if he thought that I could drive the rest of the way to Durham and he said that he thought I could since the transmission gets out of Failsafe mode once I get going more than 30 mph. And it only sometimes enters that mode at slow speed.
I found a local transmission shop and the owner was wonderful and he said that the dealership's prices were way too high and that if I wanted him to rebuild the transmission he could do it tomorrow for $1500-$2000. So I am going to spend the night here in Lexington and go see him at 7:45 AM Friday.
Am I doing the right thing? Should I keep this car? Should I just drive it back to Durham without replacing the transmission and sell it "as is," disclosing all of these problems of course. What could I get for it "as is."
I am hoping that someone out there will respond to this and tell me that I should repair the transmission at the local transmission place and try to fix some of them other things outside of the dealership and keep this car that we have wanted to own for sooooo long.
Thanks.