NHTSA Complaint #10499723 — 2011 BMW 528I

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (50-80MPH), THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. I'VE HAD ALIGNMENTS PERFORMED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE DEALER SAID IT'S WITHIN SPECIFICATION, AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. AFTER MORE PERSISTENCE, MY SERVICE ADVISER CAME BACK WITH: THE STOCK CAMBER SETTINGS ON BMW'S ARE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE, AND THEY CAN'T ADJUST THE CAMBER ANYMORE ON MY CAR TO RESOLVE THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT ISSUE. HE SAID THERE IS ANOTHER BMW SUSPENSION PART (CONTROL ARM) THEY CAN USE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO ADJUST THE CAMBER MORE, WHICH WILL RESOLVE THE PULL ISSUE. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT BMW WON'T COVER THE COST TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED, WHICH IS JUST UNDER $1100.00, AND I'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. I ADVISED MY ADVISER THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE, WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE ALIGNMENT (~$185), BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REMAINING AMOUNT (~$900). AFTER QUESTIONING THE DEALER FURTHER, THEY CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MANAGER ON MY BEHALF. THE REGIONAL MANAGER SAID BECAUSE THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR WAS SO HIGH (~40K), HE WOULD ONLY COVER THE COST OF THE PART, NOT LABOR. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DEALER'S EFFORTS, I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR SO IT WILL DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT PULLING, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY CAR IS STILL WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT BMW NOW HAS A FIX FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WHICH PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. BMW SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CUSTOMER, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED ISSUE FOR SEVERAL CUSTOMERS STARTING AT 10 MILES, AFTER PURCHASING NEW. *TR