said I need to replace the coolant system for $3000 . Also, my windshield wiper fluid will not come out and somehow this is related? The engine has never overheated and we just got a new emission control sticker last week. Any suggestions or can anyone validate this assesmment. I live in GeorgiaThank you
This clown saw the BMW and decided to try and rip you off. The windshield wiper fluid and the cooling system have NOTHING to do with each other. Does the light say Check Engine or Service Engine. They are two different things. There is a good possibility that you need to change your timing belt because I believe you have what is known as an interference engine and the belt needs changing at around 60,000 miles and if it's not changed and it breaks, you will bend valves.
Service Engine Soon and Check Engine Soon in a 1996 newer car are the same (the Actual name for them is the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)). Service Vehicle (body brakes etc) or Maintenance Required (Milaged triggered usualy) are different. Your Check Engine Soon light is on. That means (by law) that the the cars computer has sensed a problem that COULD be causing the Emissions to exceed the federal maximum. Now what is the problem? Drives fine. Take the car to an Autozone or OReilies or Advanced Auto. Have them READ the OBDll code (for free). This will give you an IDEA on where to start looking for a problem. Do NOT purchase parts (or have work done) based soley upon having the codes read. The part could be OK, it could just be reporting its sensing a problem. Repost your problem after you have gotten the code(s) read and see what some of the fine experienced mechanics that watch this site can offer you (They tend to watch after work) As for the $85.00 fee to look at it That sounds about normal if what they are telling you they are going to do is DIAGNOSE the problem. Reading the codes is not a Diagnosisits just reading the codes. Diagnosing can take 15 minutes or 2 hours (or more) just to make sure they found the problem and are not replacing parts to make the symptom go away. And yes a GOOD mechanic allways wants to make sure his customers cars are kept in Tip Top condition (sign of a good mechanic) and as an owner of two BMW's I can tell you they are NOT cheep to repair/maintain. Easy to tell how much your 530 will cost to repair 530 divide by 2265 Multiply by 10 and you get $2,650.00 for any significant repair (I told this to my BMW (Bring More Wampum) mechanic and he laughed at/with me)
I hope this is not the BMW dealer telling you this! Sounds like you are getting hosed. Drive around and look for a nice clean garage with about 4-6 bays. Look for one with at least 3 BMWs in the parking lot and maybe a VW, Audi, Benz. Then interview the owner or one of the lead mechanics. Interview the shop the same way you would interview a contractor for a room addition. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Edit: You may be due for a coolant flush and fill or some other regular scheduled maintenance that needs to be done at 75,000 miles. I think the i-6 has a timing CHAIN not belt. There are generally 3 types of BMW/Audi/Mercedes owners. Type 1) buys a new or certified used vehicle and understands that cost of maintenance on these $50-120,000 vehicles is going to be more than on a Ford Type 2) mechanically inclined or actual mechanic that can do a $3000 repair for the cost of parts Type 3) ostentatious prat that thinks he can buy a $50,000 car and treats it like a $6,000 Hyundai. Since these luxo-cars are capable of driving even when repairs are needed, this type of owner is usually driving on bad brakes, bad suspension, beyond service life on several components and thinks he looks good 'cuz it's a bimmer, bro'! If you are willing to admit that the cost of maintaining the vehicle is greater than you anticipated you are already moving into Type 1. Congratulations. Although these individual repairs and service needs are more costly, the life-time cost of owning a higher quality vehicle will be the same or less than that of a cheaper car. The difference is you need to budget for these repairs. That way when a $3000 service interval comes around it becomes an inconvenience not an emergency. I'm a Type 2. My 1997 BMW 740iL gets repairs done in my garage. I have a great mechanic that gives advice when I need and does the serious work that I'm not capable of. E.g.: I did the suspension, brakes, radiator, alternator, power steering. He did the new blower motor for the heater.
