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Posted

I have a 3-series I bought new. I have replaced 3 out of 4 of the power window operators. The 4th one started making the same ominous noises as the other 3 did. I contacted BMW complaining that it was obviously a manufacturing defect. They disagreed and called the window operators standard wear items that regularly need replacing!!

Posted

How old is the car that it is considered a wear item? I had replaced a few of those plastic gear strips in my Lebaron (over 10 y/o and 100k miles) one power window assembley in my Shadow (over 10 y/o and 100k on both old and possibly new parts), as well as a regulator assembly on my Jeep (also over 14 y/o and around 150k+ miles), so if that card isn't that old, how can that be acceptable?!

Posted

I have a 3-series I bought new. I have replaced 3 out of 4 of the power window operators. The 4th one started making the same ominous noises as the other 3 did. I contacted BMW complaining that it was obviously a manufacturing defect. They disagreed and called the window operators standard wear items that regularly need replacing!!

How old is the car that it is considered a wear item? I had replaced a few of those plastic gear strips in my Lebaron (over 10 y/o and 100k miles) one power window assembley in my Shadow (over 10 y/o and 100k on both old and possibly new parts), as well as a regulator assembly on my Jeep (also over 14 y/o and around 150k+ miles), so if that card isn't that old, how can that be acceptable?!

Hmmm. I have a '92 Chevy truck with power windows, 280,000 miles, and they both work like new. So do the ones in the '89 Celica convertible with 180,000 miles.

Geez...I DO wish I had a newer vehicle so I had to routinely replace all that "better designed" stuff. I feel SO left out. ;););)

Posted

Strictly an opinion, a lot of these german cars are overated for quality and reliability.

Having had to work on them, I agree with your opinion.

Posted

Strictly an opinion, a lot of these german cars are overated for quality and reliability.

And insanely overcomplicated for no particular reason. Seems like the Germans jumped off the unnecessary-complication cliff decades ago, and the rest of the car world has made the Lemming-like plunge right along after them.

KISS is dead, along with any concept of functional design elegance.

Posted

And insanely overcomplicated for no particular reason. Seems like the Germans jumped off the unnecessary-complication cliff decades ago, and the rest of the car world has made the Lemming-like plunge right along after them.

KISS is dead, along with any concept of functional design elegance.

It seems competing engineering departments were on upping each other and lost focus.
Posted

How old is the car that it is considered a wear item? I had replaced a few of those plastic gear strips in my Lebaron (over 10 y/o and 100k miles) one power window assembley in my Shadow (over 10 y/o and 100k on both old and possibly new parts), as well as a regulator assembly on my Jeep (also over 14 y/o and around 150k+ miles), so if that card isn't that old, how can that be acceptable?!

It's an '02 but the first operator broke about year three. I haven't replaced the 4th one I just don't use that window anymore.

Posted

And insanely overcomplicated for no particular reason. Seems like the Germans jumped off the unnecessary-complication cliff decades ago, and the rest of the car world has made the Lemming-like plunge right along after them.

KISS is dead, along with any concept of functional design elegance.

Good engineering/design performs the required function in the simplest way possible.

Posted

Strictly an opinion, a lot of these german cars are overated for quality and reliability.

So true.. my mom's Mercedes broke multiple times more then the '99 Suburban and dad just keeps on wrenching on it.

Then the trunk doesn't want to open so I couldn't get my schoolbag out, luckily I didn't had homework.

The engine bracket was broken and the suspension is still making annoying noises and it has been apart 4 times, once with 4 of my dad's collegues and STILL it isn't fixed. :D

I keep on using problems this to get rid of that car. :D

Posted

So true.. my mom's Mercedes broke multiple times more then the '99 Suburban and dad just keeps on wrenching on it.

Then the trunk doesn't want to open so I couldn't get my schoolbag out, luckily I didn't had homework.

The engine bracket was broken and the suspension is still making annoying noises and it has been apart 4 times, once with 4 of my dad's collegues and STILL it isn't fixed. :D

I keep on using problems this to get rid of that car. :D

I guess that Mercedes is newer than my 85 230TE W123?

Mine has 374 000 km (232 000 miles) and it still works just fine, so does the other one I have (85 300TDT W123 with 456 000km, that 283 000 miles). Both have power windows that work very well and not really much other things go wrong on them either. Only need to change oil, filters,headlightbulbs and brakeparts. I'm currently replacing the balljoints in the front suspension on the 230TE and the ones that I'm taking of are the original ones from 85.

Mercedes really plumeted in quality from the early 90s and onworths and all I can blame is the beancounters trying to squease more profit out of the each car.

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