Class Action - Motor Mount Bolt

[DSinSF]

I'm beyond angry that our 18 mo old car (2014 BEV) with 9K miles is completely crippled and out of service for more than a week. If I read correctly here on this forum, I'm going to get back a car with a forced software update which will diminish the performance to spare stress on the motor mount bolts. That's not the car I bought and paid for. We would have bought the gutless e-Golf if we knew we were going to end up at that level of performance. Is any one else feeling the same way?

 

[Sparky]

Had the bolts replaced and software update done this last week during annual service. You won't notice ANY decrease in performance.

 

[MikeS]

Had mine done a few weeks back and never noticed any change in performance and I only ever drive in comfort mode!

 

[alohart]

If I read correctly here on this forum, I'm going to get back a car with a forced software update which will diminish the performance to spare stress on the motor mount bolts.

Our 2014 i3 hasn't had its defective motor mount bolt replaced, so I can't offer any personal experience with the updated software. However, what apparently causes the motor mount bolt to crack or break is when the rotation of one drive wheel suddenly accelerates rapidly when the drive wheel briefly loses contact with the road (e.g., when driving over a curb, speed bump, etc.). When that rapidly spinning drive wheel hits the road again, the shock of its rotation suddenly decelerating can crack or break the motor mount bolt. Others have stated that the software fix adjusts traction control to prevent the sudden acceleration of a drive wheel. I'm not sure that any of us knows for sure the details of the fix, but it apparently hasn't changed the i3's performance, so you might not have very strong grounds for suing BMW.

 

[alohart]

If I read correctly here on this forum, I'm going to get back a car with a forced software update which will diminish the performance to spare stress on the motor mount bolts.

Our 2014 i3 hasn't had its defective motor mount bolt replaced, so I can't offer any personal experience with the updated software. However, what apparently causes the motor mount bolt to crack or break is when the rotation of one drive wheel suddenly accelerates rapidly when the drive wheel briefly loses contact with the road (e.g., when driving over a curb, speed bump, etc.). When that rapidly spinning drive wheel hits the road again, the shock of its rotation suddenly decelerating can crack or break the motor mount bolt. However, the bolt might not break completely initially, so the final breakage might occur later at a time when a drive wheel did not lose traction.

Others have stated that the software fix adjusts traction control to prevent the sudden acceleration of a drive wheel. I'm not sure that any of us knows for sure the details of the fix, but it apparently hasn't changed the i3's performance, so you might not have very strong grounds for suing BMW.

 

[stumbledotcom]

I had mine done back in the spring. No difference that I can perceive and I typically notice such changes. The regen reduction from the original US release in May 2014 via the first software update a few months later seemed dramatic to me and the way I drive. Still I'm one of the few here who noticed that one. (Only applied to cars delivered that first summer.) This revision (new hardware and updated software) corrects a potentially catastrophic though rare failure. BMW has done the right thing. No basis for a complaint.

 

[alohart]

BMW has done the right thing. No basis for a complaint.

I fault BMW USA for not proactively replacing the defective bolts, apparently instead waiting for owners to schedule maintenance or repair appointments during which the bolts would be replaced. Reportedly, in some other markets, BMW has been proactive by alerting affected owners of the need to have these defective bolts replaced. That's what BMW USA should have done to spare owners the inconvenience and maybe even danger of being stranded when a bolt breaks. As the owner of a 2014 BEV built in July, 2014, and purchased in November, 2014, I've heard nothing from BMW USA or the dealer that sold me the car. That's poor customer service, but it doesn't rise to the level of legal action as far as I'm concerned.

 

[DSinSF]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the replies (more proactive than anything coming from BMW!)

 

[jadnashuanh]

I'm trying to remember if BMW contacted me, but I do know that I have been participating in these forums since before I bought my car, and was fully aware of the situation. I contacted my dealer to find out when they would have the parts and the procedure (the software patch is an integral part, and the development of that takes a bit of time verses just sending new bolts out). I did not notice any drivability differences after the work was done. Maybe part of that is that I try not to drive over curbs! or use the full capacity of the car. I do tend to lead traffic somewhat, but some of that is just that the EV gets off the line so much easier than an ICE. You should have had the car alert you to the need for service, as it should have the brake lines flushed at 2-years from manufacture, not from the date you bought it, so that was several months ago. Any open fixes should have been done at that time unless you ignored the car's alert. Whenever a car is in for service, unless the dealer is a total slacker, any open service campaigns should be performed. Now, there are certain things that will only get addressed if you have reported an issue, but the motor mount bolts does not fall into that category.

 

[alohart]

You should have had the car alert you to the need for service, as it should have the brake lines flushed at 2-years from manufacture, not from the date you bought it, so that was several months ago. Any open fixes should have been done at that time unless you ignored the car's alert.

Because the BEV's first service is 2 years after it was manufactured, there are some U.S. BEV's that could be driving around with defective motor mount bolts for almost 2 years before taking their cars in for their first service visit. For a problem that has left an unknown number of owners stranded, BMW USA not proactively notifying affected i3 owners is terrible customer service, especially since BMW has apparently notified affected owners in other markets. The hardware and software needed for this fix have been available for many months.

Because our i3 has been in storage since April, we haven't been driving it much with a defective motor mount bolt that could have been repaired had BMW notified us. When we take it out of storage in ~3 weeks, I expect that it will alert us that our first service is due at which point I will schedule a service appointment. I'm surprised that neither the i Remote nor BMW Connected app alerted me of the need to schedule a service appointment since they display the status of our i3 when it was put into storage.

 

[jadnashuanh]

FWIW, BMW, at least in the USA, will change the wiper blades for free annually, and that would also give you a contact point to allow them to make any suggested updates.

Many people have driven many miles without ever having an issue with the bolts. If it had been discovered as an issue during the years of prototype development, it would have been changed prior to releasing the car. In fact, it's likely that a good portion of the people with one could drive the car indefinitely and never have an issue. You tend to hear about things on a forum when people have an issue...often, it's a small minority of the population as most people don't log on to praise the vehicle, but to vent, or are just curious, and may never post anything.

My dealer is close, and I stop in periodically to chat and while there, ask if there's anything new I should be aware of. My salesman also alerts me if there's something of interest I should be aware of. Some people avoid the dealership at all costs, but it could be less than optimal if you do that.