BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed.

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Fri 27 Aug 2021 22:34
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - Jordster88

Hi all.

My sister has been having some issues with work done on her BMW 1 Series 05 Plate, something just doesn't sit right with the mechanic, so I thought why not ask you lovely people for some advice! Sorry for the wall of text in advance.

3 weeks ago she agreed to have clutch/flywheel work done from a local mechanic through a friend at work. One man band, good reviews etc. Total price was £753. She paid £503 (he requested this amount to be bank transferred to his personal account) and then she paid the remaining £250 in cash once she had the extra money.

He done the job and dropped off the car to her whilst she was watching her daughter play football. This was quite a way out so not a bad touch. But the car didn't start when he dropped it off. He couldn't work out what it was and arranged recovery himself to get it back to his unit to have a look.

Since it has been returned to the unit after it had being recovered. His diagnostic kit cannot connect to ECU. So he had an auto electrian look at the electrics of the car (free of charge). He found fault with some wires from the ECU to the engine were in his words frayed. Which he then replaced hoping it would solve the issue.

As it didn't, over the last 2 weeks, he has tried two relays, and replaced the wiring loom with no luck and doesn't know what else to do with it. These bits of extra work he has gone on to do without asking for permission from my sister. All of their communication has been over the phone or text, going along the line of "it might be this, I've ordered this and I'll give it a try" etc. His last suggestion is that it could be a problem with the ECU. Ultimately the ignition turns but it doesn't fire up the engine.

Our concerns are the following:

- He hasn't provided her with any invoice of work that's he's done.

- Is there anything she needs to get from the mechanic to hold her in good stead in case she wants to take this further?

- Aside from the clutch, the car was in good working order prior. Regularly serviced etc. She has called other mechanics and explained the situation and they all feel he may have messed up something with the electrics and he is trying to cover his back. This is compounded with the fact that he has advised my sister against getting it to BMW dealership for 2nd opinion. I know they will cost an arm and leg but they could corroborate the work he may/may not have done and possibly find a fix or definitive answer to the problem.. Her partner is demanding she gets the labour cost back from him but she doesn't want him to get involved as she fears he may do something stupid.

Any advice/questions would be appreciated. It has really knocked her for six and she doesn't know what else to do.

Edited by Jordster88 on 27/08/2021 at 22:36

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Fri 27 Aug 2021 22:55
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - bathtub tom

How long has she had the car and what's its mileage?

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Fri 27 Aug 2021 23:06
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - Jordster88

I think just under a year and 140k mileage

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Sat 28 Aug 2021 05:34
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - SLO76
I’m assuming he’s tried the spare key?
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Sat 28 Aug 2021 07:59
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - badbusdriver

Surely the alarm bells should have been ringing loud and clear when asked to put £503 in his personal account and pay the other £250 cash?.

Also, saying, "the car was in good working order prior", doesn't really mean much given it is 16 years old and your sister has only owned it for a year. It is quite possible the car has had numerous problems, breakdowns and failures, but was in a period of 'working', when your sister bought it. Despite what some seem to think, the reliability of BMW's is somewhat patchy at best, some are pretty good, some pretty bad, but mostly no better than average and some way short of something like a Honda, Toyota or Mazda.

Your sister's partner demanding she get the labour costs back isn't likely to happen given (presumably) the clutch and DMF have been changed. Unless it can be proven that the current electrical issue is as a direct result of this work?. It could just be a coincidence, it is a 16 year old car after all.

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Sat 28 Aug 2021 08:09
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - Ian D
Where are you located? There are some very good BMW specialists around who may be more competent and will have dealer level diagnostic kit, and if there is still no communications with the ECU will be better suited to investigate.

Edited by Ian D on 28/08/2021 at 08:13

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Sat 28 Aug 2021 09:07
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - elekie&a/c doctor
Firstly, there are no electrics running to the gearbox that would cause a no start . It’s possible that the crank speed sensor may have been damaged when refitting the gearbox to the engine . It picks up a signal from the flywheel. Another possibility is that the engine has been rotated anti clockwise and an already worn timing chain (common on this model ) has jumped a few teeth . This will cause a no start condition.
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Sat 28 Aug 2021 11:08
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - Steveieb

Sound advice from our forum expert who has practical experience of these sort of problems.

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Sat 28 Aug 2021 09:08
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - Jordster88

He has not long text her to say he's found a 2nd hand ECU for £80. Seems like he is just trying to sort knowing he may have caused a problem. As been said it's hard to prove. He has said to her if it can't be fixed she would get around £1500 for spare parts, he would be happy to break it down and sell it to mechanic mates/post it online as apparently the leather seating and bits and bobs of the BMW are desirable. Just all seems off really. I have said either get rid or get it to BMW for specialist diagnostic and of course get itemised invoice of work carried out from him.

Edited by Jordster88 on 28/08/2021 at 09:19

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Sat 28 Aug 2021 09:43
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - elekie&a/c doctor
Second hand Ecu won’t work . It’s security coded to the car it was removed from.
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Sat 28 Aug 2021 11:25
BMW 1 Series - BMW 1 Series - advice needed. - badbusdriver

Just all seems off really. I have said either get rid or get it to BMW for specialist diagnostic and of course get itemised invoice of work carried out from him.

Yes, it does sound off, but I'm not sure what comeback you might have.

I know it is not of much comfort now, but this is the reason why you need to be very wary buying an older car, especially from a 'prestige' brand. They can be complex, parts are expensive and they are not that reliable (though some can be). Much better to go for something simple and known to be reliable in general (obviously the usual checks still apply).

Not a huge fan of BMW's myself, but the 1 Series especially baffles me. A Golf sized 'family' hatchback with no more interior space than a Polo due to the packaging constraints of rear wheel drive. But it drives pretty much as a front wheel drive car, so no real benefit to it being RWD for the 'keen' driver. Unless you think it is a nice looking car (I don't), or are drawn solely to the BMW badge, (IMO) it has absolutely nothing going for it!.

One other thing re taking it to 'BMW', specialists have been mentioned, by that we are talking about independent specialists. Taking the car to an actual BMW dealer will cost an arm and a leg through the labour charge if nothing else.

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