[SMFD21]

Hi,

I purchased a used 2015 335 last year, and discovered small bubbles forming on the side of the wheel well a month ago. I brought it up with my SA. SA told me to have a body shop next to the dealer inspect the paint. The body shop confirmed the car had never been painted before by using their paint meter and gave me an estimate to give the dealer. SA seems to be dodging my calls so I scheduled an appointment. I heard BMW NA is really stingy with these claims and denies them for not having yearly rust inspections (it does not mention this in the warranty booklet). Some also say BMW NA doesn't cover perforation/surface rust but some say BMW NA does. The warranty booklet doesn't mention anything about BMW not covering surface rust either.

Has anyone ever successfully dealt with BMW NA and their corrosion warranty? Any tips?

Thanks

[Wires]

Not sure BMW deals with it, but with General Motors, it basically has to rust through the panel in order for them to address it.

So basically the "rust and corrosion warranty" is just a bunch of BS fluff that they never cover since NOBODY would let their car get to the point you can put a finger through the metal.

[Billfitz]

Mt ex's Ford developed rust, bubbling the paint but not perforated, and they fixed it without any hassle. I don't know what the Ford warranty says, but mine says: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) warrants this original vehicle against defects in materials or workmanship which will result in rust perforation of the vehicle body for a period of 12-years unlimited mileage. That would rule out surface rust being covered.

[mmm-five]

No experience in the US, but I had my Z4MC trunk lid repaired under the body/paint warranty when rust appeared underneath it when it was about 8 years old.

It definitely wasn't external perforation damage as it's protected by being closed most of the time, and it looks like it's caused by a design fault where moisture doesn't drain away properly and sits in a little 'well' that the lid sits in also.

The repair obviously was only a short-term solution, as they've not fixed the cause, as it happened again 5 years later...now out of warranty

[Wires]

Problem is rust is NASTY to get rid of. It literally is a cancer for metal, with the only real fix is to cut out the problematic portion and replace.

I've tried neutralizers, and other things, and like the post above, it just becomes a short term stop gap.

[SMFD21]

Awesome, thanks for all the advice guys, I'll keep you updated.

[Wires]

Not sure how your fender is, but my GM pickup started doing that. I fixed the outside, it bubbled back. When I finally pulled out the taillights to look, it was rusting from the inside (wheel side) out. The truck was past warranty, so I couldn't claim it, but keep in mind that "surface bubbles" might actually be coming from the other side.

Just put that in back pocket to ask if you get any flack at the dealer.

[Billfitz]

Surface bubbles are almost always the result of rust coming from the other side. That's why treating or painting it doesn't work. You have to remove the affected metal, do a proper repair, and then find out where the water is coming from and fix that.

[SMFD21]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Surface bubbles are almost always the result of rust coming from the other side. That's why treating or painting it doesn't work. You have to remove the affected metal, do a proper repair, and then find out where the water is coming from and fix that.

I'll be sure to tell my SA about wanting the repair done properly if the claim gets approved.

Thanks

[SMFD21]

UPDATE:

So BMW NA approved my claim and the dealership I went to had a body shop that they're affiliated with just replace the quarter panel. Total cost of the job was around $3500. Also took almost a month and a half.


New quarter panel looks great. The shop did leave some adhesive on my door and the carpet that goes behind the battery cover near the quarter panel/bumper was all ripped up and hanging and obviously in the wrong place, but I'm not gonna complain about all that stuff because it seems minor and I didn't have to pay anything. Overall pretty happy with the work and paint matching, orange peel, etc.

Thanks for all your help!

[Psi5]

Originally Posted by SMFD21

UPDATE:

So BMW NA approved my claim and the dealership I went to had a body shop that they're affiliated with just replace the quarter panel. Total cost of the job was around $3500. Also took almost a month and a half.


New quarter panel looks great. The shop did leave some adhesive on my door and the carpet that goes behind the battery cover near the quarter panel/bumper was all ripped up and hanging and obviously in the wrong place, but I'm not gonna complain about all that stuff because it seems minor and I didn't have to pay anything. Overall pretty happy with the work and paint matching, orange peel, etc.

Thanks for all your help!

Glad to hear. Question: did your dealer go to bat for you or did you have to contact BMW NA and argue for approval?

[SMFD21]

Originally Posted by Psi5

Glad to hear. Question: did your dealer go to bat for you or did you have to contact BMW NA and argue for approval?

Even though my SA was dodgy and sketchy at times, I didn't have to argue with BMW NA at all. I'm assuming the dealer went ahead and took care of it. The day of my initial appointment to look at the corrosion the shop foreman showed the corrosion spot to a rep from BMW NA that was there, so I'm assuming that helped.

[Psi5]

Glad they stepped up for you!

[tturedraider]

What dealership did you use?

[SMFD21]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

What dealership did you use?

Bill Jacobs BMW in Naperville IL

[davidr3]

Glad to hear it worked out!

[SMFD21]

Originally Posted by davidr3

Glad to hear it worked out!

Thanks!

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

What dealership did you use?

Originally Posted by SMFD21

Bill Jacobs BMW in Naperville IL

Glad to hear BMW stepped up for you!

[Bruceking07]

I have the same exact issue now. Rust bubbles right above the rear wheel...

[Billfitz]