On March 15th, CCTV's annual 3.15 Evening Gala took place, with BMW cars being called out.
In a preview of the show, it was highlighted that a segment titled "Concerns Over Faulty BMW Transmission Shafts" would be featured. The segment will discuss instances where BMW cars have exhibited unusual noises from their transmission shafts, causing owners to fear potential breakages and strongly demand replacements.
Many BMW 530Li new cars are experiencing strange noises from the transmission shaft shortly after purchase. Mr. Li's BMW was tested in a video revealing a metallic friction sound from underneath the car.
Repair personnel confirmed the noise as an issue with the transmission shaft, indicating a quality problem. There are evident noises when shifting between R and D gears.
The dealership intends to replace Mr. Li's transmission shaft, but he vehemently disagrees with the idea of replacing it on a new car.
Similarly, Mr. Chen encountered a similar problem with his BMW 530Li, where the transmission shaft had abnormal noises. He promptly took the car to the dealership for inspection. After lifting the vehicle and carefully listening, the repair personnel confirmed the issue with the transmission shaft and proposed a solution.
Mr. Chen expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed solution of receiving a 2000 CNY voucher for the replacement of the transmission shaft, stating that he cannot fully accept it. He believes that whether or not compensation is provided is not as important as ensuring that the transmission shaft has no safety hazards.
For the issue of abnormal noises in the transmission shaft of the BMW 530Li model, staff at BMW 4S dealerships are not evasive. Repair personnel also candidly told reporters that replacing the transmission shaft is possible, but they cannot facilitate vehicle returns or exchanges.
Furthermore, used car dealers have long been aware of the transmission shaft issue in BMW 530Li vehicles. They claim that with a record of transmission shaft replacement in the maintenance history, the car can typically be sold for an additional 5000 CNY.
However, if the transmission shaft is replaced, buyers may negotiate the price. When it comes to buying cars, authenticity is key, meaning the car should have its original paint and components. Once important parts are replaced, it's no longer considered authentic.
Used car dealers informed reporters that the quality issue with BMW transmission shafts is not uncommon. BMW has previously initiated multiple recalls due to transmission shaft problems.
Until just before the program aired, BMW officials had not responded directly to owners regarding the frequent occurrence of abnormal noises in the transmission shaft, despite continuous complaints from owners. However, BMW manufacturers and 4S dealerships nationwide have not reduced the number of cars sold, and problematic models continue to be aggressively promoted for sale.
