Uhh... some BMW models have TERRIBLE reliability and some have mixed reliability. (From memory, my April 06 auto issue is loaned out) According to Consumer Reports, the 7 series has AWFUL reliability [every model year had FAR worse than avg. reliability] and the Z3/Z4 aren't great either. The 3 series is kinda mixed. The X5 used to be atrocious as well.

Notice a couple BMWs made it in the worst category at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...dels/index.htm and not a single one was in the best category?

Even my coworker who is a huge BMW fan admits BMW quality is no good. After picking up his 3-series convertible via European delivery, shortly afterwards, his windshield wipers quit working (he had to stop every few miles to wipe the rain off his windshield) and he had a mysterious check engine light come on while driving that went away. This was on a brand new car that he just picked up while still in Europe.

BTW, since this thread was about recalls, for a laugh, notice that the 01 BMW X5 had 10 recalls!
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...intVersion=YES

An employee at my workplace (don't know him personally) in a company messageboard has complained about a failed SZL in his 5 series (apparently widespread prob) and having driving around w/a ton of scary error message. See http://www.texasm5.com/ under "Error messages" and "My car has a bad SZL" for these scary messages.

 

believe me...its not just nissan's service department. for the most part, all service departments scare me...you just never know if your car is going to come back without something being f'd up. i have had chevys, pontiacs, acuras, infinities and nissans and none of them have been all that great.

sorry for the off topic....but on topic i still have not taken my car in for this recall yet. i don't really care to read through this whole thread but since there is so much work involved in this recall, that means there is more stuff they can screw up....and that scares me

 

Out of the 3 items you listed, only #1 is a recall item. The other two were just repairs. There are and have been no recalls on transmissions nor the feathering problem (Nissan just extended the alignment warranty and was willing to replace front tires if applicable).

You can search for recalls on vehicle sold in the US via http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...callsearch.cfm.

 

This thread seems to have digressed a little bit...

Back on the recall itself:
I had it done yesterday and was checking over the car once I returned home.
I had a printed copy of the recall procedure and noticed 2 covers missing from the car. I don't know if they were on to start with and that's what I want to confirm. I have an 03 Enthusiast. The covers are shown in Fig 4 and Fig 6 and are called LH/RH rear plastic under covers. Did these come with my model or were these the Track only?

Recall is:
http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/.../NTB06-014.htm

Thanks

 

Nope, call 'em up, those should be there. The LH is protecting components from road spray/debris. Don't know what the RH covers.

There is an "aero kit" (at least that is what it was sold as in 2003 when I bought my Base Z) - these I do not believe are part of that kit. I did get that kit but those covers don't look to be part of it.

Check another Z, they should also be there.

What an involved procedure - they really did not make the back end to be taken apart!

 

Scares me too - I really do not like the multiple opportunities to screw this up that would be hard to detect soon. When I look at the "marks" for reference reassembly, and right around Step 30, I say "no thanks!" - just because someone's car has this issue in some climate + driving conditions + specific hoses used + who knows what, I smell legal advice saying we can't afford a "Pinto"..."Recall ALL of them."

 

My bud's top of the line X5 4.6i (at the time) had clear coat drips along the doors passenger side, the rear wheel well trim was badly out of line with where it was supposed to meet the body piece, not even the clip adjustment could get it back. BMW had to order "special clips" (more like make some with enough slop to hold the piece in place). Build quality from a finish and fit perspective was awful for $67k list vehicle.

Dealer wasn't too thrilled when I pointed out the problems

 

You get the same thing with the G35 Sedan and Coupe w/re to those covers:

http://www.infinitihelp.com/Ownershi...ITB06-006G.htm

Looks like they are not part of any special features.

Good luck.

 

i believe those only come on the track model

 

Had them on my Base 350Z, and there are covers in the same place shaped slightly differently on my G Coupe.

May have been part of the "Aero Package" - I know I had that option on the Z, and same for the G. Both added some underbody covers, didn't think those were part of it.

 

i had to order mine seperately for an 04 enthusiast...and i have the aero package too

 

I am surprised the LH/RH covers are part of the package, but I have only had the package so have nothing to compare to - seems like things you don't want uncovered would be exposed w/o them, not just for aero reasons.
thanks for the info!

 

Well, I finally scheduled my fix. I go in Tuesday. I waited to give the dealership plenty of time to get experience doing the fix.

I’ll post next week my experience.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I'm now convinced that the covers were not on my vehicle to start with so the dealer did not forget anything...
The 2 studs on the LH side have dirty threads. If the cover was on, they would have removed a nut and the threads would have shown some shiny metal.

Recall was done properly and nothing has fallen off the car yet...

 

Good - sorry if I misled you, personal experience isn't always transferable - since both my cars had them I thought they were just stock parts.

Thanks for the info, too!

Steve

 

Got the Z out of the shop this evening. Recall work all done. The Service manager acted like it was no big deal -says they’d done many recalls on this. (What was why I waited this long)

Well, it’s just hard to tell if they put it back correctly, but just from what I can see and feel, everything looks tight. I opened it up a little on the way home and slung the tail out a little –taking some corners quick. Nothing fell off and nothing rattles, LOL.

For now, the worst was the half-assed wash job. The dealer always washes cars after service, but I forgot yesterday to tell them not to wash. I had to get out my detailer and mist & wipe out the water spots.

I did decide tonight that I’m going to trade/sell it in the next year. The love has waned, her cherry is popped. When I got my Z in ’03 I was excited about getting the car on its first year of production. I’d planned to keep her forever. I dreamed of taking it to Z shows 25 years from now. Having people drool over my Z like I do at cherry 1970 240Zs now. Maybe I change my mind tomorrow, but I’m bummed tonight, especially after re-reading a lot of the post on this thread.

 

thats too bad...i remember my 71 240z...ah, yes those were the days. planning on keeping my z though..still need to get mine done. maybe you will change your mind....but i guess that all depends on what your gonna buy.

 

Next time do a search, this is a re post! Old news

 

Every car company has its problems. No one is perfect. They have recalls so they can fix your car for you so stop crying and get it fixed! I use to work for Volkswagen and dont get me started on the 5 line recalls they had on the new jettas and 10 line recalls on the Tourge. Oh wait sorry it wasnt a recall it was a service campaign cause they didnt want to make a big deal out of the problems they were having.

 

Which is why I never buy Volkswagen. The 1990's quality of Volkswagen is an embarassment compared to the late 1970's Sirocco I drove, or the GTI's and 2nd gen Scirocco in the early 1980's. There are signs they may have turned the corner finally after 10+ years of garbage.

Car companies have recalls because a) they have lawyers, b) they fvked up the design, testing, materials, or manufacturing process and c) they don't want to get sued into poverty - not because they are some big happy nice boyz who want to fix my cars.

This one sucks because gas leaks if and when the hoses go. It's dangerous, and I seriously question how many dealer mechs can do the process well w/o forgetting something. Check out the photos and text on what's involved - sh*t comes off the back of the car that never would be touched after leaving Japan unless you crashed the car badly.

With three Nissans, the oldest 11 years old and 115k miles, 1 recall for passenger airbag (1995 vintage), the Z and G have more TSB's and their recall issue is freakin major surgery. They chipped the paint on my Brembos (no big compared to the other horror stories).

After at least 10 TSB's I had to deal with on the Z, several more plus this recall on the G, I am beginning to wonder what the hell happened to Nissan quality and reliability. More significantly, considering that maybe my loyalty to the the Brand is become dated and misplaced...