[rich1068]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

If I find rust under my seats The whole world is going to know and the will need replacement.

Out of interest I had a look under the seats of the loan car I picked up Monday. Not a thing under the passenger seat but this what the underside of the drivers seat looks like...



bmwvin.com shows production date as 18th September and it's still got less than 200 miles on the clock.

Get that loudhailer out John!

[johnbmw6]

What a disgrace; My last BMW me thinks, back to AUDI when the new RS6 avant arrives.

[Redbaron1973]

Why does non visible surface oxidisation inside a car matter? It will hardly spread?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by rich100

However minor this may or may not be, I find it incredible that a premium manufacturer can be turning out cars in the 21st century that are rusty. Hopefully they'll do the right thing and get a proper fix in place for anyone affected.

Does come as a surprise, let's hope BMW man up and sort this without customers getting all kinds of local solutions.

I imagine some process has completely broken down, as this must be an automated procedure, plus it affects different production parts. (Different model ranges).

Production obviously went on a while with this issue, before a faulty process was identified, or the volume/timeframe would be much more limited.

I do wonder if it is something to do with some new system involving degreasing, the paint itself, or the application process.

But it does appear so odd, how it is affecting some material sections, but appears flawless in other areas of the same seat pan.

Will require a very good PR exercise to limit the fall out.

HighlandPete

[rich1068]

Also on the hinge of both seats.



Only the 'outer' side though. The side of the seat nearest the transmission tunnel appears to be coated.

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by Redbaron1973

Why does non visible surface oxidisation inside a car matter? It will hardly spread?

To be honest I'm split between 'does it matter?' and 'it shouldn't be like that!'.

I'm more concerned about the rust on the hinges as that is visible.

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Does come as a surprise, let's hope BMW man up and sort this without customers getting all kinds of local solutions.

I imagine some process has completely broken down, as this must be an automated procedure, plus it affects different production parts. (Different model ranges).

Production obviously went on a while with this issue, before a faulty process was identified, or the volume/timeframe would be much more limited.

I do wonder if it is something to do with some new system involving degreasing, the paint itself, or the application process.

But it does appear so odd, how it is affecting some material sections, but appears flawless in other areas of the same seat pan.

Will require a very good PR exercise to limit the fall out.

HighlandPete

Probably hard to tell from my original pic but it almost looks like the part has been allowed to sit in water. Obviously that's unlikely but that's how it looks.

[Redbaron1973]

Originally Posted by rich1068

To be honest I'm split between 'does it matter?' and 'it shouldn't be like that!'.

I'm more concerned about the rust on the hinges as that is visible.



Probably hard to tell from my original pic but it almost looks like the part has been allowed to sit in water. Obviously that's unlikely but that's how it looks.

It is very odd. I wonder how this has slipped through?

[NISFAN]

My November built car looks like the seat has been galvanised. Also the hinges look coated, E coat on one half.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

My November built car looks like the seat has been galvanised. Also the hinges look coated, E coat on one half.

Mine too.

[F30AM]

BW44 - built Oct 29 to Nov 4
BW48 - built Nov 26 to Dec 2

I do hope neither of them has rust. I've asked the dealer to check my BW48 car.

The BW44 car seems to be ok ....... so far ...... I think.

[TMP]

Originally Posted by mlepyro

How old is the car?

My advice (from my own experience)

Arrange a meeting with the dealer principal... this is the first step. No one below him will do. He will do everything he can to put it right, he can put you in a top of the range M5 if he wanted - remember no one is above him inside that dealership.

If that doesn't get you what you want, ring BMW.

If the dealer is part of a chain (e.g. Sytner), then contact the head office.

Mat

So you think this is a better an approach than just customer services? I have already spoken to the guy who sold me the car, about sorting a descent loan car out and he hasn't even got back to me

[mlepyro]

Originally Posted by TMP

So you think this is a better an approach than just customer services? I have already spoken to the guy who sold me the car, about sorting a descent loan car out and he hasn't even got back to me

I think I'd be speaking to the dealer principal if your sales guy/contact hasn't been reasonable. This includes delays.

Remember we are not just buying a car, we are paying 10-20% more to be treated well - it's all part of the experience. Being called Mr X, having free coffee, nice showrooms etc,... it's all costing and what we expect. This carries on in my opinion when a problem occurs.

In my experience, the thing that made me flip and email the DP was when I had to have my new M3 have paint work from misfitted carbon parts during PDI. I nearly rejected it, spent ages considering this etc.

Anyway still a little unsure, I went to pick it up and the sales guy wasn't even there. I picked it up just before xmas as if I'd just paid for a repair or service. I was fuming. But I cannot express how good things were afterwards. How well I was treated and how much earth he was prepared to move to keep me happy.

Customer services, in my experience, are less helpful than the actual dealer. But that might be specific to the circumstances I was in.

Mat

[RobUK]

Build date May 2012 - was almost guaranteed I'd be suffering from the rusty seat problem

Does some rust on an internal surface matter to me? In a word... yes! Our UK climate seems to be getting wetter which means more humidity and condensation inside the car (only have to watch your windows fog up as soon as the a/c/ is off these days). Given that rust is porous, the condition of the bottom of the seats will only deteriorate over time. I'd also say it's safe to assume both sides of the metal are rusting. Who knows, maybe the seat backs are rusting away as well under the fabric/leather?

Maybe I'd expect this on a budget far eastern car that's a few years old, but not on an six month old F30

Drivers seat


Passenger seat

[rjberry]

There's been a rare break in the weather so I've finally managed to pop outside and have a look under the seats and the news isn't good for me either.

My car was built 4 months ago so this really shouldn't be there

[F30AM]

riberry: That looks really bad.

[johnbmw6]

Some of these seats will be as rotten as a pear in 6 months
Time to contact BMW UK with your pictures guys. Or you could be sitting on the floor of your cars soon.

[RichardM]

How does it get rusty? It's not wet under there?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by RichardM

How does it get rusty? It's not wet under there?

Good question. I know cars can sweat in change of atmosphere, but this issue does appear to be (at least to my mind) like a process gone wrong. Some of the pictures of the rusting do look very unusual, to what I'd expect to see in a rusting component. And as cars are so new, strange how they can be so different in the way they are marked, stained, rusting.

After all many of our car's components are painted black and not on a galvanized base, so it isn't rocket science to prepare and paint a steel part, particularly for internal use.

I've had a look under my 5-series seats... look like brand new, all black and in pristine condition.

HighlandPete

[Sladester100]

Has anyone has any joy from a dealer on this issue yet? Even aknowledgment?

I get my car on the 28th and not sure when it was built but it was registered in April so I guess mine will have this issue

EDIT - Manufacture date was February for mine...

[TMP]

Update - I decided to take both bits of advice

I called BMW customer service and logged the issue. They claim not to be aware of rust issue and asked me to get my local dealer to take a look first. I agreed but got them to give me the Dealer principles details as this matter was so serious.

I have emailed the principle, telling him BMW have passed on his details and asked for his full support in sorting this out.

Lets see if that gets a good response.......I hope so!

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by TMP

Update - I decided to take both bits of advice

I called BMW customer service and logged the issue. They claim not to be aware of rust issue and asked me to get my local dealer to take a look first.

Typical BMW will not acknowledge ANYTHING!!, you have to prise it out of them, the same with the Sat-Nav "we no nothing about it and no one has reported it "Bull*hit", they just don't want compensation to pay, they are paying me anyway.

[TMP]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Typical BMW will not acknowledge ANYTHING!!, you have to prise it out of them, the same with the Sat-Nav "we no nothing about it and no one has reported it "Bull*hit", they just don't want compensation to pay, they are paying me anyway.

Ooo tell us more!