HPFP - Known Design Defect

[SquireG]

Hello Group. It has been a while since I posted and since I had my hpfp replaced for the second time (I am on my third hpfp). So far, so good, but I have my doubts that it will last. Anyway, came across this article and though you would be interested. I agree 100% that this is a life/safety issue and while I appreciate the extended warranty, that won't do me much good if I am smashed like a pancake due to a hpfp failure on the highway.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/au...ompa/19560998/

[mikeinaustin]

here in the u.s, it was rejected as a safety issue. the main reason the government gave was that, according to bmw, the engine does not stall. you go into limp mode, yes, but you still have engine power to move, power steering, power brakes, etc. bmw (and i can't remember exact numbers) said there was a < 1% chance of actually stalling the car and therefore the government decided that was too small of chance to issue a recall. now if bmw lied to the government that is an entirely different situation...

[Memphis1]

38 complaints is not going to warrant anything...


"I counted 38 nearly identical complaints regarding BMW 335 and 535 models from 2007 to 2010,

See full article from DailyFinance: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/autos/bmws-engine-problems-a-safety-risk-to-drivers-and-the-compa/19560998/?icid=sphere_copyright:"

[SquireG]

Well, I have to disagree. It has been my experience (twice) that upon failure of the hpfp, the engine sputters, loses power and stalls out. It took me an hour to "limp" home a distance of 5 miles. Every ten seconds the engine would stall causing a lack of steering control, brake force and other functions. If I had been on the interstate when the hpfp failed, I would not be writing this friendly post to all of my fellow z4 owners.....Just food for thought. I am pissed off that my $50,000+ BMW has a known design flaw that BMW thinks is addressed by just extending the warranty. I wrote BMW a letter about my experience and got a reply from their marketing department that they have addressed the issue with a software upgrade and newly designed pump. We shall see.....And don't get me started on the sorry ass base radio. That will push me over the edge.....

[teagueAMX]

I think it's a matter of perspective.

Not labeling the n54 a lemon (hello Rolf-Dieter ), but I was shocked by those low numbers as I think we've had at least 20 to 30 HPFP failures on this forum alone, not to mention all the folks that currently own or have owned n54 equipped cars which must be in hundreds or thousands.

Those report numbers seemed exceedingly low IMHO and I agree with Memphis1, 38 is a non-starter in anybody's book. But, I would suggest the issue is not the few number of complaints per si, but the lack of people filing complaints.

There's a couple of 3 Series forum HPFP issue threads and I remember reading that people were calling to have folks register their cars with the NHTSA ODI.

So this information could mean a couple of things 1) the numbers are much bigger but people haven't bothered to register an official complaint, or, 2) actual national failures are really, really low.

FWIW

[CaliSun]

Originally Posted by mikeinaustin

here in the u.s, it was rejected as a safety issue. the main reason the government gave was that, according to bmw, the engine does not stall. you go into limp mode, yes, but you still have engine power to move, power steering, power brakes, etc. bmw (and i can't remember exact numbers) said there was a < 1% chance of actually stalling the car and therefore the government decided that was too small of chance to issue a recall. now if bmw lied to the government that is an entirely different situation...

Having had mine die while doing 80 on the highway for me it was not a safety issue. The car went into limp mode and slowed down but only to about 55-60mph and I was able to maintain that. The car did stall, but only when I came to a stop at the traffic lights on the highway exit.

I confirmed I have the revised part as the replacement and the new software so I'm hopefull that will be the end of the issues with the hpfp.

I agree with teagueAMX, many people haven't filed a complaint. I didn't because while the car broke and I knew it was possible, this type of thing happens to all car companies at some point and BMW made the experience painless for me.