Yak Shaving

Found this link earlier today on the 'Yak shaving overhead' in day to day life and thought how relevant it is.

Recently, I needed to organise the garage to prevent a fatal accident happening when I fell over a bicycle and impaled myself on the pick axe I hadn't been able to put away because of all the bicycles in the way.

To organise the garage, I needed some shelves. Once the shelves were up, there was no room for the lawn mower. I needed a shed to house the lawn mower, but the shed wouldn't fit between the wall and the fence because of a rail. To get the shed to fit, I had to lower the base, which meant that I found myself shifting 1/2 a ton of shingle to tidy my garage...

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 – Disk boot order changing

I’ve been struggling since I built the new machine in March 2009 to resolve an issue where connecting/disconnecting a USB drive would change the Disk boot order giving a BOOTMGR not found error.

The machine is a reasonably standard Core i7 built around the P6T motherboard. The only significant difference is the organisation of the disk drives.

I bought 2 off Samsung HD753LJ and 2 off Samsung HD103UJ for the machine and these are arranged with the 2 HD753LJ as a RAID 0 set for Swap and one of the HD103UJs as C: (System) and the other HD103UJ disk as D: (Data)

Despite running the latest BIOS, patches, drivers, etc… if I plugged a USB drive in and then later rebooted the machine, or unplugged a USB drive and rebooted the machine, it would always look at place the ‘Second’ HD103UJ drive (D: Data) first in the list of Hard Drives and would fail to boot.

If I then booted in to BIOS setup; set the ‘First’ HD103UJ (C: System) as the first drive and rebooted, the machine would boot in to the OS correctly.

I did log a call with ASUS, but they couldn’t understand the problem and wanted screen-shots (quite tricky to achieve from a POST screen).

Today (so it’s taken me a long time to figure this out!), I noticed that the ‘First’ drive was in SATA port 4 and the ‘Second’ drive was in SATA port 3… So, I physically swapped the order of the disks and put the System disk in port 3 (the lower number of the two).

Machine now boots fine! I can now add/remove USB drives without affecting the disk boot order.

Skype & Netgear DG834v4

If you have a Netgear DG834v4 running at the latest firmware release - v5.01.14, and are experiencing Skype sound quality problems, then the suggested fix is to roll back to v5.01.09 (DG834G-Skype sounds like Stephen Hawking).

I tested the change, and it has made a significant difference to the quality.

Disproportionate Taxation

I'm sure this is handled more clearly elsewhere, but it strikes me that the one of the ways the government could stimulate the economy is to look at the way that we're taxed.

In a recent discussion with someone that works 37.5 hours a week @ £7/hour (£260/week; ~£14,000/year), which places them in the bottom 10% of the earning population and represents about 1.8M people, revealed that £70 goes on Tax and National Insurance - 27%. This seemed to be an extraordinary amount.

On the one hand, the picture doesn't seem too bad if you look at the results from a percentage perspective - 27% is less than the 38% that higher earners typically lose. However, what gets missed when percentages are discussed is how significant each £1 reduction is in such a modest amount. 

I think that the issue that's missed is that the normal day to day costs that have to be met by the net amount are a significant percentage of the total. For example, the costs of going to work  - £45 on fuel & maintenance (100 miles/week @ 45p/mile from AA costs) plus childcare costs of £69, represents 60% of the net earnings. This leaves about £80/week for everything else...

For someone on the median earnings - £479/year (Table 1 - All Employees) giving £350 net (0.27 x £479) the same costs represents 33% - though losing over 30% of your income just getting to work still seems excessive. 

I think this could be addressed in two ways. Firstly, it seems to me that high earners (top 10% say) could wear a 1% increase in taxation that could translate in to a significant reduction in the lower rates paid. The logic being that if the top 10% of the population - who earn ~£1,000 week, pay an extra 1%, it could be passed on to the bottom 10% of the earning population as a reduction of 4% without any change in the Revenue's tax income.

Secondly, there needs to be a significant increase in the zero band threshold for lower earners - 10% tax band anyone?

Top Gear Challenge

Most of the challenges completed by Mssrs. Clarkson, Hammond & May over the years have been hugely entertaining, though I've often wondered why they've not competed in the Soap Box Challenge under a 'Green Initiative' (!)

In my mind, I can see Hammond and May working diligently and enthusiatically to build a traditional cart only to have Clarkson show up with a Street Luge board. Then, looking like a python who'd swallowed a medicine ball in his leathers, he'd win easily.

Though, there is the potential for a few disasters along the way..., which could add to the entertainment value :-)

The Damage

After a few days delay due to parts availability and the requirement for a new starter motor - the existing one had (developed...) an internal fault that meant another £178.41, I collected the car on Saturday, with a few interesting incidents...

• The invoice showed all the main parts as "RMFD." (e.g. RMFD. TRANS., RMFD Startermotor (sic)). When I queried what this meant, there was some dithering from the Service Advisor who tried to bluff for a few minutes, then went to get the Service Manager. He bluffed his way for a bit too - even to the point of saying "no parts are re-used", without ever clearly explaining what happened, though he did reassure me that the part was covered for 2 years and unlimited mileage, which is the same as a new part. I've since found a (slightly) fuller explanation from BMW here.
• The invoice also showed a number of "Surcharge on above" items (e.g. £591.30 for the transmission) that are refunded on the line below. This (apparently) is an 'internal' charge from BMW for the retrieval and inspection of the part. It's refunded if the part is returned to BMW. However, BMW will levy the full charge if the part is kept for independent inspection.
• Sytner had the car for 2 weeks but had only given it a cursory wash & vac, which was disappointing... Though the Service Manager did offer a full valet next time I visit as compensation. I hope that it's not before the next service is due!
• I mentioned the recommendation from Honest John about replacing the transmission fluid at every Service II to the Service Manager at Sytner. He didn't seem at all surprised and also said that "... a number of our customers ask for this to be carried out on gearboxes and diffs...". He also confirmed that it wouldn't affect the warranty on the parts/car. When I asked him why they (Sytner) didn't suggest it as good practice, he said that they "were very tightly controlled by the manufacturer" and that "BMW's position is that the parts are sealed for life and don't need the fluid to be changed". This seemed to be an area where Sytner could really add some value, but are not allowed to because of BMW's rules & regulations...

Total bill £2880.57 (yikes!).

BMW E46 Gearboxes

I found the following on Honest John's site here when I was doing some post-failure research on BMW gearboxes;

General Warning about Automatic Transmissions: Many BMWs have "sealed for life" automatic transmissions. Regardless of whether you have a full BMW service history, the dealer will never change the auto fluid. Many of these boxes are failing around the 120-150k mark - often well outside of warranty and to a cost of £3.5k plus VAT. A good independent or automatic transmission specialist www.fedauto.co.uk can and will change the fluid for you (and any good BMW independents will recommend this anyway). This is commonplace in the US and means the 'box should last the life of the car rather than being the cause of it being written off. General advice is ensure the fluid is flushed out every 60k or more preferably at each Inspection II.

Certainly something I'll have done on any future BMWs.

Ford Fiesta Zetec S - A (very) brief review

I've had to hire a car whilst the maintenance on the 330D Touring is completed. The cheapest I could find in Rugby were Enterprise who have loaned me a new model Fiesta 3 door with 446 miles on the clock.

Today I've done about 250 miles and have found the following (in no particular order);

Good

• Ride is excellent on most surfaces, though (occasionally) high frequency ridges get transmitted to the cabin, which made my head wobble about.
• The engine noise is quite low and doesn't really intrude in to the cabin.
• The car looks very smart in black with the body kit, alloy wheels and blacked out rear windows. 
• With all the snow & ice around, I've been very circumspect, but handling is good.
• Seats - even with limited adjustment are comfortable - except the headrests, which are very hard.

Bad

• Plastics in the cabin are hard and cheap.
• Cabin is very noisy at motorway speeds. Mostly tyre roar.
• There seems to be very little performance from the engine. The optimum is 2900-3200 RpM in 3rd.
• Having long doors can be a real hindrance in a car park. You have to open the door a long way to generate enough gap to get out.
• Seat headrests too hard.
• Rear 3/4 view is obscured by the very thick rear pillar.
• The water is not cleared well from the mirror glass in the rain, which affects visibility.

Odd

• The mirror glass had been put on the wrong sides. The glass with the curved outer surface (for wide angle visibility) had been fitted to the passenger's side and the drivers side was plain.
• The windscreen wipers are dramatically different in size, with the passenger blade being about a 1/3 the size of the main blade. At first it looks quite comical, but they work effectively enough.
• The rear brakes are drums, which makes sense from an engineering & cost perspective, but still looks cheap & nasty in the middle of an alloy wheel.

Having said all this, I've had to remind myself that this is a Fiesta and should really be judged in context. From this point of view, it is very good. I can't help thinking that if Ford had put some more effort in to NVH and the cabin materials, then (in the current climate) they would be taking sales from classes above.

Postscript

Have just received the final quotation from Sytner, who have also very kindly reduced their labour rates.

The original estimate for parts, labout and VAT was;

• Gearbox - £3,700
• Injector - £470
• Glowplug control unit - £226

Giving a total of £4,396

The revised quotation is;

• Gearbox - £2027.46
• Injector - £450.13
• Glowplug control unit - £209.67

Giving a new total of £2,687.26, which is a reduction of £1,710.

It is still a massive bill and it has taken a huge amount of effort to articulate my case to BMW in order to achieve this result. 

However, I've learnt my lesson and will ensure that I don't keep a vehicle - especially a BMW, past its 5th birthday.

BMW Customer Service

An update to yesterday's post.

Earlier today, I sent the following e-mail to Klaus Kibsgaard (MD, BMW UK), Chris Willows (Director of Corporate Communications, BMW UK) and Uwe Ellinghaus (Marketing Director, BMW UK)

Dear Mr Kibsgaard,

I am writing to highlight the completely unsatisfactory experience I’ve had with BMW ownership over the past 2 years.

I have suffered from very poor customer experience and excessive levels of unexpected maintenance.

Owning a BMW has wasted many days of my time, the financial costs have been significant and the disruption to my personal and business life has been extraordinary.

Your customer service team have been uncompromising, even though the car falls well within your goodwill guidelines.

I have tried to be reasonable, that hasn’t worked, so I’ll be making my experiences more widely known.

The detail are in the attached document, with a summary blog posting here and forum posting here. I will be posting more widely later today.

--

Best Regards

etc...

Although I am still waiting for a response to the email, I have (just) received a call from Jonny Combe - Customer Service Manager BMW UK. They have offered to contribute 50% towards the cost of the replacement gearbox. I am now waiting for the full details from Sytner.

As an aside, it seems to me that Sytner have missed an opportunity here to (a) generate a sale and (b) create a product champion. 

I would have responded very positively to a call from a (smart) BMW salesman who offered a suitable replacement vehicle with a good trade in value (typical AutoTrader private sale) against mine.

My logic is that the internal parts and labour costs are lower than a customer pays and there is no VAT. The 330D could be repaired and then sold on to the trade. The cost of the repair would be factored in to the discount on the replacement car... especially as I've seen prices drop by more than £3,000 on a £22,000 used BMW in a few weeks.

Sytner would have achieved a financing deal; sold some stock and had a succes story to talk about.

Perhaps there aren't any smart salesmen at Sytner?

A postscript and final costs here.

BMW Reliability?

Where do you go when the manufacturer digs their heels in and says 'non!'?

I thought I'd post this to provide a reference for anyone considering buying a BMW in the UK; highlight how they can expect to be treated and the risks involved.

The headline is that I've spent £9,200 on maintaining my BMW 330D over the past 2 years or 46,000 miles, which is £350/month. This is in addition to the £485/month that's been 'spent' on depreciation and finance charges...

The bulk of this cost (£5,650) is due to the following failures;

• Xenon controller failure - £860
  
• Seized rear calliper - £620
  
• Injector replacement - £470
  
• Gearbox replacement - £3,700
  

The car is currently at the Sytner dealership in Coventry where it requires £4,400 maintenance to replace a failed injector, glow plug relay and gearbox.

BMW's goodwill policy sets an upper limit of 6 years and 100,000 miles. A goodwill request was made by Sytner on 30th January 2008, but BMW said (today) that they would not make any contribution to the parts or labour charges and reprimanded the dealer for having made the goodwill enquiry in the first place!

I should point out that the car was bought as BMW approved and warrantied with 36,000 miles. It was first registered in May 2003. All these failures have occurred in the last 10,000 with the gearbox failing @ 82,000 miles.

I have accepted some of the 'unexpected' (non-service related) costs in the context of running a 4 year old car and the eye-watering depreciation as a result of the economic downturn, but feel that a gearbox failure @ 80,000 miles is unreasonable.

We used to durability test Jaguar cars to over 125,000 miles and all the Mercedes (I've owned) completed 90 to 120,000 miles without major issue.

I approached BMW Customer Services directly; provided a breakdown of the costs and illustrated the high level of background maintenance. They were unmoved and weren't prepared to consider the case in the context of their own rules.

So what do I do now?

• BMW don't care. 
  
• I'm not important to them as a customer and have no way of having a reasonable conversation.

All I can do is publicly state my case and allow others to use the information in their car purchasing decision.

The original intention was to sell the car after the next service and replace it with another BMW. Given my experience of BMW ownership, I am unlikely to do this.

I suggest other people look elsewhere too.

To provide some more detail;

I purchased the BMW from Rybrook in Shrewsbury in December 2006. I had been a Mercedes owner for the previous 10 years (E430 Estate, E280 Estate, E320 Saloon). The Mercedes cars were very good – well made & reliable, despite the press reports, but the dealers were arrogant and customer service was very poor.

I’d had a good reliability and customer service experience with two BMW motorcycles (K75S and K1200RS) and the press reviews of the E46 were very complimentary. Rybrook had prepared the car very well and it appeared to be in very good condition – one owner, low mileage.

During my ownership, the car has been used for business commuting – mainly motorway work; long journeys and light load. As in indication, the rear tyres require replacement every 20,000 miles, the fronts at 38,000 miles and the front pads were only 60% worn after 38,000 miles.

Rybrook or Sytner in Coventry have inspected or serviced the car at the correct intervals.

As an aside, I have also had a number of issues with the level of customer service at Sytner – something for another post. Whilst I am dubious about their claim that the headlight seal failure (that caused the Xenon controller failure) and the work on the headlamp washers are unrelated, I have no proof and have accepted their offer of a complimentary service.

There's an update on this here.