740i 1998 blown head gasket???

can we chill it guys? The thread and it's original content has been lost on all this bull.
Arguments and comments like this just creates animosity and prevents genuine 'owners and enthusiasts' from getting the info they need. It becomes very boring.
Mark, the club isn't s***t in any way shape or form, however I hear what you're saying but this isn't a representation of what members are all about. Although if threads and discussions carry on in this manner owners will soon turn away.
So can we knock it on the head please?

Edited by M3AG

Consider it knocked on the head.

Cheers all, Merry Christmas!

By the sound of it, the item was resolved. It would be good to hear what the problem and/or the cure was. Hopefully he'll return.

SOME!!!! get ALL your money back!

You did not pay them the change the head gasket - you paid them to fix the original problem - which they have not done.

(IMHO)

Well, I'll tell you what I would do - but I have no legal knowledge.

Ring them - explain that you now believe that the work they have most recently done was not neccessary and has not resolved the issue and you therefore will require Full reimbursment. A minumum that you should expect is a refund of the total labour bill.

Then explain that you will be happy to pay a fair price to correct the actual problem, although you will of course need a fixed quote before they start.

Anyone else got a view?   

garage is whitehouse BMW Bromley
i could say i want a refund on the labour costs, but to me it seems they dont know what they are doing, and its a case of "trial and eror" believe me if i knew it was gonna cost £4100 i wouldnt have got any of it done and sold the car as it was for a couple of grand!
i could say i would be willing to pay a fair price to correct the actual problem but they dont know what the problem is, i will be seeking legal advice on this one, as you say i have paid £4100 to fix a fault that hasnt been fixed! anyone have any say/advice?

Right, OK where do we begin, it started by taking to one BMW dealer for a MOT, i mentioned that i noticed the coolant level going down (very slowly) they did the MOT and said the header tank needed replacing (split in it) at a cost of £150, so they did that then when i picked it up they said they noticed it mis-firing and it could be the headgasket, then the car started loosing coolant on a daily basis (much worse then it originally did before i got heder tank replaced) and steaming from the header tank, and a loss of power (not getting over 5000 revs) i then took it to a local small independent garage asking them to test for the head gasket, they charged me £23 and said it was the head gasket blown, so i went a head and booked it into another BMW DEALER (didnt trust the original one) saying what the problem was and that its a suspected head gasket blown, i took it in and they had it for 2 days and called me saying its all fixed, it wasnt the head gasket but the thermo-stat was faulty and cam sensor needed replacing so they replaced them and the charge was £500 so i was well happy (as i had been quoted £2000 for headgasket) anyway i got the car home and EXACTLY the same thing happened, i took it back and they had it for another 2 days and again said it was all fixed and there was an air lock in the system, so again i collected it, got it home and EXACTLY the same thing happened (do they not road test anymore) so i took it back very angry at this point (i had a free courtesy car at all times) anyway they kept it for a week or so then i got a call saying it was the head-gasket after all, and they gave me a speical price of £1600 to repair so i said OK (if thats what they said it was then it obviously needed doing) anyway a week later they text me, yes sent me an SMS text message, telling me to call them regarding my car, i called them and they said the cylinder heads were warped and had been sent of to specialtists to be looked at, they went ahead and had them skimmed (at a cost of £246 without me giving the say so) they didnt call me back for another week or so then they said one of the catalysts was blocked caused by the headgasket and was going to cost another £1200, at this point i was really angry, i said to them it seems to be a case of "trial and error" and they worked out another special price of £3600 all in (remember i had allready paid £500) i said if i had known it was going to cost £4100 i would never have got any of the work done, but anyway i said to go ahead (again it they "SAY" it needed doing then it needed doing) anyway i picked it up and drove it for quite a while last night and all seemed OK, all the power was there and seemed ok, i took it out today and gave it some reving (red lined it a few times just to make sure) got it home and the coolant was pouring out again and steaming (exactly the same as i originally took it in for) so i took it back today and they said they will consult with there manager and get back to me on monday, i have just had the cheque for £3600 cancelled so they will not be getting any money off me yet (was that a wise move, i think it was, why should they get my money if its not even fixed?) i originally took the car in on the 21st of November so it has taken them a month and a half so far and its STILL not fixed, what do you reccomend i do next? if you need anymore info let me know, i wouldnt mind getting all my money back or atleast £2-£3k!
cheers
Nick

Hi,
1) Please unlock your cluster as below and monitor your temperature as you drive. Let everyone on this group know how it behaves.

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e38/forum.php?postid=17 40227&page=1

2) Have a chemical test done by a specialist again to check for exhaust in the water. Make sure they rev it hard during the test. This is the ONLY way you can confirm head problems on these cars!!!

Sorry about the money so far.

Hi Sevenforty, IMHO:

1.  do not let them do any further work !!! They have demonstrated that they don't know what they are doing.

2. Get the name of the Managing Director and or chairman of this garage and write to them highlighting your complete and utter dissatisfaction with the service provided. V. Important - on their letter at the bottom  write " C.C. to BMW UK". Then send a copy to BMW UK Aftermarket Director (get his/her name). On the envelope write "Private and confidential" - this will ensure that the letter actually gets in front of the important decision makers, rather than redirected to the service manager etc.

3. The problem you are having sounds very similar to one that the previous owner of my car had. Eventually the BMW garage resolved the problem by replacing the radiator and several other components (can't remember them now, but if it's important I'll look them up).

4. The only real way to check if the headgasket has gone is to have the exhaust gases analysed, to see if there is any coolant in them. This would be standard practise and a printout should have been taken, so I would want to see a copy of this!! - if the garage is organised they will have kept a copy, if they're not then they WILL capitulate sooner or later.

5. Be prepared for a fight, do not give up or give in. BMW dealers say they are the experts so let them prove it.

You will win this but you need to be organised, do everything in writing, confirm all telephone conversations in writing, keep copies of EVERYTHING.