[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

You SHOULD NOT be on the hook for this. A downpipe replacement will probably be close to $2000.

At a BMW dealer, it would be several times that $2000. You can buy used stock downpipes but a dealer probably would use new. Labor is probably 4 hours.

[MaxVO2]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

At a BMW dealer, it would be several times that $2000. You can buy used stock downpipes but a dealer probably would use new. Labor is probably 4 hours.

***Yea, downpipes with primary and secondary cat convertors are big $$$ from the dealership. Not that easy of an install in many cases so several hours labor minimum. I would think minimum $5k for OEM installed by dealership for a non warranty claim.

[M_Chronos]

Originally Posted by MaxVO2

***Yea, downpipes with primary and secondary cat convertors are big $$$ from the dealership. Not that easy of an install in many cases so several hours labor minimum. I would think minimum $5k for OEM installed by dealership for a non warranty claim.

This is absolutely NOT a ~$2K fix. Fully agree with ^^^. Actually if all converters need replacing I would not be completely surprised if you received a $10K repair estimate from the dealer.

If dealer management is not genuinely scared / concerned about the regulatory and enforcement situation they have got themselves into they are out of their minds.

[formerE36M3/4/5]

Originally Posted by M_Chronos

If dealer management is not genuinely scared / concerned about the regulatory and enforcement situation they have got themselves into they are out of their minds.

This! Just the threat of reporting this should have the selling dealer scrambling to resolve it!

[pbonsalb]

But it is also something that could probably be fixed for $2k if you know what you are doing. The warranty is likely void because of the mods. May have been tuned as well, which also voids the warranty. The OP might not have bought the car if he knew it was modded. Probably be hard to get the dealer to refund your money, but the the best chance would be if a lawyer was involved.

[ChrisX5M50i]

Update: They canceled the contract and took the car back. My wife and I made a bunch of good points about the fact that we WOULD not have bought the car if we had known it had aftermarket exhaust and an inoperative emissions system. Full stop, we weren't going to take it back. It was an illegal sale and we would persue that with a lawyer if it wasn't resolved, and they basically bought it back. I also mentioned the Clean Air Act, and I think that started tipping things. The manager said "so if I make the car legal, at our expense, will you be happy?" My wife's response was "So you ADMIT that it was illegal!" It was all over after that Bottom line, he was an amateur at dealing with my wife... At this point, us and BMW are going our separate ways, but possibly in the future we might decide to get into another one. Probably a lease on a new car that hasn't been monkeyed with. To everyone that contributed to this thread, I thank you.

[DrVenture]

Ahahahaha. Good for you and the wife. And big props for coming back to update.

[Rafichicago]

I wonder if the car had been sold to OP with warranty disclosure as no warranty or remainder of factory one. Usually you sign that when purchasing a vehicle.

[pbonsalb]

Great result!

[Littlecoupe]

Originally Posted by ChrisX5M50i

Update: They canceled the contract and took the car back. My wife and I made a bunch of good points about the fact that we WOULD not have bought the car if we had known it had aftermarket exhaust and an inoperative emissions system. Full stop, we weren't going to take it back. It was an illegal sale and we would persue that with a lawyer if it wasn't resolved, and they basically bought it back. I also mentioned the Clean Air Act, and I think that started tipping things. The manager said "so if I make the car legal, at our expense, will you be happy?" My wife's response was "So you ADMIT that it was illegal!" It was all over after that Bottom line, he was an amateur at dealing with my wife... At this point, us and BMW are going our separate ways, but possibly in the future we might decide to get into another one. Probably a lease on a new car that hasn't been monkeyed with. To everyone that contributed to this thread, I thank you.

If you wait too long for the new car lease, the emissions part might be a moot point if the car is electric....

Sorry, had to. Good job getting it dealt with though. I've played hardball with dealers over the years, mainly on the purchasing side. I am probably on a blacklist somewhere, as "that guy."

[IanH]

I wouldn't put this on BMW or even the dealer per se, I would expect MOST brands and dealers to have dealt with this exact issue many times since fucking up your emissions system is a common "cheap" way of modifying the car.

I actually give them props for being willing to fix it before you threatened (rightly) the legal aspect.

[Grease23]

Just doing a little Google research on Hi law, the following occur to me:

1. The dealer was required to give you "a valid safety inspection certificate."

2. The exhaust system is a mandatory part of the inspection process.

3. The dealer is required to notify you of all known defects in the vehicle.

So....doesn't look to me like you got a valid inspection certificate, since the exhaust system that they were required to inspect was certainly not functioning as intended by the manufacturer. And they are on the hook for #3, since you were not notified of this defect and they were under a mandatory duty to look for issues with that system.

Doesn't seem to me that you should be paying for any portion of the fix. The dealer can go after the leasee. Could start with a letter to their leasee along the lines of "hey we need the parts back you took off this car."

Given the potential expense it might be worth your while to consult with a local attorney, I'd think somebody with a major practice in vehicle warranty issues could give you sound advice.

[Cartman417209]

Originally Posted by ChrisX5M50i

Update: They canceled the contract and took the car back. My wife and I made a bunch of good points about the fact that we WOULD not have bought the car if we had known it had aftermarket exhaust and an inoperative emissions system. Full stop, we weren't going to take it back. It was an illegal sale and we would persue that with a lawyer if it wasn't resolved, and they basically bought it back. I also mentioned the Clean Air Act, and I think that started tipping things. The manager said "so if I make the car legal, at our expense, will you be happy?" My wife's response was "So you ADMIT that it was illegal!" It was all over after that Bottom line, he was an amateur at dealing with my wife... At this point, us and BMW are going our separate ways, but possibly in the future we might decide to get into another one. Probably a lease on a new car that hasn't been monkeyed with. To everyone that contributed to this thread, I thank you.

So you took your wife to fight your battle for you eh? 🤣

[IanH]

Originally Posted by Grease23

Just doing a little Google research on Hi law, the following occur to me:

1. The dealer was required to give you "a valid safety inspection certificate."

2. The exhaust system is a mandatory part of the inspection process.

3. The dealer is required to notify you of all known defects in the vehicle.

So....doesn't look to me like you got a valid inspection certificate, since the exhaust system that they were required to inspect was certainly not functioning as intended by the manufacturer. And they are on the hook for #3, since you were not notified of this defect and they were under a mandatory duty to look for issues with that system.

Doesn't seem to me that you should be paying for any portion of the fix. The dealer can go after the leasee. Could start with a letter to their leasee along the lines of "hey we need the parts back you took off this car."

Given the potential expense it might be worth your while to consult with a local attorney, I'd think somebody with a major practice in vehicle warranty issues could give you sound advice.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Grease23

Just doing a little Google research on Hi law, the following occur to me:

1. The dealer was required to give you "a valid safety inspection certificate."

2. The exhaust system is a mandatory part of the inspection process.

3. The dealer is required to notify you of all known defects in the vehicle.

So....doesn't look to me like you got a valid inspection certificate, since the exhaust system that they were required to inspect was certainly not functioning as intended by the manufacturer. And they are on the hook for #3, since you were not notified of this defect and they were under a mandatory duty to look for issues with that system.

Doesn't seem to me that you should be paying for any portion of the fix. The dealer can go after the leasee. Could start with a letter to their leasee along the lines of "hey we need the parts back you took off this car."

Given the potential expense it might be worth your while to consult with a local attorney, I'd think somebody with a major practice in vehicle warranty issues could give you sound advice.

Time to Google but no time to read the thread and see this is already resolved, nice