- the contact stated that the 2005 BMW X3 SUV, was taken to a dealership in burlington, Vermont for inspection 12/06. The dealership informed him that the vehicle would not pass inspection because the lower left ball joints were failing. The dealership ordered the ball joints, and the vehicle was repaired on 12/18/06. The contact stated that he started a trip to California, and after driving 500-1,000 miles, the check engine light came on. He drove a couple hundred more miles before getting to a BMW dealership. The BMW dealership called road show BMW did a diagned the vehicle and they reprogrammed the computer. The contact continued with his road trip and drove to California. The contact stated that once he arrived there he noticed that when hitting a bump he would hear a clinking noise from the front end of the vehicle. The contact called a dealership while in santa barbara and was told they couldn't do anything to the vehicle for at least one week. The contact then drove vehicle to seaside California and the dealership tdrove the vehicle and heard the same noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. Seaside BMW informed the contact that the vehicle should not be driven because the thrust rods were bad and possibly the left front shock absorber as well. BMW offer to pay for $750 for rental and accommodation refund.

- Carmel, CA, USA