Fred or Jon or SOMEONE. I need HELP!!! (long) (archive)

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I got my 2000 323Ci in late January. Sometime in March, the car developed a window squeal that pierces the ears sharply whenever I open or close the windows. This only happens when it rains or it is very humid. I understand that this is a common issue and I am trying to grin and bear it.

Sometime in March as well, the car developed a rattle from the driver side door. After driving around for a little bit, it dawned on me that I was completely stressed out whenever I drove the car!! Not because of the windows, but because of this rattle. The reason being that unlike my window squeaking, the rattle cannot be controlled.

So I took the car to the dealer, who took my car for a day and a half. I got the car back (after service was closed). I read the paperwork and it said that the rattle was fixed and the part for the squeaking windows is on order. So I leave. 10 minutes into the ride, the rattle is there. Not subtle but WORSE! It's excruciatingly loud now. When reading the paperwork, they claimed they replaced broken washers. Not only that, the window is no longer aligned correctly. It crashes against the door frame upon open or close of the door. The chrome window moldings develop a nice scuff a few days later (they replaced it a month later on warranty).

So I take the car back a few weeks later (takes 2 weeks to get me a loaner again). They now claim they cannot reproduce the rattle (I think to myself that they are a bunch of deaf morons). So I take them for a ride to demonstrate by example, how stupid they really are. Immediately the car door starts to rattle. They miraculously notice the rattle as well (I think to myself that they cleaned their wax filled ears out in the bathroom before they went on the ride with me). So they take the car again. A day later I get a call saying they fixed the problem and that the window squeaking has also been solved. Apparently they found a loose wire in the door to solve the rattle and they replaced the weather strip on the door to solve the squeaking. I thought I was satisfied. I drive off, 10 minutes no rattle and no squeaking. 11 minutes after I drive off, the rattle comes back. 7 days later the squeaking is back. The windows now leave huge streaks on the window whenever going up or down.

So I take the car back. Ask for the same service guy so I can talk to him. They state he no longer works for them. So I explain the problem again to the new guy. He says he'll take a look at it.

4 days later, I call them to ask what is going on. They tell me that they have no idea how to fix the squeaking and the rattle. They have tried numerous things and they state that the window squeaking may be a NORMAL feature of the car. Kinda like a dealer installed option, but free of charge. So now I'm dumbfounded. I tell him that the rattle cannot be normal. He agrees but tells me he doesn't know what to do. He states that a specialist will be arriving in september and that they will give me a call when he gets in. So I drive off, unsatisfied.

But now I notice that the driver side door is no longer as sturdy or as solid as it was when I first got the problem. It feels looser and more "rattly", kinda feels overused and abused. I think they pried it open one too many times. What the hell is that all about?

I am curious to know though, is the window squeaking a dealer installed option or a factory option? Did I get a good deal when they gave it to me for free? How much did I save? I'm thinking of using the saved money to plan a trip to Guam.

On a more serious note. What would it take to ask that my ENTIRE DOOR be replaced? Would this be an impossibility? I have been living with this for 9000+ miles. I feel embarrassed when people get in the car and open the windows and I have to provide an answer to "how much did you pay for this car again?". I've already had a few friends buy the competition after hearing about my horror story. A friend is waiting on how my problem gets resolved to see if she wants to take the plunge (I told her to ask not to get the squeaking option, even if it's free, maybe even pay not to have it installed).

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