Looking for Opinions on Dealership Diagnosis

[DesertRJ]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for opinions on my dealership's perhaps overzealous replacement of parts. I had the turbo rattle, which I assumed was due to the waste-gates. I mentioned it, along with the KB article (printed for them), that it's probably just a matter of cup washers. After a couple of weeks, they reported that the driver's side turbo bearings were out of specification. New turbo, buttoned it up, then decided the other turbo was also out of spec and replaced that one as well. It seemed like a lot for a turbo rattle, but the rattle is gone, so maybe they were right.

Third gear and sixth started developing a noticeable rattle during deceleration. New and obnoxious. Honestly, went in half expecting the transmission to be shot. Started with a new shift assembly. Now, after a week, they've decided it must be the transmission, and that's being replaced. I just heard a ton of metallic flakes in the transmission. Going on 30 years of driving manual... I've never had anything similar. Only mods to the car have been a ported and polished throttle body along with a CF drive shaft. Done those on countless cars to keep up with BMW M cars that use them to great effect. Never had any ill effects.

Car is a 2022 4 Blackwing with 14,XXX miles on it. So far, it has participated in one track day and approximately 20 autocross events. Launch control was used twice, and no lift shift was played with three times. It all seems pretty mild. Boxster saw who knows how many track days (2003 model) and probably an equal number of autocross events before I sold it at 120,000 miles with nothing wrong with it.

Is this car just cursed? Go back to Porsche? Looking for some opinions here. It'll run out of COVID era half assed parts to fail? I love the car... but someone needs to talk me down from thinking it's going to be an endless stream of problems and it's going to disintegrate after the warranty expires.

 

[jbawden]

I wouldn't let a service center going over board skew your perception of the car. I'd give the transmission fix a go, then I'll bet you'll be trouble free after that.

 

[DesertRJ]

Thanks! Was not expecting this level of replacement at 14k miles on a ‘22. My Elise has become the daily this fall and winter since the Blackwing has been in the shop on and off going on three months. It’s time to seriously consider hitting the lemon law button and wanted a few more opinions.

 

[Super Saloon]

I don’t think you are close to a lemon law at this point and I understand you are frustrated but I would be careful what you say around the dealer. From your post it sounds like you are being taken care of under warranty despite modifications that you have made to both the engine and driveline. They could probably give you a hard time if they wanted to be pricks about it. From what I have seen the Tremecs are pretty solid but there is the occasional (albeit rare) bad unit. Like jbawden said, let them replace it and you will probably be fine. Sorry for your misfortune but I would consider yourself lucky they aren’t pushing back on warranty coverage with your mods.

 

[DesertRJ]

That is a good point. Certainly wouldn’t say anything to the dealer unless the claim was happening with a lawyer and air tight. Also nice to hear there are some duds of those transmissions out there. Being a first gen of the COVID era cars probably increase the chance of getting some bum parts.

 

[jonny_77]

Thread 'Acceleration Buzzing Sound (CT4-V Blackwing)' Acceleration Buzzing Sound (CT4-V Blackwing)

I had a significant rattle (I called it a buzzing sound) that I could attenuate by holding firmly on the shifter on my 2022 BW with 5k mi on it. The full thread is posted above (just searched under "buzz"). The car went in for a two day transmission fix that required replacing the throw bearing which was confirmed to have failed. The primary source of buzzing is now gone (it was loud and tracked to acceleration). Get through the thread and see if this sounds like you and then DM me if you have further questions or details to help your mechanic troubleshoot. Good luck!

 

[DesertRJ]

I’m guessing the throw bearing is part of the complete transmission? Mine rattled most under deceleration coming off high rpm. Could just be the car makes such a joyous racket under heavy acceleration that I didn’t notice that direction.

Appreciate the input there. That’s a good extra data point!

Going back to lemon law, it’s more at the point I’m pulling everything together as a just in case. If the engine explodes next I’ll have all my documentation in order already. I think the entire power train going out and (at that point) the car being in the shop five months out of the last six would push it over the edge. I’d rather not but I think that level of failures I’d be terrified of actually using it.

I will be doing a blackstone analysis at the next change to make sure that isn’t something hiding in the wings.

 

[DCV]

Five months? Geez its only got to be in the shop for 30 days to invoke lemon law. You're more patient than Id be.

 

[DesertRJ]

Five months? Geez its only got to be in the shop for 30 days to invoke lemon law. You're more patient than Id be.

Busy with other things and have other cars but the patience is wearing thin.

 

[Kawman]

Sorry for your misfortune but I would consider yourself lucky they aren’t pushing back on warranty coverage with your mods.

This is a legal issue that has already worked it's way through the courts, precedents set and now the line in the sand is known by both consumers and manufacturers. They must be able to prove that the modified part caused the failure to deny a warranty claim. The throttle body is an OEM part with internal porting done, so they'd have to remove the part and take internal measurements to ID it as having been modified. That modification could not possibly cause harm to anything, anywhere in the engine so no engine issue claim could be denied because of it. (remember, your engine will not make more hp because of that part) Add a JB4 and fool your engine to running a higher boost level and an engine warranty claim could be denied. What failed and why? Was there a spot of impurity in the metal of a part that created a weak point? If so, the part was going to fail anyway, warranty not denied. Failure because of the added stress of JB4 coupled with Boost Control Module being used on a track? Yeah, that warranty is going to be denied if they know those parts were on it. They can't think of denying a transmission claim simply because you have a CF driveshaft. Now, if that CF driveshaft is found to be out of balance, it could have been sending forces into the transmission through the output shaft that tore the tranny apart - claim denied because of the CF driveshaft.