Hi,

I'm new here and am in the unfortunate position of starting lemon law proceedings to get a refund on my 2007 328i convertible as it buffets between 50 and 65mph with the roof up.

3 times in the shop - last time for bmw approved fix but to no avail. BMW have confirmed it is a known problem (apparently a handful of cars here in the US have reported it), but the fix hasn't worked so back it goes for good.

I found a thread on another forum from about a year ago from people complaining of this problem, but I was wondering if anyone out there on this forum is still having/has had this problem???

Can't drive the car in the rain or cold at all as I have to open the windows at least 3 inches to get rid of the buffeting. Paid 100% cash up front (now I wish I'd financed/leased!)so am looking to get everything back, minus the mileage deduction.

Any thoughts/experience of this problem you can share would be gratefully received to help me to add fuel to my lemon law fire! Safety in numbers and all that stuff.

Thanks,

S

Wish you luck.

GL with that

Hi,

I'm new here and am in the unfortunate position of starting lemon law proceedings to get a refund on my 2007 328i convertible as it buffets between 50 and 65mph with the roof up.

3 times in the shop - last time for bmw approved fix but to no avail. BMW have confirmed it is a known problem (apparently a handful of cars here in the US have reported it), but the fix hasn't worked so back it goes for good.

I found a thread on another forum from about a year ago from people complaining of this problem, but I was wondering if anyone out there on this forum is still having/has had this problem???

Can't drive the car in the rain or cold at all as I have to open the windows at least 3 inches to get rid of the buffeting. Paid 100% cash up front (now I wish I'd financed/leased!)so am looking to get everything back, minus the mileage deduction.

Any thoughts/experience of this problem you can share would be gratefully received to help me to add fuel to my lemon law fire! Safety in numbers and all that stuff.

Thanks,

S

I bought a 2007 328I conv last year. I have not had any problems yet. Knock on wood. Good luck with the outcome.

wtf is buffeting?

It's the wind vibration noise you get, kinda like in a regular car when one of the windows is slightly opened. It's a rapid variation in air pressure that sounds almost like a banging drum. Sometimes people seem to call it fluttering.

Whatever you wanna call it, it's bloody irritating!!!!

is this windows up, top up?

Yes this is windows up, top up. Only way to stop the buffeting is to open both front windows about 3-4 inches.

Hmmm, I'd imagine more people would complain about that if it was common. That sucks though.

I don't think it is a widespread issue and from the sounds of it not easy to identify either otherwise the dealer would have had it fixed. Maybe this particular car should be taken back by BMW and sent to a wind tunnel and you should get another one. I would not go the lemon route though unless absolutely necessary, I'd try to get them to do a buyback and keep the lawyers out of it. Don't feed the beast :nono.

Hmmm, I'd imagine more people would complain about that if it was common. That sucks though.

Aye, that would be intolerable. I have the same car, no buffetting with the windows and top up.

Have a couple of rattles, but nothing annoying enough for me to go to the dealer before the scheduled maintenance period.

OP: take that thing in to the dealer, sounds like a deal breaker if they can't figure it out.

My last car would buffet if a passenger openned just 1 window. It would stop if I openned another window. Since it seems to be caused by an air pressure differential, I'd assume you have a bad seal somewhere... You'd think they'd replace all the seals before risking the car getting lemoned?

Maybe drive around with a passenger in the back seat and have him waive his hands all around the sides and windows while you're driving looking for gusts or something...? :D

Hi,

I'm new here and am in the unfortunate position of starting lemon law proceedings to get a refund on my 2007 328i convertible as it buffets between 50 and 65mph with the roof up.

3 times in the shop - last time for bmw approved fix but to no avail. BMW have confirmed it is a known problem (apparently a handful of cars here in the US have reported it), but the fix hasn't worked so back it goes for good.

I found a thread on another forum from about a year ago from people complaining of this problem, but I was wondering if anyone out there on this forum is still having/has had this problem???

Can't drive the car in the rain or cold at all as I have to open the windows at least 3 inches to get rid of the buffeting. Paid 100% cash up front (now I wish I'd financed/leased!)so am looking to get everything back, minus the mileage deduction.

Any thoughts/experience of this problem you can share would be gratefully received to help me to add fuel to my lemon law fire! Safety in numbers and all that stuff.

Thanks,

S

I'm with BMW of North America, LLC. I've passed this message on to a BMW NA Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.

Hi BMW NA,

thanks for passing this on. They received the defective motor vehicle notification this morning, and I have just picked up a vm from someone there and am about to call back.

Hopefully this will get sorted out soon cause the noise is driving me mad!!!

Wow, just seems hard to believe there could be enough air coming in a supposedly sealed car to cause this (not that I am doubting you). The only time I have ever experienced it is if I hold the front wind deflector down with an open sun roof but this is obviously a ton of air and a large hole in the roof.

I can't imagine if you get the right person in the car and it does this every time at 50 to 65 mph that it would no result in a replacement car if the it can not be fixed.

This is a known issue with BMW as several owners have reported it. BMW has come up with a detailed service bulletin for a fix (SI B54 04 08) and takes over three days. I have a 2007 e93 and my car makes the wind buffeting/fluttering noise with all the windows up and the top up (closed and sealed) anywhere from 45 mph to 70 mph. I am taking my car in next week to have this service applied. Some owners have reported that the fix eliminates the issue while others have been unsatisfied by it.

if you can take the lemon law take it.. it fast and easy... in my case it was the fuel pump that went out 3 time on my 335i 2007... the lemon law covers more then just something not working 3 times... let know if you want more info...

Go for it!