[forklore]

If the fix is available, I don’t understand why it’s taking so long. Surely these aren’t hand made craft pieces that some people are painstakingly putting together one-by-one. Why such a slow trickle - how many iXs are sold so far anyway?!

Here's my theory:

• The supplier can only make so many airbags - increasing output is a logistical nightmare and takes time
• BMW is likely one of many customers and receives a preset no. of airbags
• BMW gets to decide what they do with the airbags they receive. The manufacturing lines for the iX and X1 are still running and I haven't come across anyone saying their builds have been delayed. So very likely, majority of the airbags they're getting are going to the manufacturing plant.
• Because the number of airbags BMW gets is set in stone and corresponds to their planned output, the no. of "excess" airbags is likely very small. They then have to distribute these to likely 100s of dealerships across multiple countries
• In theory, sure BMW could estimate when a customer is likely to get their airbag - I think everything needed to do so is a known quantity. But BMW has no incentive to spend time & effort to do so.

 

[Balockay]

Here's my theory:

• The supplier can only make so many airbags - increasing output is a logistical nightmare and takes time
• BMW is likely one of many customers and receives a preset no. of airbags
• BMW gets to decide what they do with the airbags they receive. The manufacturing lines for the iX and X1 are still running and I haven't come across anyone saying their builds have been delayed. So very likely, majority of the airbags they're getting are going to the manufacturing plant.
• Because the number of airbags BMW gets is set in stone and corresponds to their planned output, the no. of "excess" airbags is likely very small. They then have to distribute these to likely 100s of dealerships across multiple countries
• In theory, sure BMW could estimate when a customer is likely to get their airbag - I think everything needed to do so is a known quantity. But BMW has no incentive to spend time & effort to do so.

That all sounds about right. We’ve obviously committed to buying vehicles we custom ordered and have waited on this long; so fuck us, right? Imagine what would happen if we did a “customer” strike. Basically enough of us communicate that we want to cancel our orders all at once. Amidst the backdrop of the whole ass US financial system melting down? With all these tech layoffs? Wonder how they’d respond to that. If demand is softening enough for that to move the needle? I wonder…

 

[forklore]

That all sounds about right. We’ve obviously committed to buying vehicles we custom ordered and have waited on this long; so fuck us, right? Imagine what would happen if we did a “customer” strike. Basically enough of us communicate that we want to cancel our orders all at once. Amidst the backdrop of the whole ass US financial system melting down? With all these tech layoffs? Wonder how they’d respond to that. If demand is softening enough for that to move the needle? I wonder…

You're right, if a substantial no. of customers decide to cancel their orders, it may lead to BMW rethinking their strategy. But, in reality, the no. of customers impacted here is likely small. We're talking about cars that were built between Sept. 22 and Feb. 1st 23 (chances are almost all cars built before Sep 2022 have likely been delivered - only seen 1 customer on this forum who said car was built in 9/22 but hasn't taken delivery) but not delivered prior to Feb. 3rd (when stop sale was issued). BMW knows how many of the cars currently being built are "sold". I imagine all of the factors you've mentioned are yet to make a dent in demand, so from where BMW is sitting, us folks are just a squeaky little cog in a giant gear wheel. If we say we're going to walk, they likely know there is enough demand to sell those cars (someone said there's a $6K dealer margin for these cars? Enough to drop the price a little below MSRP and still make a profit). Remember that they increased the price of the 2024 iXs by 3K when Tesla dropped prices by thousands - that's a sign of confidence in demand.

 

[Balockay]

You're right, if a substantial no. of customers decide to cancel their orders, it may lead to BMW rethinking their strategy. But, in reality, the no. of customers impacted here is likely small. We're talking about cars that were built between Sept. 22 and Feb. 1st 23 (chances are almost all cars built before Sep 2022 have likely been delivered - only seen 1 customer on this forum who said car was built in 9/22 but hasn't taken delivery) but not delivered prior to Feb. 3rd (when stop sale was issued). BMW knows how many of the cars currently being built are "sold". I imagine all of the factors you've mentioned are yet to make a dent in demand, so from where BMW is sitting, us folks are just a squeaky little cog in a giant gear wheel. If we say we're going to walk, they likely know there is enough demand to sell those cars (someone said there's a $6K dealer margin for these cars? Enough to drop the price a little below MSRP and still make a profit). Remember that they increased the price of the 2024 iXs by 3K when Tesla dropped prices by thousands - that's a sign of confidence in demand.

Those are all good points. Wasn’t being completely serious, but the frustration is real.

 

[Paladin1]

Here's my theory:

• The supplier can only make so many airbags - increasing output is a logistical nightmare and takes time
• BMW is likely one of many customers and receives a preset no. of airbags
• BMW gets to decide what they do with the airbags they receive. The manufacturing lines for the iX and X1 are still running and I haven't come across anyone saying their builds have been delayed. So very likely, majority of the airbags they're getting are going to the manufacturing plant.
• Because the number of airbags BMW gets is set in stone and corresponds to their planned output, the no. of "excess" airbags is likely very small. They then have to distribute these to likely 100s of dealerships across multiple countries
• In theory, sure BMW could estimate when a customer is likely to get their airbag - I think everything needed to do so is a known quantity. But BMW has no incentive to spend time & effort to do so.

Agree with the above, with the addendum that BMW knows what their production targets are, and the number of affected vehicles outside of that. I believe airbag production has ramped up considerably - enough to accommodate both, but the logistics glitch is getting them to respective VDCs, dealerships and respective customers, and setting up training to install them. The backlog has already begun to be addressed by anecdotal accounts, so that means production has flowed through the system outside of Dingolfing, at least partially to date. Not trying to be Pollyanna, but indications are that we're close to a universal fix, although "timeliness" very likely means something different for BMW than it does for us. My best and uneducated guess is that we'll see "Remedy Available" across the board within the next couple of months, prioritized of course, but since existing cars are driveable, presumably starting with VDCs and trickling down to dealerships. For those current owners who want a replacement (there are still 11 million cars that haven't come in for the very critical Takata airbag replacements since 2018), I would also guess by the Summer your dealer should contact you.

 

[forklore]

Those are all good points. Wasn’t being completely serious, but the frustration is real.

Right there with you on the frustration - I'm talking out loud as a coping mechanism 🤣

 

[VikasMG]

I don’t see why they can’t just sell and hand over the vehicles with the caveat of a recall. After all the folks who took delivery of their iXs a few days before are (presumably) happily driving around with the same ‘problem’ and can go in and get a fix at their leisure once the pets are in!

 

[Paladin1]

I don’t see why they can’t just sell and hand over the vehicles with the caveat of a recall. After all the folks who took delivery of their iXs a few days before are (presumably) happily driving around with the same ‘problem’ and can go in and get a fix at their leisure once the pets are in!

Not sure myself, because according to BMW the airbags installed meet regulatory requirements. I'm just guessing that the German crash and fatality(s) last year might have them spooked, and they're just covering their legal backsides.....

 

[forklore]

I don’t see why they can’t just sell and hand over the vehicles with the caveat of a recall. After all the folks who took delivery of their iXs a few days before are (presumably) happily driving around with the same ‘problem’ and can go in and get a fix at their leisure once the pets are in!

Not a lawyer but I imagine it has to do with the Safety Act:

Please be reminded that it is a violation of federal law (The Safety Act) for you to sell, lease or deliver any new motor vehicle covered by this notification until the recall repair has been performed. This means that Centers may not legally deliver new motor vehicles to consumers until they are fixed or use/sell replacement equipment/parts subject to this recall. Note also that substantial civil penalties apply to violations of the Safety Act.
Also, you should not sell, lease or deliver any Certified Pre-Owned or used vehicles subject to a safety recall until the repair is completed.

 

[dmb4040]

So my ix50 has been stuck in the NJ port for a month now. I've been checking the BMW Recall website and it has said "Remedy Unavailable" every day when I check my VIN. I went to check today and it said "0 Open Recalls for your vehicle." Hopefully that now means the airbag is in and it will be shipped to the dealer soon. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Balockay]

So my ix50 has been stuck in the NJ port for a month now. I've been checking the BMW Recall website and it has said "Remedy Unavailable" every day when I check my VIN. I went to check today and it said "0 Open Recalls for your vehicle." Hopefully that now means the airbag is in and it will be shipped to the dealer soon. I'll keep you posted.

Fuck yeah please do. Might be another status for us to look out for. Congrats!

 

[galore2112]

I’d think that dealerships would put pressure on BMWNA to get them the airbags and as a result revenue.

 

[Balockay]

I’d think that dealerships would put pressure on BMWNA to get them the airbags and as a result revenue.

One can dream

 

[roger_lucky]

Just check the website again: BMW Recall Details Tool and after putting my VIN, it shows: Error while requesting details: Request failed with status code 502. not sure if that's just an issue at my end or something wrong with my VIN, Lol

 

[forklore]

Just check the website again: BMW Recall Details Tool and after putting my VIN, it shows: Error while requesting details: Request failed with status code 502. not sure if that's just an issue at my end or something wrong with my VIN, Lol

I've been getting the same error message since this morning.

 

[ASiX]

I am a lawyer, but this is not legal advice. haha
First, BMW is likely putting a lot of pressure on the manufacturer of the airbags to provide the replacement airbags or have contracted with another supplier for them. I presume the initial manufacturer is in breach of their agreement and as such, can be held liable for all costs resulting from the defective airbags, including potentially, BMW's lost profits. With that said, I agree with the statement that they are likely limited by how many airbags they are receiving under either scenario. I just wish they would communicate with us better. As for the second point about allowing us to take ownership of cars even with the open recall, it is likely as a result of the regulation cited above, as well as potential liability. It is one thing to notify drivers of the recall and then have them come in at their convenience to fix it (which then puts the responsibility on the driver to follow up) versus handing new drivers a car it knows to be defective.

 

[BMWno6]

One can dream

I remember reading that about 15,000 iX and X1 vehicles are effected and need new airbags. That will take a while.

 

[ASiX]

all the new 2023s coming in do not have the recall issue and I am finding that a lot of the ones on the lot do not have it either. Mine, sadly still has it. It is so frustrating to keep waiting. I have a really good deal on it since it was a demo (has 300 miles on it) and since it is a lease I do not care about the mileage. If it werent for that, I would have moved on.

 

[dmb4040]

So my ix50 has been stuck in the NJ port for a month now. I've been checking the BMW Recall website and it has said "Remedy Unavailable" every day when I check my VIN. I went to check today and it said "0 Open Recalls for your vehicle." Hopefully that now means the airbag is in and it will be shipped to the dealer soon. I'll keep you posted.

Well it looks like the BMW recall website was correct. My car has left the NJ port today and is "in transit" on the way to my dealership. Should be picking it up in a few days per my SA. Hopefully this means the VDC is stocked up and installing airbags for everyone else here.

 

[sea_bourn]

My iX recall status has changed from Open to Closed today and BMWs website no longer lists any active recalls for my VIN. I’m assuming it was fixed. I’ll reach out to the dealer in the morning to confirm. It has been sitting at the port in California for months.