[Steve_Jr]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

There is bad news for some BMW 3 series owners.

The story began that some BMW 3 series owners found serious rust on the bottom side of seat. It was not happened eventually... after all, they found that some production of new F30 3 series has born in Rusty bottom side of seat.

The problem was that BMW & BMW Korea did not recall this parts, they treated it by cleaning and taking rust prevention only. A lot of owner were angry about this. BMW Korea offered to replace the rust parts as new, but this particular owner wanted his 320d replaced in full instead.

Seat rust has been reported by other 1 Series and 3 Series owners also. See:

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726583
http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=743476

So yesterday, one BMW owner in Korea who has rusty F30 3 series seats took his car outside BMW office and spray painted "RUSTY BMW" on his car.

So is your F30 affected?

Here's details from an information bulletin document from Korea BMW:

BMW Group Korea
Information for Sales & Service Advisor ISA1201026

Subject : 1, 3 series seat frame rust
Information Date : 22th Nov 2012

Overview
- We confirmed that there is rust on front seat frame of some of the new 3 series and 1 series released before Nov. 2012.
- These released 58 cars of 1 series in Oct 2012, some of 5006 cars of 3 series from Feb to Oct 2012.
- Seat frame made from steel "Fe", under rust preventative but in this case, we confirmed it's out of rust preventative the part in red circle and we patch it from Nov. 2012
- This is not effective to running the car, but we will work on rust prevention to new 1, 3 series which released Nov 2012, if we find it.

[howiegu]

oh, shit. just checked mine. Sept. production. crap!

[shivaswrath]

does your seats springs squeak and bounce more than usual? the rust would degrade the springs...

[clarence]

This is a known problem from several mths ago.

[howiegu]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

does your seats springs squeak and bounce more than usual? the rust would degrade the springs...

Don't have that. But again, just took delivery a month ago.

[howiegu]

Originally Posted by clarence

This is a known problem from several mths ago.

Very helpful.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by howiegu

oh, shit. just checked mine. Sept. production. crap!

Germany or SA build?

[clarence]

Originally Posted by howiegu

Very helpful.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showth...highlight=rust

[clarence]

Originally Posted by claykin

Germany or SA build?

Both unfortunately, but my Aug production is not rusty.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by clarence

Both unfortunately, but my Aug production is not rusty.

your personal experience from both production locations?

[clarence]

Originally Posted by claykin

your personal experience from both production locations?

No, mine is SA build. Some cars in my local market & also Australia have rusty seats, & they're all SA builds.
Someone from Russia also have rusty seats & Russian market is supplied by Germany. Also all F20 cars are built in Germany.

[claykin]

I believe Lear is the seat OEM for BMW in all factories. So, this would be a US screw up if my info is correct.

As far as I'm concerned the buck stops with them since they are providing a complete seat assembly. Stop buying metal from lowest bidder in China! (sorry, had to say it)

http://www.lear.com/en/about/history.aspx

[howiegu]

Originally Posted by claykin

Germany or SA build?

German build.

[Nero7]

This is bad, very disappointed with BMW now . Need to check my seats too.

[SamS]

I think the real craziness in this conversation is that someone destroyed their $100K+ BMW and left it as a sign of protest regarding a cosmetic problem that can be fixed with screwdrivers and wrenches. Heck, it's not like the steering wheel was vibrating!

[howiegu]

Originally Posted by SamS

I think the real craziness in this conversation is that someone destroyed their $100K+ BMW and left it as a sign of protest regarding a cosmetic problem that can be fixed with screwdrivers and wrenches. Heck, it's not like the steering wheel was vibrating!

That's "culture difference"

Now I have to take care mine with the dealership to see if "can be fixed with a screwdriver" ...will report back if all is interested...

[clarence]

Originally Posted by SamS

I think the real craziness in this conversation is that someone destroyed their $100K+ BMW and left it as a sign of protest regarding a cosmetic problem that can be fixed with screwdrivers and wrenches. Heck, it's not like the steering wheel was vibrating!

It is crazy, even worse than the guy in China who destroyed his Gallardo due to repeated incurable problems. At least the Lambo guy destroyed his car cos the problem was recurring & it was serious. Rusty seats is really just a cosmetic problem, the cure can be cheap.

[ManiacGT]

A little extreme, to destroy your car over a fault, I'm sure given time it would be fixed, and its not at least yet a structural level of rust...

Having said that, it is a premium car and to have it rust more than cheap crappy cars from lower vendors is pretty bad indeed.

[ALPINA B5]

oppa gangnam style

[Kiemyster]

So this is what someone does for a rusty seat bracket? lol.... could you imagine if this guy owned a 335 n54 and got an HPFP failure? he may have gone fully postal ahahaha

i just cant help but think, insurance is not going to cover this either. he is tight.

[jpirelli]

Originally Posted by ALPINA B5

oppa gangnam style

LMAO

[localyokel1976]

What a moron!