![]() | #106 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Today morning I saw a White VW Jetta being loaded onto a tow truck. This was in Hosur (30Km south of bangy) on the GQ (just outside the ESI hospital in the industrial area). No pics, was alone & at the wheel... |
![]() |
|
![]() | #107 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NOIDA / Gurgaon
Posts: 277
Thanked: 9 Times
| ![]() Here's my Bimmer (E39 540i) on the flat bed. This happened more than couple of months ago. Actually this is the second instance of it on the flat bed as I decided not to get the repair done in the first garage where it was towed to initially. The finesse with which the car was pulled up and loaded on the flat bad was mighty impressive. Not a trace of sweat expended! The reason is a failed alternator at 2 AM on the pitch dark US30. However, it would not be fair to blame BMW for it. There were tell-a-tale signs of alternator not working well. I ignored the low battery indicator for a li'l long. When the Bimmer broke down i was actually driving to Wal-mart to get myself a voltmeter to check whether it is the battery that has conked up or the alternator not being able to provide adequate power for the battery to be continually recharged. Had i been diligent enough to stock a pair of jumper cables then could have avoided the US $120 towing expenses, which unfortunately at that time my insurance did not cover ![]() Btw - those of you who are not aware the bimmer batteries have this visual colour display which indicates the health of the battery. Unfortunately, even after the alternator replacement the colour continues to be black which indicates the battery isn't healthy. Wondering now whether it is the battery or the alternator isn't still not delivering enough power. The steering continues to be tight, an indicator of alternator malfunction. Nevertheless, the sheer joy of driving such a monstrously powerful bimmer with galore of electronic controls is second to none. If i had money i'd only buy a bimmer ![]() Last edited by abk : 8th November 2010 at 23:35. |
![]() |
![]() | #108 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Alleppey, Kerala
Posts: 229
Thanked: 57 Times
| ![]() Yesterday I had a chance to use the flatbed service for my Linea due to clutch failure. Happened around 5.30pm in the evening. The vehicle has clocked 20,000km. The service was free of cost as we were covered under Fiat First program.It happened in Cochin and the car was taken to Concorde motors, Cochin.Pictures are not so clear. |
![]() |
![]() | #109 |
BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 198
Thanked: 30 Times
| ![]() Saw a ANHC on a flatbed tow truck near Windtunnel road signal on Old Airport road around 5:45pm. No pics. |
![]() |
![]() | #110 |
Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi
Posts: 4,838
Thanked: 6,720 Times
| ![]() progressive activity sedan. |
![]() |
![]() | #111 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() I pass by Tata, Skoda, Toyota, VW showroom daily on my way to work.Only VW has a fat bed displayed outside their showroom 24x 7 ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | #112 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 943
Thanked: 226 Times
| ![]() BMW 3 Series named UK's most reliable car - Yahoo! Cars This report says BMW-3 series is the most reliable car in UK !!!, followed by Honda Accord. Qualitywise are the german cars sold here in India inferior than the german cars sold in europe/USA ? |
![]() |
![]() | #113 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 8,578
Thanked: 9,834 Times
| ![]() Quote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong. | |
![]() |
|
![]() | #114 | |
Senior - BHPian | ![]() Quote:
| |
![]() |
![]() | #115 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 8,578
Thanked: 9,834 Times
| ![]() Quote:
![]() | |
![]() |
![]() | #116 |
BANNED Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Greater Bangalore
Posts: 420
Thanked: 37 Times
| ![]() A Skoda being towed! ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | #117 | ||
Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi
Posts: 1,580
Thanked: 945 Times
| ![]() Quote:
Quote:
Anyway this link below proves that they are unreliable even in the US. Car reliability, most reliable cars However, maybe US is probably not as clean as Europe. Also lots of places in US which are not as cold as Europe - so that's probably why they are unreliable in the US also. | ||
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | #118 |
BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 4,287
Thanked: 2,763 Times
| ![]() A point to ponder: What percentage of these German cars sold have broken down on the road? Also, what do the owners of these cars say? Will they continue using their car even after it has broken down on the road and repaired or will they want to sell it and switch brands? Wait, lemme start a new thread on that point now. |
![]() |
![]() | #119 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() I went through this thread from the beginning and am confused.... Is this thread about flatbeds? german cars or electronics vs mechanicals. Nevertheless, it is interesting to read. I just Want to express my opinion on the third subject, Why do we always tend to harp on electronics for most failures? My observation is most of the times the mechanics and users do not understand electronics or make an attempt to understand it. In my opinion, electronics are as robust or even more than the mechanical systems. Just that not every one can understand them well. When you buy a new car, one small road side fix the dealer tells you about is to change a flat tire. And the buyers earnestly ask for it. But isn't replacing a blown fuse even simpler. But dealers want the owners to flatbed the car to dealership to replace a fuse. Even in the service station, you would see mech engineers or auto engineers attending to the electrical/electronic issues which is not their core skill. Hence the repai cost is also high because you end up replacing complete assemblies and that too based on guess work. Coming back to german Vs japs...I just think japs electronics rock. They have mastered the art. How many electronics companies can you name from Japan and Korea vs Europe? |
![]() |
![]() | #120 |
BANNED Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Greater Bangalore
Posts: 420
Thanked: 37 Times
| ![]() |
![]() |