Rat vs. Car vs. Dealer

[jorgemiranda]

Well, I bought a new car (335xi Coupe) less than two month ago, and approximately 2 weeks ago the check engine light came up. Took it to the dealer, supposedly fixed it, the next day it comes up again. I took it back yesterday and I got a call today. According to the dealer, a rat bit through a gas vent hose. Considering the car is parked in an indoor car garage, where I've never seen any evidence of rats, I find this a bit strange. They want to charge me $700 to replace the hose. Maybe somebody can chip in...

1. What's the possibility of a rat biting through a gas vent hose?

2. Is $700 a bit too much?

I called them back and talked to them about the car being parked in an indoor garage and everything, supposedly they are going to try and see if they can have it fixed through the warranty. I wouldn't mind paying if the car was a few years old, but less than two months?

Thanks for any input

[corey]

sounds like a load of shit to me.
check around on some of the beamer forums, see if this "gas vent hose" is a known issue.
tell them to SHOW it to you as well, because it sounds like it's just some emissions BS, and if it is, you can do it yourself.

[red baron]

The rat being the dealer tech pinched it or the factory did when they assembled the car.

Tell them you want proof of the rat. Paw prints, DNA, witness rat, or just call the local BMW rep and get him involved.

[herm]

thats funny.......
i dont see how they could possibly prove the claim that a rat bit through the hose. it could have been a squirrel........
call their bluff.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Ask if the rat is ASE certified.

[acalles]

Its highly likely a rodent actually damaged your car.

I've seen rodent damage on vehicles kept in garages by very wealthy people. one in particular, was a passat W8 owner, and professional geek.

Garage Kept its entire life, car was less then a year old, it started popping fuses for the convinence system. I find out, its the light circuit for the light on the center of the roof.

pull the pannel down and its full of bird seeds and mouse droppings.. turns out, they some how got into the head liner and started storing seeds, while in there ate one of the wires. There teeth never stop growing, so they chew on things to keep them from getting to long. his home insurance covered it.

Around this time of the year, the rodent problems really start, and its likely it ate a hose for the evap system, some can be in difficult places to repair.

ask to see the damage, but yeah, its pretty likely.

[Howie]

More than likely it was a squirrel.

Seriously, rodents can do a lot of damage to a car, though usually due to building nests or attacking wires, not fuel lines.  Before committing to any customer paid labor you want to see the damaged part and the flat rate for the repair.

[jorgemiranda]

I went ahead and authorized the dealer to do the repairs. I've worked with them in the past and never had any issued with them denying real warranty work, so I wouldn't see that changing. They are charging me $550, but the Advisor suggested it might be lower. I asked around at the BMW Forums and they suggested it was a reasonable rate. I believe they have to take the gas tank off and what not. Plus I need the car for the Indy GP  Unfortunately I got a few people coming along, so not going to be able to take the Monster. Should be a lot of fun. My last GP was Barcelona 2006. Im actually considering switching from F1 to MotoGP. After Spa, I can't take the politics in F1.

Oh, and now that I think about it. The problem came up after a weekend in Lake Geneva, the car was outside and my friends house is in the middle of the woods, so I'm thinking something might have gotten in there.