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First 24 Hours of Ownership

BKNDFW

Grenadier Owner
Local time
12:48 AM
Joined
Jan 19, 2026
Messages
7
Location
Dallas, TX
I purchased a new 2025 Trialmaster on Friday 30-Jan. Within the first 24 hours of ownership I experienced the following:

1. Coolant leak. Large coolant resevoir on the right (left hand drive U.S. spec) pressured up and seeped at the seam of the container. Dealer replaced the resevoir. Delayed my departure by two hours but they got it replaced before I started by 1,200 mile journey home.
2. Persistant - Low tire pressure warning. No big deal.
3. Intermittent front camera inoperable warning. No big deal.
4. Intermittent perimeter light warning (discoverd the passenger side front headlight halo/ring not working).
5. Worthless AC/Heater temperature control settings. Just drove home wearing coats and gloves. The temperature control problem is much worse than I expected.
6. Cracked windsheild/windscreen. Happened within the first 700 miles and 24-hours of ownership.
7. Wandering steering - especially at speed passing a tractor trailer rig (lorry) and the suction causes the vehicle to ocillate a bit. All-in-all the steering is more manageable than I had expected.

Thanks to this forum I was prepared/expecting everything except for the dead halo/ring light on this brand new & "dealer inspected & assured everything was good to go before delivery" Grenadier.
 
I'm also a new owner and can chime in on some of those:

2. TPMS: there's a setting in the infotainment to calibrate the tire pressure. When all four tires are the same temperature, air them up like you want, use the calibrate setting, and it probably won't bother you again. It's triggered by pressure differential between tires
3. Speed camera thing: it seems to happen most often for me when I'm not on a road it knows about and the camera can't see a speed limit sign - like in a parking lot. Hoping future firmware releases remove it
5. HVAC: dealer said there will be new firmware soon, but it's definitely fussy. I get the temperature where I want it, put the direction knob on defrost+feet, press auto, and it usually behaves after that
6. Cracks: I'm going to get windshield PPF for mine
7. Steering: I've dialed some caster out of mine, plus a Fox adjustable dampener (which will also let you decrease the turning circle) and it's now easy to drive on the highway. It's still a solid axle truck and won't ever be car like, but it's tolerable now

The other issues: f'ing yikes
 
I purchased a new 2025 Trialmaster on Friday 30-Jan. Within the first 24 hours of ownership I experienced the following:

1. Coolant leak. Large coolant resevoir on the right (left hand drive U.S. spec) pressured up and seeped at the seam of the container. Dealer replaced the resevoir. Delayed my departure by two hours but they got it replaced before I started by 1,200 mile journey home.
2. Persistant - Low tire pressure warning. No big deal.
3. Intermittent front camera inoperable warning. No big deal.
4. Intermittent perimeter light warning (discoverd the passenger side front headlight halo/ring not working).
5. Worthless AC/Heater temperature control settings. Just drove home wearing coats and gloves. The temperature control problem is much worse than I expected.
6. Cracked windsheild/windscreen. Happened within the first 700 miles and 24-hours of ownership.
7. Wandering steering - especially at speed passing a tractor trailer rig (lorry) and the suction causes the vehicle to ocillate a bit. All-in-all the steering is more manageable than I had expected.

Thanks to this forum I was prepared/expecting everything except for the dead halo/ring light on this brand new & "dealer inspected & assured everything was good to go before delivery" Grenadier.
It really sucks that you have to do this but when they replaced the coolant reservoir they probably did not bleed the cooling system adequately which has contributed to the poor HVAC. Search the forum for the bleeding procedure and do it once, do it twice, maybe even do it thrice. Having your first windscreen go on the drive home really would test the faith.
 
HVAC issues:

Check the 2 coolant tanks.

As others have stated your system probably has air in it.

You will need the correct BMW coolant. It comes in two forms. Remixed solution and where you need to add distilled water.

HT-12 BMW/MINI

BMW Antifreeze/coolant https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QXRA00?tag=globalgrena0b-20

Zerex HT-12 Green Concentrate Antifreeze | Valvoline https://share.google/BKJRNjfJ7cPwKJVEs

When the engine is cool/cold open the blue and black caps. This first time you do this they may be very tight.

Helpful hint: Open the hood all the way. The prop rod can be moved so that it supports the hood in its full open state.

A small step stool is also helpful so you can see inside the coolant tanks.

Check the coolant level and add until fluid is at the top of the max indicator. Do not over fill.

Check the coolant level after driving the next couple days. Top off to max indicator as needed.

This will resolve the lack of heat issue.
I will apologize for your dealer not telling you about this.

After the air had been purged you will have heat.

The next thing I would suggest is to let the HVAC "boot up" when you start the car.

Turn the key without starting the car. Wait about 20 seconds for everything to complete. You will usually here the fan start.

This process allows the car to read the internal and external temps.

These couple things should make you much happier about the HVAC system.

Steering:
As also mentioned many people suggest getting the fox steering stabilizer.

The other recommendation is to have the caster adjusted. This will reduce the feeling of a "dead" spot on center. If you feel the need to constantly correct the steering right and left and it feels like a large swing of the wheel back and forth.

Have the caster adjusted to 2°. This will improve that on center feeling.

I hope this helps and I am sure other will correct me or add their suggestions.

The Grenadier is a great vehicle, it has a couple oddities that are easy to understand and work around.

I would be happy to talk to you in detail about any of these things.

Enjoy...
 
I purchased a new 2025 Trialmaster on Friday 30-Jan. Within the first 24 hours of ownership I experienced the following:

1. Coolant leak. Large coolant resevoir on the right (left hand drive U.S. spec) pressured up and seeped at the seam of the container. Dealer replaced the resevoir. Delayed my departure by two hours but they got it replaced before I started by 1,200 mile journey home.
2. Persistant - Low tire pressure warning. No big deal.
3. Intermittent front camera inoperable warning. No big deal.
4. Intermittent perimeter light warning (discoverd the passenger side front headlight halo/ring not working).
5. Worthless AC/Heater temperature control settings. Just drove home wearing coats and gloves. The temperature control problem is much worse than I expected.
6. Cracked windsheild/windscreen. Happened within the first 700 miles and 24-hours of ownership.
7. Wandering steering - especially at speed passing a tractor trailer rig (lorry) and the suction causes the vehicle to ocillate a bit. All-in-all the steering is more manageable than I had expected.

Thanks to this forum I was prepared/expecting everything except for the dead halo/ring light on this brand new & "dealer inspected & assured everything was good to go before delivery" Grenadier.
Welcome to the club
 
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