Paying for Information on YOUR BMW

[LittleBro]

I don’t know if you guys know, but you used to be able to contact BMW head office and they would tell you when/where you car had been serviced, along with lots other information you might want (spec etc). I have just contacted BMW to get this for my current car (purely “for the file”) and have been told that I now need to call a premium rate number as this request isn’t available by mail any more.

How much do BMW think is fair for this service? £1/minute!

Tell me, am I being tight thinking BMW are taking the proverbial and £1/minute is a fair price or am I right and this is yet another sign of how detached BMW have become from the people that provide them with a living?

Thoughts appreciated.

[E30M3SE]

Spec and service history information is available from my local dealer.

[LittleBro]

I feel a bit embarrassed now, I didnt know that. I still think its wrong the they charge £1/min....

[mmm-five]

It's not YOUR information. It's their records of your CAR's visits to the dealers, hence it's THEIR information.

If you're so unhappy about it, you can submit an FOI request for any info they've got on you, but you have to pay a small fee for this anyway.

If it's the 0870 5050 160 you're complaining about, then try 01344 426565 or 0800 777113 - and if they ask you to ring the 0870 number, then tell them you're calling from outside the UK and need a geographic number.

[agent006]

mmm-five said:

If you're so unhappy about it, you can submit an FOI request for any info they've got on you, but you have to pay a small fee for this anyway.

FoI is public institutions only though isn't it? Data Protection requests wouldn't apply as the data is concerning the activities of a previous owner.

[jamoor]

can you email them?

[Donut]

Pop into any dealer they will show you any info held....

[Egbert Nobacon]

[e-mail]

email the above with vehicle details and VIN, they will reply in a day or so.

They sent me details of spec and dealer servicing by return. Info doesn't include work done at respective dealers just date, dealer and phone number. They invite you to contact the dealer to confirm work done. All dealers I spoke to were very helpful.

[jamoor]

Egbert Nobacon said:

[e-mail]

email the above with vehicle details and VIN, they will reply in a day or so.

They sent me details of spec and dealer servicing by return. Info doesn't include work done at respective dealers just date, dealer and phone number. They invite you to contact the dealer to confirm work done. All dealers I spoke to were very helpful.

Be glad that exists, I remember asking Peugeot for this kind of info and they were completely retarded.

[chippy17]

Egbert Nobacon said:

[e-mail]

email the above with vehicle details and VIN, they will reply in a day or so.

They sent me details of spec and dealer servicing by return. Info doesn't include work done at respective dealers just date, dealer and phone number. They invite you to contact the dealer to confirm work done. All dealers I spoke to were very helpful.

What if dealer has closed down?

[ol]

Put the premium rate number into this site and it will give you any local numbers related to that line. You then just phone that number and they put you though.

I use it every day, it's amazing:

http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php

[LittleBro]

ol said:

Put the premium rate number into this site and it will give you any local numbers related to that line. You then just phone that number and they put you though.

I use it every day, it's amazing:

http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php

I'll give that a go, thanks.....

[LittleBro]

Thanks for the resposnes chaps.

With regards to the e-mailing them, thats what's changed. This was the response I got.

BMW e-mail said:

Thank you for emailing BMW Customer Information requesting a vehicle specification check. As of July 2008 we are no longer able to offer this service by email.

For all vehicle specification checks please dial the number for the dedicated specification check team who will happily provide you with full vehicle specifications and details of BMW Approved Dealership visits. The new number for the specification check team is 0906 209 0001 and is available Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Calls to this line will be charged at the rate of £1 per minute.

I dont know anything about FoI unfortunately and while I understand that this is BMW's information it relates to a product they are looking after for me and I pay a premium rate fot that so I begrudge having to pay £1 a minute to find out what they've done to the car prior to me owning it.

Anyway, I've spoken with a contact in the dealer network and he'll get the information for me. I wonder if he agree's the me paying c£900 for my last service alone justifies me being a little annoyed by this new charge.

Ho-hum, in their defence, it'll probably be used mostly by prospective buyers and if I was buying a second hand BM, it'd be willing to pay £5 to see what work it has had done.

Thanks again for the responses fellas.

[bras0782]

Can you get info about your car spec and personalised settings from a local BMW dealer? Is there a charge?

Thanks

[[TW]Fox]

It does seem a bit odd that theyve started charging. Ok they probably got quite a few requests but it was usually people checking the validty of service history before buying a used BMW which most would then pour loads of cash into the dealer network with..