F80 M3 Dealer Damage!
Discussion
So my 5 week old BMW M3 went into the main BMW dealership in High Wycombe on Saturday for it's "running in" service.
Unfortunately it was windy and an unlocked gate blew into the bonnet! Now while they've taken full responsibility, given me a basic courtesy car (320d) and are fixing the problem the service advisor seemed to suggest that they might have to "fill the damage" rather than fit a brand new (aluminium) bonnet before they paint it and that while they would reduce the price of the service, they couldn't do it for free ...
Am I being unreasonable in thinking a car that new should have new parts and not fudged ones? Or that a £250 service might be fair compensation for losing my toy for 10 days?
Has anyone else negotiated decent discounts for "issues" like this?
I'm still so pissed off I can't decide what looks reasonable ......
Unfortunately it was windy and an unlocked gate blew into the bonnet! Now while they've taken full responsibility, given me a basic courtesy car (320d) and are fixing the problem the service advisor seemed to suggest that they might have to "fill the damage" rather than fit a brand new (aluminium) bonnet before they paint it and that while they would reduce the price of the service, they couldn't do it for free ...
Am I being unreasonable in thinking a car that new should have new parts and not fudged ones? Or that a £250 service might be fair compensation for losing my toy for 10 days?
Has anyone else negotiated decent discounts for "issues" like this?
I'm still so pissed off I can't decide what looks reasonable ......
I'd expect the service for free, if not another in future....they've damaged your new toy, deprived you of it when you want it most (i.e. when new) and they've no doubt wasted some of your time (which if you can afford a new M3, probably means your time is worth rather a lot!).
Hard to judge about whether repair/replacement is a more reasonable demand without pictures. If you're really not happy, I guess you could threaten to just hand over settlement of the issue to your insurer....who might insist upon a replacement by their insurer (and use up more of the dealer's time, compared to dealing direct with you).
[If I were you, I'd remove the location reference in your OP - probably falls foul of 'name and shame' rule, meaning your post could be removed.]
Hard to judge about whether repair/replacement is a more reasonable demand without pictures. If you're really not happy, I guess you could threaten to just hand over settlement of the issue to your insurer....who might insist upon a replacement by their insurer (and use up more of the dealer's time, compared to dealing direct with you).
[If I were you, I'd remove the location reference in your OP - probably falls foul of 'name and shame' rule, meaning your post could be removed.]
mondie said:
Not unreasonable at all. The free service should be a given, not so sure on the bonnet replacement. How bad is the damage?
OK - there are two decent dents - a round 1cm deep dent 6 inches left of the scratch (where the handle hit). The base of the scratch itself is about half a cm deep and it finishes in a dent about 1cm deep (where the base of the latch dug in). Not horrific and maybe I'm being petty, but it was only a month old when it happened ....... 
mondie said:
Not unreasonable at all. The free service should be a given, not so sure on the bonnet replacement. How bad is the damage?
Agreed, they damage the bonnet on your new 60k car and offer to "fill it" like you would a 2k Astra? Seriously that is very unreasonable, new bonnet minimum + free service at least OP.
Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 16th April 08:58
At the very least I'd expect:
- Brand New Bonnet, no filling
- Courtesy car of equal value
You could call accident exchange and they'll put you in a better car for nowt, and then claim off the dealer for the car and new bonnet. No disrespect to 320d owners but it's not an acceptable replacement for an M4.
- Brand New Bonnet, no filling
- Courtesy car of equal value
You could call accident exchange and they'll put you in a better car for nowt, and then claim off the dealer for the car and new bonnet. No disrespect to 320d owners but it's not an acceptable replacement for an M4.
Edited by markwm on Thursday 16th April 00:05
I would go ******* nuts if a dealer tried to "fill" the dent on any brand new car I bought if they had damaged it. New bonnet for sure; as for a courtesy car, if they don't have an M3 to lend you then you're not in a position to demand it. I'm sure driving a new 320d isn't a hardship.
Panthro said:
I would go ******* nuts if a dealer tried to "fill" the dent on any brand new car I bought if they had damaged it. New bonnet for sure; as for a courtesy car, if they don't have an M3 to lend you then you're not in a position to demand it. I'm sure driving a new 320d isn't a hardship.
Good answer. This. Even fitting a brand new bonnet, free service and equivalent hire car would be unacceptable.
Even with replacement parts you still have a car that's had a resprayed bonnet and this will have to be blended into the wings and bumper, if you were to sell the car immediately after the repair that would diminish it's value. Someone looking at the car could think it's had a front end collision, if I was looking and saw such evidence I'd be very sceptical. They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards blah blah, but in my experience BMW standards of repair are OK at best, there will be signs that it's been repaired.
My starting point, although probably extreme in many peoples eyes, would be to require a replacement, plus provide an equivalent until the replacement is provided. Anything less and you'll probably be out of pocket which is not right. You should be restored to the position you were in before the damage occurred, and the only way to full achieve that with a very nearly new car is to replace the vehicle.
Even with replacement parts you still have a car that's had a resprayed bonnet and this will have to be blended into the wings and bumper, if you were to sell the car immediately after the repair that would diminish it's value. Someone looking at the car could think it's had a front end collision, if I was looking and saw such evidence I'd be very sceptical. They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards blah blah, but in my experience BMW standards of repair are OK at best, there will be signs that it's been repaired.
My starting point, although probably extreme in many peoples eyes, would be to require a replacement, plus provide an equivalent until the replacement is provided. Anything less and you'll probably be out of pocket which is not right. You should be restored to the position you were in before the damage occurred, and the only way to full achieve that with a very nearly new car is to replace the vehicle.
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