What annoys/puts you off most from BMW dealer service?
Discussion
sjj84 said:
Also being quite young, I find that the staff are very dismissive until they realise that I have actually got a BMW, I'm sure they get a lot of time wasters, but I'd rather they found out first before being rude/ignorant.
This is one thing I never encounter at my local dealer - they are polite, courteous and always greet me by name and I never feel like I'm being treated as second class, and I'm the same age as you and never dress in anything smarter than a hoody and a pair of vans.The cost is a big factor for me £110/hour takes the mickey.
My 523 went to a stealer in newcastle because I thought there was an air leak, also emmission were showing a lean running condition on the MOT I could hear a hissing noise from under the intake manifold and so could the forman.
Dropped the car off at 9am, still not looked at by 3pm. When they did look at it they said there was NO FAULT even thou the forman could hear the leak as well. They said the stripped the entire intake system down and inspected all pipes and all was ok and tried to charge me £147, told them to ferk off and refused to pay.
I stripped the intake system down found a cracked clip on a hose at bottom of oil seperator. Also when the car went to the local garage (not stealer) they replaced the intake gaskets and car ran like a dream...
Same dealer also refused to replace the timing chain on my e30M3 becasue they didnt want to open up an "OLD" engine
My 523 went to a stealer in newcastle because I thought there was an air leak, also emmission were showing a lean running condition on the MOT I could hear a hissing noise from under the intake manifold and so could the forman.
Dropped the car off at 9am, still not looked at by 3pm. When they did look at it they said there was NO FAULT even thou the forman could hear the leak as well. They said the stripped the entire intake system down and inspected all pipes and all was ok and tried to charge me £147, told them to ferk off and refused to pay.
I stripped the intake system down found a cracked clip on a hose at bottom of oil seperator. Also when the car went to the local garage (not stealer) they replaced the intake gaskets and car ran like a dream...
Same dealer also refused to replace the timing chain on my e30M3 becasue they didnt want to open up an "OLD" engine
dxb335d said:
sjj84 said:
Cost is probably the main factor
But Indies dont use the exact same parts as BMW use. Otherwise it still would only be a small percentage cheaper. The reason there so much cheaper is also the quality of the parts.The main reason that I stay away from main dealers is the £100 + vat hourly rate.
I've also been told that the speed sensitive volume in my X5 would require a key re-programme to adjust (1 hour), I later found the option on the radio after finding more butons to press.
The indie I use also uses OEM parts, and although the workshop is 20 miles away the guy lives round the corner and will happily take my car to work with him to save me driving.
I've also been told that the speed sensitive volume in my X5 would require a key re-programme to adjust (1 hour), I later found the option on the radio after finding more butons to press.
The indie I use also uses OEM parts, and although the workshop is 20 miles away the guy lives round the corner and will happily take my car to work with him to save me driving.
Speed addicted said:
The main reason that I stay away from main dealers is the £100 + vat hourly rate.
+1.While I find BMW dealers to be mostly competant, they
do charge the earth.
Only the stuff in the service book goes to BMW
dealer to maintain the FBMWSH.
Everything else, other places. I've got to spread
my favours around.
I had a couple of problems with my E39. The first was a flywheel vibration that I firstly used an apparently competent indie to investigate. They charged me a lot of money and got nowhere, except pointing at the engine. They seemed to be rather dependant on what they could see on their computer terminal.
Then I tried a dealer, and they suggested the problem was with the gearbox or the petrol tank. So, not much success or confidence there, then, but I had no better luck with the indie.
I diagnosed and fixed it myself; it wasn't THAT difficult. Servicing doesn't seem to be too challenging, and I want the stamps in the book alright, but when the going gets more difficult, I don't have that much confidence in anyone.
Nick
Then I tried a dealer, and they suggested the problem was with the gearbox or the petrol tank. So, not much success or confidence there, then, but I had no better luck with the indie.
I diagnosed and fixed it myself; it wasn't THAT difficult. Servicing doesn't seem to be too challenging, and I want the stamps in the book alright, but when the going gets more difficult, I don't have that much confidence in anyone.
Nick
"Forgetting" to reduce the tyre pressures from the massive over-inflated state they are delivered with at PDI - and not spotting that one of the roof rails was a different colour (no, I'm not making this up).
Whilst having BMW Performance CF trim fitted, removing the old trim apparently with a screwdriver and a claw hammer, badly damaging it. If I'd have wanted it *ucked up, I'd have done it myself, not paid £250+ in labour to have you *uck it up thanks. (To be fair, after 3 weeks of digging my heels in, the damaged parts were replaced).
Whilst having BMW Performance CF trim fitted, removing the old trim apparently with a screwdriver and a claw hammer, badly damaging it. If I'd have wanted it *ucked up, I'd have done it myself, not paid £250+ in labour to have you *uck it up thanks. (To be fair, after 3 weeks of digging my heels in, the damaged parts were replaced).
Cost is the major thing which puts me off, I think my local dealer changes around £120+ VAT for a mechanic which is insane.
I tend to do most general stuff myself as i quite capable of doing most stuff, Specialist stuff goes to munch legends who change around 1/2 the hourly rate of BMW, only use BMW parts.
I know of a local mechanic who charges under £30 and hour and is very good, how can BMW justify 4 times this, I know they've got to pay for a big flashy work shop but still.
I'd also not even consider buying things like tyres from them. Quick fit price + and hour for the mechanic to sit in quick fit drinking tea.
I tend to do most general stuff myself as i quite capable of doing most stuff, Specialist stuff goes to munch legends who change around 1/2 the hourly rate of BMW, only use BMW parts.
I know of a local mechanic who charges under £30 and hour and is very good, how can BMW justify 4 times this, I know they've got to pay for a big flashy work shop but still.
I'd also not even consider buying things like tyres from them. Quick fit price + and hour for the mechanic to sit in quick fit drinking tea.
I'm rather anal about my car detailing and I always ask the dealer NOT to clean the car as I don't want it back covered in swirl marks.
I watch the service advisor dutifully write this down on the job sheet but when the car comes back it always comes back 'washed' by a muppet with a gritty sponge and with truckloads of swirl marks all over it.
When I complain they say that I should bring it in for them to 'run the mop' over it. Are you kidding!!
I watch the service advisor dutifully write this down on the job sheet but when the car comes back it always comes back 'washed' by a muppet with a gritty sponge and with truckloads of swirl marks all over it.
When I complain they say that I should bring it in for them to 'run the mop' over it. Are you kidding!!
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