BMW Dealer AGMC - is this normal, wtf?

BMW Dealer AGMC - is this normal, wtf?

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S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
quotequote all
Righto chaps.

Bought another car. Driving the GT3 and Diamondlease rental Lancers everywhere was getting a bit annoying. Either scraping the hell out of the GT3 splitter everywhere, or whincing letting valet parkers slip the clutch, or pulling up at a fine hotel/restaurant in a crapbox, or paying to keep a rental when on hols, all a bit annoying really. Don't get me wrong, great to have the flexibility of the rental for cheap, and it's not exactly a massive problem not wowing the crowds at Grosvenor House/Atlantis when pulling up - and renting is the best thing to do when you first arrive, but I've been here over 1.5yrs now. And, I like cars, so it started to grind after a while driving a "mundane" around. It's just not me.

Soooo, came across an X5 4.8is, 2005, 123k, full BMW AGMC dealer history (rare for the age), pretty good nick for a 7 year old car in Dubai, most are completely trashed. Le mans blue, cream leather, all the extras, panoramic roof especially nice. Needed a few cosmetic bits and pieces and an interior clean. Picked it up at the market rate, wouldn't say it was cheap. Very nice harry.

Had a problem with the drivers door handle carrier, common problem apparantly, and when they let go it means you cant open the drivers door from the outside. Took it to Munich Motor works to get fixed (BMW specialist in Al Quoz), about 500 notes and job done. One of the rear seatbelt buckle holders also wasn't holding the belt properly, so ordered a new one from BMW, cost about AED 400 but not worth messing around with safety. Installed it, all done.

Forward to last weekend, and it comes up as needing an inspection service. Ok, fine. The car has a full AGMC BMW service history. So, I thought to keep the history going and maintain the file, I'll get the major service done at BMW. I got a quote from MMW, About AED 2k. Thought it's worth paying a bit extra to get it done at BMW. The receptionist gave a figure of AED 2.8k, thought that was fair enough and took it there on Sat. That estimate turned out to be wrong, more like AED 3.5k. Ok, a bit more but I had taken the car there, so thought I'd just get on with it. It includes all spark plugs, all filters, prob the only service I will do with the car, so no biggie.

There is a problem with the in built car phone (it's not accepting a sim), so I asked them to take a quick look at it whilst the car was being serviced. Also, after inspecting the car and putting it on the ramp, they saw an oil leak coming from the engine, and one of the CV boots had fluid on it (could have been oil from the leak, wasn't sure). Again, I asked for a quote.

The chap then tells me, it costs AED 400 to look at ANY problem on the car. So, AED 400 just to look at the phone, and AED 400 just to look at the oil leak. WTF? I'm paying AED 3,500 for a major inspection service, shoudn't that automatically generate a report of the car? I'm used to dealing with Porsche for the last 4 years or so, and VW/Audi before that, and they don't charge AED 400 just to look at a problem on the car, they are happy to check through and quote for work for nothing. I have heard that BMW are money grabbing bds at the best of times, but this takes the piss! I understand that if the car comes in off the street with no warranty/history with BMW that they will charge to take a look at something, but when you're paying AED 3.5k for a service? Isn't that going a bit far?

What's your experiences, both in UK and here? Are BMW that st? I planned to use MMW for any ongoing works anyway, so it's not a real problem, but just so I know going forwards - is this standard BMW for you? Or was the guy I dealt with just a pleb?

S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
quotequote all
yorky500 said:
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, BMW Stealership - yes, they really do take the piss even when they don't need to. That's why you see sooooo many BMW's on the market for sale once the warranty expires: they are either too fecking expensive to maintain due to parts failing OR the owner is getting robbed left, right and center by the Stealership.

There are always silver linings though as there is a very good independent BMW Specialist who will not give you BS on your Beamer and is not very far away from your location.
who would you recommend mate?

S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
quotequote all
Chilli said:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry about that. Right, let me help you out here....GET RID OF.

Mine - 2006, 45,000km - Bought for 107k. Full AGMC service history, lovely metallic green/purple colour. Full options, Cream and dark blue 2-tone leather interior. It really was a lovely car.

Within a month, all 4 tyres needed replacing...I forget exactly how much, 8k I think.

Then, a couple of months down the line, it kinda broke down. Cruising along at around 80k, and there was a big "clunk" from the gearbox, and the electrics went mental. Anyways AED15k later at Tony Levoi's it was fixed. A week or so later it broke down again. Fuel pump...Changed that, but it still wouldn't start. A further AED8k on various bits and pieces later and it's back with me. Then guess what.....The drivers door handle broke!!!!!!!

So, about 10 months later I sold it for 72k.

Going forward I won't EVER buy a second hand car here, expecially a 4x4. Trust no-one, especially the BMW dealer. One quote they gave me was for AED15k for something. I said no as it was too expensive, so they said "err....ok, how about 12k"?? I'm not bartering with you you idiot!

Oh, forgot what else it was, but Munich motors relieved me of 6 grand as well.
I went into it with open eyes, realise that any heavy big engined older 4x4 will need money spent on it to run. Mine came with practically new tyres (bridgestones, not budget crap), and new suspension from BMW @ AED 16k less than a year back. I also know the gearboxes go wrong also, have to see how that pans out.

Just wasn't aware of the extent of BMW dealers ability to bend people over. I thought Porsche would be worse, what with more expensive cars and the segment which they are in. But Porsche are looking fairly reasonable now to be honest.

S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
quotequote all
yorky500 said:
DAS Autoworks. I take my E36 M3 there and only there. The guy is straight up, will not lie and he keeps to his word. His labour rates are damn good too. You can either get the parts yourself or he can buy them, really up to you.

I have not tried X-Service Centre, but they are another independent BMW Service centre.
Thanks mate, I'll look them up. Who should I ask for? And who shall I say recommended them?

S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Monday 12th March 2012
quotequote all
Update on this one:

Sooo, turned up to collect the car, it was complete and ready to pick up as promised on the times specified. They gave me a small discount on the service also to match it with the quoted price. So far so good.

Paid for the work, service guy ran me through the extra work which they recommended. They recommended 2 front shocks, some other suspension parts (bushings etc...) and an alignment and 4x4 checkup. The total for all the work they recommended was approx AED 11k, so not cheap, but they seemed honest enough. No "discs and pads all round needed SIR" like I have experienced with Porsche in the UK, just straight forward.

Car was cleaned well inside and out, and they had fixed a few bits of loose trim also (handbrake leather cover was not fixed down before, after service it was as new). Also the oil leak that had first developed the day before the service has now gone, not sure if it may have been a leak from the oil filter - looks like it could be the culprit (or maybe sump plug) if it's gone after a service.

Anyhoo, they managed to service a car without stuffing anything up. Which is expected from a main dealer for sure. Have to consider a suspension refresh at somepoint going forward, maybe when it needs new tyres all round. Back on the road, and seems to be ok for now.....

S1MMA

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

220 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
quotequote all
I just wanted to bring this old thread back up, as I sold the X5.

Let me give anyone else who is reading this now, or may read this in future some advice. And I will point you in the direction of someone who knew what they were talking about on this thread.

This is the only advice you need:

Chilli said:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry about that. Right, let me help you out here....GET RID OF.
You were 100% right mate. Had endless problems with it, spend over AED60k on it in under 2 years on repairs/maintenance/parts etc. Total pile of st and wish I never bought one.

Never again. Hopefully this will help someone else!