BMW in Southampton
Discussion
Not mentioning any names but I'm posting my experience of the main dealer for BMW in Southampton. I took my car there in October to have a couple of things done under warranty and having gone through the winter with little need for sunglasses, the other day when the sun actually came out for a moment or two, I went to get them from the centre console and they weren't there. Only I drive the car and only I kept my glasses there. The car has only been out of my possession on that one occasion. No one there could give a toss that they possibly have a member of staff who removes things. I wrote a letter to the dealer principle, and said i would post my experience on here, he also couldn't care, and just wrote a half literate letter back saying so.
I won't be going there again, but if you do, I would remove anything valuable. I thought the condition of the used cars in stock was bad enough when I was browsing there, but the customer service obviously matches.
I have just booked the car into the dealer in Portsmouth for another issue and am hoping they will be better!
I won't be going there again, but if you do, I would remove anything valuable. I thought the condition of the used cars in stock was bad enough when I was browsing there, but the customer service obviously matches.
I have just booked the car into the dealer in Portsmouth for another issue and am hoping they will be better!
Is there another in Southampton? I'm not sure I was allowed to name, but yes they are in Chandlers Ford. It took 3 phone calls before anyone even asked what glasses they were. If it was my business and someone called me to report an expensive item going missing, I would do my best to resolve the issue. This has been ruled as something I can't prove so that's that. I never once mentioned I thought they had been stolen, more that as the issue it went in with was concerning the interior, had they been removed and not replaced. I'm not one to bother complaining usually and didnt even mention the scratches put on the freshly detailed paint when the car was washed as I'd forgotten to ask them not to wash it. I wrote a polite letter outlining how the whole case had been handled, to the dealer principle and didnt even get an apology.
I think it's hit and miss with BMW dealers, as Eddie has said he has had no issues with them and choosing them over bmth when he lived in spitting distance says alot. my father never had 1 decent experience with the bmth lot in 10 years, over 4 cars averaging 25-35k per year (company car had no choice but to go there from the powers that be), yet my father in law hasn't a bad word to say about bmth, he is on first name terms with all the service receptionists!
StJohn said:
Is there another in Southampton? I'm not sure I was allowed to name, but yes they are in Chandlers Ford. It took 3 phone calls before anyone even asked what glasses they were. If it was my business and someone called me to report an expensive item going missing, I would do my best to resolve the issue. This has been ruled as something I can't prove so that's that. I never once mentioned I thought they had been stolen, more that as the issue it went in with was concerning the interior, had they been removed and not replaced. I'm not one to bother complaining usually and didnt even mention the scratches put on the freshly detailed paint when the car was washed as I'd forgotten to ask them not to wash it. I wrote a polite letter outlining how the whole case had been handled, to the dealer principle and didnt even get an apology.
Tip for getting your car washed at Chandlers Ford:A. Don't get it washed. That's what I do.
B. If you do need it washed, ask for a hand wash. It'll be done on site in the valet bay by one of the service techs..
C. The regular wash they offer is done at the car wash round the corner. Thatll be why your car was scratched.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the BMW garage at Chandlers Ford which rhymes with " shot ball " is absolutely crap.
Your experience does not surprise me in the slightest.
From sales to servicing they are all useless.
Take your car to Brystones in future. Perfect service there.
Your experience does not surprise me in the slightest.
From sales to servicing they are all useless.
Take your car to Brystones in future. Perfect service there.
My brother and I went to the same dealer to buy 2 nearly new 135i's, as in 6 months to a year old. Anyway, they were just not interested as they didn't have any in stock. We requested a search but nothing came of it. The sales guys seemed more interested in the new 5 series GT car that had just been released.
We gave up in the end and went to synter in ascot, where we were welcomed in and a search of the system resulted in us getting an ex demonstrator (3 months old full spec) and another 1 year old. Total cost just shy of £60k. We collected the cars about 3-4 days later.
The Southampton lot do mainly fleet cars and have little interest in retail.
After we bought our cars I wrote to the Southampton lot complaining about the lack of interest in us as customers, but never even received a reply.
Cheers
Steve
We gave up in the end and went to synter in ascot, where we were welcomed in and a search of the system resulted in us getting an ex demonstrator (3 months old full spec) and another 1 year old. Total cost just shy of £60k. We collected the cars about 3-4 days later.
The Southampton lot do mainly fleet cars and have little interest in retail.
After we bought our cars I wrote to the Southampton lot complaining about the lack of interest in us as customers, but never even received a reply.
Cheers
Steve
The last couple of visits I had to both SO & PO Postcode BMW franchise dealers have resulted in me having to go back in and asking them to rectify problems which you would not expect.
One was only a minor issue (after making me wait over an hour for a courtesy car to come back, only to find out it was parked outside all the time but someone had not put the key back) of not resetting the service warning light after an oil service with the other managing to leave oil on the door trim, seat and steering wheel.
One was only a minor issue (after making me wait over an hour for a courtesy car to come back, only to find out it was parked outside all the time but someone had not put the key back) of not resetting the service warning light after an oil service with the other managing to leave oil on the door trim, seat and steering wheel.
Its a good thing that internet forums only have people posting the bad stuff that happens to them. It'd be dead in here if life went 100% our way all the time. I wouldnt go anywhere other than the dealer 'not mentioned' here with a BMW that i owned. Never once queried a claim i made, made other PHers most welcome and sorted my father in law out with a new 640d last year, including offering a crazy high px price for his 645ci. Opinions are subjective, lets not make this a witch hunt. I feel for the OP, but it may not have been the dealer directly at fault (but at fault nevertheless).
As i said earlier, cars go for washing around the corner at the local drive-through. Heaven knows what type of person works there going by other places ive seen across the county. Plenty of Albanians out there with nice sunglasses!!
As i said earlier, cars go for washing around the corner at the local drive-through. Heaven knows what type of person works there going by other places ive seen across the county. Plenty of Albanians out there with nice sunglasses!!
As reporting it to the police will probably only give me a crime number which I could use if I wanted to claim for them on the house insurance, I'm not sure I can be bothered as I don't want to claim. They were worth about £250, my excess is £200. I may do though, so as to log it in case anyone else has a similar experience. Ecain, with over 18 years experience of the motor trade, I am we'll aware of the car washing standards at main dealers, which is why if I had thought they would do it, I would have left the usual instructions to not wash it. I don't even let the Ford dealer wash my van! I've worked at dealers next to the valetors and experienced the chamois being flung on the floor, jet washed, picked up and wrung, then straight over the cars, on many occasions. Like I said, I'm not one to complain usually, life's too short and it's only a car, when you work with them all day, you become less fanatical about your own. On each occasion I spoke to anyone there, I made it clear that I wasn't accusing anyone of theft, I also said I knew it was my word against theirs and that I could be on to a nice little scheme of dropping cars in to garages, complaining of something missing and trying to claim compensation. I wrote a polite, recorded delivery letter to the principle stating that it was more the lack of interest or help from his staff that I was annoyed with, especially given that I had been decent about it. A lot of people I know, would have chosen to drive down on a busy Saturday, park across the entrance and start shouting and swearing. The half literate letter consisting of 2 paragraphs he could muster up to reply, pretty much said tough, you can't prove they were there. I mentioned I was a member of this forum and would find it hard not to mention it on here and as he didnt object, I did!
I'm sure a nicely worded letter expressing some regret at how a customer of his had been dealt with would have gone some way to helping, and the offer of even a contribution towards my loss would have helped even more. If anyone ever does see an Albanian car washer in distinguished Prada Sports, let me know, cheers.
I'm sure a nicely worded letter expressing some regret at how a customer of his had been dealt with would have gone some way to helping, and the offer of even a contribution towards my loss would have helped even more. If anyone ever does see an Albanian car washer in distinguished Prada Sports, let me know, cheers.
In my case it was not about my subjective opinion, the behaviour of the sales team spoke for itself, they simply weren't interested. The reputation of this bunch is well known, not some one off. Its all to do with their attitude. Being on top of that hill has given them delusions of grander. Not replying to a letter posted in by two customers who had to go to another dealer to purchase two cars, because they couldn't get service from his dealership...well...speaks for itself.........
ecain63 said:
As i said earlier, cars go for washing around the corner at the local drive-through. Heaven knows what type of person works there going by other places ive seen across the county. Plenty of Albanians out there with nice sunglasses!!
They have an on-site car wash. I work over the road and the only cars that leave are new ones on trade plates going round the block as part of the PDI.They are not taken to the car wash at Asda round the corner.
KTF said:
ecain63 said:
As i said earlier, cars go for washing around the corner at the local drive-through. Heaven knows what type of person works there going by other places ive seen across the county. Plenty of Albanians out there with nice sunglasses!!
They have an on-site car wash. I work over the road and the only cars that leave are new ones on trade plates going round the block as part of the PDI.They are not taken to the car wash at Asda round the corner.
Count me as another satisfied customer of that dealer that can't be mentioned. The "winter" dealer in Hants is only a few miles from home but the arrogance and apathy I first encountered in 1999 seems to have changed little. I don't expect or even want people fawning over me when I walk through the door but an interest in satisfying my needs and a display of basic common courtesy/respect would be nice. Tough to find at that "winter" dealer. You may find yourself going from the frying pan into the fire.
Just an update. I have just picked my car up from the Portsmouth dealer after it went in for a problem with pulling away causing it to judder like you are a learner driver. I had read up on the net that it is a common problem with 3 series and could require a new clutch, but most dealers will say it is fine and just a characteristic of the car which you will get used to and adapt your driving style to, etc,etc. I was fully expecting to get no where with it, but as it has only a couple of months until its warranty runs out, thought I would give it a shot. Nick from the dealers couldn't have been more friendly, approachable, honest, professional and courteous, if he owned the business. I had a courtesy car, for no charge, regular updates and the car ready to pick up when he had promised. It had a new clutch put in without any quibbles. He even came out to help get my golf clubs and child seat out of the car. I will be using them in future. Oh, and I made sure no one washed it, which he wrote on the key fob in Polish!
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