Dealership wait times?
Discussion
My 535 GT pinged up a suspension level failure message yesterday. Last time, it had dropped on one side and needed a new airbag, a common fault. This time, the ride height is about 3 inches higher than it should be, on both sides.
I rung my local dealership this morning (a place where I have worked as a service driver) and was told due to recalls, it would be three weeks before they could look at it!
I asked for the service manager (who I know and worked for) to give me a call and was told he would ring me within the hour. Guess what? No, he didn't call back, so three hours later, I called the BMW assistance and they had the car recovered to the very same dealership.
I have read about the EGR recall campaign and the problems people have had with getting the job done, both due to parts supply problems and workshop time. It makes me wonder if BMW have thought about how they will deal with the recalls and at the same time, with the normal day to day breakdowns and servicing? To have a car essentially VOR for three weeks is pretty poor. Is this the experience elsewhere, both for wait times and lack of customer service?
I rung my local dealership this morning (a place where I have worked as a service driver) and was told due to recalls, it would be three weeks before they could look at it!
I asked for the service manager (who I know and worked for) to give me a call and was told he would ring me within the hour. Guess what? No, he didn't call back, so three hours later, I called the BMW assistance and they had the car recovered to the very same dealership.
I have read about the EGR recall campaign and the problems people have had with getting the job done, both due to parts supply problems and workshop time. It makes me wonder if BMW have thought about how they will deal with the recalls and at the same time, with the normal day to day breakdowns and servicing? To have a car essentially VOR for three weeks is pretty poor. Is this the experience elsewhere, both for wait times and lack of customer service?
I booked my M6 for an oil change & a warranty look as to why the ABS/TC was broken, 2nd January. At point of booking in it was a further three weeks before they could take the car in, and a further three weeks before they gave it me back. (Apparently the M6 needs a special tool for it’s wheel bearings, and they didn’t have one... I don’t care - didn’t need the car, but the excuses are fun).
They’re absolutely hammered out with the recall work, can’t be much of a life as a spanner wielder right now in a MD BMW place.
They’re absolutely hammered out with the recall work, can’t be much of a life as a spanner wielder right now in a MD BMW place.
Riggie said:
.......I have read about the EGR recall campaign and the problems people have had with getting the job done, both due to parts supply problems and workshop time. It makes me wonder if BMW have thought about how they will deal with the recalls and at the same time, with the normal day to day breakdowns and servicing?
Yes they have: Fit the recalls in as best they can, when they happen, and when they have the parts available to sort the recalls out.Have you thought about what you're going to do about that car accident you're going to have tomorrow?
How about that heart attack you'll be having Wednesday?
What plans have you made for that 747 jet engine that's going to drop on your house a week on Tuesday?
Have you thought about booking a hospital room for the stroke you're going to have in 10 months time?
What plans have you made for your gas boiler exploding in the middle of the night in three years time?
The fact is, you won't have planned for any of them, because you don't expect any of them to happen. The same goes for BMW and recalls - They don't have a pre-set plan for recalls because:
1) They don't expect them to happen.
2) They can't predict the future.
MitchT said:
Modern cars. More sophisticated. More to go wrong. Built to a price. More fragile. More work for dealers. Longer wait to get things fixed. Welcome to the new normal.
Cars have always been built to a price (are you serious?) More Fragile (now that has to be a joke modern cars are like bank vaults compared to old cars) More to go wrong (I'll give that but still more doesn't go wrong and they start and stop these days as an example when often they didn't) 4rephill said:
Riggie said:
.......I have read about the EGR recall campaign and the problems people have had with getting the job done, both due to parts supply problems and workshop time. It makes me wonder if BMW have thought about how they will deal with the recalls and at the same time, with the normal day to day breakdowns and servicing?
Yes they have: Fit the recalls in as best they can, when they happen, and when they have the parts available to sort the recalls out.Have you thought about what you're going to do about that car accident you're going to have tomorrow?
How about that heart attack you'll be having Wednesday?
What plans have you made for that 747 jet engine that's going to drop on your house a week on Tuesday?
Have you thought about booking a hospital room for the stroke you're going to have in 10 months time?
What plans have you made for your gas boiler exploding in the middle of the night in three years time?
The fact is, you won't have planned for any of them, because you don't expect any of them to happen. The same goes for BMW and recalls - They don't have a pre-set plan for recalls because:
1) They don't expect them to happen.
2) They can't predict the future.
REALIST123 said:
I doubt that any of the things you’ve mentioned are statistically even remotely likely to happen as much as a BMW recall or warranty failure.
Very true, and BMW would have known about this and should have phased the recalls or made contingencies such as extra staff/shifts.4rephill said:
Yes they have: Fit the recalls in as best they can, when they happen, and when they have the parts available to sort the recalls out.
Have you thought about what you're going to do about that car accident you're going to have tomorrow?
How about that heart attack you'll be having Wednesday?
What plans have you made for that 747 jet engine that's going to drop on your house a week on Tuesday?
Have you thought about booking a hospital room for the stroke you're going to have in 10 months time?
What plans have you made for your gas boiler exploding in the middle of the night in three years time?
The fact is, you won't have planned for any of them, because you don't expect any of them to happen. The same goes for BMW and recalls - They don't have a pre-set plan for recalls because:
1) They don't expect them to happen.
2) They can't predict the future.
But when they know, they should make plans to deal. Does this excuse the fact that they couldn't even be bothered to call me back?Have you thought about what you're going to do about that car accident you're going to have tomorrow?
How about that heart attack you'll be having Wednesday?
What plans have you made for that 747 jet engine that's going to drop on your house a week on Tuesday?
Have you thought about booking a hospital room for the stroke you're going to have in 10 months time?
What plans have you made for your gas boiler exploding in the middle of the night in three years time?
The fact is, you won't have planned for any of them, because you don't expect any of them to happen. The same goes for BMW and recalls - They don't have a pre-set plan for recalls because:
1) They don't expect them to happen.
2) They can't predict the future.
I am in the US. I have always been able to take my car right in and get a loaner without a question. And that is even on my prior 2016 330e that was so problem ridden that I eventually sold it back to BMW (now driving a rock solid 2018 530e).
I suspect that it is a combination of different practices in the US and my particular dealer (part of a group of dealers with common ownereship all clustered together that all sell expensive imports (Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, etc. etc.).
A couple of months ago I was due for my one year maintenance. I called my SA and she got me right in at my preferred day and time.
I suspect that it is a combination of different practices in the US and my particular dealer (part of a group of dealers with common ownereship all clustered together that all sell expensive imports (Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, etc. etc.).
A couple of months ago I was due for my one year maintenance. I called my SA and she got me right in at my preferred day and time.
steveinarizona said:
I am in the US. I have always been able to take my car right in and get a loaner without a question. And that is even on my prior 2016 330e that was so problem ridden that I eventually sold it back to BMW (now driving a rock solid 2018 530e).
I suspect that it is a combination of different practices in the US and my particular dealer (part of a group of dealers with common ownereship all clustered together that all sell expensive imports (Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, etc. etc.).
A couple of months ago I was due for my one year maintenance. I called my SA and she got me right in at my preferred day and time.
Sounds great, I've never known it like that here, and I've been driving BMs for 25 years.I suspect that it is a combination of different practices in the US and my particular dealer (part of a group of dealers with common ownereship all clustered together that all sell expensive imports (Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, etc. etc.).
A couple of months ago I was due for my one year maintenance. I called my SA and she got me right in at my preferred day and time.
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