My letter to BMW Customer Services
My letter to BMW Customer Services
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Discussion

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

293 months

Sunday 24th May 2009
quotequote all
I wasn't going to bother writing it but then I got a customer satisfaction survey through the post asking for my opinion, so I gave it:

Sirs,
Following my recent two visits to XYZ Dealer I would say I’m fairly satisfied with the overall experience, however there are two points which I feel are worthy of a mention.

My first visit was for a brake fluid service, this was carried out without any problems however the visual health check brought up a few issues, mainly that my tyres were all worn to 2mm tread depth and the propshaft ‘doughnut’ was badly worn and in need of replacement.

This surprised me as this part had been replaced by the same dealer just under two years previously although they seemed unaware of this initially, still after a lengthy search of my records the service staff at XYZ were only too happy to replace the part free of charge under it’s Approved Used Parts warranty but I find it concerning that this “badly worn part” only lasted for around 20,000ish miles.

I booked the car back in with XYZ the following week for the replacement part to be fitted, all went well but the visual health check uncovered a new problem, the tyres now all measured 3mm and one had a puncture.

I’m happy to say that the puncture seems to have fixed itself as the tyre has managed to remain inflated for two weeks, what is more amazing is after a few more hundred miles since that visit I’ve just measured my tyres (with an official BMW tyre depth guage) and the tread depth has grown to 4mm all round.

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that there is only one possible explanation, my car must be a miracle of modern science as the tread depth seems to be growing at the rate of 1mm per week, this means that in about a month they’ll be like new, that’s very satisfying!
Regards
Etc..

Too sarcastic or not sarcastic enough?




Edited by DJFish on Sunday 24th May 01:31

mike325112

1,074 posts

214 months

Sunday 24th May 2009
quotequote all
Not sure, it may mean it gets noticed at least. I wrote a non jokey complaint letter around 4 months ago about dealer service and so far have recived nothing.



Edited by mike325112 on Sunday 24th May 08:27

northandy

3,540 posts

251 months

Sunday 24th May 2009
quotequote all
DJFish said:
I wasn't going to bother writing it but then I got a customer satisfaction survey through the post asking for my opinion, so I gave it:

Sirs,
Following my recent two visits to XYZ Dealer I would say I’m fairly satisfied with the overall experience, however there are two points which I feel are worthy of a mention.

My first visit was for a brake fluid service, this was carried out without any problems however the visual health check brought up a few issues, mainly that my tyres were all worn to 2mm tread depth and the propshaft ‘doughnut’ was badly worn and in need of replacement.

This surprised me as this part had been replaced by the same dealer just under two years previously although they seemed unaware of this initially, still after a lengthy search of my records the service staff at XYZ were only too happy to replace the part free of charge under it’s Approved Used Parts warranty but I find it concerning that this “badly worn part” only lasted for around 20,000ish miles.

I booked the car back in with XYZ the following week for the replacement part to be fitted, all went well but the visual health check uncovered a new problem, the tyres now all measured 3mm and one had a puncture.

I’m happy to say that the puncture seems to have fixed itself as the tyre has managed to remain inflated for two weeks, what is more amazing is after a few more hundred miles since that visit I’ve just measured my tyres (with an official BMW tyre depth guage) and the tread depth has grown to 4mm all round.

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that there is only one possible explanation, my car must be a miracle of modern science as the tread depth seems to be growing at the rate of 1mm per week, this means that in about a month they’ll be like new, that’s very satisfying!
Regards
Etc..

Too sarcastic or not sarcastic enough?




Edited by DJFish on Sunday 24th May 01:31
I dont think they ever check tread depth properly, I took a car in with 1 month old runflats, to be told there was 4mm... when I checked there was 8mm


Neil.D

2,878 posts

236 months

Sunday 24th May 2009
quotequote all
What is the point of the letter though?

Is it just to poke fun or are you actually after something? Its not exactly a complaint, just a 'for your information'. It will be scan read and thrown into the bin.
For me, not worth the effort.

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

293 months

Sunday 24th May 2009
quotequote all
Neil.D said:
What is the point of the letter though?

Is it just to poke fun or are you actually after something? Its not exactly a complaint, just a 'for your information'. It will be scan read and thrown into the bin.
For me, not worth the effort.
The point is that they asked for my opinion so I gave it, I don't expect anything to change when it comes to dealerships under measuring tyres etc but sometimes its nice to vent.

jamoor

14,506 posts

245 months

Monday 25th May 2009
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I would have asked the dealer to measure the tyre in front of you.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
Ideally you need to make more of a point regarding the regrowing tyres.
Something along the lines that many other people would unnecessarily replace perfectly good tyres based on poor advice which is classed as something nasty legally.
Fraud or misrepresentation or something. Then ask if this is standard practice to underestimate tread depths, and how much they have made from this.
They'll reply to that one, although it will be a polite apology and no more i guess.

Toilet Duck

1,367 posts

215 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
DJFish said:
Too sarcastic or not sarcastic enough?
I'd say not angry enough. You're no doubt paying around £120 plus VAT upwards per hour for the privelidge of some unscrupulous "factory trained" scrote to work on your pride and joy, and they can't even measure the tread on your tyres correctly. This is probably the same scrote that "replaced" your worn donut only for it to "magically" wear out in no time. How "kind" of them to offer to replace it again free of charge, someone less trusting than me may be drawn to the conclusion that they didn't actually change it last time when you paid them to! But I'm sure that would never ever happen rolleyes

Edited by Toilet Duck on Monday 25th May 19:46

jamoor

14,506 posts

245 months

Monday 25th May 2009
quotequote all
Why are you taking an 8 year old car to a main dealer anyway?

Don't they seem pretty expensive?

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

293 months

Tuesday 26th May 2009
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Yes but I have an extended warranty so all routine servicing has to be done at a main dealer.