M4 in for repair - need an equivalent car for trip

M4 in for repair - need an equivalent car for trip

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ic0n

Original Poster:

206 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Rant below - need an M car ideally from BMW for a trip to Scotland this weekend. Trying to get BMW UK and the dealer to push for something, best so far I've been offered is a 430i (rejected).

Has anyone been in this situation and got BMW to sort this out?




Got my M4 last March, had ECU issues just after the running in service and was in with Berry Chiswick for about 2 weeks (avoid them at all costs). One of the computers that was replaced was on back order apparently.

Kicked up a fuss - bearing in mind I had to beg for a hire car - and got 300 quid from BMW in compensation.

Fast forward to last weekend, car won't start. Turns over but doesn't fire. 2 hours from home. Had to be recovered overnight - car won't go into neutral unless started - recovery firm give me a loaner to get home in which was handy but turned out they could have taken me to the aiport and gotten a BMW from Enterprise?

Monday morning, I pick BMW Park Lane Aftersales as the garage to use for the repair as I know it's actually BMW UK (correct me if wrong), logic here is the turnaround will be quicker.

Car has to be dragged onto their carpark and we leave it there. Enterprise provide a 520d. I have a moan at the service manager and tell him how bad last year was, he says they'll be looking at it the same day and will get back to me.

True to his word, Monday evening they call and it's the ISM (supply module). Will be delivered tomorrow.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) comes around, part is fitted but problem still there. He now says its one of the computers (forget the name) and need authorisation from BMW to order this part.

Wednesday - problem is not this but actually the "high pressure fuel pump" which believe it or not is on backorder. 5-7 days to have this part, but he's already got BMW Emergency Services to extend my hire. I know the drill, guess we'll chat next week.

This week - fuel pump replaced and guess what it doesn't fix it. DME now on order, but part is in Germany. I won't have the car in time for Friday so I now don't have a decent car for my trip.

Riggie

178 posts

124 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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6 month old M car with all these problems? I'd be giving serious thought to rejecting it. In the meantime, a 430i isn't such a bad place to be?

STe_rsv4

647 posts

97 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Why does your trip specify that you need an M car this weekend?
Are you racing or something?

ic0n

Original Poster:

206 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Riggie said:
6 month old M car with all these problems? I'd be giving serious thought to rejecting it. In the meantime, a 430i isn't such a bad place to be?
Sorry - it's a bit of a ramble, it's 18 months old but first set of issues was shortly after I bought it last year.

ic0n

Original Poster:

206 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
In terms of why I want an equivalent car: it's a driving trip in the highlands, I paid for a very expensive M car that is now unusable for the second time. Simple.

mackay45

832 posts

170 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Maybe try and speak to someone higher up the chain? Dealer Principle or someone at BMW UK (either in PR team or email directly to the BMW UK MD, looks to be a chap called Graeme Grieve?)

Explain your love of M cars, the problems you've been having with the car, that you know the dealership are doing their best to sort it out etc. but that it's disappointing blah blah blah, say you are doing a Highlands trip this weekend and had been looking forward to doing the trip in your M4, that the dealership had kindly offered a 430i but that you are hoping they may be able to do you a favour and get you an M car.

I'd try the above both with the DP and via the MD, if you word it nicely you might have some luck. If the Dealer Principle drives anything tasty you may find yourself borrowing his car for the weekend!

BMW must have plenty of M cars littered around the place ready for journos etc. to pick up, there will probably be one unused this weekend so it's just a case of getting the right person on your side to help sort something out.

If all else fails, take the 430i.


4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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The dealership are under no obligation to provide a like for like replacement - In fact, technically, they're under no obligation to provide a car at all!

The clue is in the name of the service: "Courtesy car" - It's a courtesy service that they provide to keep customers mobile, it's not a right of purchase service.

You can try demanding that they provide you an M4 for your trip, but My monies on it not happening!

You can also try telling them how disappointed you are, and state that if they don't provide you an M car replacement, you'll never buy another M car again - And I suspect they will simply say: "Oh!.....Sorry to hear that!.......Goodbye!"

thebraketester

14,193 posts

137 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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Take the 430i and rinse it.

diehardbenzfan

2,624 posts

156 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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You mention berry in Chiswick, there's a guy on YouTube called Joe Achilles who mainly does videos on bmw's, anyways if you look at his videos, he gets to borrow all sorts of cars from berry in Heathrow, he just had an m4 for the weekend to do a video in, he had a 440i for a week and has had a few m140's as well.

If you've paid 70+ k for an m4 which clearly isn't fit for purpose and the best they're offering you is a boring 4 cylinder 2.0 4 series, surely that's an insult when a random geezer is getting all these cars just to make videos on?! You should higlight this next time you speak to them.

Somebody mentions courtesy car and bmw not being obligated to give you any car. I think they call it a loan car. The term courtesy car is used for car repairs after being in an accident by the insurance as insurance policies have add ons for a courtesy car in the event of an accident.

BMW are definitely obliged to supply the OP for a like for like car. If he had a 530d and they offered him a 320d, it would be fine but to buy an M4 and be offered a 430i after kicking up a fuss is an insult!

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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thebraketester said:
Take the 430i and rinse it.
Or get it chipped before the trip. laugh Near enough the same thing then isn't it?


Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 22 September 01:15

ic0n

Original Poster:

206 posts

166 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
Edit: pending outcome

Edited by ic0n on Thursday 21st September 09:36

jimmybell

583 posts

116 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
BMW Monopoly Board broke my Z4 M Coupe when servicing it earlier in the year, took them 4 months to repair it, the best loaner i got offered was a 320d which i politely refused. Turning up to Z4 owners meets, PH meets, going on road trips and generally doing weekend hoons isn't quite the same in a repmobile.

I chose to use them for servicing for the same reasons (BMW UK ownership, avoiding franchise bs). Let's just say i fully appreciate the aftersales experience you're probably receiving now.

I would say - don't get your hopes up.

EDIT: to remove specific name+shame, despite their admission of fault in writing.

Edited by jimmybell on Thursday 21st September 15:03

ic0n

Original Poster:

206 posts

166 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
jimmybell said:
BMW Monopoly Board broke my Z4 M Coupe when servicing it earlier in the year, took them 4 months to repair it, the best loaner i got offered was a 320d which i politely refused. Turning up to Z4 owners meets, PH meets, going on road trips and generally doing weekend hoons isn't quite the same in a repmobile.

I chose to use them for servicing for the same reasons (BMW UK ownership, avoiding franchise bs). Let's just say i fully appreciate the aftersales experience you're probably receiving now.

I would say - don't get your hopes up.

EDIT: to remove specific name+shame, despite their admission of fault in writing.

Edited by jimmybell on Thursday 21st September 15:03
4 months - jesus christ. What a joke.


Well I managed to get an M3 delivered today. The email really helped. Thanks for the tip!

Discombobulate

4,794 posts

185 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
mackay45 said:
Maybe try and speak to someone higher up the chain? Dealer Principle or someone at BMW UK (either in PR team or email directly to the BMW UK MD, looks to be a chap called Graeme Grieve?)

Explain your love of M cars, the problems you've been having with the car, that you know the dealership are doing their best to sort it out etc. but that it's disappointing blah blah blah, say you are doing a Highlands trip this weekend and had been looking forward to doing the trip in your M4, that the dealership had kindly offered a 430i but that you are hoping they may be able to do you a favour and get you an M car.

I'd try the above both with the DP and via the MD, if you word it nicely you might have some luck. If the Dealer Principle drives anything tasty you may find yourself borrowing his car for the weekend!


BMW must have plenty of M cars littered around the place ready for journos etc. to pick up, there will probably be one unused this weekend so it's just a case of getting the right person on your side to help sort something out.

If all else fails, take the 430i.
Such good advice. Losing your rag and stamping your feet rarely works anything like as well.

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
See if they can sort you out with an M140 or M240. They're great fun to punt around on a driving tour holiday (I speak from personal experience) and genuinely quick but at the same time it's a far less valuable car that the dealer is likely to have access to as a demonstrator / staff car if they can't / won't stretch to a direct replacement M car.