Dealer Servicing - Would you expect a comp wash?

[notb4eleven]

Just had my BMW serviced by a major dealership for first time. They brought it back late, it was dark and I had a long journey home. Noticed the next morning that they hadn't washed the car - I'd been expecting they'd do a complimentary clean as part of service (no mention had been made when booking service).

Was I mugged or just being naive?

[Cyclone1]

Mugged.

Mne went in yesterday for its first service and was ready for me to collect all washed and valeted.

Jules.

[Raify]

Mine is always washed, and valeted inside. They leave a card to say it's been washed and ring you the next day to check everything is to my satisfaction.

Sounds a bit slack to me.

[berry100]

Yep slack indeed, use another dealer...

mine had been in 3 times to get the PDC's finally sorted and each time it was beautifully washed and vac'd

dealer has been excellent....

[dxb335d]

I never let a BMW dealership wash my car. Have a joke. It will come back with bodywork worse than it went in. Swirl marks, scratches from dirty sponges and dirty water thats just washed somebodies filthy X5. I ALWAYS request ''No wash or valet thanks''.

Carlos

[jamoor]

i am a wash snob and I have been surprised at the quality of the washes at my local dealer.

My dad on the other hand took his car to a ex petrol station car wash, car came back smelling awful with the 1 inch thick layer of silicone dressing all over the dash and swirled to death, 2 months after it had been professionally polished by a BMW dealership after an accident

[notb4eleven]

Thanks for the replies - strongly worded e-mail going to dealership. Jamoor, I assume you have been pleasantly surprised at quality of dealership wash?

[jamoor]

notb4eleven said:

Thanks for the replies - strongly worded e-mail going to dealership. Jamoor, I assume you have been pleasantly surprised at quality of dealership wash?

Yes, well cleaned inside and out, came back same as I left it, no super swirls or anything.

They did just do a complete respray of the rear wing that was damaged to bits for gratis

[davidd]

dxb335d said:

I never let a BMW dealership wash my car. Have a joke. It will come back with bodywork worse than it went in. Swirl marks, scratches from dirty sponges and dirty water thats just washed somebodies filthy X5. I ALWAYS request ''No wash or valet thanks''.

Carlos

Carlos, do you use Elms Cambridge? They always made a good job of my coupe when I had it, not sure I would let them loose on the 335d as it is black...

D

[john_r]

You got done - mine always gets washed. In fact after the last service I had to go back a week later for a rubber widget to be re-fitted that had apparently fallen off (they didn't have one in stock at the time of the service...).

It was a 30 second warranty job and the service manager came over and asked if I wanted to wait a further 20 mins for the car to be valeted...

Of course I waited!

[Methane Bloke]

Our two always get washed and valeted. The dealer only uses a pressure washer so no problems with dirty sponges and swirl marks. Always get a call a few days later to make sure the service was OK and the car cleaned to satisfaction.

Regards

Chris

[Podie]

Funny, I'd rather they spend time on the mechanical bits I can't do, than wash it.

[dxb335d]

davidd said:

dxb335d said:

I never let a BMW dealership wash my car. Have a joke. It will come back with bodywork worse than it went in. Swirl marks, scratches from dirty sponges and dirty water thats just washed somebodies filthy X5. I ALWAYS request ''No wash or valet thanks''.

Carlos

Carlos, do you use Elms Cambridge? They always made a good job of my coupe when I had it, not sure I would let them loose on the 335d as it is black...

D

Hi David, thought you had a 5 series? you have a 335d now ?

I dont let any dealership wash her, no way mate. I wont use Elms stortford again after a bad experiance and didnt rectify the situation well enough.

Elms Cambridge so far so good!

Due a service again soon so i will let you know if there upto par ! IMHO



Carlos

Edited by dxb335d on Sunday 2nd March 13:11

[Wacky Racer]

I think you are being a tad unreasonable.

OK, it's a nice touch if they do this, however to EXPECT them to do it is asking a bit much, it's not as though they said they would do it and hadn't done....

Perhaps politely mention it, but out of order to go in all guns blazing....

(all imho)

[Donut]

dxb335d said:

davidd said:

dxb335d said:

I never let a BMW dealership wash my car. Have a joke. It will come back with bodywork worse than it went in. Swirl marks, scratches from dirty sponges and dirty water thats just washed somebodies filthy X5. I ALWAYS request ''No wash or valet thanks''.

Carlos

Carlos, do you use Elms Cambridge? They always made a good job of my coupe when I had it, not sure I would let them loose on the 335d as it is black...

D

Hi David, thought you had a 5 series? you have a 335d now ?

I dont let any dealership wash her, no way mate. I wont use Elms stortford again after a bad experiance and didnt rectify the situation well enough.

Elms Cambridge so far so good!

Due a service again soon so i will let you know if there upto par ! IMHO



Carlos

Edited by dxb335d on Sunday 2nd March 13:11

The 5 series was the car I lent him whilst something that was forgotten was fitted to the 335d

[Ean218]

notb4eleven said:

I'd been expecting they'd do a complimentary clean as part of service

Was I mugged or just being naive?

I think the clue is in the word complimentary! They will do it if they can, but as you pointed out it was returned in the dark so presumably they were working on the oily bits pretty close to closing time.

Which would you rather have, clean carpets or checked out brakes?

Yes, you are being naive.

[Scraggles]

not got a bmw, but on the 3 monthly service it gets washed and valetted, at least the parts they can reach which means the front seats area only, boot and back seat full of kit

[NickXX]

I pay a lot of attention to the paintwork on my 330d (black) and Scotthall Watford did a very good job with a complementary clean.

Sytner HW charge for the privilage, so I just didn't get it done there.

[doodlebug]

Hmmm.

A dealer, possibly already mentioned on this thread once or twice, was responsible for damaging the wooden trim around the gear lever when they gave mine a complementary clean. They refused to accept responsiblty for the damage so I drove it around with broken trim for the last 4 years that I owned it rather than fork out £350 to replace it.

£350 is a hell of a lot of washes down at the illegals.

Bloody glad I now drive an Italian - at least the dealers there smile when you bend over.

[notb4eleven]

Wacky Racer said:

I think you are being a tad unreasonable.

OK, it's a nice touch if they do this, however to EXPECT them to do it is asking a bit much, it's not as though they said they would do it and hadn't done....

Perhaps politely mention it, but out of order to go in all guns blazing....

(all imho)

You do have a point, but the crux of my question is this - if some dealers offer this as a complimentary service, should I not use them instead (assuming I can trust their level of service for the important bits)...

Assuming most would agree the answer is yes, I'm going in blazing because the dealer in question is part of a corporate group, with a liaison appointed to me to keep me happy (I was introduced by a m8 who's spent sh*tloads with them, I've spent some, and also introduced others to them), and they'd messed me up earlier with the customer service on this service (not returned calls, failed to call me when they promised regular updates - I had to call them - and brought the car back v late).

Anyone who has any sense will know that the golden rule of customer service is to keep sweet those customers you think you can continue to fleece, cos you want them coming back for more.