Main dealer issue - am I being unreasonable
Discussion
So, took my car in to have new front pads & discs. Car is on 55k miles but 15yr old.
This was booked under a promotion, initially they wouldn't honour it. Eventually they said OK, it will be fine.
Couple of hours later I get a call: "Your brake caliper has broken and needs replacing. That'll be another £400, please." Initially they said it was seized (had this before and it showed none of the symptoms). Later changed to its leaking oil.
I've said car went it not broken and now you've broken it, no way am I paying that. Please put it back as it was and I will take it away. Obviously as brake is a safety item they declined.
Coincidence or not, a few years back this very same dealer broke the bearing on my rear when while replacing an ABS sensor on my E39. On that occasion I coughed up.
So, am I being unreasonable? What would you do?
This was booked under a promotion, initially they wouldn't honour it. Eventually they said OK, it will be fine.
Couple of hours later I get a call: "Your brake caliper has broken and needs replacing. That'll be another £400, please." Initially they said it was seized (had this before and it showed none of the symptoms). Later changed to its leaking oil.
I've said car went it not broken and now you've broken it, no way am I paying that. Please put it back as it was and I will take it away. Obviously as brake is a safety item they declined.
Coincidence or not, a few years back this very same dealer broke the bearing on my rear when while replacing an ABS sensor on my E39. On that occasion I coughed up.
So, am I being unreasonable? What would you do?
As above; sods law I think, but do get where you're coming from!
But they cannot keep your car or refuse it's return to you. So get it back from them and sort the caliper yourself
The ones from Brakes int are generally refurbed ATE calipers (OEM) and you just send yours back to get the c£30 surcharge refunded; or see what your local motorfactors might have in stock
But they cannot keep your car or refuse it's return to you. So get it back from them and sort the caliper yourself
The ones from Brakes int are generally refurbed ATE calipers (OEM) and you just send yours back to get the c£30 surcharge refunded; or see what your local motorfactors might have in stock
We tend to find the calipers won't push or wind back enough to give clearance to fit the new pads, the only option is to replace. There isn't the time or spares available to repair. You would normally expect a bill of around £100 to £150 to replace a caliper.
They were almost consumables on mk3 mondeos with the handbrake seizing, its also very common on automatic cars for rear calipers to seize as people don't use the handbrake just leaving it in park.
They were almost consumables on mk3 mondeos with the handbrake seizing, its also very common on automatic cars for rear calipers to seize as people don't use the handbrake just leaving it in park.
RiccardoG said:
So, took my car in to have new front pads & discs. Car is on 55k miles but 15yr old.
This was booked under a promotion, initially they wouldn't honour it. Eventually they said OK, it will be fine.
Couple of hours later I get a call: "Your brake caliper has broken and needs replacing. That'll be another £400, please." Initially they said it was seized (had this before and it showed none of the symptoms). Later changed to its leaking oil.
I've said car went it not broken and now you've broken it, no way am I paying that. Please put it back as it was and I will take it away. Obviously as brake is a safety item they declined.
Coincidence or not, a few years back this very same dealer broke the bearing on my rear when while replacing an ABS sensor on my E39. On that occasion I coughed up.
So, am I being unreasonable? What would you do?
This is a main dealer so....This was booked under a promotion, initially they wouldn't honour it. Eventually they said OK, it will be fine.
Couple of hours later I get a call: "Your brake caliper has broken and needs replacing. That'll be another £400, please." Initially they said it was seized (had this before and it showed none of the symptoms). Later changed to its leaking oil.
I've said car went it not broken and now you've broken it, no way am I paying that. Please put it back as it was and I will take it away. Obviously as brake is a safety item they declined.
Coincidence or not, a few years back this very same dealer broke the bearing on my rear when while replacing an ABS sensor on my E39. On that occasion I coughed up.
So, am I being unreasonable? What would you do?
Do you really think they have lied and either a) broken your caliper and made it leak oil or b) there's nothing wrong with your caliper at all?
If so, have them put it back together and take it somewhere you do trust. If the caliper is just leaking, there's no reason why they can't put everything back together. In future, take your car to a workshop you trust.
If you don't believe they're lying, just pay for a new caliper. Go down there and take a look at it, if necessary.
Thank you everyone for super quick feedback and views!
My theory is that they didn't pay due care and attention in doing the work and broke things. I mean, none of the independents I take my cars to ever have broken anything on similar old or older cars, so its weird (unfortunate) that for this main dealer it has been 100% of the time (ie: previous issue with the E39 wheel sensor). They've been OK on servicing, but not so great on repairs.
I see a couple realistic options then:
- Get them to reassemble it up and drive away. Its supposedly a small leak from the seal anyways. Drive to trusted garage and get them to start from scratch. Might be an issue is parts have already partially fitted.
- Supply my own brake caliper and request free labour (they offered free labour already right off the bat last week)
I'll revert on what happens next!
Taking an older car to a dealer is asking for trouble - their business model revolves around screwing as much money out of you as possible. The technicians get bonused to find more work and the service advisors get bonused for selling it to you.
Discounted work is a trap - they'll be looking to make that, and more, back.
Discounted work is a trap - they'll be looking to make that, and more, back.
What will have happened is the the bleed screw has broken off, as 15 year old calipers do, or the caliper has indeed seized, as 15 year old calipers do. Trying to free it off has damaged the piston seal and now it leaks.
Had you taken a 15 year old car to anywhere but a main dealer, you would have had the same problem but the option of a £70 recon caliper that BMW will not fit.
Had you taken a 15 year old car to anywhere but a main dealer, you would have had the same problem but the option of a £70 recon caliper that BMW will not fit.
Well, I don't think you were very sensible to take it to a main dealer, but anyway, it's done now.
I'd pay them for the work they've actually done, and take it elsewhere to fix the duff caliper.
If they've found the duff caliper before starring to do the rest of the work, great, you can get that done elsewhere, too.
"We can't do that because it's a safety issue blah blah blah." - No. You will do as instructed, and you will do it now.
I'd pay them for the work they've actually done, and take it elsewhere to fix the duff caliper.
If they've found the duff caliper before starring to do the rest of the work, great, you can get that done elsewhere, too.
"We can't do that because it's a safety issue blah blah blah." - No. You will do as instructed, and you will do it now.
Shame you took it to a main dealer. Part of the problem is you only get to speak to someone on the service desk who only knows what the technicinan told them so it can be a bit like Chinese Whispers!
I have two 15+ year old BMWs and only ever use 2 local Indies, both run by ex-Sytner techs, and when I phone I get to speak to them so I get a more accurate explanation.
But I can well believe a caliper of that age may have an issue like the stuck bleed valve soemone mentioned for example where it's cheaper to replace than pay BMW labour rates while they try to free it up.
I took my Z4 for a 4 wheel alignment a couple of weeks ago and both front track rod ends were seized solid so I just had to bite the bullet and have new ones fitted so it could be aligned. It's just one of those things that happen with cars of that age!
I have two 15+ year old BMWs and only ever use 2 local Indies, both run by ex-Sytner techs, and when I phone I get to speak to them so I get a more accurate explanation.
But I can well believe a caliper of that age may have an issue like the stuck bleed valve soemone mentioned for example where it's cheaper to replace than pay BMW labour rates while they try to free it up.
I took my Z4 for a 4 wheel alignment a couple of weeks ago and both front track rod ends were seized solid so I just had to bite the bullet and have new ones fitted so it could be aligned. It's just one of those things that happen with cars of that age!
If it’s just a small leak, surely they can put it back together and you can get it sorted elsewhere for a far more reasonable cost?
As others have said taking an older car to a main dealer is asking for trouble. They won’t be interested in any work arounds to ace cash and will parts cannon.
As others have said taking an older car to a main dealer is asking for trouble. They won’t be interested in any work arounds to ace cash and will parts cannon.
Thanks for all the input guys. Yes, I agree, I shouldn't have taken it to main dealer! Thing is, this car has been maintained by main dealers all its life so I sort of wanted to continue this record. Its clear I will need to reconsider now.
Btw, the same dealer bled the brakes in Feb this year, that was just 400 miles ago (yes, we hardly use the car). They've since called on Mon saying they might rebuild the caliper if its not too rusted or pitted. Have not heard anything back. Just as well we don't need the car!
And, on a very related note, interesting to read this about PH's own fleet. Same dealer, same issue...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Btw, the same dealer bled the brakes in Feb this year, that was just 400 miles ago (yes, we hardly use the car). They've since called on Mon saying they might rebuild the caliper if its not too rusted or pitted. Have not heard anything back. Just as well we don't need the car!
And, on a very related note, interesting to read this about PH's own fleet. Same dealer, same issue...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
RiccardoG said:
Thanks for all the input guys. Yes, I agree, I shouldn't have taken it to main dealer! Thing is, this car has been maintained by main dealers all its life so I sort of wanted to continue this record. Its clear I will need to reconsider now.
Btw, the same dealer bled the brakes in Feb this year, that was just 400 miles ago (yes, we hardly use the car). They've since called on Mon saying they might rebuild the caliper if its not too rusted or pitted. Have not heard anything back. Just as well we don't need the car!
And, on a very related note, interesting to read this about PH's own fleet. Same dealer, same issue...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I did think of this thread when I read about Matt’s car.Btw, the same dealer bled the brakes in Feb this year, that was just 400 miles ago (yes, we hardly use the car). They've since called on Mon saying they might rebuild the caliper if its not too rusted or pitted. Have not heard anything back. Just as well we don't need the car!
And, on a very related note, interesting to read this about PH's own fleet. Same dealer, same issue...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I think a big issue is that the dealer tech’s are not really incentivised to spend time fixing stuff. Chucking new parts are it is more profitable from a sales point of view and a time one.
Hope they’ll try and actually fix it now.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff