Pissed at dealership

Beemdog · 07-11-2014, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O(1)

Your M3 is hardly an exotic car. Trust me, nobody at a car dealership cares about the E92. They don't even care about the F8X anymore, why would they "joyride" your M3? Come on. Seriously. I mean I know your car is everything for you, but it's just a BMW for them.

Second post and you already sound like a troll.

Good thing these cars have the nannies like traction control defaulted on. I knew of a couple guys in a (nationwide) car club that had their non-T.C. sports cars wrecked by test-driving/joy-riding dealer personnel. It's not that uncommon. You would think that a mechanic whose job depended on being responsible with customer cars would be, well, responsible. Not always the case...

ZEEM3R · 07-11-2014, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O(1)

Your M3 is hardly an exotic car. Trust me, nobody at a car dealership cares about the E92. They don't even care about the F8X anymore, why would they "joyride" your M3? Come on. Seriously. I mean I know your car is everything for you, but it's just a BMW for them.

Completely Untrue. While the SA's and Managers may not care about cars they see everyday, the drivers many dealerships hire can't afford BMWs. Iv spoken to many of them and they all say they love driving BMWs all day... so clearly they love the opportunity to drive our cars.. even take advantage when no one watching.

TVMA Doc · 07-11-2014, 04:41 PM

I assume that you had a tire shop install the wheels? (No one would buy wheels from BMW, at least not unless it is Silver Spring BMW.)

Why didn't you get the shop to check it? They probably would have done it for free as it is part of the install. If not, I'm sure that their balance would be less than the dealer.

I was just quoted $400 for a "four wheel balance" at my last service. I needed tires as well which they were going to give me at a "reasonable" price of $1800 and change (without stems, mounting, tax, etc.).

I took it to Wheelworks and got the entire job done for $1430 out the door. Expect at least a 100% overcharge at the BMW dealer.

m3ray · 07-11-2014, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O(1)

Your M3 is hardly an exotic car. Trust me, nobody at a car dealership cares about the E92. They don't even care about the F8X anymore, why would they "joyride" your M3? Come on. Seriously. I mean I know your car is everything for you, but it's just a BMW for them.

malrash · 07-11-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVMA Doc

I assume that you had a tire shop install the wheels? (No one would buy wheels from BMW, at leasrecommended pless it is Silver Spring BMW.)

Why didn't you get the shop to check it? They probably would have done it for free as it is part of the install. If not, I'm sure that their balance would be less than the dealer.

I was just quoted $400 for a "four wheel balance" at my last service. I needed tires as well which they were going to give me at a "reasonable" price of $1800 and change (without stems, mounting, tax, etc.).

I took it to Wheelworks and got the entire job done for $1430 out the door. Expect at least a 100% overcharge at the BMW dealer.

Bought it off a forum member, who is a great guy, but apparently was driving them unbalanced. Installed them myself using recommended procedues.

ZEEM3R · 07-11-2014, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3ray

Hahaha

F1Venom · 07-11-2014, 05:14 PM

For anyone telling OP not to worry about the mechanics putting 40 miles on his high performance car better watch this video.

V1.47fan · 07-11-2014, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZEEM3R

Completely Untrue. While the SA's and Managers may not care about cars they see everyday, the drivers many dealerships hire can't afford BMWs. Iv spoken to many of them and they all say they love driving BMWs all day... so clearly they love the opportunity to drive our cars.. even take advantage when no one watching.

Do you think they take 328i's/335i's on joy rides as well or it's mainly with exotics like the E92 M3?

malrash · 07-11-2014, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

Do you think they take 328i's/335i's on joy rides as well or it's mainly with exotics like the E92 M3?

So did you marry Claudia Schiffer or Lizzie Velasquez?
See the point? or is your world still black and white.

ZEEM3R · 07-11-2014, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

Do you think they take 328i's/335i's on joy rides as well or it's mainly with exotics like the E92 M3?

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said the E92 is an exotic, no current BMW is an exotic. That doesn't mean the drivers don't desire these cars and love driving them.

M3PO · 07-11-2014, 05:25 PM

Absolutely NO test drives on my car. Required or not. They call me and I do the test driving. Period.

V1.47fan · 07-11-2014, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1Venom

For anyone telling OP not to worry about the mechanics putting 40 miles on his high performance car better watch this video.

There's been a few cases of mothers killing their children, maybe we should tell our kids to worry about their moms killing them.

malrash · 07-11-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

There's been a few cases of mothers killing their children, maybe we should tell our kids to worry about their moms killing them.

If mothers killing children were as common as dealerships mis-using cars, I don't think we would be seeing your comments here.

modkrazy · 07-11-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malrash

I need to vent and also need some advice.

I took my car in today since I was feeling a little shimmy in the steering wheel ever since I had installed new wheels. I did the requisite trouble-shooting and it was still here, so the next step was to get a front wheel alignment.

So, I take the car into BMW of Little Rock with 9849 miles on the ODO, and verified by the fob. They keep the car the entire damn day, and tell me that both front wheels were slightly off, and they roadforce balanced them. They quote me $60 at the outset, charge me a 100 because of some 'extra work' that needed to be done. I get into the car and the mileage reads 9886!! They drove 37 miles testing driving the damn thing?!? and consume an eight of a tank of gas in the meanwhile.

I asked for an explanation, and instead of offering an explanation, the manager tells me that 'maybe' the tech took 2 or more test drives to make sure the alignment was right. I don't think even 2 test drives can rack up 37 miles.

I am pissed. Its not the miles or the gas, it's the fact that I don't know if they abused the car, plus I can't trust them anymore. They are the only dealership for 200 miles around me. I need help digesting this and putting this into perspective, or should I write to BMWNA?

What do you guys think?

Not much you can do now, but take it as a lesson learned. I give very specific instructions when I drop my car off now, and I do it every single time even if it's the same service adviser, because I've learned too many hard lessons already.

1. No courtesy wash.
2. The car does not leave the lot unless I am present and come along.
3. If I am not on site (i.e. had to drop off the car), call me before it leaves the lot and tell me how many miles you expect to drive it.
4. No burnouts or launches! I know what my tires looked like and how much gas I had when I arrived.
5. Seriously, no courtesy wash.
6. Please have anyone who sits in the car take appropriate care and precautions with the leather seats and floormats (learned this the hard way when some asshole tech fucked up my seat by riding around with his keys in his back pocket... never got that spot on the seat back to 100%

)
7. Don't randomly change my oil without informing me first. This has happened twice now, both times they didn't reset the service interval. I very much appreciate the sentiment and free oil, but I like to collect Blackstone samples for every oil change, and now I've had three oil changes in 6000 miles, and am due for another one in 2500 per the computer. First world problems?

8. Same goes for any other random service you decide my car needs. Let me know before you touch it.
9. NO FUCKING COURTESY WASH!
10. I know where to find you.

YMMV.

Edjay · 07-11-2014, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beemdog

37 miles is a lot of test driving for an alignment and wheel balance. Most wheel and tire places will finish that kind of test drive in two or three miles, max.

Most wheel and alignment shops just install wheels and balance them. OP came in with a vibration problem. Any good tech would have confirmed the problem then fix. Then re-test drive to confirm fix. And that could amount to 37miles of test drive.
4 miles on paper vs 37 miles on car. Very possible that the tech did his job turn in the R.O. the SA then filled in the box. Not knowing what the mileage out is, he just went ahead and add 4 miles from in to out. Done this many times where I forget to fill in the box.

modkrazy · 07-11-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

Do you think they take 328i's/335i's on joy rides as well or it's mainly with exotics like the E92 M3?

It's an exotic to someone making $35k a year as a mechanic.

Edjay · 07-11-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modkrazy

It's an exotic to someone making $35k a year as a mechanic.

LOL trust me when I say any good mechanic makes 6 figures.

malrash · 07-11-2014, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edjay

Most wheel and alignment shops just install wheels aThanksd balance them. OP came in with a vibration problem. Any good tech would have confirmed the problem then fix. Then re-test drive to confirm fix. And that could amount to 37miles of test drive.
4 miles on paper vs 37 miles on car. Very possible that the tech did his job turn in the R.O. the SA then filled in the box. Not knowing what the mileage out is, he just went ahead and add 4 miles from in to out. Done this many times where I forget to fill in the box.

Now that is benefit of doubt I can entertain. Maybe that's what happened. Thanks

modkrazy · 07-11-2014, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edjay

LOL trust me when I say any good mechanic makes 6 figures.

We're not talking about good mechanics. The good BMW mechanic that makes 6 figures probably drives his own M3.

V1.47fan · 07-11-2014, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malrash

If mothers killing children were as common as dealerships mis-using cars, I don't think we would be seeing your comments here.

If you wanna be paranoid , worried sick that maybe a BMW tech may have abused your car,then that's your prerogative.

malrash · 07-11-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

If you wanna be paranoid , worried sick that maybe a BMW tech may have abused your car,then that's your prerogative.

Gee thanks for making that clear for me.

F1Venom · 07-11-2014, 06:52 PM

I think you have to be naive and borderline retarded to think OP's car wasn't abused during this 37 mile "test drive" by some mechanics.

07-11-2014, 04:41 PM	#47
TVMA Doc Captain 56 Rep 868 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3, Jerez Black Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Totyota Highla ... [0.00] 2003 Honda S2000 [0.00] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [0.00]	I assume that you had a tire shop install the wheels? (No one would buy wheels from BMW, at least not unless it is Silver Spring BMW.) Why didn't you get the shop to check it? They probably would have done it for free as it is part of the install. If not, I'm sure that their balance would be less than the dealer. I was just quoted $400 for a "four wheel balance" at my last service. I needed tires as well which they were going to give me at a "reasonable" price of $1800 and change (without stems, mounting, tax, etc.). I took it to Wheelworks and got the entire job done for $1430 out the door. Expect at least a 100% overcharge at the BMW dealer.
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07-11-2014, 05:14 PM	#51
F1Venom Banned 73 Rep 961 Posts Drives: ZCP E90 M3 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	For anyone telling OP not to worry about the mechanics putting 40 miles on his high performance car better watch this video.
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07-11-2014, 05:25 PM	#55
M3PO Colonel 84 Rep 2,792 Posts Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (7)	Absolutely NO test drives on my car. Required or not. They call me and I do the test driving. Period. __________________ 2008 IB E92 M3\| BBS \| KW \| Arkym \| Platte Forme A.G. \| Active Autowerke \| K&N \| Fabspeed \| Dinan \| Evolve-R
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07-11-2014, 06:52 PM	#66
F1Venom Banned 73 Rep 961 Posts Drives: ZCP E90 M3 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I think you have to be naive and borderline retarded to think OP's car wasn't abused during this 37 mile "test drive" by some mechanics.
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