My Dealer LIED!!!

[SS32]

Mid-January, my dealer emailed me telling me that there was a chance that I could get bumped from #3 to #1, as the guy w/ the #1 spot was considering a 1 series. I had wondered what happened to the #2 spot, but I didn't ask. A couple days later, I get an email saying I had been bumped to #1. I email back with my specs, and my CA tells me the order would be in within a day or two. Two weeks go by and I don't hear anything from him, so I email him. He gets back to me to confirm my specs and my order went in sometime around the 3rd week in feb. With the recent influx of cars coming to the US, I called today to see why the hell my car wasn't there. Well, low and behold, they have 3 cars on the lot... I call BMW NA and my car is still in production, set to be completed on monday. I just got back from my local dealer; they have 3 cars in as well. I was angry before, but after seeing the car in person, I cannot put into words how pissed I am right now. My CA was out today, but he'll be in tomorrow, we'll see what he has to say.

[mhutchins14]

[monsta]

don't forget your shotty

[SS32]

I've got a few to choose from....

[skierman64]

That's not good at all.

When did you get your VIN? You should have had it in Early Feb to receive your car in early March. If the order went in during the 3rd week in Feb, then the earliest you'd receive the car is about the 3rd week in March or so. It's about a month from the beginning if build until pick up at the dealer.

[!Xoible]

:fighting0040 :

[NavNurs]

Uh, cancel your order and buy one of those on the lot?

[SS32]

They're already sold. I almost want to cancel the order so the guy doesn't get anything out of it, but I don't think I could bring myself to do that; not to mention the $1000 deposit.

[eclipsisNA]

Sorry to hear cowmoo. Maybe flatten his tires after you take delivery? No reason to spite yourself before you get the car.

[Voltigeur]

-

Sic' him! Arsehole. Can you cancel and go somewhere else - of course not:

(1) letter to BMW NA - criticise his ethics
(2) write an open letter to Roundel

Luck!

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by cowmoo32

Mid-January, my dealer emailed me telling me that there was a chance that I could get bumped from #3 to #1, as the guy w/ the #1 spot was considering a 1 series. I had wondered what happened to the #2 spot, but I didn't ask. A couple days later, I get an email saying I had been bumped to #1. I email back with my specs, and my CA tells me the order would be in within a day or two. Two weeks go by and I don't hear anything from him, so I email him. He gets back to me to confirm my specs and my order went in sometime around the 3rd week in feb. With the recent influx of cars coming to the US, I called today to see why the hell my car wasn't there. Well, low and behold, they have 3 cars on the lot... I call BMW NA and my car is still in production, set to be completed on monday. I just got back from my local dealer; they have 3 cars in as well. I was angry before, but after seeing the car in person, I cannot put into words how pissed I am right now. My CA was out today, but he'll be in tomorrow, we'll see what he has to say.

Devil's advocate--they got two "demo" cars and one other. Are you going to make a big deal? I know your frustration, but dealers often do what they want. Probably won't get you anywhere in the long run to call them out.

[skierman64]

I don't think they can keep your deposit. When I put $500 down 18 months ago, I got the #3 spot and I ended up being #1. But I made sure it was refundable. Legally, I don't think they can keep your $1000, without returning some type or product or service.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by skierman64

I don't think they can keep your deposit. When I put $500 down 18 months ago, I got the #3 spot and I ended up being #1. But I made sure it was refundable. Legally, I don't think they can keep your $1000, without returning some type or product or service.

Yes, deposits are typically refundable, since when you put it down the car and the price are unkowns.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by skierman64

I don't think they can keep your deposit. When I put $500 down 18 months ago, I got the #3 spot and I ended up being #1. But I made sure it was refundable. Legally, I don't think they can keep your $1000, without returning some type or product or service.

I think it depends on the deposit papers you signed. Mine clearly states that the buyer forfeits the deposit if the car is built to customer specs and is not picked up from the dealer within 48 hours of arrival at the dealer. The dealer may chose not to enforce that, but it would be their call. But that's just the standard deposit papers my dealer uses. Other dealers might have different terms.

It seems like this might be a somewhat common story though--dealers getting their own cars first. My dealer will get 2 cars that will be available for sale tomorrow. I don't know if they will mark them up or not, but I guess they will. I was even told I could drive one over the weekend...That doesn't make it right, but that does seem to be case. As far as I am concerned, I should have been able to drive one home on Sunday given I was #2 on the list.

[MW335]

If all the stealers tell us the truth, we should be getting M3s at invoice.

[WCH]

Originally Posted by lucid

I think it depends on the deposit papers you signed. Mine clearly states that the buyer forfeits the deposit if the car is built to customer specs and is not picked up from the dealer within 48 hours of arrival at the dealer. The dealer may chose not to enforce that, but it would be their call. But that's just the standard deposit papers my dealer uses. Other dealers might have different terms.

It seems like this might be a somewhat common story though--dealers getting their own cars first. My dealer will get 2 cars that will be available for sale tomorrow. I don't know if they will mark them up or not, but I guess they will. I was even told I could drive one over the weekend...That doesn't make it right, but that does seem to be case. As far as I am concerned, I should have been able to drive one home on Sunday given I was #2 on the list.

Lucid - Chambers told me that they're first M3 is still in NJ and that there are no M3's in dealer stock in MA.

[WCH]

Let me know when you get the call. I might have to visit them instead...

[Hammer]

Cancel the order. Punish the dealer this way. i wont buy a car of such a person. i think, you ll get your deposit back for sure. in our law is a asignment under wrong facts without any value.

[SS32]

My deposit is non-refundable. When I placed the deposit, the contract said the car would be sold at MSRP and if I canceled the deposit could not be refunded. I've waited since June of last year for the car, and it should be here by the end of the month; I'm not going to cancel. I do like the idea of writing to BMW NA, but particularly like the idea of writing to Roundel. If it gets published, there's a potential that a lot of people will read it.

[Keto]

Those "lists" the dealers run are not set in stone. I was told I'm #6, then 5, then 10 (last week), then I was called yesterday to order. Are the cars your dealer has now being sold above MSRP? I can see getting 1 or 2 demos to sell the car to walk-in buyers (or convince them to order) as you have likely informed your dealer that no one test drives your car, but the third car is a bit of a slap in the face.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Cancel the order. Punish the dealer this way. i wont buy a car of such a person. i think, you ll get your deposit back for sure. in our law is a asignment under wrong facts without any value.

I don't get what you're meaning. If exactly the same happens in Germany you have no hold against. Being #1 on a more or less imaginary waiting list doesn't form an essential part of the contract.


@cowmoo32
What happened to you is really annoying, but like GregW indicated dealer demo cars and customer cars aren't necessarily the same. That's like it was in Germany. Demo cars' production started 3 months earlier than customer cars'. Maybe your #1 spot meant first customer car.


Best regards, south

[SS32]

I wish that was the case, but the cars they have are customer cars. My CA lied to me, that's all there is to it.