BMW of North America Announces 2012 Best Dealership Awards

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Congrats to BMW of Minnetonka, MN....

I've done a lot of business with those guys...They work hard for their customers, from Peter their principal all the way down the organization.

[elias]

Passport BMW its about time they made it, bought three cars from them and they hit the mark every time. They don't BS you, they just give you a great price and treat you with the upmost respect!

[Gnip Gnop]

I purchased my 135i from BMW of Minnetonka. The award is well deserved.

[BKap08]

Aww yeah number 10 that's where I got mine from

[GhostyM]

Originally Posted by RobLS

Kuni may not know their stuff all the time but they certainly have seem to be focusing more on customer service over the past year.

I only like Kuni because of having 70+ loaners always available..

Service is good. The salesmen hate me because I buy my cars from the Salem Dealer because of WAYYYYYYY better deals they can't get even close to matching..

[USC2000]

Originally Posted by Booster

As an employee of Hendrick in Charlotte, w/o our great customers, this wouldn't have been possible.

This is the 8th year we have hit it in a row. No other dealer has ever done that.



I do have a full list, I will try and get it into a .pdf file for you, or post it here...

That would be great. Definitely post it when you get a chance.
Thanks!

[BMWJones]

Congrats to the 5 from California

[mleedom]

BULLSHIT!!!! BMW of Monrovia is the worst!!! I took my car to get 3 things done last week: brake fluid, rattle in my steering wheel and resurface of my rims. The didn't fix the rattle and when they used a third party to repaint my rims they never bothered to cover my car. Now I have overspray all over my car and am getting the runaround about fixing it! Oh.. Not to mention they left a screwdriver in my engine-bay that I discovered the following day. The General Manager won't bother to call me back Sebastian Valentie. Bought my CPO 08 550i there in Sept 2011 and have needed a new transmission, new navigation system new main computer for car and found out after 3 weeks they sold me my car with plugs in the front tire! It's by far the worst car buying experience of my entire life. Be warned of this shady dealership and extremely negligent management team.

[bueller]

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

I must say BMW is certainly ignoring Canada ... we have some fine Dealerships in Canada and only one is mentioned.

I am pretty sure that they were referring to a dealership in Ontario CAlifornia.

I think BMW Canada is a separate entity from BMW USA.

The dealership model is an unfortunate inconvenience for automotive enthusiasts. It is a necessary evil, manufacturers want as little to do with customers as possible.

The dealers are a buffer between the customer and manufacturers, they also provide inventory management, and some sort of infrastructure to facilitate the sale process, as well as dealing with defects and maintenance.

Personally, I avoid dealers whenever possible, they don't actually fix anything, they just replace parts, as they get paid for warranty work by the manufacturer, so if they don't get it the first time, then they get to bill for it again.

I have had much better luck with Endras over BMW Toronto for service. At BMW Toronto, I think if you wear a nice suit and drive a 7 series, you probably receive better service, than jeans and a 1 series (me). There are enough Banksters and lawyers in Toronto to keep them busy.

When I lived in California, I drove Porsche / Audi products, and I was close to Andial for service, and they were amazing. After picking up my car from the dealership, I would rarely return.

Unfortunately, I have not yet found good independent BMW service in Canada close to where I live, thankfully, I have only had to have the HPFP replaced in my 135 once, and it was done efficiently, and I got a mini loaner which was fun.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by bueller

I am pretty sure that they were referring to a dealership in Ontario CAlifornia.

I think BMW Canada is a separate entity from BMW USA.

The dealership model is an unfortunate inconvenience for automotive enthusiasts. It is a necessary evil, manufacturers want as little to do with customers as possible.

The dealers are a buffer between the customer and manufacturers, they also provide inventory management, and some sort of infrastructure to facilitate the sale process, as well as dealing with defects and maintenance.

Personally, I avoid dealers whenever possible, they don't actually fix anything, they just replace parts, as they get paid for warranty work by the manufacturer, so if they don't get it the first time, then they get to bill for it again.

I have had much better luck with Endras over BMW Toronto for service. At BMW Toronto, I think if you wear a nice suit and drive a 7 series, you probably receive better service, than jeans and a 1 series (me). There are enough Banksters and lawyers in Toronto to keep them busy.

When I lived in California, I drove Porsche / Audi products, and I was close to Andial for service, and they were amazing. After picking up my car from the dealership, I would rarely return.

Unfortunately, I have not yet found good independent BMW service in Canada close to where I live, thankfully, I have only had to have the HPFP replaced in my 135 once, and it was done efficiently, and I got a mini loaner which was fun.

You are quite right about the dealership being in California, someone else already pointed that out . I was just not thinking my bad, well sort of. In my mind when one uses "North America" for me this does include Canada. I am a German/Canadian so I think slightly different I do know there is an Ontario in California, in fact I dove thru it twice in my life time on vacation trips.

I know what you are saying that the manufactures use the dealerships as a buffer and very seldom deal with the customer directly.

I also know what you mean about some dealerships on the service side treating customers different if you are dressed well or not, driving a 1 Series or a 7 Series. The dealers provide the service (before warranty expires) so so one needs to watch carefully what is done and what is not done since they get paid one way or the other. After warranty expires well that is when some see $$ signs in there eyes the moment one drives into the joint.

I've driven BMW's now for some 25 years, still have our first one a e28 made in 1987 it is a 535is. I had it serviced during the warranty at BMW for the normal oil and filter changes, however, in-between I've handled all the work myself. Same for after the warranty I did all but the timing work there I used a former BMW trained mechanic that went on his own and did very well. My daughter now has the car serviced when needed at BMW she drives the car very seldom. I look after the general upkeep. Last year I replaced both front fenders they started to show rust in the wheel wells. I also replaced the front and rear bumpers otherwise this fine car is in perfect shape.

I chimed into this thread for one reason and that is that I got teated very badly by a US dealership in Idaho Falls USA during my last cross country vacation trip in a new car (a Z4 35i). At 18,000 KM both my rear wheels cracked. That dealer gave me some choices and also lied to me. In the end my wheel was changed (after waiting 1 1/2 days in a hotel for wheel delivery) at a local tire shop they use for that work. There interest was to sell cars service in my case was adding air pressure to my leaking wheel due to the wheel crack and sending me to a hotel. Not providing a car or picking up the tab oh no. When the wheel was changed at this tire shop I requested to check all my wheels and we found 2 hairline cracks in the other rear wheel. Since the air was holding I elected to drive home with the 2 hairline cracks very carefully, it was a 3000 KM trip home with 2 cracks in my wheel I shall remember for the rest of my life.

Once home my local dealer changed the wheel with the hairline cracks without question. The wheel with the open crack that 2 fellows damaged in the tire shop with tire irons they declared bend. The BMW so called specialist totally ignored the tire iron abuse.

Go to this thread and scroll down to --->Region Idaho and you see my story and the wheel

The latest thread (there are many more) on cracked wheels --- >Can be found here

They always seam to like to boost about what people think are "The Great Guys" .... never "Look stay clear of those Guys"

Like the saying goes "If I did good tell others if I screwed up tell me"

I love to see a list of the bad boys it will never happen I know.

Cheers, Rolf

PS. Now BMW offers a new and stronger Generation II of this wheel design and Bridgestone is on there Generation III tire design ... Go figure

[MMMCOOKIES55]

Originally Posted by AfroSamurai2689

Glad to see Performance BMW of Chapel Hill up there. Great dealership to work with, the service center is excellent when dealing with extra goodies on my vehicle.

+1 to Performance and Maurice Bryant (my service adviser)!

[3s-a-charm]

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

Ummm...it's a US list. That's Ontario, California.

I'd also be very curious to see where how Canadian dealerships are ranked. My dealership has always been excellent in all aspects.

Is that Calgary BMW? They used to have a bit of a bad reputation - being "snobby". Now, I find them absolutely excellent and the service department has been going above and beyond for us. After a poor experience with Mercedes, Calgary BMW has me sticking to the brand for sure! Kudos to Calgary BMW.

[drewh130]

Originally Posted by mahnee1

United BMW of Gwinnett?!?!? They rarely have loaners AND I've filed 7 formal complaints against that dealership.

I've never had a problem getting a loaner here. They even got me one when my SA missed the memo to schedule me for one.

The service department is not bad and my salesman was great. However, the have put a TON of miles on my car a couple times.They put 30 miles on one service and 50 miles on another....they said it was normal but I'm not buying it.

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by 3s-a-charm

Is that Calgary BMW? They used to have a bit of a bad reputation - being "snobby". Now, I find them absolutely excellent and the service department has been going above and beyond for us. After a poor experience with Mercedes, Calgary BMW has me sticking to the brand for sure! Kudos to Calgary BMW.

Agreed, same experience for us. They are hands down the best dealership we have ever dealt with.

I also deal with the two neighbouring dealerships. Sales is good at Lexus, service is decent. Sales at Lonestar MB is good as well, but the service department and management are by far the absolute worst, most dishonest group that I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Never again.

We were 95% of the way to buying another MB as that is what the wife wanted, but then we dealt with the terrible service department...again...and changed our mind. Spoke with our dollars and "settled" for the 750.

[hollandog]

East coast really gotta step up

[elias]

Originally Posted by hollandog

East coast really gotta step up

Lets see here:

West Coast has 8 Dealerships on the list

Midwest has 11 Dealerships on the list

East Coast has 12 Dealerships on the list

What's the problem with the East coast?

[hollandog]

Originally Posted by elias

Lets see here:

West Coast has 8 Dealerships on the list

Midwest has 11 Dealerships on the list

East Coast has 12 Dealerships on the list

What's the problem with the East coast?

Sorry I meant north east tri-state area

[mtechnik3]

Congrats to the team at Hendrick BMW! Bought my 135i from them when I lived in Charlotte.

[redhot]

Kudos to Chapman Chandler in AZ for winning! I have had good experience with service at this location. Can't say much about Sales as one of my friend who bought a preowned 5 series from another dealership as he got the runaround from Chapmans' sales staff. Ultimately, it's all about the overall experience....pre and post.

Don't see many Arizonans here...

[pizzapie]

I am so excited over this list! Congrats Momentum BMW!

[PeteM6]

Lol on momentum BMW!! I went there one day and quickly realized my mistake. I go to BMW west, which is the best.

[doug_999]

No dealers in Illinois. No surprise.