M3 - Lease End Question

[rajvar]

Hi - I just returned my M3 at lease and and they sent me their 'itemized' list of damages. I thought it would be possible after receiving this (I never got it inspected before lease end) to have my own body guy take a look and give me a quote, however when I called (this is within the 10 business days of receiving the notice) BMWFS told me the car was sold and I couldn't see it. Any ideas on what rights I have to this if any?

[jmflukeiii]

Sounds like you missed your chance.

[e90m3_6MT]

you should have received a package before the end of your lease detailing how they will calculate the damage. for example different size rings for damage like dings, scratches, windshield damage. if you did your own inspection with that, you should know exactly the conclusion of their inspection.

[rajvar]

yes - got that, and didn't expect any exterior damages but got $640 worth. not a huge deal, but i thought i should be able to at least see what they are talking about, or receive something more itemized than "exterior damages or excess wear $640"

[J08M3]

I'd tell them to bad. They should've taken it up with you before they sold the car

[mrkbbd]

Contest it and read the fine print in the contract

[Technic]

Originally Posted by rajvar

I never got it inspected before lease end.

Any ideas on what rights I have to this if any?

It is quite difficult to overcome these two seemingly contradictory statements.

[mrkbbd]

Also, they should've taken pictures and let you see them to verify the damage. That seems very one-sided and seems unconscionable to me

[pbonsalb]

You should have done this in person at the dealer. We did this recently with our 2008 X5. Initially, the inspector said we would have to pay for an entire rear bumper assembly because my wife scratched one corner. The corner was a separate section. I pointed that out to the inspector and he looked into it and agreed and the price came down from something like $800 to $100. Again, we had the printout when we left the dealer an hour or so after we brought the car in. We later received the invoice from BMW Financial, as the dealer explained we would, and it was consistent.

I agree that you probably did not take advantage of your rights and are probably now stuck. Never hurts to go back to the dealer and ask.

[James T. Kirk]

1) Get a time machine.
2) Travel back to the time you when were about to sign your lease.
3) Walk away.

[double_j]

Right or wrong, $640 isn't usually enough to merit serious attention unless you know that you're really being ripped off (i.e., you felt that the car was immaculate and the charges should have been zero).

Do you agree or disagree with the items that were listed? If you were aware of some damage (and just disagree with the magnitude of the charge), then I don't think you'll have much luck.

[rajvar]

Originally Posted by Technic

It is quite difficult to overcome these two seemingly contradictory statements.

i never got it professionally inspected, but i did know what my car looked like, so not sure that it is that contradictory. on the extreme end, if i didn't get it inspected, and they wrote back telling me it was returned to them totaled, it would definitely not be contradictory?

if i contest this, would it jeapordize the bmwfs approval i have for my next m3 that I'm waiting on ED for?

[James T. Kirk]

Originally Posted by rajvar

i never got it professionally inspected, but i did know what my car looked like, so not sure that it is that contradictory. on the extreme end, if i didn't get it inspected, and they wrote back telling me it was returned to them totaled, it would definitely not be contradictory?

You have no evidence of what you think your car looked like.
You have no case.

Originally Posted by rajvar

if i contest this, would it jeapordize the bmwfs approval i have for my next m3 that I'm waiting on ED for?

Of course it won't hurt your next purchase. BMWFS is all too happy to take your money again. Besides, your complaint will be denied anyway.

THIS IS ONE OF MANY REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BUY AND NEVER LEASE AGAIN.

[rajvar]

Originally Posted by double_j

Right or wrong, $640 isn't usually enough to merit serious attention unless you know that you're really being ripped off (i.e., you felt that the car was immaculate and the charges should have been zero).

Do you agree or disagree with the items that were listed? If you were aware of some damage (and just disagree with the magnitude of the charge), then I don't think you'll have much luck.

yea exterior i'm not sure how they got there. there were two very small <.5" dings on one of the doors i knew. they also ask for $150 in interior damages where I am unclear what they were talking about since i take good care of my car and there were no blemishes in the leather etc, but again, yes, the $ number of it isn't really making or breaking anything for me, but just seems off on principle.

seems to be at best a fascinating policy to write to me in a letter that I have 14bd to send an independent appraisal in, but not giving me access to send an appraiser to look at the car, especially since I continue to be a bmw customer.

[rajvar]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

You have no case.

THIS IS ONE OF MANY REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BUY AND NEVER LEASE AGAIN.

Yea -but having the good residual means I dont' have to go through the hassle of working to sell my car for a decent value in 3 years - that (i thought before) made leasing worth it.

i'm not entirely positive i have no case here - according to ny state (where i lease my car).

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/consume...bitration.html

*If you did not obtain an appraisal before turning in the vehicle, you still have the right to obtain one. Such appraisal must be obtained within 10 business days after you have received (or 14 days after the lessor has sent) the lessor's itemized appraisal and bill for excess wear and damage.

*What If The Lessor Refuses to make the Vehicle Accessible?

If the lessor fails to provide reasonable access to the vehicle for your appraisal, the lessor shall be deemed to have forfeited its right to collect any excess wear and damage charges.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by rajvar

i never got it professionally inspected, but i did know what my car looked like, so not sure that it is that contradictory. on the extreme end, if i didn't get it inspected, and they wrote back telling me it was returned to them totaled, it would definitely not be contradictory?

if i contest this, would it jeapordize the bmwfs approval i have for my next m3 that I'm waiting on ED for?

IMO, one thing is what you thought your car looked like, another what the inspector ended up dinging your car up with. So not inspecting your car before turning it in contradicts/defeats the whole point of knowing in advance the actual damage to be paid for so you do not have to be questioning what happened in this thread.

However... your finding above about your lease rights in New York and the car being sold makes you a very lucky person and most probably you will not be legally obligated to pay for the "wear and tear".

[mrkbbd]

Originally Posted by rajvar

Yea -but having the good residual means I dont' have to go through the hassle of working to sell my car for a decent value in 3 years - that (i thought before) made leasing worth it.

i'm not entirely positive i have no case here - according to ny state (where i lease my car).

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/consume...bitration.html

*If you did not obtain an appraisal before turning in the vehicle, you still have the right to obtain one. Such appraisal must be obtained within 10 business days after you have received (or 14 days after the lessor has sent) the lessor's itemized appraisal and bill for excess wear and damage.

*What If The Lessor Refuses to make the Vehicle Accessible?

If the lessor fails to provide reasonable access to the vehicle for your appraisal, the lessor shall be deemed to have forfeited its right to collect any excess wear and damage charges.

Seems you're good then, too bad they already sold it

[rajvar]

Originally Posted by mrkbbd

Seems you're good then, too bad they already sold it

yea, i'll inquire about the process with the guy. just dont want to give up my ed m3 for this summer! i'll let you guys know what happens...

[pbonsalb]

If you are still within the 14 days, tell them you want the independent appraisal. They cannot provide the car in its original form for that appraisal. Your appraiser would say the car is perfect. They would say that is because they fixed it. They may not want to trouble their customer enough to bother with this. Maybe you could negotiate something as to the issues you disagree with, such as the interior.

[335OK]

is this legal to bill anyone without any evident?
I think he has a case.

[persian54]

with my old benz, they had really detailed pictures

but i called and mentioned i wanted to have a look at it etc and they offered to take 50% off and call it a day and i took it

[335OK]

Originally Posted by persian54

with my old benz, they had really detailed pictures

but i called and mentioned i wanted to have a look at it etc and they offered to take 50% off and call it a day and i took it

because they know this is illegal.....