NIGHTMARE with my new BIMMER

[Average Jae]

yea, before you cut that check, i'd figure out other ways of getting it resolved. but once you pay, you pretty much have no options left.

a friend of mine bought a used audi a4. got in an accident so it sat in a dealer for a few weeks. when he picked the car up, the mechanic said there's something funky about the engine, so take a careful test drive on the highway to make sure everythings good. well he took the drive and long behold, the engine started smoking.. a mear 1/2 mile from the dealership!!

got it towed back and was told the engine died, and he had to pay for damages due to his poor maint of the car. caked up oil was the cause of the problem they say. (my friend changed oil at the intervals, just not at the dealership, so no real records.. so he had no defense.) plus he came from korea couple years ago, so his english is pretty bad. too bad he told me about the problem after he cut the check for 4 or 5k..

so yea, explore every avenue before picking your car up. unless you are not telling us something, the dealer's story's quite fishy, and i would fight until i get the damn thing fixed under warranty, or some other compromise is reached.

 

[ofcrimson]

please update us on this as the issue is resolved. someone in an earlier post had a good question about whether or not you told the dealership about the fluid or they found the fluid on their own. the answer to that question, seems pretty important.

 

[jrt67ss350]

CUTiger2003,

Out of curiosity, whereabouts in SC are you? Was your car by chance being worked on at Century BMW in Greenville?

 

[CUTiger2003]

I'm in Aiken, SC...but the dealership is TAYLOR BMW in AUGUSTA, GA. Beware...don't take your car there for an oil change...like I said...I wouldn't take my niece's Barbie jeep power wheel there for a tune-up!

Here is the remainder of the saga...you will not believe it. Ok well...the car is DEFINITELY going to be ready this past Friday...WRONG. I finally go on Monday morning to pick the car up. The original estimate which the insurance company had already cut the check for was $5500 and I had to pay my deductible of $250. GEt there and they bring out the bill which reads...hold on to your chairs...$7101.00. I was like "WHAT IN THE HELL?". So yes...they think that just because they were ignorant and didn't know what they were doing that they could just tack on all this extra labor time to the bill and no one would notice. ALSO...2 modules that they put in which did not even repair the problem were still on the bill and had not been taken off. Needless to say I called the adjuster and told him not to pay them a penny more because I was not signing over another dime in their behalf.

So...leave the dealership...after getting home and inspecting the car...the side panel molding that is alongside the windshield basically came loose at the top when I hit a speed bump...they had scraped the leather on my parking brake...AND when you turn the automatic lights setting on the green light was FLASHING. Needless to say...I was not a happy camper.

To top it all off...my sister's neighbor up in Greenville is from Germany and has a high level job at the Spartanburg plant. Well he had been in touch with some top dogs about my issues. One of the main representatives from BMW NA called my dealership to inquire about the situation going on and see if any issues could be resolved in my favor. GET THIS...the service department has the balls to tell him that I was very satisfied and happy with the work they completed...my insurance covered everything and I had just picked the car up and had no problems with the work!!!!!!" I have never been so outraged in my life.

Took the car back this morning...the service guy that originally took the car in would not even make EYE CONTACT with me. Now they are saying that the windshield rain sensor is messed up which was causing the light to blink. Will it ever end???????

 

[bmwrocks]

This is the worst mess I have ever heard of for a car repair. Did they even kiss you before they f&%#^d you????

 

[klw325ci]

I hate to say it but it seems like that service department is trying to "get over" on you because you're female. I really hope that's not the case but my wife was told similar BS like that when I was deployed to Iraq. Oh how the story changed when I turn the cars in for service. Next time you turn your car in for service take somone with you that has a automotive background or a male friend that's itchin' to whip someone's azz. I don't think you should have paid one dime, even the $250 deductable was to much!

 

[CUTiger2003]

Nope unfortunately they can't even use THAT as an excuse. My dad was totally involved with the whole deal and he OWNS an automotive service. THat is what is so unbelieveable about this whole deal. Anyway...got my car back again for the SECOND time yesterday....it seems to be ok but we shall see what further glitches lie ahead. Not to mention I missed the best 6 weeks of convertible weather in South Carolina and now it is actually COLD here.

 

[Kirby]

Hey, where is Kirby he may have some good input on this problem.

Somehow I overlooked this thread until just now. Wow! What a nightmare. My input is a bit late.........

Like everyone else, I'm having a really hard time buying their explanation. What part of the trunk was the spill? Left, right, center?

I just tore my trunk apart to see where stuff is:

Left - I'm not sure what is under the trunk floor on the left. There is black tray on the floor but it is not readily removable.

Center - That's where the spare tire is. There is a tray that covers the spare tire and it is dish shaped. No holes in it. No way a spill in the truck would get through here, and if it did, the only thing under there is the spare!

Right - There is a black removable tray covering the battery. The main power cables from the battery are there, but I don't see any other connectors or electronics. Maybe there is something buried in the frame rail? I don't think so. The battery used to be up front and was moved in 2003 or 2004. But the rest of the wiring harness is still up front. They just ran extensions for the main power. If these needed replacing (doubtful) it isn't a $5000 job!!

If the spill was in the center, there's NO WAY you caused the damage. If it was spilled on the left or right at the wheel wells, there might be some connectors down in the body that got wet. But if it did get wet from washer fluid, the worst damage it might do would be some corrosion. Most automotive connectors are either moisture shielded or designed to take a bit of moisture. I just can't understand replacing the whole wiring harness.....

I agree with klw325ci. It sucks, but some service departments will take advantage of anyone they think they can fool, especially women. I always take care of any service issues on our cars, and I tell the SA upfront that I want all the details and I will want to see any defective parts before they do the work. If in doubt, take along a knowlegeable friend.

 

[CUTiger2003]

Here's the humdinger...it was spilled on the left side...mostly in the TRAY! About 2 ounces probably leaked out of the tray...all of which I vacuumed out immediately. They said that the pre-wiring for the cd changer is on that side...

I am so fed up with pure LIES from these people that it is ridiculous. I took everyone...including the sales manager out to the car and said "HOW?????". I also asked BMW of NA if I should be careful when opening my trunk in a thunderstorm as I surely did not want to cause another $7000 worth if damage. AHRENFJDAKSRHAHRAJSKHRA!!!!!!!

 

[kennethw]

feel sorry for you...
Maybe you should try seeking legal advice now?

Poor soul...
Best of luck.

 

[raiyu]

Hey tiger long time no chat, sorry to hear about all your problems.

Please read this carefully:

BMW SERVICE IS A JOKE, NEVER GO THERE FOR REPAIRS, NEVER GET ANYTHING THAT ISNT 100% COVERED UNDER YOUR WARRANTY DONE THERE.

Here is my experience, first of all everyone there is an idiot. They have no brains, they have no reasoning, and the higher up you go, the people dont even have any formal education in automobiles, they are completely business men so you cant even discuss your technical issues with them.

I had a few problems with my car, some of them were caused by driver error I brought it into be serviced and they gave me an estimate of $3600, I got it done for $500.

They were telling me I need to have my entire strut assembly on the front right side replaced, I tried to discuss the issue, find out how the strut could be damaged if there was no damage to the tire or rim but that was like arguing politics with a roof shingle. Anyway, when I brought it to my body shop, they fixed the problem in 5 minutes for $0. The real issue was that a control rod that they replaced two weeks ago was never tightened, it came loose, and it was causing all of the noise I was hearing. The car was lifted, the mechanic literally tightened it with a wrench in 3 mins and all of the noise was gone.

Never sign anything that says you allow them to do any work on your car that you are going to pay for. And if they did the work I would just say take the car and say sorry Im not paying because I never agreed to pay for any work that wasnt covered under the warranty. Anyway, I thought that BMW would do decent service, but its the same story as every where else, just find a good body shop or mechanic that you can trust and go there. Only goto service if its under warranty and free, otherwise they will rip you left right and still do a bad job.

heh, sorry abou that, rant over, if anything is unclear let me know I'll try to reply more concisely. As you can see I'm still a bit frustrated at times with their stupidity.

 

[MrElussive]

raiyu, is your experience based on just one BMW dealership, or several? Because sometimes one car dealership is just terrible, not the rest of them.

 

[raiyu]

It's already two, one is the largest in Manhattan which sucked ass, and now mine in NJ, so in the future I am only going there to get work done under my warranty, nothing else.

 

[wallace]

Not Cool. I know some lawyers in Florida that may be able to refer a good lawyer. Post if you need a name.

 

[CUTiger2003]

Yeah so trip #3...there is something rolling around inside the dashboard whenever I make a sharp turn...it goes all the way from one side of the car to the other. Also the speakers are buzzing!!!! AHH! Guess what? Surprise surprise...I haven't been called for a customer satisfaction survey like they are supposed to do every time you take your car to the service department. Normally they bother you to death until you answer your phone and answer the questions...Hmm...makes a girl wonder. I'm guessing they only satisfy their SATISFIED customers!!!!! BAH HUMBUG...I hate being in a foul mood around the holidays!

 

[MyHarley]

Contrare to popular belief, not all service performed gets a follow up survey.......I thought the same thing until the last time BMWNA called for a survey, I thought they were calling on the problem with the tires and wheels, but it was actually for the subwoofer replacement. I mentioned the problem with the tires and wheels and that the car had been in the dealership six times, their records only showed twice. I informed him of my frustration but he said there was no record of this type of service. The dealership actually paid for the new tires and wheels, not BMWNA, so therefore it was not recorded with BMWNA. Now, the dealership has all the records in their computer, but not BMWNA.....as with the problems with my tracking system, no one has called from BMWNA. It seems that who pays for the repairs determines who gets a survey and how it is reported to BMWNA...............hmmmmmmmmmm