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Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:15 pm
by hsyben
Anyone had dealings with this Main Dealer. My 2003 Z4 was purchased from them and was serviced by them for the first few years. I didn't get the service history when I bought the car so have asked them to stamp a blank service book. I've emailed, phoned and written to them, enclosing the service book, but they have steadfastly refused to reply or return the book to me.
Are they a proper main dealer or a bunch of Cowboys?
Or am I asking too much?
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:31 pm
by rdm05z4
Don't think asking too much. Prior to buying my used 05 from dealer i asked for the "carfax" report and all information they had. Using the vin and carfax report I called all the shops listed and asked them to send all maintenance records to me which they did. Even tho the car had high mileage the history was extremely documented showed a well-cared for car. My only suggestion for you if not too far would be to go there and "politely" ask for records.
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:44 pm
by Mr Tidy
When I bought my E91 the trade seller had a list of which BMW dealers it had visited and when.
I rang all 3 of them and they were able to tell me what work had been done - one visit was just to swap wheels between winters and summers! But when I spoke to the last one, Barons of Hindhead, they told me it had been there for an oil service 3 months before I bought so I took the book in a few days later and they added the stamp.
I was really impressed with how helpful they all were, but it looks like they are not all as good as that!
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 4:58 pm
by mmm-five
As with anything, companies make mistakes, but it's how they resolve these issues that shows you what they're really like, and they're definitely not all as good/bad as each other...but I can honestly say that the Williams group are the biggest bunch of...
...well, let me put it this way...I wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire.
(to show you how much I dislike them, I used to take mine all the way from Liverpool to Stoke to avoid them)
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 5:34 pm
by tomscott
I live round the corner.
Bought my mini clubman JCW new from Williams stockport and they opened next to Trafford Centre which is really ideal as it saved me an hour and a half round trip in m60 traffic.
Had an issue they flat out refused to sort it, the minis have an issue the plastics going grey had this issue on the passenger side stockport sorted it. Took it to Manchester they said they wouldn't cover it. I had a headlight orientation issue and they returned it with me with the bolts that hold the light in missing. It was only when I broke hard that I found out the hard way. Although it had been in the garage the week before they accused me of crashing the car and it being repaired badly until they realised it was in the week before quickly went back on that accusation.
Car just hit 3 years old we had a slow puncture on a runflat and my fiancé needed to pick up her wedding dress in Glasgow... week before the wedding. She took it in they couldn't find any issues, said they had put it in a bath of water no bubbles so sent her on her way. I thought no chance so took it to a back street garage that was close for a second opinion, just pored some soapy liquid on it and instantly could see the bubbles. The wheel was cracked and not just a crack but it had a birds foot crack so split in 3 places. Bear in mind she was about to drive 400 mile round trip and she's not mechanically minded you could imagine what the consequences could have been. They were just going to let her drive off.
Absolutely disgusting, imagine if an accident had happened because of this a couple of days before the wedding. I was fuming.
Anyway after some negotiation they give her a courtesy car and off she went. Wheel was £600 they wouldn't cover it under the warranty as it was like 3 weeks over. We were a week away from being married and needed the car to get to where we were getting married and also for our honeymoon so there wasn't really time to sort so had to suck it up.
Anyway wheel arrives next day and they decided to take the rest off to check at this point. All 4 are cracked, and on top although I have owned the car since new and never had the tyres low on the car as it has pressure warning. Apparently the inside wall of the tyre had cuts as if the car had been ran low.
Long story short, full set of alloys and a new set of tyres all round. They were super difficult with the tyres because they wouldn't fit non runflats and 35 profile runflats all round on 19" wheels were absolutely the cause. I had to fight with them and all they could get next day was a mid range Hancook which had no rim protection at all on brand new wheels that were £600 each. With diamond cut wheels the combo is a nightmare waiting to happen.
In the end best part of 4K, although I bought it from Williams group there was no good will, no offer of help. By this point it was 3 days before the wedding and I had other things to worry about and we needed the car fixing.
4k, days before the most expensive day of your life was far from ideal.
As I picked it up the pressure sensors wouldn't work either because they didn't reset them so had to go back again.
Anyway it was pushed toward it being my fault and apparently they had never seen a cracked alloy before which we all know is complete BS.
I wouldn't even entertain going back again.
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 6:45 pm
by paddy wright
tomscott wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 5:34 pm
I live round the corner.
Bought my mini clubman JCW new from Williams stockport and they opened next to Trafford Centre which is really ideal as it saved me an hour and a half round trip in m60 traffic.
Had an issue they flat out refused to sort it, the minis have an issue the plastics going grey had this issue on the passenger side stockport sorted it. Took it to Manchester they said they wouldn't cover it. I had a headlight orientation issue and they returned it with me with the bolts that hold the light in missing. It was only when I broke hard that I found out the hard way. Although it had been in the garage the week before they accused me of crashing the car and it being repaired badly until they realised it was in the week before quickly went back on that accusation.
Car just hit 3 years old we had a slow puncture on a runflat and my fiancé needed to pick up her wedding dress in Glasgow... week before the wedding. She took it in they couldn't find any issues, said they had put it in a bath of water no bubbles so sent her on her way. I thought no chance so took it to a back street garage that was close for a second opinion, just pored some soapy liquid on it and instantly could see the bubbles. The wheel was cracked and not just a crack but it had a birds foot crack so split in 3 places. Bear in mind she was about to drive 400 mile round trip and she's not mechanically minded you could imagine what the consequences could have been. They were just going to let her drive off.
Absolutely disgusting, imagine if an accident had happened because of this a couple of days before the wedding. I was fuming.
Anyway after some negotiation they give her a courtesy car and off she went. Wheel was £600 they wouldn't cover it under the warranty as it was like 3 weeks over. We were a week away from being married and needed the car to get to where we were getting married and also for our honeymoon so there wasn't really time to sort so had to suck it up.
Anyway wheel arrives next day and they decided to take the rest off to check at this point. All 4 are cracked, and on top although I have owned the car since new and never had the tyres low on the car as it has pressure warning. Apparently the inside wall of the tyre had cuts as if the car had been ran low.
Long story short, full set of alloys and a new set of tyres all round. They were super difficult with the tyres because they wouldn't fit non runflats and 35 profile runflats all round on 19" wheels were absolutely the cause. I had to fight with them and all they could get next day was a mid range Hancook which had no rim protection at all on brand new wheels that were £600 each. With diamond cut wheels the combo is a nightmare waiting to happen.
In the end best part of 4K, although I bought it from Williams group there was no good will, no offer of help. By this point it was 3 days before the wedding and I had other things to worry about and we needed the car fixing.
4k, days before the most expensive day of your life was far from ideal.
As I picked it up the pressure sensors wouldn't work either because they didn't reset them so had to go back again.
Anyway it was pushed toward it being my fault and apparently they had never seen a cracked alloy before which we all know is complete BS.
I wouldn't even entertain going back again.
Wow! I’d be writing to the dealer principal about the headlight issue for sure!
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:11 pm
by PDJ
They did a recall for me no problems even washed it 120D daily with over 120k in the clock
Asked them for a bit of tech help with the Z4M once and they threatened to charge me an hours labour so I said no thanks but the technician gave me 10 mins for free
Hourly rate last year was 125/hr plus vat
Parts department are good have been helpful and give me 10% off
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 9:15 pm
by hsyben
I am both relieved and disappointed at the same time that it is not just me that has had issues with Williams. I get the concept of making a profit and not letting customers take you for a ride, but I would have thought that building up a good base of loyal customers would be worth it if you want to stay in business. I'm glad I don't work for them - can't be much fun. Support the reliable local business, not the big guy, is the way to go.
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 9:43 am
by hsyben
Just looked them up on Trustpilot and they get very few good reviews and loads of bad reviews. Guess I've lost my service history book but glad that I have not paid them money.
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:01 pm
by ronk
hsyben wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 9:43 am
Just looked them up on Trustpilot and they get very few good reviews and loads of bad reviews. Guess I've lost my service history book but glad that I have not paid them money.
Write to BMW customer services - It has coloured you judgement about that new BMW you were contemplating hasn't it????
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:14 pm
by Pondrew
PDJ wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:11 pm
Hourly rate last year was 125/hr plus vat
And we all think that is OK?
I use solicitors that charge less! I remember using a 'specialist' mechanic who were fantastically knowledgeable a good few years ago; they charged £18 per hour. Suddenly (because of main dealer prices rising faster than Jade Goody's fame) they doubled overnight!
There is no mechanic on this planet worth £125 per hour. IMHO of course!
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:20 pm
by tomscott
I go to Stockport and use Darren Wood instead for both the mini JCW and the Z4M and they are fabulous. Certainly one of the best in the UK.
Just a bit of a pain as they are so popular it’s hard to get a slot and it’s a 2 hour round trip driving there back there back every time. But worth it rather than paying a premium for Williams to take the p*ss
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:42 pm
by PDJ
Pondrew wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:14 pm
There is no mechanic on this planet worth £125 per hour. IMHO of course!
But that new show room and workshop needs paying for
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:43 pm
by Pondrew
tomscott wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:20 pm
Certainly one of the best in the UK.
Presuming you have tried them all, then?
Williams BMW Manchester
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:47 pm
by Pondrew
PDJ wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:42 pm
But that new show room and workshop needs paying for
Exactly. We are not paying for a car service, we are paying for their (frankly ridiculous) overheads.
The indy's are laughing too...they charge around 10% less and make far more profit.
Sign of the times, again. The quality is of no consequence, it's all about the profit margin.
Always remember going to my local MB dealership for a service (leased car). The dolly bird on reception was all about pointing me to the 'free' wi-fi and espresso machine. I said "keep your coffee and wi-fi, I'll have a discount on my service". She politely smiled and walked away.
