More BMW Dealer Stupidity

flimper

flimper

Veteran
 Hampshire
Just had the car in for a Brake Fluid Service, and specifically asked for the car to be cleaned inside only. Then while paying I notice someone going over my dirty car with a cloth (dry or damp I don't know), to say I was horrified would be an understatement!

And yes you've guessed it I immediately noticed a lovely scratch on the rear quarter panel which the service man said his valeter (hilarious term, the guy couldn't even speak English) was not responsible for. He then showed me a form that had been filled in prior to work being done (not seen by me obviously) that had this scratch as visible (oddly enough they missed a large group of scratches that I know about on the bonnet).

After complaining they did a quick smart repair which has made the scratch much less visible but the fine scratches are all over the panel. He has offered to get the panel 'detailed' but I'm not sure that I trust them to touch the car ever again :headbang:

All this has made me think about leaving the BMW dealer network for good, and going somewhere like http://bmwspecialistreading.co.uk for any future work, and make do with a non-FBMWSH

Thanks for listening :(
 
That is always the worry if they can't take on board the simplest of requests and then follow them :cry:

and is that Monaco Blue
 
Surprised flimper that you go to Sunningdale for service when Barons at Farnborough is possibly closer to Camberley. I now take mine to TWG Automotive in Camberley who are a great little BMW Indy - they don't clean your car at all which is fine with me. I have to agree though that main dealer cleaning is often pretty poor.
 
Had previous problems with Barons servicing which is why I have been using Sytner, running out of places to go now!
 
I have only heard bad things about BMW dealers on hear! Where as my 2 local Indy i have only heard good things.

My wife used to work for a another German mark as an accountant. The staff where all under trained and the bottom line was the only concern. Partly due to being a main dealer costs a lot of cash. The fancy buildings and so on quality can be affected. Your local independent probably has a small unit somewhere tucked away clean but not marble floors. I think you get better quality and a personal service. I say go for it good quality service history at a good quality independent would not put me off your car.
 
That would drive me nuts. :x

I really think dealers ought to have two separate areas in their garages: one for people who care about how their car looks and one for people who see it as a means of transport only. Mine is with a dealer now - been there for over a week in fact - and while I have no evidence to say they're treating it with anything other than respect, I'm still dreading it coming back...
 
It still amazes me that for a premium brand, the cars are treated just the same as crap brands or even worse.

Williams Manchester don't even put seat covers on the car when working on it. The times I've had to clean my leather seats after thick dirty marks (not the people, though they may be called that) have been put all over the seats. If I take it in now, and having asked for a seat cover to be put on, I still put my own on just in case. For the money charged, dealers are a rip off +1
 
Only ever use a dealer for parts and servicing the other halls new car (employee discount so cheap).

Buying a car with full service history and other private receipts is more important to me than buying a car with only full BMW service history.
 
Although i only own an msport 118d this is my pride and joy. I have too received a very nice scratch almost the whole length of the roof :o i complained to the service manager and they did correct the scratch. Although asking me was i sure it wasn't there before :headbang:

If they did it on a z4 m or m3 csl i think i would have slapped them in the face
 
Whilst I've never had specific problems with Grosvenor Reading, the last time I went in left me with a slight sour taste ...

I'd had my E46 in with them several times. Each time they seemed to find a lot wrong with it, but then to be fair it was a very high-usage, high-mileage vehicle.
Last time I took it in before I traded it in, they 'strongly advised' me to spend £400 to have my swirl flaps replaced.

Now, the car had been in plenty of times before, and they'd never mentioned the flaps.
I pointed out that I knew of the potential problem with the flaps breaking off, which was why I'd specifically bought the facelifted model with the redesigned engine manifold.
"Yeah yeah, it still happens though." said the chap on the desk, taking me to show me the difference between old and new flaps.
I pointed out that I knew that, hence the facelift, and that the redesigned manifold meant that, should the flaps break, there would be no actual damage to the engine.

Still, he tried to push a £400 'repair' onto me, despite both of us knowing it was strictly unnecessary.

Whilst their service has always been good and they've treated the car well, that put me off. If the flaps were such a big deal (as they were on pre-facelift models) then it should surely have been brought up the first time I ever took the car in?
 
Yet Chandlers in Worthing have never ever given me a moment of concern
and my previous Ocean in Paignton exactly the same
Both very on Customer service
maybe it is the fact they are out of the "commuter Belt " and I suspect have a higher ratio of Owner drivers
rather than depending on Leasing business
 
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