We've owned two BMWs (E30 M3 and E36 325i) and always dreaded taking them to the dealer for servicing. Please note this servicing was spread across many years and several states. I remember replacing intake manifolds several times a year on the M3 until I pointed out the fact that it was an emissions issue covered by my warranty. Fought tooth-and-nail over that one. I never had a satisfactory transaction with a BMW service department. However, I found quite a few great independents.

My wife's 325i was a great car with very few problems. Several friends own the latest generation 3 series and have faced many problems. I was tempted to purchase a new M3 before I bought my 996. However my wife reminded me of the service problems we had and the service/reliability problems our friends have experienced.

I didn't intend on bashing BMW. I just wish that my experience was better.

 

I work for Bob Smith BMW in Calabasas.

Our policies and mission here is to provide a superior service and sales enviornment than the stereotypical car dealership. The whole family works here, and we are a 3rd gen. family owned business that has been in the community for over 70 years. I feel as comfortable at work as I do at a family function, and I try to extend the same courtesy to my clients as well.

How many dealer's have you been to where the owner walks around on a daily basis and says hi to his customers in service, and prospects in sales? How many dealer's give you a BMW loaner car for free everytime you service your car with them if you bought it there? How many dealers have a state-of-the-art service facility with over $20 million invested, and have the nicest, most understanding manager working there that will do anything to accomodate your needs. She is not only a co-worker for me, but also a good friend.

I know a few of the service advisors here quite well also, and one in perticular is one of the nicest, most down to earth people I have ever met. He is a car enthusiast, extremely humble, and very intelligent. I could help any of you with BMW service if you need it, and happen to be in the area.

Having a bad experience can rub you the wrong way, but you cant write off all dealers and generalize them because you have been treated poorly somewhere else. If I have bad service at Ruth's Chris in Arizona, that doesnt mean that the Ruth's Chris in LA is going to have bad service also. In fact, even if I have a bad experiece at all the Ruth's Chris' I have been to, that doesnt mean that there isnt one out there that is exceptional.

 

yea.. blah blah blah...

BMW sucks, and their service sucks even more

 

"If I have bad service at Ruth's Chris in Arizona, that doesnt mean that the Ruth's Chris in LA is going to have bad service also. In fact, even if I have a bad experiece at all the Ruth's Chris' I have been to, that doesnt mean that there isnt one out there that is exceptional."

after you've been thoroughly urinated on by several of them, you don't look for the needle in the haystack. one does not become real successful in life trying to use the exception to invalidate the rule. try that in vegas.

 

Why cant BMW build brakes on any of their cars that dont turn your wheels black after a 5 mile drive? Worst brake dust on any car ever ...period.

 

Ben,
Ruth's Chris sucks go to Morton's where they dont inject the steak with butter, then sizzle it in butter.

No lie, They actually inject the steak with a syringe. Yuck!

 

Many years ago when I worked at Nordstrom (back when they actually cared about customer service) we had an old cliche: Provide great service and the customer will tell a friend. Provide bad service and they'll tell three friends.

'nuff said.

 

...makes me wish I bought my M3 there; nevertheless, I too am affected by this recall.

My widebody M3 has more than $44,000 in mods, with almost no engine mods, except for an intake and exhaust.

After it gets back from the body shop (for more carbon fiber stuff), I'll get the engine recall done...then the car will be up for sale.

Guess I'll just have to get an SL55, as I love the CLK500 commuter I just bought. Good bye BMW...forever.

 

But they do offer free roadside assistance on all of their cars even after the warranty has expired. You just have to pay for parts. This also covers flats and running out of gas. They came out to my home to replace the battery on my wife's M class for the cost of the battery alone.

Also Mitsubishi offers 3 years of free maintenance as well as a 100,000 mile warranty.

 

Quote: BMW is the ONLY company that pays for ALL of your maintainence on all of their models.



Mitsubishi does as well.


Quote: If you meet more than one ******* each day...



So far, this may count as my first today.


Quote: People think that car salesmen are rude, but you have no idea how tainted car salesmen can become by all the customers who lie, cheat you, waste your time, dont show up for appts., and much more. I dare any of you who are complaining to work one week in car sales, and see if your attitude towards salesmen changes afterwords.


My brother owns a dealership and he and I have both worked in car sales for many years.



Quote: I used to work in a resturaunt when I was younger, and I know that it defineately changed how I felt when I would go out ot eat. I work 6, sometimes 7 days a week, many times working over 10-12 hours in a day. I have no time to get things done outside of work many times.


My work days are typically 12-15 hours.


Quote: I do everything I can to take car of my customers... I give them my cell number so they can call me on my day off, sometimes making me come to work on my day off, and half the time they just go to another dealer to get 5 bucks a month of their payments.


I'm on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With very few vacations.



Quote: Sometimes you need to stop looking at things through your perspective only, and realize that there are 2 sides to the coin.



I might suggest you do the same.

 

Since it bears on the thread, I will share my BMW horror story.

I had a convertible E46 BMW M3 Convertible. As I was driving down the highway at 80 mph with the top down, the boot that holds the top down tried to raise itself. Air got under the boot and it flew back at 80 mph. Luckily, it didn't fly off but it did bend everything to hell and ruined the trunk.

I took the car to the dealer and they blamed me for it. Said that I probably failed to put the top all the way down. They did not ask if I was ok, etc. I could have lost control of the car or the boot could have flew off hitting another car. They didn't give a **** and basically blamed me.

I demanded an investigation by BMW NA. They sent their technician down from back east and found that the CPU had failed and tried to raise the top. They didn't even give me a loaner car for the first 5 days.

The net of it is that it then took them 51 days to fix the car. I obtained a lawyer and got a full refund based on the California Lemon Law.

I vow to never purchase another BMW again. Not only did I get horrible service from the dealership, but BMW NA also crapped on me as much as they could. Corporate culture should be ingrained at all levels, not just at one dealership. As a side note, my M3 was my second BMW. I had a 330 Ci that I sold to my sister in law...a grave mistake as the car is basically falling apart and she spends more time at the maintenance center than she does driving it.

Porsche's refusal to include free maintenance is a source of competitive advantage in my opinion. It adds to the exclusivity of the car. Basic business strategy: lower dealership cost and increase exclusivity. Let's face it, everyone has a BMW. And what's the use of free maintenance when you are treated like crap when you show up for it.

T

 

My car is in the shop (at Bob Smith) as I write this for the recall. While I have never owned a Porsche I can certainly say that this BMW is not up to the qulaity standards as the many Japanese sports cars I have owned. There are some minor but niggling issues. My business partner's 330 has the same issues! Exactly. sunroof cover breaks, the door seals come apart when it gets over 100 degrees (almost all summer here).

If you factor in the price of ownership and figure that this car can keep with a N/A 996 (in acceleration) at almost half the price, you have to admit it is a great deal. I have sepnt a total of $0 on maintenance in 2 years. That is good deal in my book.

Either way my car is a lease so who cares?

BTW Matt Fresh - How much are you guys asking for the 03 turbo on the lot? I'm pretty sure it's my baywatch car....https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...&highlight=ari

My new rep Jason has been great.

 

thats sad

 

...and people ask me why my father still trusts the car to be his everyday commuter to the city.

 

I had the recall done on my 01' about 3 weeks ago. Car works like a charm, actually at a recent track day up here myself and buddy (another M3) were having fun working all the Porshce's! Maybe its different up here in Canada, because I also spun 3 bearings on my 540i (also 01') and with no questions asked they replaced the motor. I have had nothing but great experiences with BMW, and I have only purchased two vehicles through the dealer.

My worst experience with a manufacturer would have to be Audi/Porsche. After purchasing a total of 5 Audi's, and 1 Porsche through a certain dealer, I still wasn't able to test drive a new S4 for the life of me. They also dicked me around on repairs, etc.

BMW gets two thumbs up from me, and I don't think I will purchase another make for a very long time (or until I can afford a Ferrari).