My First experince with the service departmet
01-13-2007, 02:38 PM
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I just thought I'd share my first experience today with the service department. I came through there this afternoon. My wife and I are adopting a child, and the adoption agency requires that I have a mechanic sign a form that says my car is "OK and in good working order". Being that I needed that form signed off, and had my new plates that needed mounting I thought I'd swing by. I had another motive as well, my wife is looking for a new car and I wanted to check out the 335.
I waited 20 minutes watching this form be passed around. It caused a lot of head scratching. Someone eventually introduced herself as the service manger, asked me to have a seat and d to explain to me that a work order would need to be created so that tire and engine measurements could be taken. And of course a fee. Before we got into how much I would be charged for this, I explained that I didn't think we needed to get into a big thing here. I pointed out that this is a sixty five thousand dollar car that's less than a month old and has nine hundred miles on it. I thought it was a pretty safe bet that the car is in "good working order". This logic had no effect, so I left took my car down to the Midas where they signed the form in five minutes and I was on my way.
Any body else feel like these dealers succeed in spite of themselves? I mean, the car is great, but every time I deal with the people at the dealership it's a total fiasco. It was harder buying it than it had to be, now this. Not to mention the "give me all fives on the survey" business.
Based on my experience working with the Lexus people was a lot easier than this. BMW makes a much better car, but the dealers leave something to be desired.
Could just be my place though.
I waited 20 minutes watching this form be passed around. It caused a lot of head scratching. Someone eventually introduced herself as the service manger, asked me to have a seat and d to explain to me that a work order would need to be created so that tire and engine measurements could be taken. And of course a fee. Before we got into how much I would be charged for this, I explained that I didn't think we needed to get into a big thing here. I pointed out that this is a sixty five thousand dollar car that's less than a month old and has nine hundred miles on it. I thought it was a pretty safe bet that the car is in "good working order". This logic had no effect, so I left took my car down to the Midas where they signed the form in five minutes and I was on my way.
Any body else feel like these dealers succeed in spite of themselves? I mean, the car is great, but every time I deal with the people at the dealership it's a total fiasco. It was harder buying it than it had to be, now this. Not to mention the "give me all fives on the survey" business.
Based on my experience working with the Lexus people was a lot easier than this. BMW makes a much better car, but the dealers leave something to be desired.
Could just be my place though.
01-13-2007, 03:25 PM
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As you know, US is land of lawyers. This issue comes down to liability issue. Dealer does not want to be liable or just finds excuses not to sign the form. This is what I call sucky dealer service :thumbsdown:
I agree that BMW service is not even closed to Lexus', but because we love BMW so much, we have to pay for the price. BMW does care about dealers' service, but dealer itself just sucks.
I was very glad that BMW NA cares very much about SA serve you, and a couple of SA was yanked from SCBMW due to less than "3" score on the BMW NA score card.
I agree that BMW service is not even closed to Lexus', but because we love BMW so much, we have to pay for the price. BMW does care about dealers' service, but dealer itself just sucks.
I was very glad that BMW NA cares very much about SA serve you, and a couple of SA was yanked from SCBMW due to less than "3" score on the BMW NA score card.
01-14-2007, 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by lllwlf' post='377831' date='Jan 13 2007, 06:38 PM
I just thought I'd share my first experience today with the service department. I came through there this afternoon. My wife and I are adopting a child, and the adoption agency requires that I have a mechanic sign a form that says my car is "OK and in good working order". Being that I needed that form signed off, and had my new plates that needed mounting I thought I'd swing by. I had another motive as well, my wife is looking for a new car and I wanted to check out the 335.
I waited 20 minutes watching this form be passed around. It caused a lot of head scratching. Someone eventually introduced herself as the service manger, asked me to have a seat and d to explain to me that a work order would need to be created so that tire and engine measurements could be taken. And of course a fee. Before we got into how much I would be charged for this, I explained that I didn't think we needed to get into a big thing here. I pointed out that this is a sixty five thousand dollar car that's less than a month old and has nine hundred miles on it. I thought it was a pretty safe bet that the car is in "good working order". This logic had no effect, so I left took my car down to the Midas where they signed the form in five minutes and I was on my way.
Any body else feel like these dealers succeed in spite of themselves? I mean, the car is great, but every time I deal with the people at the dealership it's a total fiasco. It was harder buying it than it had to be, now this. Not to mention the "give me all fives on the survey" business.
Based on my experience working with the Lexus people was a lot easier than this. BMW makes a much better car, but the dealers leave something to be desired.
Could just be my place though.
I waited 20 minutes watching this form be passed around. It caused a lot of head scratching. Someone eventually introduced herself as the service manger, asked me to have a seat and d to explain to me that a work order would need to be created so that tire and engine measurements could be taken. And of course a fee. Before we got into how much I would be charged for this, I explained that I didn't think we needed to get into a big thing here. I pointed out that this is a sixty five thousand dollar car that's less than a month old and has nine hundred miles on it. I thought it was a pretty safe bet that the car is in "good working order". This logic had no effect, so I left took my car down to the Midas where they signed the form in five minutes and I was on my way.
Any body else feel like these dealers succeed in spite of themselves? I mean, the car is great, but every time I deal with the people at the dealership it's a total fiasco. It was harder buying it than it had to be, now this. Not to mention the "give me all fives on the survey" business.
Based on my experience working with the Lexus people was a lot easier than this. BMW makes a much better car, but the dealers leave something to be desired.
Could just be my place though.
cheers
vern
01-14-2007, 07:28 AM
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I have not experienced a Lexus dealership but I have no such issue with my dealership BOB SMITH BMW in Calabassas, neither the service or the sales dept. I would rather see $0 on my maintenance bill than sit in a fur lined waiting room with free coffee.
01-14-2007, 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by lllwlf' post='377831' date='Jan 13 2007, 11:38 PM
Based on my experience working with the Lexus people was a lot easier than this. BMW makes a much better car, but the dealers leave something to be desired.
01-14-2007, 09:19 AM
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i too never had an experience with a lexus dealership but i never had even a little problem with my bmw dealership.. mckenna motors in norwalk.
01-14-2007, 09:46 AM
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Yeah....I don't think this is "BMW" problem......more of a dealership problem, on a case by case basis.......I doubt any dealership would be perfect in the buyer's eyes, but I know that I am completely satisfied with my service department at Coast BMW in San Luis Obispo. I can see how a dealership would have reservations about signing any forms for liability reasons.....but I agree that it's frustrating to have a brand new car, purchased at that same dealership, and they won't help you out.......too bad you can't warranty work done at Midas, huh? lol
01-14-2007, 10:28 AM
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My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
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Originally Posted by kmslo530i' post='378115' date='Jan 14 2007, 10:46 AM
Yeah....I don't think this is "BMW" problem......more of a dealership problem, on a case by case basis.......I doubt any dealership would be perfect in the buyer's eyes, but I know that I am completely satisfied with my service department at Coast BMW in San Luis Obispo. I can see how a dealership would have reservations about signing any forms for liability reasons.....but I agree that it's frustrating to have a brand new car, purchased at that same dealership, and they won't help you out.......too bad you can't warranty work done at Midas, huh? lol
lllwlf - best wishes and best of luck with the adoption
