Ok, I'm really pissed now...
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Before I write the story, I would like to say that usually I get really good service from this dealer. Not this time!
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
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I'd be upset to, that is horrible.
Please keep us posted.
You have excellent taste in E60's BTW...
Please keep us posted.
You have excellent taste in E60's BTW...
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Originally Posted by TexaZ3' post='302141' date='Jun 23 2006, 03:16 PM
Before I write the story, I would like to say that usually I get really good service from this dealer. Not this time!
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
I have had the grease/dirt issue at other dealers - back when I had a VW, and it was a combination VW/BMW dealer. I raised hell while I was there before I left.
Dealers usually have some pretty amazing cleaning products that can probably take care of it perfectly. I'd go back and demand immediate resolution of that issue, and then get it through somebody's skull that they had better correct your noise/rattle issues.
Document, document, document. A friend of mine had some really ridiculously bad service at a notoriously bad dealer in my area (HBL) with his Audi. He made note of every phone call, every correspondence, every trip to the dealer. After a while, when he was completely fed up, he sent a letter along with the details of what he had gone through to the manager. From that moment on, he received VIP service and they took care of him like a prince.
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Originally Posted by TexaZ3' post='302141' date='Jun 23 2006, 03:16 PM
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
Autoglym "intensive tar remover" is pretty good for interior oil stains
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I purchsed my 550 from BMW of Dallas. I have had nothing but positive experiances to date. I recommend them for your consideration. I sure am glad I am not dealing with Autobahn.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Originally Posted by SRV' post='302161' date='Jun 23 2006, 03:16 PM
I purchsed my 550 from BMW of Dallas. I have had nothing but positive experiances to date. I recommend them for your consideration. I sure am glad I am not dealing with Autobahn.
I'll give Moritz in Arlington a try, its closer, and I hope their serivice is better. I actually have never had bad experience with Autobahn, and I have been their customer for years. I'm really have no words for what happened...
Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll keep you posted.
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I hate to point out that you did tell him he could not have until the end of the day to finish the job. If I was the mechanic and knew it would take me x amount of time to finish something and you only gave me y, I would do whatever I could to try and finish it by the time you wanted.
Next time, let them keep the car for two weeks if they want - just keep racking the miles up on the 330
Next time, let them keep the car for two weeks if they want - just keep racking the miles up on the 330
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Originally Posted by TexaZ3' post='302141' date='Jun 23 2006, 08:16 PM
Before I write the story, I would like to say that usually I get really good service from this dealer. Not this time!
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
Ok, on Monday this week I took my car to Autobahn BMW in Fort Worth to fix some rattles. My instrument cluster was rattling when going over bumps, not bad, but noticeable. It was rattling all the time, 100% so its not like it was rattling on and off. My car never received new door seals, so they were also creaking and I decided it was a good time to get these fixed as well. I had set up an appointment few days in advance so I could get a loaner (and I got a sweet 330i Sport) cause I knew it would take more than couple of hours.
Few hours later, my SA calls me and tells me that they found the rattle, and it is steering wheel buttons. I know for a fact that it is not steering wheel buttons, and tell him NOT to change them. He says ok, will look some more, but adds that door seals are on order (they knew I'm coming to change them at least 4 days in advance!) and the car will be ready only tomorrow. No big deal, I'm still enjoying that 330i.
SA calls me next day and tells me that they also found a problem with control unit (how? while looking for rattle sourse?), and it needs to be replaced, they don't have parts now, but they have them on order and the car will be ready tomorrow. Ok, one more day.
Next morning I call to check on the car, and the guy tells me that they can't start my car. Its dead. He also promises that they will figure it out and make sure it is ready by 5 pm. 5 pm comes and goes, no call from my SA. When I call him he tells me that "somebody" overtightened some nut on battery cable, and broke the connector, so I need new battery since this one is not taking any charge (second one) and new cables, and they will be here only tomorrow morning! At this point I'm getting really frustrated, but he assures me that it will be ready by 10 am.
Ok, 10am next day, I call him (not he calls me) and he says that they are still working on my car, and it will be ready by the end of the day. I tell the guy that this is unacceptable, and he quickly changes his song and tells me to come pick it up at 12:30 pm.
I come to pick up the car, everything goes smoothly, car starts fine, I drive off, and guess what! They DID change my steering wheel buttons, but both my instrument cluster and door seals still creak and rattle! Q!@&*^%$#!!!! In addition to this, my car is all dirty inside! Some grease around the doors and windows, oily drops of some chemical on leather and plastic.
Finally, when I came back home, I looked at the seals (still creaking like crazy) and they didn't change them! They just lubricated them with some kind of grease, and that what was all over my doors and leather!
So all in all, they had my car for 5 days, charged BMW for parts and service that I didn't request and never had any problems with, didn't fix the problems I had, and messed up my interior!
WTF? Do I go back there and raise hell, or do I just go to different dealer and never come back to that one? Really disappointed. I really hope that those stains on my doors and leather will come off...
It's not just Autobahn in Texas! I'm in UK and the service from my local dealer has been nothing short of appauling! Doesn't help either of us much, but only to say, you're not alone! I would have thought that by purchasing a "Top Marques" vehicle, one could expect similar service! I fear not is the case with many BMW outfits!
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OMG that sounds horrible... this kind of stuff is what scares the heck out of me and thats why I never want to goto the dealer... they screw up more stuff than ever.
So how can you tell they cahnged your steering wheel buttons? and are they a problem now? or you just didnt want them to screw with them in potential that they'll create some other problem?
So how can you tell they cahnged your steering wheel buttons? and are they a problem now? or you just didnt want them to screw with them in potential that they'll create some other problem?
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That totally sucks. Sounds like they didn't have a clue what they were doing. They messed up your car rather than fixed it. Neither did I have much good experience with dealerships. This is why I always try fix the car myself first whatever I can before giving it up to the dealer.