For Service, Do You Take Your M3 to the Dealer From Which You Bought It?

9Mille · Mon, Oct-24-2005, 10:22:05 PM

Is there really any benefit to taking the car for scheduled maintenance to the dealer from where it was purchased?

The dealer that's closest to me is so much more convenient and they give loaner cars even though you didn't buy from them. I would have bought from them, but they wouldn't budge from MSRP.

The dealer where the car was bought is about 30-odd miles away.

Your thoughts?

thenobot · Mon, Oct-24-2005, 10:55:08 PM

There's no need to bring the car to the dealer that you bought it from.

My new BMW ownership experience has led me to many dealers for service -- not so much for convenience or loyalty -- I just wanted to find one that will not //screw up the car//!!!

I'm now completely disenchanted with any dealer in a 50 mile radius of where I live, so from now on I will be _paying_ to have my free maintenance done by a real mechanic who I trust! http://bavarianmotorsport.net/

Hopefully your nearby dealer will do a good job for you.

speedracerlo · Mon, Oct-24-2005, 11:52:24 PM

my dealer which i purchased the car from in full cash has been nothing but disappointing so far...

carlsturm · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 12:59:44 AM

No, take your car to a dealer you trust to do good work. It's worth a long drive to get your car to the right dealer.

Vegas · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 02:29:21 AM

I agree with what's been posted above. I for one have had bad experiences at the only 2 dealers in my area. I'll be shelling out $100 at an independent shop for oil changes for the security of knowing my car won't get F'd up. It's total BS, but it's just the way it is if you don't have a good dealer available. Not sure what I'm going to do when it's time for Inspection I.

JTM09 · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 03:03:18 AM

the dealer I bought mine from is 100 miles away, so I service it local. no problems and a BMW loaner everytime.

to Sun Motors.

cowboy bebop · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 03:19:35 AM

there is only one dealer around, next nearest one over 100 miles away... SUCKX!

9Mille · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 02:00:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenobot

There's no need to bring the car to the dealer that you bought it from.

My new BMW ownership experience has led me to many dealers for service -- not so much for convenience or loyalty -- I just wanted to find one that will not //screw up the car//!!!

I'm now completely disenchanted with any dealer in a 50 mile radius of where I live, so from now on I will be _paying_ to have my free maintenance done by a real mechanic who I trust! http://bavarianmotorsport.net/

Hopefully your nearby dealer will do a good job for you.

Thanks for the link. I may check them out once my service agreement is up.

Would you mind sharing the disenchanting experiences with the dealers you've tried? PM is ok if you don't wanna publicly bash.

I've used the most convenient dealer several times in the past for my other car. While the service wasn't spectacular, it wasn't bad either. Just about what you'd expect...except for all the swirls they added when they washed it. That's more my fault though since I forgot to tell them not to wash it.

NPalacioM3 · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 02:45:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr of rx

the dealer I bought mine from is 100 miles away, so I service it local. no problems and a BMW loaner everytime.

to Sun Motors.

Same here. My dealer that I bought the car is about 50 miles away and the one that I get serviced at is about 5 miles away.

thenobot · Tue, Oct-25-2005, 04:07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9Mille

I've used the most convenient dealer several times in the past for my other car. While the service wasn't spectacular, it wasn't bad either. Just about what you'd expect...except for all the swirls they added when they washed it. That's more my fault though since I forgot to tell them not to wash it.

It's still their fault for having unskilled staff washing your car with dirty water.

I don't mind dealer-bashing a bit. Here we go....

- Stevens Creek BMW
+ brought the wife's 325i in FOUR TIMES for what I diagnosed as an exhaust whistle. First time, they did nothing "we can't hear it". Next two times, they adjusted the SUNROOF! Last time, a competent tech took the car for a drive and ordered a new muffler, it was installed after 3 days waiting for the part.
+ brought same car in for a rear window regulator problem. They replaced it (again, after 3 days), but then lubed all the rubber window seals with GREASE. To this day, there is still a greasy line anytime the windows are rolled down less than 100%.

- Allison BMW
+ General apathy from staff. Long lead times (2 months until I can get a loaner car appointment???) Didn't ever bring car in for major problems.

- BMW of Fremont
+ Dodge Neon loaner car. Need I say more?

Mon, Oct-24-2005, 10:22:05 PM	#1
9Mille Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 94 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	For Service, Do You Take Your M3 to the Dealer From Which You Bought It? Is there really any benefit to taking the car for scheduled maintenance to the dealer from where it was purchased? The dealer that's closest to me is so much more convenient and they give loaner cars even though you didn't buy from them. I would have bought from them, but they wouldn't budge from MSRP. The dealer where the car was bought is about 30-odd miles away. Your thoughts? __________________ 0537 A30 F2AT ZCP 522 609 674

Tue, Oct-25-2005, 12:59:44 AM	#4
carlsturm Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 687 Reputation: 0 Location: Michigan	No, take your car to a dealer you trust to do good work. It's worth a long drive to get your car to the right dealer. __________________ 03M3.06M5

Tue, Oct-25-2005, 03:19:35 AM	#7
cowboy bebop Trained Satirist Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 0 Location: The Baked Apple	there is only one dealer around, next nearest one over 100 miles away... SUCKX! __________________ "It is Pointless, and endless trouble, to cast a stone at every dog that barks at you" -Anonymous

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Mon, Oct-24-2005, 10:55:08 PM	#2
thenobot Zack Steinkamp Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,067 Reputation: 0	There's no need to bring the car to the dealer that you bought it from. My new BMW ownership experience has led me to many dealers for service -- not so much for convenience or loyalty -- I just wanted to find one that will not //screw up the car//!!! I'm now completely disenchanted with any dealer in a 50 mile radius of where I live, so from now on I will be _paying_ to have my free maintenance done by a real mechanic who I trust! http://bavarianmotorsport.net/ Hopefully your nearby dealer will do a good job for you.

Mon, Oct-24-2005, 11:52:24 PM	#3
speedracerlo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Age: 30 Posts: 1,709 Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles, CA	my dealer which i purchased the car from in full cash has been nothing but disappointing so far...

Tue, Oct-25-2005, 02:29:21 AM	#5
Vegas Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 363 Reputation: 0	I agree with what's been posted above. I for one have had bad experiences at the only 2 dealers in my area. I'll be shelling out $100 at an independent shop for oil changes for the security of knowing my car won't get F'd up. It's total BS, but it's just the way it is if you don't have a good dealer available. Not sure what I'm going to do when it's time for Inspection I.

Tue, Oct-25-2005, 03:03:18 AM	#6
JTM09 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,257 In the garage: '11 BMW 128I '11 BMW X5 Reputation: 0	the dealer I bought mine from is 100 miles away, so I service it local. no problems and a BMW loaner everytime. to Sun Motors.