advice needed- car dealer (bmw)

[malks]

right just bought me a 3 series compact from a main bmw dealer, some of u might say that was my first problem! but anyway the service I received was brilliant when dealing with paper work etc.... no suprises again.

problem 1 was when I went to pick up the car there were lots of little scratches etc that were due to be taken out. the bumper needed resprayed so it went to the bodyshop, comes back and the marks on the passengers side are still there! I complained at the time and they said bring it back in and it'll get sorted.

problem 2 I drop it off, meaning I was late into work, go back in that that night and they've fixed one scratch but there still 2 noticable marks. so they've not fixed what was meant to be. plus I've asked for them to check a problem with it idleing when warm. so they tell me I'll need to send it back a 2nd time. not the biggest hassle but these are things that should have been right for me picking it up! for a 4yr old car with 27k on the clock I would expect at least one full service if not 2!

now comes the biggest problem, I was looking at the service history (now it's meant to have a full bmw service history) the service book has 3 stamps in it, 1 for the vehicle pdi and 2 stamps for brake fluid checks. one of the brake checks is from a local garage! so it doesn't actually have a proper service history!

so what do u think I should do? I'm thinking I've now got a car I've paid about 1k over the top for (buying from a main dealer) without any of the (supposed) perks. am I wrong thinking I've been screwed, should expect compensation ( cash? free servicing? free tyres? all the above?!?) I'll be going in to see them on Friday looking for some answers!

[svdemon]

Did i hear someone saying 7 day cooling off period?

[Biker Biggles]

Was it described as full BMW service history?If so ask them to produce it and if they cant ask for your money back.

[-Ralph-]

+1 to above, it it was described as FBMWSH, or if described as BMW Used Approved and the used approved programme says all cars are FBMWSH, then ask them to take the car back and refund, or change for a different car. The latter of which your more likely to get somewhere with easily, but don't take something you don't want 'cos thats what they have in stock, if Used Approved programme I think you should be able to choose stock from the whole country, but don't know where you'd actually stand.

If you are not getting anywhere tell them you will get trading standards involved and do so if they still won't budge.

If it wasn't described as FBMWSH then I think you may be stuffed I'm afraid, buyer beware.

BMW d(st)ealers are generally terrible. The cars sell in millions on the strength of the badge and when you have a waiting list of folk prepared to wait months to from date of order on a new car it doesn't give much incentive to look after your customers. If you don't buy your next car from them, somebody else will.

[-Ralph-]

Which dealer by the way? I've had to have right fights with Eastern in Edinburgh over warranty claims, and the car only went there because first service I took it into Parks of Hamilton and it came back covered in circular scratches having been washed with a grit laden sponge and the rear bumber damaged where someone had driven into it in the workshop.

[Specialone]

Which dealer by the way? I've had to have right fights with Eastern in Edinburgh over warranty claims, and the car only went there because first service I took it into Parks of Hamilton and it came back covered in circular scratches having been washed with a grit laden sponge and the rear bumber damaged where someone had driven into it in the workshop.

My Mate does pro detailing on expensive cars and had a similar thing on one of his customers cars.
About a month before, he done this guys 6 series Beemer, full paint correction so its flawless, £650 worth, he took into BMW to be serviced and told them not to wash it under any circumstance for exactly the same reason (communal gritty sponge) anyway they did and he hit the roof.
Full of scratches and swirls.
Bmw had to stump another £750 (charged them more) for it to be redone by my mate.
Moral of the story, just because your paying more money doesnt always mean your getting a better service / product.

[grh1904]

Everything said before + 1.

Go back and ask about the cooiling off period, but make sure you drop in "local trading standards" to the conversation, if they've advertised as "full BMW service history" and it's not got one.................

Also, take a camera and a mate to take photo's, and get you in picture with the salesperson. When asked why state that it's for the letter you're going to write to the local papers asking them to publish an article about the dreadfull service you've had, lack of co-operation, unwilling to carry out actions they AGREED to etc.

Years ago when I was in the RAF one of the lads in our office got a mate of his from the station rugby team (who was also big into photography and had cameras with big lenses etc) to turn up and walk around with said big camera around his neck taking the odd snap. He then tried to get a picture of sales manager etc and when asked why he gave the above scenario.

He was asked to drop the car in for 2 days - returned with problem sorted. (Problem was a full service & MOT was meant to have been carried out at garage expense prior to collecting car - it wasn't).

[malks]

yeah I am giving them a chance to see what they can do before going heavy handed and asking about just handing the car back to them etc...

as said the salesman has said it has a full BMW service history etc.... so if it turns out to not have it, then it was falsely sold.

but I'm just not sure what I should be looking for as way of compensation. wouldni be best just handing it back to the dealer and walk away. or should I stick with it and try and get free servicing tyres etc...

[-Ralph-]

walk away. or should I stick with it and try and get free servicing tyres etc...

Free servicing and tyres will still leave you with a car that you need to sell later with an incomplete history. You'll have to drop your pants on price because there waill always be another identical one in town with the FBMWSH. I'd hand it back get a refund and walk away.

BTW, I recently realised that main dealers were not servicing either my bike or my car properly (ie: semi-synthetic oils when it should be full, not making adjustments that should be checked, etc) so if they are doing the servicing for free you have no guarantee they will do it properly, they may just do the bare minumum to to say they've done a service and they'll get it in and out of the workshop in 1/2 hour.

[Sir Trev]

It's a common thing for them to say it has full history, especially if it is an ex fleet car as they've usually been well maintained under contract. Trouble is you often have no way of seeing the paperwork (log book, service manual, etc.) as they will claim it's in the central office or on it's way, yadda yadda. I was caught the same way - my Mundaneo had no service stamps as the sales guy ASSUMED it had been serviced as it was a year old ex fleet car. Luckliy I got mine at well under the book price as the new shape Mondy was just being launched so I didn't make a fuss. If I'd paid a lot for a "premium" brand though I would have!

Good luck.

[malks]

I know that is a concern I have, if there happy to lie about a service history to get the cash off me, I'm sure they would be happy to lie to cover up there own mistakes! I'm almost certain I'll get given the line that the service book just hasn't been stamped but they will fix it. but they can't take the non-franchised dealer stamp out the book!!

this is BMW Douglas park, the one in city centre not Hamilton.

[Biker Biggles]

Id give it back.Tell them you wouldnt dream of buying a BMW without a full BMW service history and this car clearly aint got one despite you being told it has.
I bet they rushed you for top money despite all the "issues"?

[Daimo]

Tell them it has faulty indicators too....

http://images40.fotki.com/v1262/photos/4/48802/787680/bmw-vi.jpg

[SoulKiss]

Heres hoping the U-rating filter is broken too....

U-rating friendly version

http://www.chaoscrypt.com/funnies/bmw-vi.jpg

[Jamiebridges123]

+1 to above, it it was described as FBMWSH, or if described as BMW Used Approved and the used approved programme says all cars are FBMWSH, then ask them to take the car back and refund, or change for a different car. The latter of which your more likely to get somewhere with easily, but don't take something you don't want 'cos thats what they have in stock, if Used Approved programme I think you should be able to choose stock from the whole country, but don't know where you'd actually stand.

If you are not getting anywhere tell them you will get trading standards involved and do so if they still won't budge.

If it wasn't described as FBMWSH then I think you may be stuffed I'm afraid, buyer beware.

BMW d(st)ealers are generally terrible. The cars sell in millions on the strength of the badge and when you have a waiting list of folk prepared to wait months to from date of order on a new car it doesn't give much incentive to look after your customers. If you don't buy your next car from them, somebody else will.

Yeah, good post..

Check the advert, if it was false to facilitate the sale then you can do something about it...

[phil24_7]

You should have bought it from Ocean in Plymouth as they give amazing service and are constantly rated highly in car and motorcycle magazines!

Perhaps it's worth penning a letter to BMW customer service as they have gotten where they are on building good vehicles and providing great back-up service. Perhaps the parent company might have something to say if a dealer is letting down the side.

[-Ralph-]

You should have bought it from Ocean in Plymouth....

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=glasgow&daddr=Plymouth,+United+Kingdom&hl=en&geocode=%3BFUyXAAMdw8nA_yk96pUOU41sSDGThfXOtSwoOw&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=53.135209,-4.23944&sspn=9.696561,19.6875&ie=UTF8&ll=53.120405,-3.120117&spn=9.699522,19.6875&t=h&z=6

[malks]

well Friday was interesting to say the least, the salesman I was dealing with was off soi decided best I speak to the manager. so I talk thru the issues with him and he says he'll have to investigate the service history, but says it looks as if everything is in order on his computer. I disagreed but he says he will get back to me on it. but he said he wanted to have a look at the body work.

so we went to have a look at the marks, now they are small marks, but he basically looks at me and tells me he's not willing to have the panels re-sprayed or touched up as these marks are to be expected on a second hand car. at which point I told him if that was his stance I could have all the paperwork and spare key returned to him that afternoon and he could have the car back. he asked why, when I said if they weren't fixin the bits as was agreed at the point of sale (and they had actually hadthe car back in to fix already!) then they weren't keeping up the agreement so they could have the car back and I would looking for a full refund!

he quickly changed tact and asked what I wanted done. I said I don't want the marks on the side of my car as promised. if the panels need resprayed then that's his job to do.
so it's booked in for Friday and he better have answers on the service history, or it's going back and they can keep it!!

[sunshine]

oh i had this from a used bike before, wouldnt start in the cold, they said that i couldnt have a refund so i called trading standards in there busy shop and customers soon walked away from there and went else where, which is the best thing to do quick phone call to trading standards, i got all my money back, my old bike back and some extra cash to find a new one, never used them since. im sure bmw dealers will love trading standards poking around in there business to see how many times they have mis-sold cars to people.

[phil24_7]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=glasgow&daddr=Plymouth,+United+Kingdom&hl=en&geocode=%3BFUyXAAMdw8nA_yk96pUOU41sSDGThfXOtSwoOw&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=53.135209,-4.23944&sspn=9.696561,19.6875&ie=UTF8&ll=53.120405,-3.120117&spn=9.699522,19.6875&t=h&z=6

LOL. I know but at least the customer service would be good!!

[thedonal]

Aside from the 7 day cooling off period, trading standards will probably say that you have a longer period (can't remember how long) where the car is not fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.

I'm not sure how this covers situations where you have discussed the dealer sorting known issues out, but if they break their promise, you may be within rights to request a refund.

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/problemswithvehicles-sum6.cfm

[malks]

so the saga continues. car has been in to have the body work sorted , only took 2 visits. as for the idle problem they say they have reset the software but ifthis doesn't work then I need to wait on a software update coming out(another trip to the garage!!)

but he best bet is they still won't admit the car doesn't have a full service history, despite me saying I have spoken to 2 other dealers that said every 15k (when the car tells you) or every 2 years. so despite it not being serviced for the first 3 years they still won't admit being wrong.

so they offered me 1 nr service for free, they would not budge on this at all, so I've asked them to let me know how I can go about returning the car to them. I'm owed £500 deposit and the 1st finance payment ain't due till 8th of July.

I feel that I'm quite right in doing this as they can't prove the service history of the vehicle and the compensation offered is just rubbish. I'm waiting a call backbut I'm not holding my breath!

[phil24_7]

I would just drop the car back and cancel the finance agreement. Issue a claim to the small claims court and get your £500 back. Simples! Have you been to the CAB yet?

regards

[malks]

well I got an answer I'm happy with, got some services etc for free and some marks on te car getting sorted etc...

the manager finally agreed that they were in the wrong and they have kept up there end of the deal now.

would have caused me a lot more hassle to hand the car back an get another one at such short notice. I'm happy with the outcome but really put off by the dealership I've been using.they won't be getting any more business from me I'm afraid

[Bibio]

why on earth did you buy the car in the first place? you obviously seen the problems with the body work.

[malks]

well it was a second hand car so I expect some small stone chips and scratches on it, but it's sorted now. but it was satisfying to hear the **** of a salesman hving to apologise and not having the answers for a change