Dodgy main dealer
Discussion
Car goes in for regular service in Harrogate, comes back with 50% worn pads on the rear and tyre nearing end of life. Seems fair enough. Tyre subsequently changed and yes it was due.
Three weeks later a recall on the same vehicle, this time went to Leeds within a few days. Let's say four weeks later... Rear pads 90% worn and track rod ends both gone, must be replaced £600.. I think the guy was expecting me to say yes there and then. By the way, it was my wife who dropped the car in....
Went to collect car, pointed out discrepancy and didn't give them any work. Took it to friendly garage, two weeks further on.... Couldn't feel anything so didn't hurry and pads looked OK to me. One TRE was needed fairly soon and the other one showed very minor wear. Rear pads still 50%...
So first garage missed TRE issue, and seemingly incorrectly ticked all the boxes saying it was OK. Nothing untoward happened during intervening period of time. Second garage clearly tried it on with the pads and went for both TRE's. Both main dealers for the same brand. Cost nothing like £600 to sort out.
Not the first time this has happened to me with main dealers trying their luck on recalls. Anyone else getting this. Friendly garage guy said it happens all the time and they target female drivers and elderly. He came up with several examples and all within the past year where he was asked to intervene, including recovering a supposedly 'unfit for the road" car that turned out to have nothing wrong with it.
Three weeks later a recall on the same vehicle, this time went to Leeds within a few days. Let's say four weeks later... Rear pads 90% worn and track rod ends both gone, must be replaced £600.. I think the guy was expecting me to say yes there and then. By the way, it was my wife who dropped the car in....
Went to collect car, pointed out discrepancy and didn't give them any work. Took it to friendly garage, two weeks further on.... Couldn't feel anything so didn't hurry and pads looked OK to me. One TRE was needed fairly soon and the other one showed very minor wear. Rear pads still 50%...
So first garage missed TRE issue, and seemingly incorrectly ticked all the boxes saying it was OK. Nothing untoward happened during intervening period of time. Second garage clearly tried it on with the pads and went for both TRE's. Both main dealers for the same brand. Cost nothing like £600 to sort out.
Not the first time this has happened to me with main dealers trying their luck on recalls. Anyone else getting this. Friendly garage guy said it happens all the time and they target female drivers and elderly. He came up with several examples and all within the past year where he was asked to intervene, including recovering a supposedly 'unfit for the road" car that turned out to have nothing wrong with it.
Out of interest I called up one of the main dealers involved and made a complaint. Obviously I was wasting my time as the guy who called me back spoke total crap for 10 minutes and kept trying to justify everything, but at the same time took zero responsibility and blamed the technician; in the same breathe as saying they had done everything correctly. He then said they only intended to replace one of the TRE's and 2 brake pads and 2 disks for £600. I think this is because I challenged the charge they were trying to make. When originally called I was told it was both TRE's and just the pads. Also, nothing about disks written on the inspection report. Obviously wont be using them again but this is clearly endemic as I've had several main dealers make highly dubious advisory repair lists in the past that don't make sense. Years ago a certain dealership put us down for £7k of repairs following a service. I had this checked by an independent at the time and precisely none of the work was needed. At this rate I'll be running out of places to go to.
PS it would be great if we could name and shame on here, especially as I have documentation to prove my points.
PS it would be great if we could name and shame on here, especially as I have documentation to prove my points.
Type xxxxxxxxxx BMW into Trustpilot for a round up of the group's dealership reviews - 39 with an average of 2 stars. You probably wont be surprised.
On the other hand Google reviews have 315 reviews averaging at 4.1 but you have to remember that if you have a Harrogate postcode, you are expected to be wealthy and authorise all repairs without question
On the other hand Google reviews have 315 reviews averaging at 4.1 but you have to remember that if you have a Harrogate postcode, you are expected to be wealthy and authorise all repairs without question
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