M3 buying problems. Advice please.
Discussion
A couple of weeks ago, I put a deposit on a '53 plate M3 at a local BMW dealer. The car was at another branch and I asked the dealer if it could be brought to my local branch so I could see it. I was told that this would take a couple of weeks as the car needed to be prepped including having a personalised plate changed. I was trading in my 330ci and agreed a price on this and a price on the M3 assuming I was happy with it when I saw it so I placed a deposit.
A couple of weeks later I receive a call that the M3 is in the dealer and I agree to go there for a test drive. When I arrive yesterday, I'm told that the car has been taken elsewhere to have 4 new tyres fitted and the car will be ready the next day. OK no problem with that, but couldn't they have called to let me know this. Also, the dealer says the plate has not been changed and would I like the personalised plate? The plate is not to my taste and I would like a normal one but no real big issue.
I receive a call from the dealer today saying the car will be ready at 4:00pm. When I turn up at 4, the car is there but in the workshop, left half way through the approved check. The salesman takes me through to see the car and it's filthy and the tyres have not been changed. He says the tyres are on order and will be fitted Monday. Again why couldn't they have called to let me know this. Yet another wasted trip. I take the opportunity to have a look around the car and all looks fairly good until I see the mileage reading 23K, about 2.5K more than what was advertised. I am now livid and tell the salesman that I am far less than happy and I walk out and drive home.
It occurs to me that the dealership has put the car up for sale at a certain mileage, got a deposit on it and then someone's had a jolly down to the south of France (or equivalent) in it under the ruse that it's being prepped. I like the car but the deal is now not the same one I agreed to and instead of feeling happy at getting a new car, I'm feeling cheated.
The question is, what would you do in this situation?
A couple of weeks later I receive a call that the M3 is in the dealer and I agree to go there for a test drive. When I arrive yesterday, I'm told that the car has been taken elsewhere to have 4 new tyres fitted and the car will be ready the next day. OK no problem with that, but couldn't they have called to let me know this. Also, the dealer says the plate has not been changed and would I like the personalised plate? The plate is not to my taste and I would like a normal one but no real big issue.
I receive a call from the dealer today saying the car will be ready at 4:00pm. When I turn up at 4, the car is there but in the workshop, left half way through the approved check. The salesman takes me through to see the car and it's filthy and the tyres have not been changed. He says the tyres are on order and will be fitted Monday. Again why couldn't they have called to let me know this. Yet another wasted trip. I take the opportunity to have a look around the car and all looks fairly good until I see the mileage reading 23K, about 2.5K more than what was advertised. I am now livid and tell the salesman that I am far less than happy and I walk out and drive home.
It occurs to me that the dealership has put the car up for sale at a certain mileage, got a deposit on it and then someone's had a jolly down to the south of France (or equivalent) in it under the ruse that it's being prepped. I like the car but the deal is now not the same one I agreed to and instead of feeling happy at getting a new car, I'm feeling cheated.
The question is, what would you do in this situation?
One word springs to my mind...
...NEXT!
There are loads of M3's about at the moment (12 months ago there were 113 M3 for sale on Pistonheads, have a look how many there are today)and it is a buyers market. tell them to give you your deposit back and go elsewhere.
If they tell you that you can't have your deposit back just remind them that the milage was not correct and threaten to call BMW customer services. That should do the trick.
A good car is always worth waiting for.
...NEXT!
There are loads of M3's about at the moment (12 months ago there were 113 M3 for sale on Pistonheads, have a look how many there are today)and it is a buyers market. tell them to give you your deposit back and go elsewhere.
If they tell you that you can't have your deposit back just remind them that the milage was not correct and threaten to call BMW customer services. That should do the trick.
A good car is always worth waiting for.
Agree with Dave.
I had a similar experience with a certain dealer and an M3 I'd set my heart on.
They REALLY messed me about and during several aborted trips they came out with an endless list of excuses.
Blew my top in the end, told them to stick the car and have not had anything to do with them since.
A shame because it was my local dealer which means I now have 25 miles to drive to my other local dealer.
This dealer however is in total contrast with those other idiots and just proves they are not ALL the same.
Get your money back and keep looking. Good luck.
I had a similar experience with a certain dealer and an M3 I'd set my heart on.
They REALLY messed me about and during several aborted trips they came out with an endless list of excuses.
Blew my top in the end, told them to stick the car and have not had anything to do with them since.
A shame because it was my local dealer which means I now have 25 miles to drive to my other local dealer.
This dealer however is in total contrast with those other idiots and just proves they are not ALL the same.
Get your money back and keep looking. Good luck.
Given the length and....erm...ultimate way the last thread went... 
I'll say no more than the following sentences:
I agree with every word (and I mean every word
) Dave Dax Builder says!
Good luck with getting your money back...good luck with getting another good alternative example...it shouldn't be difficult
And...I'd report them anyway!
I'll say no more than the following sentences:
I agree with every word (and I mean every word
) Dave Dax Builder says! Good luck with getting your money back...good luck with getting another good alternative example...it shouldn't be difficult
And...I'd report them anyway!
Edited by derin100 on Sunday 1st April 18:11
Edited by derin100 on Sunday 1st April 18:12
Don't even think about buying anything from that dealer...Imagine if something goes wrong with the car after you buy it. Do you have any confidence that they will resolve the issues in a professional manner? I think not!
Walk away. The market is full of decent M3s, it is a buyers market.
Walk away. The market is full of decent M3s, it is a buyers market.
I'm up to 99 with a BMW dealership in Glasgow over the way they've handled my girlfriends purchase of her Cooper S Convertible. Absolutely appauling customer service, 6 wks taken sorting out the V5 problems (on a car that was on their forecourt!), zero communication and then delivered an unroadworthy car (if it would fail an MOT at 2 yrs old, I calls it unroadworthy btw).
Dealings with the other BMW dealership here for her last Mini was equally as bad, car pulling to the side and mismatched tyres across the axles. One prior to that from the same dealer got delayed 2 weeks due to V5 problems.
Interesting they're having problems with the reg transfer. Thats partly what held up her last Mini purchase, but 2 out her 3 cars, all from main delears, havent had the proper documents available for them. Think BMW should maybe have a look at their internal proceedures.
Dealings with the other BMW dealership here for her last Mini was equally as bad, car pulling to the side and mismatched tyres across the axles. One prior to that from the same dealer got delayed 2 weeks due to V5 problems.
Interesting they're having problems with the reg transfer. Thats partly what held up her last Mini purchase, but 2 out her 3 cars, all from main delears, havent had the proper documents available for them. Think BMW should maybe have a look at their internal proceedures.
Update.
I went to the dealership this morning and told them that I would not be buying the M3 and that I would like my deposit back. This was immediately refused but I was asked what could make the deal go through. I said that the mileage had over 10% added to it and that if they took 10% off the price I might be swayed. The sales manager said that that sounded reasonable
and I thought that's very generous but if that what it takes to keep a customer happy then I'll go along with it. The sales manager then said so that'll be £260 off then, I replied that 10% is actually £2600. He realised his mistake and withdrew the offer and then proceeded to offer some tyre insurance 
. Again I asked for the return of the deposit stating that I did not want to have to go through customer services and it was again refused.
I have now taken this up with BMW customer services and hopefully I will get some sense from them.
I went to the dealership this morning and told them that I would not be buying the M3 and that I would like my deposit back. This was immediately refused but I was asked what could make the deal go through. I said that the mileage had over 10% added to it and that if they took 10% off the price I might be swayed. The sales manager said that that sounded reasonable
and I thought that's very generous but if that what it takes to keep a customer happy then I'll go along with it. The sales manager then said so that'll be £260 off then, I replied that 10% is actually £2600. He realised his mistake and withdrew the offer and then proceeded to offer some tyre insurance . Again I asked for the return of the deposit stating that I did not want to have to go through customer services and it was again refused. I have now taken this up with BMW customer services and hopefully I will get some sense from them.
...now that is a surprise! Can I ask, what agreement did you have with the dealer when you put a deposit on the car? Did you make it clear to them that the purchase was subject to viewing? Since they have misrepresented the vehicle (mileage) surely you are entitled of your deposit back? Am I missing something here?
proteas said:
...now that is a surprise! Can I ask, what agreement did you have with the dealer when you put a deposit on the car? Did you make it clear to them that the purchase was subject to viewing? Since they have misrepresented the vehicle (mileage) surely you are entitled of your deposit back? Am I missing something here?
I had an agreement with the dealer that the whole deal was dependent on me being happy with the car once I had seen it. They are now saying that the deposit is non refundable and that the change in mileage is irrelevant. I'll see if BMW customer services can sort this out, otherwise I may have to see what my legal standpoint is. Update. BMW Customer Services have stated that while they don't agree with the behaviour of the dealer, they cannot tell the dealer what to do as it is a franchise. They said that they would get in touch with the dealer and ask him to call me again. This hasn't happened.
I have now contacted the dealer group's Customer Services team to see if they can help out. If I get no help from them, I'll try the media.
I have now contacted the dealer group's Customer Services team to see if they can help out. If I get no help from them, I'll try the media.
Citizens Advice Bureau or local Trading Standards people next, then I would speak to a decent solicitor about the situation. BMW need a kicking here and letters to the Times, Telegraph, Top Gear, Evo etc may well be worth a shot. Also Mail on Sunday business / consumer / financial section.
Edited by belleair302 on Thursday 5th April 12:05
I'd be inclined to contact BMW CS again and tell them to grow some bollox. The dealer's behaviour would put me off that dealer, but BMW CS's toothlessness would put me off BMW full stop. BMW CS can tell the dealer what to do 'cause they can threaten the franchisee with loss of his/her BMW franchise. Find out who at BMW is in charge of awarding/revoking francises and tell them.
Its simple, send them a letter by recorded delivery giving them 7 days to refund your £500 or you will start proceedings at the small claims court on the grounds that they had misrepresented the product by lying about the mileage.
You'll have your money in your pocket by the end of next week. Always works with big companies as the costs they'll incure just preparing the case for the court appearence are far higher than the amount you are disputing.
ps done this several times with RBS,Apple computer, etc ... always works.
You'll have your money in your pocket by the end of next week. Always works with big companies as the costs they'll incure just preparing the case for the court appearence are far higher than the amount you are disputing.
ps done this several times with RBS,Apple computer, etc ... always works.
So the car is 2k miles more than you were told and you now dont want it as a result. Its likely the dealer advised you of an approximate mileage hence plus or minus 2,000 is approx.
In which case go to or call the dealers, ask for the dealer principle and say you placed a deposit on a car subject to viewing and it being as described and it wasnt and on asking for your money back you are now being told its non refundable. Say you would like his assistance with resolution of the situation before you are forced to take further action.
In truth though, if the price is reasonable, you have been offered a px and the new car is in good condition then what difference does 2k miles really make - its certainly not worth a £2k plus discount??
Bennno
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