BMW Service Issues - Where do I Stand?
Discussion
So I have a problem with my sat nav. (Out of Warranty.) It also needed a service so:
1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
Onemcs said:
So I have a problem with my sat nav. (Out of Warranty.) It also needed a service so:
1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
Did him plugging it in find the fault? or even fix it? If it did id say pay up.1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
When they phoned regarding the additional work, did they say what they were doing and what it would cost?
I had a similar problem at BMW. I left it with them to have the cruise control looked at and sorted out.
I returned to a £200 bill, most of which was labour. All they had done was re-soldier the connections at the back of the c.c unit. The rest was 'investigatory'
I was livid, but technically agreed to the work when I dropped it off telling them to fix it...
I had a similar problem at BMW. I left it with them to have the cruise control looked at and sorted out.
I returned to a £200 bill, most of which was labour. All they had done was re-soldier the connections at the back of the c.c unit. The rest was 'investigatory'
I was livid, but technically agreed to the work when I dropped it off telling them to fix it...
r11co said:
Serves you right for getting the car serviced at a franchised dealer out of warranty. Getting bumraped is part-and-parcel of dealers exploiting those who 'value' those little rubber stamps.
To be fair to the OP, it's seldom the owner who values the little rubber stamp. It's the person you sell it on to.BMWs, Audis, Mercs all carry premium re-sale price for FDSH. Like it or not.
Nope, Never any mention of cost regarding the sat nav when they called me only that it needed a brake fluid change.
He did say normally they'd tell me on the phone but it was lack of communication and that they're sorry for that!
To be fair I NEVER take my car to a dealer franchise. However as it was a technical problem with the sat nav and I had a free service I took up on the opportunity.
He did say normally they'd tell me on the phone but it was lack of communication and that they're sorry for that!
To be fair I NEVER take my car to a dealer franchise. However as it was a technical problem with the sat nav and I had a free service I took up on the opportunity.
Onemcs said:
1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
I think you're not telling us something 3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
Muzzer said:
r11co said:
Serves you right for getting the car serviced at a franchised dealer out of warranty. Getting bumraped is part-and-parcel of dealers exploiting those who 'value' those little rubber stamps.
To be fair to the OP, it's seldom the owner who values the little rubber stamp. It's the person you sell it on to.BMWs, Audis, Mercs all carry premium re-sale price for FDSH. Like it or not.
Depends on how old the car is when you sell it. If you intend to run it for 10 years, and putting 100k miles on it in that time, by having it serviced at a local indy you save thousands on what you would have saved by having a FMDSH.
vescaegg said:
Did him plugging it in find the fault? or even fix it? If it did id say pay up.
I agree - you ask someone to look at your sat nav and repair it and then you don't want to pay for it - typical sort of customer I hate and have to deal with most days - everyone wants a free bloody lunch these days Carrot said:
No, not always true.
Depends on how old the car is when you sell it. If you intend to run it for 10 years, and putting 100k miles on it in that time, by having it serviced at a local indy you save thousands on what you would have saved by having a FMDSH.
This.Depends on how old the car is when you sell it. If you intend to run it for 10 years, and putting 100k miles on it in that time, by having it serviced at a local indy you save thousands on what you would have saved by having a FMDSH.
Once a car is out of Warranty i would prefer to see it serviced by a GOOD indy.
I once had a 530i sport and it had been serviced by an indy out of warranty. The guy was an ex BMW master technician and a genuine BMW enthusiast - the marque ran through his veins basically. He was also very well respected in the BMW drivers club.
I would rather him taking my car to pieces than some monkey in a main dealer, the times i have had to use main dealers i have never felt totally at ease because i cant speak directly to the chap ripping my car to bits.
A GOOD indy will usually give you much more time and show you the old parts replaced on collection.
All this for half the cost also, and no pretentious showroom to sit in or crap coffee to drink reading some 'lifestyle' magazine!
Onemcs said:
So I have a problem with my sat nav. (Out of Warranty.) It also needed a service so:
1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
what happened to point 2? 1. I rang up BMW service and asked to get my sat nav looked at whilst the car is in for a service. They said of course.
3. I get phoned concerning additional work. I agree.
4. I pick the car up and get slapped for a bill for them plugging a computer into the sat nav.
5. I paid on the basis I contested in and he would investigate.
My gripe is that they never said the sat nav would cost me anything and that it could be looked at whilst being serviced. I rang him today after he'd listened to the recording of my booking and confirmed that there was no cost mentioned regarding the sat nav. Only that should any work need to be carried out how I would pay.
Where do I stand? Or am I being pernickety
morgrp said:
I agree - you ask someone to look at your sat nav and repair it and then you don't want to pay for it - typical sort of customer I hate and have to deal with most days - everyone wants a free bloody lunch these days
As a customer I would expect: "We have diagnosed the fault as XYZ. This will cost £XXX to fix, would you like to authorise the repair?".
Sorry mate time costs money, and modern computer equipment cost money which needs to be recovered.
Why on earth do you expect them to do things for nothing? You asked them to do the work- if you had wanted an estimate you should have asked for one. It was your mistake to assume it would be free.
A local independent might well do this as a goodwill - build customer relations - gesture. Franchise dealer though - unlikely.
Why on earth do you expect them to do things for nothing? You asked them to do the work- if you had wanted an estimate you should have asked for one. It was your mistake to assume it would be free.
A local independent might well do this as a goodwill - build customer relations - gesture. Franchise dealer though - unlikely.
Edited by balls-out on Friday 11th February 09:29
balls-out said:
Sorry mate time costs money, and modern computer equipment cost money which needs to be recovered.
Why on earth do you expect them to do things for nothing? You asked them to do the work- if you had wanted an estimate you should have asked for one. It was your mistake to assume it would be free.
A local independent might well do this as a goodwill - build customer relations - gesture. Franchise dealer though - unlikely.
Pretty much all independants I have used for many makes of cars will either do one of two things.Why on earth do you expect them to do things for nothing? You asked them to do the work- if you had wanted an estimate you should have asked for one. It was your mistake to assume it would be free.
A local independent might well do this as a goodwill - build customer relations - gesture. Franchise dealer though - unlikely.
Edited by balls-out on Friday 11th February 09:29
1) A complete diagnostic test through the computer with other checks - last garage I did this at was £56 inclusive. If you get the work done there, they normally wipe the charge off.
2) Give it a quick look, give you an estimate, then perform the work.
Main dealers usually just charge for everything they can indiscriminately, and then charge you £20 to top up your already full washer fluid...
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