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  #101  
Old March 4th 05, 08:36 PM
Jeff Strickland
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"Julian Edge" > wrote in message
...
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>
> > If I were in the OP's position, my letter would be to the General

Manager
> > of
> > the dealership to express my displeasure at the attempted fleecing, and
> > tell
> > him that he just lost a valuable client. I would not bother to write

BMW.
> >
> > My advice to the OP stands, get the stuff you can't do yourself done.
> > Figure
> > out what you can do and do it yourself.
> >
> > Since the car is 9 years old, perhaps an independant mechanic that
> > specializes in BMW would be a better choice than dealer servicing from
> > here
> > on out.

>
> Thanks Jeff!
>
> I figured that out a few hours before opening a beer and posting to

newsnet
> but that's the first sane reply I've seen!
>
>
>


You're welcome.

Here is some stuff to keep in mind. You love your car, BUT it is a base
model that the Dealer would love to get you out of. If you were driving a
9-year old Ford Escort, you would expect the dealer service guys to lock the
doors with you on the outside, and send you over to the Sales Department.
The BMW dealer service is no different. The dealership wants you out of the
Old Base Model and into a New Upgrade Model. They will take getting you into
a new base model if that is all they can get, but "new" is the operative
word, not base or upgrade.

They own the boat here, but you are driving it. If you want your old car
repaired - and I have no reason to think repairing it is a bad idea - then
your choices are to have the dealer do it, finding an independant to do it,
or do it yourself. Of course there are variations on the dealer or the
independant doing it and you doing it, but I advise that having the dealer
and the independant share in the repairs is a very bad idea.

Of these options, I would find a local independant for the big jobs and
learn how to replace belts and hoses myself. If the independants are not
around, then I would still replace belts and hoses, and only let the dealer
do the stuff that demands specialized tools or expertise.

In my humble opinion, the ONLY reason to step foot inside a dealership is
for a new car, or for a part that is only available from the dealer. I have
owned my BMW for just over 4 years and over 100,000 miles, and the only time
my dealership has seen my car is when I drive by, and on a few occasions
when I needed a part or two. I have needed some major service early in my
ownership experience, and I went to the local independant because I haven't
the special tools that were required.





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  #102  
Old March 4th 05, 08:39 PM
Jeff Strickland
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"Julian Edge" > wrote in message
...
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>
> > Sorry to have sounded so harsh.

>
> No worries! (Never apologise, never explain!)
>


Now you're making me feel bad. I all but called you an idiot, and you are
telling me not to apologize - except you spell it wrong ;-)







  #103  
Old March 4th 05, 08:57 PM
Cockburn
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"Peter Corlett" > wrote in message

>> They could perhaps argue that trying to get you to run a newer car
>> *is* actually greener than persisting with the older one.

>
> I gather that cars generate more pollution in their manufacture than
> they produce in their lifetime. So keeping a rustbucket on the road
> (assuming minor repairs) makes good environmental sense.


Indeed. Again I cry (excuse me) HUGE! WHERE'S THAT FEKKIN LINK?


  #104  
Old March 4th 05, 09:03 PM
Cockburn
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"John Redman" om> wrote in
message

> You only have to look at a lot of the people who drive them to see they
> are not marketed at the discerning.


<speechless>


  #105  
Old March 4th 05, 09:21 PM
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Costing the net hundreds if not thousands of dollars, Cockburn said:
> "Peter Corlett" > wrote in message
>
> >> They could perhaps argue that trying to get you to run a newer car
> >> *is* actually greener than persisting with the older one.

> >
> > I gather that cars generate more pollution in their manufacture than
> > they produce in their lifetime. So keeping a rustbucket on the road
> > (assuming minor repairs) makes good environmental sense.

>
> Indeed. Again I cry (excuse me) HUGE! WHERE'S THAT FEKKIN LINK?
>

I think he's gorn to the US
--
tiger tiger tiger tiger tiger tiger tiger tiger tiger
  #106  
Old March 5th 05, 02:00 AM
Michael Rodgers
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"pete" > wrote in message
...
>The service you have had from BMW is total crap and
> has made me realise from reading how others here expect to be treated
> as badly as you, that when my BMW is replaced I shall not after all be
> going for a 530d but probably a Ford Focus.


Why not buy your 530d from an independant specialist instead. That way you
avoid the alleged service, but you still get to benefit from what must
surely be one of the finest cars on the roads at the moment.


  #107  
Old March 5th 05, 05:35 AM
tech27
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"pete" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 3 Mar 2005 20:13:52 -0000, "Julian Edge"
> > wrote:
>
> ....... that when my BMW is replaced I shall not after all be
> going for a 530d but probably a Ford Focus.
> pete


Good choice. Ford is well know for excellent service and quality built,
reliable products.




  #108  
Old March 5th 05, 07:46 AM
Mike Tomlinson
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In article >, Julian Edge
> writes

>Thank you for contacting BMW Customer Service. One of our executives will
>look into your enquiry to be able to provide you with the necessary reply.


Translation: "We're still laughing."

btw: I had a 1987 318i (no idea of the E number) for a few years until
some boy racer ****ted it up the back in his uninsured 319GTi and wrote
it off. Apart from the cooling system from hell, it was a nice motor.

--
..sigmonster on vacation


  #109  
Old March 5th 05, 07:48 AM
Mike Tomlinson
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In article >, Peter Corlett
> writes

>Torching cars is the standard method of disposal in the less savoury
>areas of the country. A scrapyard will charge you good money to take
>away a car


Not any more, since the Chinese buying up scrap steel sent the price
rocketing.

--
..sigmonster on vacation


  #110  
Old March 5th 05, 11:09 AM
Badger
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"tech27" > wrote in message
o.verio.net...
>
> "pete" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Thu, 3 Mar 2005 20:13:52 -0000, "Julian Edge"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> ....... that when my BMW is replaced I shall not after all be
>> going for a 530d but probably a Ford Focus.
>> pete

>
> Good choice. Ford is well know for excellent service and quality built,
> reliable products.
>

Hmmmm... We've had numerous fords over the years, apart from the dreaded
Mk3 Granada autobox (UK spec car, A4LD autobox, possibly the worst 'box ever
made) we've never really had any issues. Oh, a few front springs and
exhausts, and a Mondeo estate handbrake that didn't!
My current car, a 2001 330dSE sport auto, has been back to the dealers 6
times in 11 months (Suspension bushes, seat belt, stereo, cd changer, park
sensor, inspection 2, heating resistor) and is due another visit for yet
more silly niggly faults before its BMW warranty expires. I refuse to pay
UKŁ720 to renew the warranty, so it looks like the "sell it" light on the
dash is flickering as we speak. A shame as it's a lovely thing to drive, but
I can hear Honda reliability calling me.
Badger.


 




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