I had an appointment this past week at DeFauw BMW in Lafayette, IN to get a couple things taken care of on my car. I just wanted to share my experience, maybe no one will care, that's fine
My SRS light was on and there was a sqeak coming from the front suspension. My contact throughout was Steve, their service manager. When speaking with him on the phone, I informed him that I had new shocks put on the car a couple months ago, although I wasn't sure if that was relevant. I also asked for a loaner, and he set that up for me.
When I arrived at the dealership at 7:45 am, Steve was waiting. He took a look at the problems personally, and then I asked him to get me an estimate from their body shop for a dent I got in my hood right next to the grill, looks like from a shopping cart or something. He said sure, and then had me take it on a 2-minute test drive with a mechanic to make sure he heard the sqeak. After that he set me up with my loaner--an X3--and I was off to work.
Impressions of the X3, first -- mine was just an X3 2.5, and a stripped down one at that. I thought it was way underpowered, but I have a 540i . It felt a lot less refined than my 5, cheaper. That's not unexpected, I guess. What I was really impressed with was the handling. That thing was sharp--tight, accurate, and I didn't feel any of the body roll I expected from driving an SUV. And the huge sunroof that covered front and back seats was cool. I wouldn't buy one though--SUV's aren't my thing.
Anyway, so I get a call at work around 1 from Steve telling me they finished my car. He explained that the SRS light was just a 1-time driver's belt buckle sensor trip, so they just reset it. Then about the sqeak...he said that everything under the front end looked very tight and solid except for a little bit of play in the front-left drop link, so they think that's what it is. He quoted me $250 to replace both drop links, and that he'd have to order the parts. I asked him to hold off on that, since I'll probably just have my mechanic do it for less.
Anyway, I go to pick up the car later in the day and this is where the experience starts to get un-cool. First, I notice that it wasn't washed. Aren't they supposed to wash your car after service? They've always done it for my dad's. Then I speak to Steve, and he accusingly tells me that I didn't inform him that I had new struts put on the car recently, that he had to find that out from the tech that rode with me on the little test drive, even though I had told Steve on the phone. I probably should have reminded him when I dropped the car off, but I didn't like the way he said that to me. Then I asked about the estimate for the dent, and he said he forgot to do that. Great. Thanks. Do you know how long it's going to be before I find time to come out here again?
All in all, it wasn't too bad...especially the price. For all the troubleshooting on both the SRS light and the suspension, AND an alignment, the total was only $115. My dad's $tealership back in South Bend charges $139 just for an alignment, so I think I made out OK. I found out that drop links can be had for $50/pair, and I'm going to try to do them myself or have my mechanic do them; he'll probably do it for $150 or so.
So that was my first service experience with a BMW dealership...just wanted to share. How were you guys' experiences?
My SRS light was on and there was a sqeak coming from the front suspension. My contact throughout was Steve, their service manager. When speaking with him on the phone, I informed him that I had new shocks put on the car a couple months ago, although I wasn't sure if that was relevant. I also asked for a loaner, and he set that up for me.
When I arrived at the dealership at 7:45 am, Steve was waiting. He took a look at the problems personally, and then I asked him to get me an estimate from their body shop for a dent I got in my hood right next to the grill, looks like from a shopping cart or something. He said sure, and then had me take it on a 2-minute test drive with a mechanic to make sure he heard the sqeak. After that he set me up with my loaner--an X3--and I was off to work.
Impressions of the X3, first -- mine was just an X3 2.5, and a stripped down one at that. I thought it was way underpowered, but I have a 540i . It felt a lot less refined than my 5, cheaper. That's not unexpected, I guess. What I was really impressed with was the handling. That thing was sharp--tight, accurate, and I didn't feel any of the body roll I expected from driving an SUV. And the huge sunroof that covered front and back seats was cool. I wouldn't buy one though--SUV's aren't my thing.
Anyway, so I get a call at work around 1 from Steve telling me they finished my car. He explained that the SRS light was just a 1-time driver's belt buckle sensor trip, so they just reset it. Then about the sqeak...he said that everything under the front end looked very tight and solid except for a little bit of play in the front-left drop link, so they think that's what it is. He quoted me $250 to replace both drop links, and that he'd have to order the parts. I asked him to hold off on that, since I'll probably just have my mechanic do it for less.
Anyway, I go to pick up the car later in the day and this is where the experience starts to get un-cool. First, I notice that it wasn't washed. Aren't they supposed to wash your car after service? They've always done it for my dad's. Then I speak to Steve, and he accusingly tells me that I didn't inform him that I had new struts put on the car recently, that he had to find that out from the tech that rode with me on the little test drive, even though I had told Steve on the phone. I probably should have reminded him when I dropped the car off, but I didn't like the way he said that to me. Then I asked about the estimate for the dent, and he said he forgot to do that. Great. Thanks. Do you know how long it's going to be before I find time to come out here again?
All in all, it wasn't too bad...especially the price. For all the troubleshooting on both the SRS light and the suspension, AND an alignment, the total was only $115. My dad's $tealership back in South Bend charges $139 just for an alignment, so I think I made out OK. I found out that drop links can be had for $50/pair, and I'm going to try to do them myself or have my mechanic do them; he'll probably do it for $150 or so.
So that was my first service experience with a BMW dealership...just wanted to share. How were you guys' experiences?