Main dealer service. Disappointed.

[forest biker]

Well, it's a choice, isn't it ?
A) Complain on the internet about the original fault, but don't give the dealer a chance to fix it, or,
B) Go back there, explain why he's disappointed & see if they'll help.

Can't see why anyone wouldn't try the latter ??

yes i agree with you , but my point is why would a bmw mecanic let it leave the workshop like that ,when i was using main dealers they give you all the we are the best , dont do it urself or go independant bmw dealers have got fully trained technician and are the best but you pay top money, and in my own experiance and loads of threads on here it sound like alot of the time their not even getting the basic stuff correct . There is no way someone like bvm would let your bike go out the workshop like that because they care about the bike their working on

 

[Martyn H]

yes i agree with you , but my point is why would a bmw mecanic let it leave the workshop like that ,when i was using main dealers they give you all the we are the best , dont do it urself or go independant bmw dealers have got fully trained technician and are the best but you pay top money, and in my own experiance and loads of threads on here it sound like alot of the time their not even getting the basic stuff correct . There is no way someone like bvm would let your bike go out the workshop like that because they care about the bike their working on

With respect, that's a slightly different issue. I'm trying to address the OP's problem, & hopefully he may get a favourable resolution - but he won't until he talks to the dealer, not the internet.

And I'll be at BVM at 0800hrs tomorrow, so I'll endeavour not to let them release my bike in a similar condition...

 

[deangsadv]

Hi
A lot of good points here but the question I'm asking is, if I go to another BMW main dealer can I expect more of the same, or do I go independent?
I am only looking at preserving my warranty for another 6 months then I'm free to do my own servicing (I'm a skilled Engineer with 30+ years of building, restoring and servicing bikes)
I have no intention of going back to the dealer in question as there is no way they will touch MY bike again, I hav'nt named them as it may be a one off and I have heard previous good things. As they say "you pay your money"

 

[rudiemoto]

the fact is 99.9% of tossers know there bikes in/out
.1% dont have a clue
all dealers know this so it shuold never come to this

speak to the service manager and give them just 1 chance

then update us all

 

[Rasher]

When they charge top wack for everything they do on your bike , why should they get a second chance and not do the job properly in the first place ?? The machanic should have more pride in his work or the workshop manager should have spotted it and got it sorted before the bike was collected , makes me laugh if i gave bad service in the industry im in i would be out of business very quick

Pride in work is something I expect, and I don't think I would last long without always putting in a lot of effort, however I am in the position of not being the only engineer in my outfit and cannot check every bit of work others do, I think the same must go for bike dealers, this "workshop manager" (assuming he exists) probably has other work to do and cannot follow every mechanic around all day long (or you would need a manager per mechanic)

I would feel that standards should be better and you may not want to give any further business, but you owe it to yourself to try and get the issue resolved and it would help everyone else here if it is raised with the dealer, perhaps a mechanic needs a bloody good arse-kicking, but if nobody reports shoddy work the chap will carry on.

It would be nice to know how this dealer responds, sometimes it is a great way to judge an outfit on how they behave when something goes wrong as often this is what differentiates the good from the bad.

I have had bad days, never shoddy work, but sometimes things do not go my way, or I have made a bad call (even with the best of intentions) but I will always ensure the customer is not penalised, overcharged or left in the lurch - which is exactly how I want to be treated, and if a junior engineer made a mistake I would want to be told about it - preferably by him, but if not I would hope our customers would give us a chance to rectify the situation.

 

[stolzy]

I hav'nt named them as it may be a one off and I have heard previous good things.

So you came on here for a whinge, maybe to get some advice, but don't give us the name of the dealer so that the rest of us can avoid being in the same position.

Cheers

 

[snerkler]

Hi
A lot of good points here but the question I'm asking is, if I go to another BMW main dealer can I expect more of the same, or do I go independent?
I am only looking at preserving my warranty for another 6 months then I'm free to do my own servicing (I'm a skilled Engineer with 30+ years of building, restoring and servicing bikes)
I have no intention of going back to the dealer in question as there is no way they will touch MY bike again, I hav'nt named them as it may be a one off and I have heard previous good things. As they say "you pay your money"

Sorry mate but I just don't get it, why not give them a chance to fix it? As you said yourself it might be a one off and you've previously heard good things
When I took my M3 in for some maintenance work to be done it came back to me with a broken ashtray cover. I was obviously very very annoyed, but contacted the dealer to advise them of my displeasure. The service manager was mortified that it had left like this. He said he checked the car after work was done and could only assume it was the valeter. But the way they handled the complaint was very satisfactory and I still use the dealer today.

 

[Dainese Brave]

I think the general opinion is you've got to give them a chance to rectify the problem.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

is this the kind of service I am to expect from a main dealer?

Short answer: No.

You seem to have been unlucky/caught them on a bad day/whatever.

My local dealer would be mortified if a bike went out in that condition.

 

[qpddd]

go and shit on their display bike's seat and see how they like it!!!

Love it

 

[qpddd]

Short answer: No.

You seem to have been unlucky/caught them on a bad day/whatever.

My local dealer would be mortified if a bike went out in that condition.

Yes I agree from my limited experience of only using one dealership over the years (Bahnstormers) They have always been top notch as far as I'm concerned, bike is alwasy cleaned after they work on it.

 

[seadog]

IMO unless you..
a) tell the dealer and give him the chance to rectify things or
b) tell us who the dealer is to name and shame

this has been a pretty pointless post.... which i have added to

 

[forest biker]

With respect, that's a slightly different issue. I'm trying to address the OP's problem, & hopefully he may get a favourable resolution - but he won't until he talks to the dealer, not the internet.

And I'll be at BVM at 0800hrs tomorrow, so I'll endeavour not to let them release my bike in a similar condition...

I personally wouldnt take it back ever to that dealer, if it happens once it will again on someone elses bike , they had a chance of martyn h business in the first place and did not provide a good standard so why return , i cant ever imaging bvm releasing a bike in that condition and anticipate you get first class service

 

[Big Si]

Took mine in last winter to Cotswold Motorrad in Gloucester, it was cleanish.

Full 18000 mile service, 2 new tyres, fixed a leaking seal on warranty,,,,

When I picked it up it was showroom spotless. Wash and blowdry and they had even ACF50'd the thing!! Couldn't have been more impressed.

Free coffee, attractive parts/service girl

What more could you ask for? I actually didn't want to ride it home as it was wet and I spoiled the finish!

These days tho' you don't expect your bike to come back from a service all grubby, especially if it was clean when it went in

 

[veefour]

Mine went in for it's first 6000 mile service today plus brake fluid and gearbox oil change and a new rear tyre - came back as spotless as it went in and I came out £360 lighter. So far I've always been impressed by the dealer and the attitude of the guys that work there so either I'm lucky to have a good dealer or you're unlucky to have a bad one.

I agree with others though that you should raise it with them. Not giving them the chance is unfair on them. Anyone can make a mistake but it's how they deal with it that counts.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Blimey .....................some of you are perfection personified

I've had good (mostly) service from main dealers with my vehicles

5 years ago, I took my Toyota van for a couple of pre expiry warranty stuff (a new seatbelt and another minor thing)

Whilst left & parked up, a parts van from another Toyota dealer crashed into it

The Service Manager phoned up to tell me and he was horrified, he suggested I come over and inspect the damage with him straight away, which I did

He said that he would fit a whole new door (not just a skin) and repaint, plus fix two other old dings on the same side FOC and he would give me a complimentary full service worth £500 as a gesture of goodwill

I was more than happy and all work was done to a high standard
Guess what .....................I still have my 10 year old Van, serviced at that same main Toyota dealer

Since Xmas, I've had a saga with my 2010 Honda CRV, it was damaged by an unknown 3rd party, with a small dent to the wing

The insurers sent it to a LR main dealer for repairs and it's been back 4 times to get it right

Firstly the trim was loose

Secondly when removing the door trim, they scratched the paint on the inner door and had to be repainted

Thirdly they damaged the paint on the door sill. removing the plastic trims

So far the job has cost them over £2000 in re-works and I've been without it for a total of 4 weeks

I complained to the insurer and they sent out their engineer to inspect and he admitted that the apprentice who had worked on and repeatedly damaged my car was HIS son

He had bollocked his son and so had the boy's sister, plus he had had a right dressing down by his bosses at the LR main dealer

All has been put right now to my satisfaction

Shit happens, we were all young or careless at some point in our lives

So will I stop using the dealers or insurer......................nope not a chance, they righted the wrongs and i'm happy

Did i moan on an internet forum about my woes, nope..................I spoke to the dealers involved and we negotiated a deal

I have exemplary service from Rainbow BMW and if something's gone wrong it's been put right before I noticed and they have been 100% honest, helpful and totally professional

 

[forest biker]

Blimey , you should be a main dealer area service manager then no one would never have to post a complaint on here again

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Blimey , you should be a main dealer area service manager then no one would never have to post a complaint on here again

What else is there to do?

If the dealer sorts it out, end of complaint

I've had many years of complaint negotiation, in my job and everything is solvable with money, good grace and an understanding nature

 

[snerkler]

Blimey .....................some of you are perfection personified

I've had good (mostly) service from main dealers with my vehicles

5 years ago, I took my Toyota van for a couple of pre expiry warranty stuff (a new seatbelt and another minor thing)

Whilst left & parked up, a parts van from another Toyota dealer crashed into it

The Service Manager phoned up to tell me and he was horrified, he suggested I come over and inspect the damage with him straight away, which I did

He said that he would fit a whole new door (not just a skin) and repaint, plus fix two other old dings on the same side FOC and he would give me a complimentary full service worth £500 as a gesture of goodwill

I was more than happy and all work was done to a high standard
Guess what .....................I still have my 10 year old Van, serviced at that same main Toyota dealer

Since Xmas, I've had a saga with my 2010 Honda CRV, it was damaged by an unknown 3rd party, with a small dent to the wing

The insurers sent it to a LR main dealer for repairs and it's been back 4 times to get it right

Firstly the trim was loose

Secondly when removing the door trim, they scratched the paint on the inner door and had to be repainted

Thirdly they damaged the paint on the door sill. removing the plastic trims

So far the job has cost them over £2000 in re-works and I've been without it for a total of 4 weeks

I complained to the insurer and they sent out their engineer to inspect and he admitted that the apprentice who had worked on and repeatedly damaged my car was HIS son

He had bollocked his son and so had the boy's sister, plus he had had a right dressing down by his bosses at the LR main dealer

All has been put right now to my satisfaction

Shit happens, we were all young or careless at some point in our lives

So will I stop using the dealers or insurer......................nope not a chance, they righted the wrongs and i'm happy

Did i moan on an internet forum about my woes, nope..................I spoke to the dealers involved and we negotiated a deal

I have exemplary service from Rainbow BMW and if something's gone wrong it's been put right before I noticed and they have been 100% honest, helpful and totally professional

My sentiments exactly.
I also have had nothing but great service from Rainbow (although my bike's never been cleaned unlike mention on here that other dealers have done this. Not an issue though really ). Their prices aren't always the cheapest (not much in it) but the service and friendliness has been top notch

 

[forest biker]

What else is there to do?

If the dealer sorts it out, end of complaint

I've had many years of complaint negotiation, in my job and everything is solvable with money, good grace and an understanding nature

yes good point and i do see your point of view , but i have experienced a few problems like deangsadv and taken the bike back and explained calmly and polite the issue and problem which they have excepted , but certainly dont get the results you have experienced , hence you tend to become a bit anti main dealer and stear towards independents