Dealer admitted negligence

[desrste]

This would be my first post here on X5 World because every question I have is typically already answered! So thanks to everyone on the list for the help you have provided without even knowing it.

Sorry for the length but I felt I needed to give details. Now I really need advice and/or comments about a situation that happened to me today. I have a 2005 X5 that I purchased about 2 1/2 months ago. It had just over 50K miles when I bought it. The dealer (affiliated with a BMW dealer) agreed to have the car certified with the new BMW program that came out after the first of the year. I also have a 2007 328i and would not buy the X5 for my wife without a CPO Warranty as much as she loved it. Two weeks ago the SES light come on. I also had them check the front suspension because when I had to brake quickly it seemed like the entire front suspension was moving up under the car. So again searched on X5 World and sure enough the dealer replaced the thrust rod bushings just as many of you indicated in previous posts. So all in all feeling pretty good about the work done since it matches previous issues other posters have had. Now here comes the BIG issue! Turns out the tech that did the job did not reconnect the left tension strut properly and the hex nut came off (not sure it was ever there in the first place). So I am driving to pick up my three children from school and to my surprise the strut and wheel finally come apart...while driving! I thought the wheel came off! Luckily I was going slow and able to make it into a parking lot immediately. Oh yeah then had to jog 1/2 a mile to get my kids on time!!! The Manager of service admitted to me that it was their fault and they were fully responsible. They are really stepping it up to try and make us happy...but how in the world do I trust these guys after this? What do I need to be asking / looking for? Do I have any recourse? Any thoughts / opinions would be greatly appreciated!

BTW - It is the same dealer that Certified the car less than three months ago. Should they have found this stuff?