What's the dumbest thing your BMW dealer has told you lately?

[Peregrin-O]

I searched around for a thread like this but didn't find anything.
The purpose of this is to get a good laugh at some of the dumbest things your dealer has told you lately about your car, ex. transmission grinding noise but dealer says car checks out ok.
Tell us how you diagnosed the problem and how you fixed it
I think it will be fun to hear some of your guys' stories.

I'll go first.

I talked to the service manager at one of the local dealerships to find out what it would cost to get my DRL switched off, after I explained to him what I meant (since he had no clue what I was talking about) and that their computers can turn on/off certain options on the cars computer, he came back and quoted me about $150-$200 minimum.
I said no thanks.
I have now bought the NCS/INPA software for around $45 and will be turning the DRL off myself and using it on another family members bimmer

[Brandon002]

Not so much what they told me as it is what they sold me.

I had to replace my upper radiator hose. I called around and found a dealer 45 minutes away that had it in stock. Gave them my VIN and everything over the phone. Drive over there, buy the hose, get in the car and then I notice it. This isn't the hose for my vehicle. The idiots had my VIN, yet still sold me the hose for a 3.0i even though I told them it was a 4.4i. Totally glad I noticed something was off before I drove all the way home.

[JCL]

I've never had any issues like that with my BMW dealer. It may be partly because I choose my dealerships based on their service, not on their new vehicle selling price.

We did have a dealer sales rep tell us we should consider the automatic transmission in our X3, when we had decided to special order one to get exactly what we wanted. My wife looked at him, and said deadpan "what would be the point of that, you don't drive it then, you just steer it"

Now if you want to talk about the Apple store, I've got a list of service issues, usually starting with "We've never seen that before...."

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by JCL

I've never had any issues like that with my BMW dealer. It may be partly because I choose my dealerships based on their service, not on their new vehicle selling price.

We did have a dealer sales rep tell us we should consider the automatic transmission in our X3, when we had decided to special order one to get exactly what we wanted. My wife looked at him, and said deadpan "what would be the point of that, you don't drive it then, you just steer it"

Now if you want to talk about the Apple store, I've got a list of service issues, usually starting with "We've never seen that before...."

Errrr lets see... I have a few....

First one was when I first got the 4.4 and the local dealership wanted to give a complementary Oil Change. So I take it in and they do their thing. I go back and get it and see the hood isn't closed right. Ask the SA says, "It was like that..." Look under the hood and I see the tech left an air gun under the hood and the hood wouldn't close because the gun was pinching the left side of the hood.

Next one was again with the 4.4, brought it to the dealership for work on the brakes.... Everything done... drive the car home everything is fine. Next day.. "Low Brake Fluid" Check it... They forgot to put the cowl back on and they forgot to button up the resevior.

Third one was the last time I brought it to them.. Bring it in and complained that the engine was making a ticking sound after I had it serviced there. They said they didn't hear anything. I bring it home... after a better look I realized the belt was slightly shreaded. So as I check around... I was in there for insp 1 service... I remove the air filter and cabin filter... DIRTY as a MOFO! Back to the dealer I go, take the filters to the SA and go.... Didn't I pay to have these things done with Insp 1? Thats what you told me? SA goes, "You didn't specifically ask for them to be changed."

Thats when I started to R&R everything myself.

[davintosh]

Originally Posted by JCL

I've never had any issues like that with my BMW dealer. It may be partly because I choose my dealerships based on their service, not on their new vehicle selling price.

I wish we had that luxury; one BMW dealership in town (next closest is in Omaha, 3 hours away) that appears to dislike selling parts over the counter. They treat you like second-class citizens, insist that you have the VIN for the vehicle even if you've got the exact part number in hand, then make you wait a couple of days because nothing is in stock, or so they say. Much easier to deal with Steve @ BluntTech, and he's sometimes even quicker than the stealer.

Originally Posted by JCL

We did have a dealer sales rep tell us we should consider the automatic transmission in our X3, when we had decided to special order one to get exactly what we wanted. My wife looked at him, and said deadpan "what would be the point of that, you don't drive it then, you just steer it"

That sounds like something my wife would say!

Originally Posted by JCL

Now if you want to talk about the Apple store, I've got a list of service issues, usually starting with "We've never seen that before...."

I've heard that line far too many times from medical professionals in the last year.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by davintosh

I wish we had that luxury; one BMW dealership in town (next closest is in Omaha, 3 hours away) that appears to dislike selling parts over the counter. They treat you like second-class citizens, insist that you have the VIN for the vehicle even if you've got the exact part number in hand, then make you wait a couple of days because nothing is in stock, or so they say.....

I'm lucky here in Coppell, TX. 15 min drive to Classic BMW, largest selection of in stock parts of any BMW dealer on the continent. Nice parts counter staff and 30% off list without asking for a discount.

[TiAgX5]

Got a bad brand new alternator from a Honda dealer last yr (worked fine cold, heated to underhood temp it stopped producing current). Parts manager told me I might have a bad voltage regulator, told him it's inside the alternator. Went back and forth for over a 1/2 hr before he FINALLY swapped the bad alternator. New unit worked fine. He SWORE to me the problem would not be solved by swapping alts!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Got a bad brand new alternator from a Honda dealer last yr (worked fine cold, heated to underhood temp it stopped producing current). Parts manager told me I might have a bad voltage regulator, told him it's inside the alternator. Went back and forth for over a 1/2 hr before he FINALLY swapped the bad alternator. New unit worked fine. He SWORE to me the problem would not be solved by swapping alts!

That's your problem you tried to put a Honda alternator in the BMW.

[tmv]

I have nothing to add since I don't bring my bimmers to the $tealer for service

[alecu]

I have to say the girl that I used to deal with at Gwinnett BMW when I had the 745i was very knowledgeable. Never had any of these scenarios.

The shop foreman was also very good. No "blonde" moments from them.