Battery problem after 3 days owning :(

[jackie]

My appointment is tomorrow but I wanted to share a couple pics of the other dash lights that have come on... I know the big battery light but what is the other orange light that looks like a battery between the park & seat belt lights?

[Weasel]

The battery light flashing is an alternator/charging problem, be reminded that salesmen are and likely never were mechanics... they should have run it through the shop before you received it. Hope they get it fixed up right for you pretty quick.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Weasel

, be reminded that salesmen are and likely never were mechanics....

When people at the dealership tell a mechanic "You should try not to talk much with the customers- our SAs and CAs have more 'people skills'"... what they are really saying is "You don't lie very well- leave it to the pros"


A

PS I know, unfair...perhaps not true, but maybe a bit funny?

[Weasel]

Yeah, that is pretty funny, and hopefully not true at many places!

Luckily our advisers have no problems either bringing the customers to see the mechanics in the shop if requested or handing the phone to the mechanic when asking details about a problem etc. I find that when I can physically show the customer each problem I found to the point that they understand it they are more likely to get it fixed. And I prioritize the problems on the estimate so if they can't afford all of it they know which are more important. (if only this were standard practice...)

[motordavid]

OT...but what else is new.

Reads like a helluva good dlrship you are at Weasel!
The 3 BMW dlrs I have had the utter displeasure of dealing with, way back when our '01 was under warranty and then, extended 'maintenance',
were like walking into the Politboro or, the DMV, or a foo foo spa: all patronizing bs up front, followed by eye rolls and disdain for the customer, the longer one sat there. And, seldom a proper or friendly resolve...

NEway, posters/readers ought to cough up a few bucks and go Premo on this Board, just for the advice that you, killcrap, imola38, JCL, et al,
give on the Board, imo.
BR, mD

[ard]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Luckily our advisers have no problems either bringing the customers to see the mechanics in the shop if requested or handing the phone to the mechanic when asking details about a problem etc. I find that when I can physically show the customer each problem I found to the point that they understand it they are more likely to get it fixed. And I prioritize the problems on the estimate so if they can't afford all of it they know which are more important. (if only this were standard practice...)

Originally Posted by motordavid

O
The 3 BMW dlrs I have had the utter displeasure of dealing with, way back when our '01 was under warranty and then, extended 'maintenance',
were like walking into the Politboro or, the DMV, or a foo foo spa: all patronizing bs up front, followed by eye rolls and disdain for the customer, the longer one sat there. And, seldom a proper or friendly resolve...

Isn't this a study in contrasts?

I am not in this business, but family is... and I can tell you that a business built around a communicative model will succeed..indeed, it is a model that can be propagated to marques within a dealer's group with success.

The old model is just lazy management- it is just easier to throw miserable people into a building and turn the crank.

Empower people down to the customer level and customers respond... it is scary to the old guard, and surely takes care and caution, but in the end people want to work there, customers want to shop there, and they tell neighbors.

Not everyone wants to look under the hood... but the key is that the SA needs to sense what the customer is seeking in their service experience...

3 cents

A

[Abyss]

Hi Lemon,

How many ks/miles has your car done? It's coincident that we bought an 07' X5 3.0si last sat (in Australia). It had the same problem the next day. Battery light on before start up. However i did watch the TV without running the car for 15 mins. I have been running the car everyday since and last night it came on again.

The car only has 7000km/4200miles on the clock which means the car has not been driven much.

I'm going to bring back to ask them check whether is battery problem or alternator problem.

[Kloogy]

I've continued to buy my BMW's from the same dealership due to the pleasent experiences I have had with the SA's and the entire Service Dept. I could've possibly gotten a slightly better deal else where, but I keep going back because as a loyal customer, they are always very accomodating. On the other hand, one of the dealerships in my area is the total opposite. I would NEVER buy anything from them, even if the car was less money

[rufusdedog]

I had the battery problem on my 07 X5. Finally got it fixed - 1 year, no problems. These items were listed on the ticket as replaced:
Replaced Battery 61-21-7-594-976
Replaced Battery Cable 61-12-9-215-954
Replaced Battery Cable 61-12-9-217-004
Replaced IBS and BST