Need advise on fuel filter/system service

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by JCL

Yes, a new car every few years, and last time in 2007 it was two at the same time (X3 and 535). All from the same dealership. However, I haven't purchased a new car in almost four years, and my sales advisor was away on vacation this past time when I went by to say hello. I dealt with three different service advisors (one vacation fill-in guy, one express lane guy, and then my usual guy, whom I hadn't seen for 18 months). All three were good. My dealership's reviews support that my experience was not unusual. I think that in this case I got better treatment partly because of being informed, being open with them, and expecting them to do a good job. Sometimes if you treat people like they are going to steal from you, they will live down to that expectation. I think that consumers should be aware and informed, but I also think that treating dealers like child rapists will not help consumers. Just my $02. I spent a lot of time working in a very well regarded dealership (not BMW), and saw it from the other side as well.

Well maybe that’s part of the benefits of being Canadian? Kinda like ‘Minnesota nice’? Do you have other competing dealerships within close distance? I do not as my next closest dealer is still 200 miles away. I think ‘lone’ dealerships can tend to become nonchalant about customer satisfaction to an extent, because they know the customer has no other convenient option.
Back to the rapist thing, it’s a little over the top but there is a grain of truth there for many dealerships, obviously not including yours. For my last quote from one of my favorite movies, I wonder if the job interview at certain unscrupulous dealers goes something like this:
Hedley Lamarr: Qualifications?
Applicant: Rape, murder, arson, and rape.
Hedley Lamarr: You said rape twice.
Applicant: I like rape

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by ard

I'll add that Service Advisers, like child rapists and muggers, will profile and groom their victims: they will pitch this stuff to people that don't seem to know much about cars, women (some men) and those that demonstrate a lack of interest and engagement in "whats that gonna cost?" and "why are you doing that?"

When they find an owner that will, for example, fall for the above- or buy tires at the dealership- they have a real 'find'. They'll suck up to this kind of customer.

All this talk reminds me of one of my favorite movies: "Blazing Saddles"

I think Hedley Lamarr has a few more descriptors that you may have missed in this line:

Hedley Lamarr: I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, a$$-kickers, sh!t-kickers, and Methodists!

FWIW, I liken the dealers to a pitbull. As long as they're fed pretty well ($$) and stroked (on the survey) they will be a gentle and loyal friend. If you ever get between them and their food they might try and maul you...

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by 06redtaco

I am a newbie here.

My wife drives a 2009 X5 3.0i and has 26,000 miles on it. The other day, the dealer sent my wife an email recommending a fuel filter/system service and wheel alignment service on her vehicle. My wife called them and they said this is not covered under the BMW maintenance. I drove it yesterday for around 15 miles and I did not experience any problem as far as drivability is concerned. I would like to ask for your opinion if we should have it done. Thank you.

Uneven wear is a dead giveaway but it can be hard to tell to the untrained eye. If you're concerned that the dealer will want to perform the alignment without checking it first, any number of tire shops should be able to put it up on the rack and give you a computerized alignment printout as to what your values are now vs. what they should be for free.

Fuel filter is a tough one, some car companies recommend a 30k mile replacement schedule, others higher (60k). I'm not sure that you would get any warning before the filter would completely clog up to change it. This would leave you stranded, but since you are under warranty, BMW Assist would get you to the nearest dealer to change it. Depending on the quality of your fuel you may need it sooner than most or not at all.

[ard]

Yeah, you guys know what I am saying.... and my lumping was hyperbole and for shock/dark humor value- that is all, for sure.

Indeed, you can actually find a broad spectrum of service experiences even at the same dealership... as with all human interaction, it takes two.