WTF? BMW Roadside Assistance - Page 2

rocky1536 · #1 02-14-2013, 04:26 PM

Doesn't help in all cases, but you guys need to get the BMW app that allows you to unlock from your cell phone... Takes 30 seconds. You can also use google maps to send POI to your vehicle....

ard · #2 02-14-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky1536

but you guys need to get the BMW app that allows anyone who has hacked your cell phone to unlock from their cell phone... Takes 30 seconds. Y..

fixed!

djbock · #3 02-14-2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky1536

Doesn't help in all cases, but you guys need to get the BMW app that allows you to unlock from your cell phone... Takes 30 seconds. You can also use google maps to send POI to your vehicle....

So which app is this? I have had to rescue my wife twice now as she has locked herself out when she has put the keys in her gym bag in the back and closed the rear hatch.

rocky1536 · #4 02-15-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djbock

So which app is this? I have had to rescue my wife twice now as she has locked herself out when she has put the keys in her gym bag in the back and closed the rear hatch.

Its called BMW remote. Takes 1 minute to setup at most...I do beleive its for 2009-present.

jeremym · #5 02-14-2013, 07:47 PM

That only works if you have a BMW with that feature. It doesn't work for us 2007ers.

djbock · #6 02-15-2013, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the info, rocky, unfortunately I get a:

"This item cannot be installed in your device's country", error.

rh71 · #7 02-15-2013, 02:42 PM

AAA is $50 and yes you do get other discounts, but through Allstate insurance I'm paying $7 total for 6 months and get reimbursed $125 for every tow regardless of times needed. My brother in law is also on the policy and he's used it multiple times and we've gotten reimbursed promptly no questions asked.

I also have Warranty Direct who tows also but they only pay out $100 back and most tows are at least that much.

Don't think AAA is really worthwhile if your insurance offers it for cheap - you guys who no longer have BMW Assist may want to ask. They allow jump-starts, etc. just the same.

kungpao · #8 02-15-2013, 03:50 PM

AAA is also my insurance company. They cover just as much as Allstate did when i had them and are a boatload less for me. I've never had to get reimbursed for a tow because i never pay for it in the first place.

I've had a collision claim through them and several tows. I'd say my most memorable was when I got my mustang stuck in asphalt that gave way due to hurricane irene.

No problems for me.

Crash513 · #9 02-17-2013, 03:40 AM

Thanks everyone for youre replies. By way of follow up, I did get a call last week from the a Customer Advocate Manager from BMW NA. She was very apologetic, and indicated that this case was handled in a totally unacceptable manner by BMW standards. She had reviewed the whole situation, including listening to the tape of my original call to the roadside assistance call center. The tape apparently indicates that the first service providor called did not accept the request. She indicated that the employee situation was already being "dealt with" by the responsible call center Manager. Finally, as a token of their appreciation, and to help compensate for my inconvenience, they are also sending me a small gift. It does not change what happened, but at this point, I feel that BMW has done about all they can to make up for the problem. I'm expecting the next time I need roadside assistance, I will have a much better experience.

I probably failed to mention this earlier, but I actually have used Roadside assistance twice before and had good experience. Once I had sat in the car with the blower running for about 3 hours and killed the battery on my last X5. That just required a jupm, and they dispatched and arrived in about 15 min. to take care of it. The last time was on this car when I had locked my key in. Contrary to some of the lock out experiences some of you have reported, that one was also trouble free, and they had the car unlocked in about 2 minutes. Those previous experiences are what made this last situation so infuriating.

For the record, I am also a AAA Premier member, and have been for the last 30 years. It only takes a few nights of hotel stays for that subscription to pay for itself, but I have used it to tow my 2002tii home a couple of times. They don't do remote unlocking, but if your just looking for roadside assistance, AAA membership is still one of the best deals out there.

Anyway, thanks again all for your feedback. As always, it's much appreciated.

Crash

P.S. Ard - I would not say my dealer loves me. They were very happy to sell me two cars on one deal. But by the time we were done, I think they were just as happy to see me leave. They did make a little money on me with the warranty extension and upgrade (6 yr/ 100k platinum on the X5, 5 yr/100k on the 535xi). The price was higher than the 3rd party options, but not as much as I expected. Anyway, based on my experience with my last X5, which had a transmission and 2/3 of the Nav system replaced under warranty, I'm banking it will be worth the cost in the long run.

Crash513 · #10 02-21-2013, 10:39 PM

So, by way of closure on my whole experience here, my car was at the dealer for a full week. My SA had the tech run an extended diagnositc on the electronics, and a "draw test". The battery was of course toast, which is disapointing since it failed out of warranty with less than 3 years of service life.

The good news is that thanks to my Service Manager, BMW NA agreed to replace the battery as a one time goodwill gesture anyway. I didn't ask for this, but I'm very pleased they did it, because I was not about to shell out $300 for a new BMW battery (which by the way, is an Exide product). I would probably have gone out and bought a bigger CCA battery with a better warranty if I had to pay for it out of pocket.

Incidently, while they were diagnosing the battery, they also perfrormed the alternator bolt replacement reacall. I understand this is supposed to adress a risk of losing power steering assist, but it's interesting that my charging system seemed to go completly wonky right when the battery died. Coincidence? You decide...

Finally, as for my nightmare experience with Roadside Assistance, they actually sent me a check for $100 for my inconvenience. It does not erase what happened, but again, I give them big points for doing what they could to make things right. A little goodwill goes a long way.