Buy or Wait Opinions Help Needed
 

Went to the dealer to pick up my 2010 X5d today after a 9 week wait. SAV was scratched about two inches long and fairly deep such that they could not buff it out. Smaller scratch about 6 inches away and both on the passenger side door on drivers side.

A. My CA said to pass and re-order another and wait another 6 weeks. They would retain the value of my trade.

B. I could walk away.

C. I could take the SAV and have them paint it as a repair.

D. They did not offer but I thought of asking for a further discount (?$1000) and have them repair and take it.


Thoughts please. :(

I myself would reorder and wait. What's another six weeks compared to getting a "perfect" car.

:iagree:

If you keep it, the knowledge that it's damaged goods will bug you as long as you own it. re-Order now and it'll be a really nice Christmas present to yourself.:thumbup:

Otoh, if they will knock $500 or a $G off, and repair it to your cosmetic satisfaction,
it might be worth the negotiation and fix...or, wait for a new one.
I can understand your dilemma and being so disappointed.
GL,mD

I pick D.... and have them install an aerokit. :)

A repaint is NEVER as good as OEM from the factory. Even $1000 isn't enough to make up for a partial repaint. Who knows what it will look like in 5-7 years? I'd take A unless you just don't want the X5 anymore or have changed your mind on equiptment or engine. Just a thought, if you don't mind a repaint, you may be able to pursuade them to include an extended warranty with maintainance into the final contract at no cost to you. This will add value if you decide to sell it down the road. GL

I would take D for $1,000... but doubt they will do it.. is it dealer's fault or was it damaged in transit?

They are blaming the tint people...

Thanks for all of the thoughts, I am going to sleep on it.

i'd have them repair it and give you 1k off..

problem is that once you decline the vehicle, they cannot sell it as new so they'll probably end up using it as a floor demo which automatically decreases the value of the car anyway..

go for D.. i would.

There is NO DOUBT in my mind they will fix it and put it on the lot as new!

i don't think they legally can... but i am not an expert.. However, I heard a story of how stuff like this is illegal.

the body shop at my dealer did a good job re-painting - I absolutely cannot tell anything happened to it. I do wonder if it will stay this way 5-10 years down the road but according to them it is warrantied for life as long as I bring it back to them. I had to deal with it but you don't have to. If it bothers you in the least, I would wait another 6 weeks & ask for money off or more bonuses for your trouble (doesn't hurt to ask).

I would chose option D!

Have them repaint it and give a little off to get an aero kit and flared wheel arches!

Yep, I am sure its not legal when the dude at Kentucky Fried Chicken picks up the drumstick from the floor and puts it in your bucket too.


My wife's RX300 in 2004 got bumped the day after we picked it up and they painted part of the door. Never noticed anything in 5 years...

Chances are after waiting 6 weeks, some jackoff would open his door against my 2nd chance X5 in any case...

Are you leasing - if yes, take option D

Are you buying - if yes, reject and get a new one. The repaint might give you problems when you want to sell/trade-in ...

Nah, in fact I think something like this could have probably been repaired without your knowledge and sold as new. At least the dealer is being up front.

While much of this law is State dependent, the main requirements for selling as new generally requires (a) Mileage below a certain level, e.g., 150 miles, (b) not previously titled, and (c) repairs below some threshold. I am reasonably certain that at least in some states, repainting to fix two scratches without any metalwork or dent repair would le under the threshold and the car could be sold as new.

For the vehicles imported from overseas, the BMW Vehicle Preparation Centers often make repairs for damage in shipping. I remember one article about a visit to a VPC where one car was getting the entire bumper replaced due to shipping damage.

"Sometimes cars suffer damage in shipping. This new 5 is getting ready to go to paint. The interior has been stripped and the windows on the side being painted have been removed. If the car suffers damage in excess of 3% of it's value it has to be disclosed to the dealer. As I understand it, if BMW replaced the engine in your car at the VDC, that would not have to be disclosed to the dealer. This is because all BMW parts are being used and installed to BMW spec. However, repaired body damage (something on the order of the MINI's roof, not like a replaced bumper cover) would be declared to the dealer. "

Did you ever wonder what happens at the port to your car after it?s shipped from the factory? - AutoSpies Auto News

Slick Finish, In the Supreme Court of the US, BMW of N America, Inc v. Ira Gore, Jr.

It doesn't really diminish the value. It's a misconception. Dealers ALWAYS make money on demos and rentals/loaners. They just don't make as much as a pristine new car. So, if state law mandates they can't sell it as new, they will just put it into loaner or demo service for a period of time and sell it as such with at a discount.

I understand this is the kind of thing they fix at the preparation center. How do any of us know if our brand new cars did not arrive there with some dings or scratches? Bear that in mind. Are you really going to keep this car for 5-10 years? If not, the chances are the paint job will stand the forces of nature. Also someone suggested that you demand extended warranty in return for keeping it. I thought that was a good deal too.

Good thought. I mentioned don't take it because I was only thinking of permanent ownership... if I'm leasing, I wouldn't care as long as it's fine aesthetically.

On the "problems when you sell"... how do they tell? Is it just overspray or do they look for changed bolts, etc. showing that it was taken apart for something?

Paint thickness... when they do a paint repair like this they do not sand down to the primer.

Automotive Paint Detailing: Paint Thickness Meters, Gauges

Really appreciated all replys.

I slept on it and decided to take her home once the dealer paints the scratch to my satisfaction. Its the kind of scratch you would get when coming out of a restarant and the guy next to you opens the door against yours but no dent. That could happen tomorrow but not going to sell or trade the X5 for that so why do it now? At least the cherry has been poped so when/if it happens again I am less likely to have a stroke.

The dealer took off several hundred dollars but would not go a grand. Hopefully get it on Monday.

Just have them repair it and perhaps discount it a bit. Believe me, after the next scratch (which is surely to appear), you'll forget the first one was already repaired.

I disagree with an earlier post about repaints never being as good as factory. I think it depends on who you use.

I recall using a paint shop in Toronto called Rodeo Classic Automobiles to repair my BMW 3 series. I had the cheapest car in the shop. The rest were brand new exotic cars that were being re-polished (some were being repainted) because the owners were not happy with the orange peel in the paint.

When the cars were finished they looked wet they were so smooth. Crazy, I agree, but some people want perfection.

I think if you find the right body shop, the only people who will know the car had a scratch will be you and us. As a final though, the dealer is going to have to fix the car anyway. Why don't you see how it turns out? If it is perfect, take it. If it is't, wait for a new one and hope for the best.

As long as you're happy with it, that's fine. Personally, I wouldn't have taken less than a $1000 discount. If they wouldn't budge, I'd wait for a new one to arrive. If the custom order is going to be too long to wait again, I'd just shop around for new cars already in the dealers' inventory.

Enjoy your beautiful car and share some pics. Not of the repair site;) In the mean time the rest of us with orders will keep our daily ritual of calling the 800#, checking the web site and bugging the CA... what will you do with all that extra time?

FYI, the website still shows at PDC at 4pm Friday but the X5 was at dealer on Wednesday am. Also, the 800# "blacks out" with no further information from automated gal or operators once production is completed...for all the good folks still waiting.

the 800 is behind.. Dealer has most recent info...

example:

Dealer told me today that production finished and car has been released to the carrier.
800# automated message says it's in the paint shop with estimated completion of 11/6
Operator says that production has been completed and QA check has been passed..

+1. I'd choose choice D if it included more compensation. $1000 really isn't much when it's a scratch on a new car. Granted you'll get little scratches here and there. But nothing like you described, right?

Any scratch that I could buff out or remove with Scratch X or the like is inconsequential.

The dealer already did their magic on this scratch and it was still apparent. If it was on the bottom third of a door or under edge of a bumper prob. not notice until I was quik detailing it some day. It is just inferior and caudal/toward the rear of the drivers side door handle on the rear passenger door so very obvious.

I tried to take two pictures (a close up and about 5 feet away) for my wife to review on my LG Dare with a 3 megapixil camera and the 5 footer does not show it. The close up is even very hard to see. My ability to post it here is a technical impossibility due to ignorance.

I kind of feel silly not just sucking it up and taking her home last night but it will be fixed and I have a few more bucks in the bank to boot when I get it in a few days....If I were the suspicious, paranoid, mistrustful type, I think THEY made a bigger deal out of it perhaps with another buyer in mind...lemonade out of lemons?

thx - wasn't aware of such a thing. Good thing avg joe & his mechanic may not test with that.

More mechanics test with it than you might think, as there are cheap versions around:

ProGauge Magnetic Paint Thickness Gauge