135i in custom hunter green

BMW Service Nightmares

              My first true bonding experience with this new machine was picking up a nail in one of the runflat tires.  It defined what to expect from the car for years to come.  A polite request appeared on the navigation screen along with a huge read light in the center of my gauge pod asking me to slow the car to a stop and check the left-rear tire.  After indeed confirming it was flat, I drove home and called the service center. The next available appointment at the service center was a few days away, which left my car undriveable in the mean time. When I got back into the car, the computer alerted me of the tire again and told me to keep it under 50 mph or I’d loose the sidewall and consequently my rim.  The people at the service center greeted me warmly and lead me into a glorious waiting room complete with cable TV on two plasma screens, wireless internet, and complimentary gourmet coffee.  After two hours of decadence, I was presented a bill for $600 dollars. At the time, that equated about $1 for every mile I had put on the car in addition to the $650 I was already paying monthly for the privilege of said vehicle.  Runflat tires cost $250 dollars apiece.  The service rep had misunderstood me when I had said I wanted to replace my defective tire and instead thought I wanted to replace my set of back tires.  This could be understandable at maybe 10,000 miles or so, but the car quite literally had 550 miles on her.  After pointing out that I had only wanted the one tire, my bill was reduced to roughly $280 and I received apology after apology.  Leaving the service center, I thought to myself, “Well, apparently one tire at BMW is worth 5 at Jeep, but at least the coffee was good.”

            Many miles later found me in the service center again, about 6,500 to be exact.  I had a service notification which turned out to be a false alarm for my inspection sticker, the timer of which had been improperly set upon delivery from the dealership.  An hour of decadence and gourmet coffee and the simple 2 minute procedure was complete and I was on my way out the door with a lot more caffeine then I am used to at the Jeep or Volkswagen service department.

            At 10,000 miles, I was in for real this time. Brake lights needed replacing, door hinges needed tightening, and oil needed changing. I was sent away from the service center with a tap on the head telling me that the brake lights were fine and I wasn’t due for an oil changing for another 5,000 miles. I was right about the door hinge thought. 

            At approximately 10,108 my brake light went out and stayed out.  Well, I certainly showed them didn’t I?  Back to decadence and gourmet coffee again, although I am not going to lie, I was rather angry about it. They still refused to change my oil.

            Now I am back in the service center, at 15,450, with a leaky rear tire, a wobble in the car, a dire need for an oil change, and a malfunctioning left turn signal.  I am eagerly anticipating the pat on the head telling me that the wobble is in my head, and that my turn signals are working perfectly, and I bet they still don’t change my oil.

           

Results of my most recent visit:

1 New Runflat Tire = 170

1 New Alloy Rim = 420

Oil = NC

Wipers = NC

Car Wash = NC

Grand Total= 666.58, after taxes and applicable labor charges.