Dealership praise/horror stories

tyronzn

New member
My concern with dealerships is their mechanics aren't real mechanics as they dont know how to diagnose or fix,they just replace at the customers expense.For this reason,if i am not able to DIY my own repairs or services my car only goes to Palm Service Station in Durban.Its owned by Derek and his mechanics are fully qualifed technicians from BMW,VW,Mercedes and a couple others.They are a bunch of nice guys too and they simply just know what they are talking about/doing,no other way to put it.

Today or tomorrow their BMW ISIS machine is getting installed so there is really no reason for me to go to BMW anymore other than order parts


perhaps at the end of this thread we can compile a list for each region which dealerships/workshops are recommended for example

KZN
1.Palm Service Station
2.ETC

Gauteng
1.ETC
2.ETC
 

phantom

Member
Reading through this thread i see only one problem. BMW SA.
I have an electrical business with agencies. The criteria should be exactly the same.
You should feel privelaged to be given an agency and your supplier expects the following: decent premises, stockholding, knowledge of product and staff with people skills.
BMW SA why are you not disciplining agents who bring disrepute to your product? :idea:
 

adamr

Well-known member
Horror VW fourways ... Asked for a bumper realignment on my polo ... They ended up realigning the wrong side and dented my fender in the process in three different places

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
 

Gaviny

New member
Hellas said:
I bought my car from Auto Atlantic and I still have some IOU's from the dealership for stuff that were not thay way they pretended it to be when I bought the car. But both the salesman and the dealer principal have moved from AA, so I'll see what comes from my requests. Did 2 services at AA, can't complain about the workmanhip, it's the stuff that they DIDN'T do (which I asked them on the jobcard) that bothers me...

Had the same from a salesperson at AA.perhaps we have the same guys who by the way has moved to Auric.
Charged me for something that was never done on the car.used car manager AWESOME...refund no questions asked 2 weeks later salesman gone..
 

Gee@BM

New member
I have been reading Hello Peter and this site. I am starting to get over nervous regarding the service offering from BMW in general. I recently had a horrible experience from Lloyd and Nicky from BMW Clearwater. I had to take my car in 3 times as the car was pulling to the right. Eventually they changed the rims and tyres from another car. I just left as the problem was fixed but the mags are a bit scratched. I could not stay there and discuss with the two, as they just don't understand what service means. I felt like i was dealing with the normal trade dealers. I will be logging a complaint with BMW .SA, but from what i have read, it seems a useless exercise.:bangdesk:
 

abharoochi

Member
freerider said:
I always had good service at Forsdicks Tygervalley, always speak to Chester? or Geraldine.

SMG Century City is my new Favourite dealership though, very friendly and efficient service.

Auric Auto in Claremont I have my doubts about, there is a certain DP there that is as arrogant as they come.

Totally agree! Auric Auto sucks @ss
 
S

SP33DYV

Guest
Zambesi Auto :thumbdo::thumbdo:
Returned the '05 X5 I bought from them for a full refund.
 
S

SP33DYV

Guest
Henry330i said:
Not cool. What wrong with the car.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Had a faulty airbag module under the front passenger seat and a UniQ chip soldered into the harnass. This after they did their "quality check" and a "service", but they never even reset the service indicator and then there was some other "stuff" going on behind the scenes, which I will tell you about tomorrow. I never thought a BMW dealership could be this incompetent. :nonono:
 

Henry330i

Active member
It really upsets me. After a house a car is the next most expensive purchase we make. You'd think that dealers or any workshop would know this. And put some pride in their own work.

It comes down to management that can't run their teams properly.

Now I wonder if they are even going to try and sort the car out. Or sell it as is again and hope the next person doesn't notice.

Glad that you managed to get out of the deal.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
 
S

SP33DYV

Guest
It's back on Auto Trader. I guarantee you nothing has been sorted. And they want retail plus a couple grand for the car. :nonono:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Henry330i

Active member
Not surprised. All they are interested in is a sale. Regardless of anything else.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
 

FaNa

New member
Was in Durban over the December holidays with the wife's car, took it past Supertech for a few niggly issues on the 30th as the motorplan was to expire in the 31st. I had no booking, they made a plan, booked the car in, sorted out the faults and gave it a once over.

Big thanks to Neville, Mohammed Badat and Clinton!
 

Desigan_330Ci

New member
I've had a terrible experience with Auto Umhlanga BMW this month which still isn't sorted out as yet.

Took my car in to have the alternator replaced. Got a call a week later to say that it's ready for me to pick up. When i go to collect it, i notice that sumhow my soft top had been cut and BMW have no idea as to how that happend and are refusing to replace the roof saying that i parked the vehicle there at my own risk.

It's 2 weeks now that the car is still with them without anything being done about it.
 

Vader

New member
Desigan_330Ci said:
I've had a terrible experience with Auto Umhlanga BMW this month which still isn't sorted out as yet.

Took my car in to have the alternator replaced. Got a call a week later to say that it's ready for me to pick up. When i go to collect it, i notice that sumhow my soft top had been cut and BMW have no idea as to how that happend and are refusing to replace the roof saying that i parked the vehicle there at my own risk.

It's 2 weeks now that the car is still with them without anything being done about it.

Wow!!!

When vehicles are booked into the workshop they should always be checked in as in and there should be a checklist as the driver does a quick walk around the car prior to it going intot he workshop.

I would demand to see that checklist showing the condition of the car when it was dropped off and if there is no note made about a caut in the roof then clearly it has happened at the dealership it it needs to be sorted out.

Hope you come right man, thats a shocker !
 

climat

New member
:argh: You be the judge.:blab:

October 2013 a client trades in a 2007 BMW 650i on a 2013 M6, hands in a very low millage very clean car, with 3 keys, a torch in the cubby and the Navi DVD together with the books etc 100% complete as delivered to him new. The dealer BMW Sandotn Auto, sells the car off to a trade dealer, from whom i buy the car. The trade dealer says the books and spares etc are with BMW Sandton Auto. I call up the used car manager and ask can i come collect the cars books etc, he says yes.
I get there and am given the books and a navi DVD from 2004-1 scratched ontop of it all too so not working. I ask what about the torch and spare keys, he says "im new and don't have anything else", I speak to the previous owner and he verified with the sales rep that sold him the M6 that indeed all was handed in, so i speak to the dealer principal as these items have been stolen in his dealership, well slap me with a dead fish but he tells me "we did not retail the car to you its not my problem".

So am i crazy for expecting the car's spares and torch and navi disc to be replaced.

So that leaves me with the opinion i would rather drop dead than go anywhere near Sandton Auto BMW.:bangdesk:
 

zhr

New member
hi...

Northcliff BMW...
called me to fit a part ordered by the previous owner. fit the part and they give me back the car dirty... interior - light grey in pristine condition, now has grease finger prints, mats are stamped with workshop boots. complain to the lady I'm dealing with, they send it to the wash bay, get the car back in 40 minutes, and what do you know, interior exactly as I got it.

after reading the other bits on this post, i know mine is a small complaint, but just thought I'll let the guys know.

My freakin kids respect the car more than the people at BMW.

I sent my complaint to BMW before reading here, so I"m not expecting much anyways
 

Blankman

Member
So i got a few parking dents on my car in the last 3-4 months. Booked the car in at smg cpt this past tuesday after everything was finalized. When i dropped the car off the lady asked me if Wednesday @3pm is fine for me to collect. Got the car back as promised at the right time and was mighty impressed with the work done at Supershield/bmw. Although they did end up washing the plastidip off the grilles lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

A B

///Member
Blankman said:
So i got a few parking dents on my car in the last 3-4 months. Booked the car in at smg cpt this past tuesday after everything was finalized. When i dropped the car off the lady asked me if Wednesday @3pm is fine for me to collect. Got the car back as promised at the right time and was mighty impressed with the work done at Supershield/bmw. Although they did end up washing the plastidip off the grilles lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. Its comforting knowing this. I booked my car also in for the same reason
 
Top