Dealership Crashes My Car While in for Oil Change

[will.c]

Car accidents are like injuries; it will NEVER be the same. What's been done cannot be un-done. I would fight this with BMW NA and get an undamaged car of similar or better specs and mileage, unless you value your time more than the potential outcome.

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by The J-Man

Apparently the tech hit some ice and slid into a wall, or as they call it, a "wall curb." Either way, he was going too fast for road conditions.

Exactly, it's clear negligence on their part. If he had been driving your car like it was his own vehicle, this probably would not have happened.

This is part of the reason I try to do my own oil changes when I can. Yes it cost money to buy the extra tools, ramps, etc, and of course disposal is sometimes a pain, but these techs use the excuse "I need to drive it around for a few miles" to take joy rides in people's cars.

[adobeee]

pics???????????

[BASTOS HUMARUROT 335i]

Originally Posted by will.c

Car accidents are like injuries; it will NEVER be the same. What's been done cannot be un-done. I would fight this with BMW NA and get an undamaged car of similar or better specs and mileage.

This would be the solution i'd take. Plus get a lawyer involved just in case the dealership decides to give you grief. Don't settle for anything less. Everything was their fault. Make them pay for it.

[radiofrequency]

My son hit a curb wall @ under 20 MPH. My good friend owns a collision center, the car was towed into his shop. He calls me and tells me that most collisions with a curb wall result in frame damage, the way he explained it is that the curb wall simply has no give, it is an immovable object. In most "normal" collisions there is a release of energy at some point, however, when colliding with a curb wall, the vehicle absorbs most of the energy, and will give at it's weakest point. You will not necessarily "see" this type of damage, as it is, typically absorbed by the frame. Liberty Mutual concurred with this opinion post inspection and mailed a check to my son. If i were in your position, there is no way in heck I would take this vehicle back, you, at the very least, should have your insurance adjuster inspect this vehicle in great detail, in addition to having it inspected at a reputable collision center.

PS: If I schedule any type of work at my dealer, I am provided a loaner, no questions. Typically though, I drop my vehicle off prior to leaving town on business, the dealer's driver takes me to and retrieves me from the airport.

[blackboxing]

1) Get everything in writing, signed by the manager himself

2) I would have gone to an independent shop that you trust and have your dealership pay for everything. Dealerships can be so fucking sneaky, you really don't know if they fixed everything with correct parts or ignored damaged areas, etc. If everything's already fixed, you may want to take it for an inspection at an independent shop and make the dealership pay for that as well.

3) I'd bring this up with BMW NA. Chances are they will do something to keep you happy. Say this seriously affected your future decisions on buying another BMW. Ask for their suggestion on what to do/can do for you, since they're much more willing to side with customers than dealerships.

4) Invest in a dashcam (www.blackboxmycar.com) I've caught my dealership test drive my car for 15km for no reason when all they were suppose to do was a short 2km test drive.

[tinman831]

They were testing the brakes right? That could have been shoddy workmanship on their part with you leaving with the car and crashing into a wall. Better it be them than you.

[ybbiz34]

I would make them get you a brand new car.

That's what I'd do.

My dealer ordered me a brand new F30 M Sport 335i when they couldn't fix my electric cooling fan (and some other bits).

I can't see how a new car is not an option after a major collision.

[Spinny02]

diminished value for sure.

[19G20]

Same thing happened to me and I had to have a BMW approved body shop repair my car 4 times. Your car is never the same after no matter what. But, if I were you I'd contact BMW NA and get them involved. They are actually quite good but to take care of things properly it will take time. They have the most pull over anybody else. If nothing is done to your satisfaction, then get a lawyer. Also, get an independent body shop to look over the car and make notes. Good luck!

[The J-Man]

Just an update -

On Thursday, I sent a formal email to the owner/general manager of the dealership requesting that:

A.) They buy the car back from me at private party value or

B.) They CPO the vehicle and provide a written warranty and guarantee on the repairs, as well as allow the vehicle to be independently inspected for additional damage.

I copied the service manager and service adviser on the email. So far, I have received no response or acknowledgement whatsoever. They had originally stated that the car would be done on Friday.

I will call the GM tomorrow.

Do you think I should involve BMWNA yet? Anybody know the best way to get a competent person at BMWNA?

[Kwando]

Call BMWNA and post pics.

[The J-Man]

Update: Called BMWNA. I was put in touch with some kind of resolution specialist in Ohio. She called and left a message for general manager of dealer and told me to wait at least a week for a call back.

I asked if she was able to do anything else. She told me that the dealer is independently owned and that I'm on my own.

I again asked if she could do anything else since the dealer has already had my car two weeks and waiting one more week seemed excessive.

She told me that there's nothing she can do, but wished me a verry happy holiday.

[Seminole]

Be prepared to get an attorney if need be. You can bet the dealer has one working for them.

[quiksi]

you or your attorney could also try contacting the dealership owner/parent company to seek a resolution

[kihun]

you must be a nice dude because if it was me, i would ask them for extended warranty or someshit.. or sue their asses.

[TrevorM3]

dealers are scum, surprised this hasn't been resolved properly yet.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by The J-Man

Update: Called BMWNA. I was put in touch with some kind of resolution specialist in Ohio. She called and left a message for general manager of dealer and told me to wait at least a week for a call back.

I asked if she was able to do anything else. She told me that the dealer is independently owned and that I'm on my own.

I again asked if she could do anything else since the dealer has already had my car two weeks and waiting one more week seemed excessive.

She told me that there's nothing she can do, but wished me a verry happy holiday.

I've learned that BMW NA really cannot do anything when it comes to dealerships.

I would send that email via certified mail. this way, they cannot say that the email "got lost" or went to "spam" etc.

[Kwando]

Must have been a pretty tall curb to damage the bumper and fender. Something doesn't add up. Any wheel rash? Are they at least going to do an alignment? You seem to passive. Having your lawyer speak to the dealer would probably grease the wheels a bit.

[KingOfJericho]

I haven't followed along with everything written here but the only person you will make any progress in dealing with is the owner of the dealership.

I recently had a terrible buying experience and wrote to the owner of the dealership expressing my extreme displeasure. I let him know that if a resolution was not reached, I would be writing reviews on yelp, google, BBB, and every forum I could find to stay far away from their establishment. I spelled it right out - You can either make this right and keep a customer or you can take no action and potentially lose dozens after they read about my experience. The choice was his and he made it right by compensating me. I will add that your experience is much worse than mine so I believe you have much more recourse.

[The J-Man]

After BMWNA called the dealership yesterday, the service manager emailed me and acknowledged my email form 4 days earlier.

He offered an extended 5 year 70k mile warranty. So basically, 1 extra year.

He has also offered to show me the site of the accident so I can see exactly what was hit.

The general manager/owner of the dealership has refused to respond to me. If she doesn't respond to her employees wrecking a customer's car, what does she respond to?

At any rate, I am meeting with the service manager on Thursday to review the work done to the car.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by Kwando

Must have been a pretty tall curb to damage the bumper and fender. Something doesn't add up. Any wheel rash? Are they at least going to do an alignment? You seem to passive. Having your lawyer speak to the dealer would probably grease the wheels a bit.

I don't think there's any wheel rash. The damage to the fender is just right above the bumper on the front of the car.

They are going to give me a frame report from the body shop and do an alignment.