Dealership Crashes My Car While in for Oil Change

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

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.

Believe me, if they don't make this right, I'll be doing exactly as you've described. Even if they make it right, I feel like I'm almost obligated to name the dealership so that others don't end up in the same boat as me.

[JasonCSU]

There is only a few dealers around Denver and I've got an idea of which one it may be.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

There is only a few dealers around Denver and I've got an idea of which one it may be.

Which dealer do you think it is?

[1fastdoc]

This is a forum of people with common interests. Internet friends if you will.

If a friend of yours was looking to buy a BMW would you speak up and have them avoid this dealership? If yes, why wouldn't you warn those on the forum so that they don't find themselves in the same predicament?

I've read enough threads about BMW dealerships to really make me wonder. Years ago we had an 84 318i and the dealership was always very good to us, despite the car having 160k miles and a top end rebuild by a private mechanic. My dealership has also been very good to me.

Now my other lengthy experience is with Fords and Ford dealers. Whole different class and I've never met anyone at a Ford dealership I truly trust. Sounds like some of the BMW dealers are similar. Shame to hear that.

[synclastica_86]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

This is a forum of people with common interests. Internet friends if you will.

If a friend of yours was looking to buy a BMW would you speak up and have them avoid this dealership? If yes, why wouldn't you warn those on the forum so that they don't find themselves in the same predicament?

I've read enough threads about BMW dealerships to really make me wonder. Years ago we had an 84 318i and the dealership was always very good to us, despite the car having 160k miles and a top end rebuild by a private mechanic. My dealership has also been very good to me.

Now my other lengthy experience is with Fords and Ford dealers. Whole different class and I've never met anyone at a Ford dealership I truly trust. Sounds like some of the BMW dealers are similar. Shame to hear that.

I don't think he should name the dealership just yet. Anonymity of the dealership is one of his most important bargaining chip. I understand that those of you near him are desperate to know the name of the dealership, and living far from Denver, I am in no position to comment. However, I think that it is in the best interest of the OP if he kept the dealer anonymous at this stage. Perhaps he can strike a better deal if he'd sign a non-disclosure agreement.

On another note, I don't think knowing who the dealer is will make a difference to us other than satisfying our curiosity. I think that all dealers are the same. It is impossible to ask them to treat you car as if it were their own because it simply isn't. The only way to keep everyone honest is to invest in a dash cam.

[P1]

Where are the pics?

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by P1et

Where are the pics?

+1 this has been asked about 10x.

[19G20]

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.

Get an attorney.

[19G20]

Originally Posted by 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.

There is more on the table. Tell them what you want.

[stylinexpat]

Take it to Carmaz and see what they deduct for it? Then ask them for the difference in deduction that they deducted or an extended warranty. Do not tell Carmax about the accident. Just see what they tell you and take the appraisal that they give you over to them. The additional deductions are your losses. Tell them that you do not want additional money and that you only want what you lost.

[The J-Man]

Well Thursday has come and gone. The service advisor said he would call me on Thursday to go over the finished car.

When I called, his voicemail says he is out of the office on Thursday and Friday, so I went in to the dealership on Friday to see the car. They have not installed the fender yet. Instead, the car is sitting outside with the freshly painted and smelly fender in the backseat, which is where it's going to sit for about 4 days until Monday.

[Joekerr]

So.....there is a smelly and freshly painted bumper sitting in your backseat, which is allowing the smell to permeate the leather? That was super nice of them.

You should start making a list with documented pictures of their screw ups.

[Rotorocious]

Sounds like they aren't going to take you seriously.
Lawyer up

[P1]

Post some pictures, I know you have them.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by P1et

Post some pictures, I know you have them.

I'm going to refrain from posting pictures until it is resolved with dealership. The pictures aren't very gory - basically the lower front bumper cracked about 6 inches, the fog light popped out, and the bumper reinforcement can been seen twisted back and coming through the bumper cover. The fender has an indentation about the size of a quarter above where it meets the bumper on the front of the car.

[catcher22]

I dunno man, you do seem really passive about all this. You're basically letting them completely play you in this situation. Painted bumper in your back seat? Not returning calls after acknowledging (at the management level) they crashed your car? It's tough to even read all this. Have you called your insurance company? I honestly would have gone through them immediately. Your insurance through their insurance, business to business. If you have a reputable insurance company, they should fight on your behalf for the dealership to pay every dime for repairs, and send out a real claim adjuster that could assess as much damage as they could up front. It's mute now since you're so far along, but it seems like the dealership is fixing whatever they think (or could see) is wrong. Something just doesn't sound right with this dealership.

[P1]

Originally Posted by catcher22

I dunno man, you do seem really passive about all this. You're basically letting them completely play you in this situation. Painted bumper in your back seat? Not returning calls after acknowledging (at the management level) they crashed your car? It's tough to even read all this. Have you called your insurance company? I honestly would have gone through them immediately. Your insurance through their insurance, business to business. If you have a reputable insurance company, they should fight on your behalf for the dealership to pay every dime for repairs, and send out a real claim adjuster that could assess as much damage as they could up front. It's mute now since you're so far along, but it seems like the dealership is fixing whatever they think (or could see) is wrong. Something just doesn't sound right with this dealership.

I agree. The entire thread makes me feel uneasy.

[mact3333]

so some on this thread have brought up diminished value as an option?. ..how do you prove how much car has depreciated from the wreck/accident, unless you actually sell it and compare to others cars that haven't been wrecked????

[Lute__]

This is madness.

[iBoost]

I don't know why you're still trying to do this on your own. Get a lawyer already and have him milk that POS dealership for as much as he can. They are obviously dicking around with you. Jeeez

[MattMD]

Any updates OP?

I saw this today and thought of this thread. Some Chevy dealership employee totaled a guys ZL1 Camaro while it was in for a warranty repair. The guy is pursuing legal action against said dealer.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...170136602.html

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by MattMD

Any updates OP?

I saw this today and thought of this thread. Some Chevy dealership employee totaled a guys ZL1 Camaro while it was in for a warranty repair. The guy is pursuing legal action against said dealer.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...170136602.html

Looks to me like that dealer is trying their best but the owner is being difficult.

"To First State's credit, it immediately fired the employee who took the car and tried to pursue charges against him — but local officials said since the car was in the dealership's legal possession at the time of the crash, no crime was committed."
Then they offered him ZL1's with comparable mileage but the owner refused, insisting that his particular example was worth more. Egads.

As an aside, it is completely ridiculous that the employee was able to loophole his way out of justice. That it can't be a crime to sneak in after-hours and go joyriding, just because he worked there, is beyond me.