Recently, after moving to the area from San Francisco, I brought my E39 M5 into your dealership for a 10w60 oil change. I asked that along with the oil change could the techs please give the car a once over. Once the work was completed I was told that the car needed new valve cover gaskets and thrust arm bushes. I was surprised at this since I had just had the thrust arm bushes changed within the year and less than 10k miles ago. I asked for verfication of the 'diagnosis' and was told that yes indeed my bushings were shot and I had oil leaking from the valve cover gaskets.
I just got back from the 'M' shop, a very reputable and highly regarded local independant with great reviews on the 'net. Along with having new shocks fitted, I asked them to please inspect the items indicated at SBBMW, namelely the Valve Cover Gaskets and Thrust Arm Bushes. The shop indicated that there is absolutely nothing wrong with either item. Are you guys that desperate for work that you lie about problems? Would you have even done anything to the car when brought in for repairs? I will defintiely NEVER be back to SBBMW and when and if asked will definitely recommend against patronizing your business...
I am shocked to say the least...
__________________
00 E39 M5 BZ96901
Sunshades Ti Silver Black Interior Inspection II Done 47k; Replaced CPS; Plugs; Lambda Sensors;Fuel Filter; Goodyear F1 GS D3s; Beastpower rear sway brackets; X5 Thrust Bushes; Hella Angel Eye upgrade; IATS Relocation Kit; iBrite v3.0 installed; 10w60 ONLY; Supersprint Magnum Mufflers; Supersprint Cats, Supersprint Headers, Conforti 'Shark' Software, MKIV Nav, 16:9 Wide Screen. Bilstein HD Shocks. '02 steering wheel, Dinan CAI, MAFs, Euro floating rotors front and rear, new front wheel bearings 86k, PDS Metal master pads (entire turner brake kit) ABS Module Replaced 80k (turned out it was a bad wire), Alternator 78k; oil, diff, trans, coolant, brake fluid all replaced jan 10 87800 miles. SS Cats scheduled to come off...Magnaflow legal units going in...Stock software reloaded. Shark is too jerky. Magnaflow Cats on, so: SS Headers, Magnaflow cats, Magnaflow Resonators, SS Mufflers...Nice sound, different than stock but still civilized...BSW Ipod dock in ashtray...
Spares: ABS Module, MkII Nav & Screen, CD Changer, stock intake assemblies, exhaust, SS Cats
Ex Bimmers
03 325 xiTA (Ex W...)
99 MZ3
90 M3
73 2002 tii (miss this one goofy linkage and all)
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy Sh*t . . . what a ride!"
take it back and ask them to do the once over again, then see if they tell you the same thing. then call them out for BS and see the look on their face and report it to BMWNA.
I heard BMWNA looks the other way when local BMW dealers have problems such as this. I've heard some horror stories on this forum about shady dealers and BMWNA's non participation in resolving the matter
I am just glad that I went with my instinct and got out of there as fast as possible. I have never had any luck with finding a BMW dealer worth a damn and I have tried...Its too bad, great cars with slimeballs selling amd servicing them...
Yep i agree about the M shop, I pretty much handed them an opportunity to do some expensive work and they were honest and straight with me...I have a new indie...
Oh I know, made me feel better just writing them, i know they couldn't care less they will read it giggle and say oops we got caught...
What will BMWNA Do? Nothing what do I want? Nothing really, just let my SoCal M5 Bros know not to bother going there...
Could make an appointment and ask to see the problems along with the service manager while the car is on the lift, that could be fun...
There has to be something in the Penal Codes...Hmmm
A "note" to BMW NA probably won't do any good. It's been done before and reported here. BMW NA claims the dealers are independent and they can't do anything to them ... I say hogwash, but who am I? They do have contracts with the dealers, right? Their contracts should spell out the ramifications of such blatant disregard for any HINT of honesty.
I know the Assistant Service Manager personally at South Bay. He is a straight and upright guy. If he knew, he would get to the bottom of your complaint. And, I suspect someone would get fired over this. I also know the General Manager and I know he wouldn't be happy, either. I'm not sure I know how he would address it, though.
I DO NOT know any of the mechanics at South Bay, and therein lies the problem. Aided by cries from their management, one of them clearly went overboard, and that is NO excuse. Many will write it off to "tough times," but that just doesn't excuse it AT ALL.
I also have NO confidence in any of the SAs there.
I bought my M5 from South Bay, and have had it serviced there three times ... Absolutely NO problems, but I was uncomfortable, so it has been to THREE OTHER dealers since new. I am still under warranty, and am driving to my FIFTH NEW DEALER next month for my Inspection II service. I know a mechanic there, and I love to drive, so I am willing to go 170 miles (one way) to be comfortable. And, I will visit a friend while there.
If BMW AG has had any Achilles heel recently, it is first BANGLE (one down, two to go), then QC, and then their dealers. It is a pity. It's TOO BAD that BMW AG (I am a stockholder) doesn't license independents here like they do in Europe. There are many good ones around, and maybe the dealers wouldn't be so blase (mit the "thingy" over the e), if they were competing for new car warranty work with independents.
This post had prompted me to sit down and write a long letter, from a buyer's viewpoint to the BMW Board of Directors. It won't do much good, I know, but at least no board member with be able to say, "I didn't know."
__________________
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge."
Agree RE SA's when he told me my thrust arm bushings were 'shot' I mentioned that it seems strange that in less than a year and in around what 6-7k miles that the X5 bushes i had installed would go bad...He responded that the X5 bushes are wrong for the M5 since the will make it ride higher...Thank you very much please give me my keys...A year ago he was probably selling toasters at Wal Mart..
The Following User Says Thank You to Tortuga For This Useful Post:
. '02 steering wheel
, Dinan CAI, MAFs, Euro floating rotors front and rear, new front wheel bearings 86k, PDS Metal master pads (entire turner brake kit) ABS Module Replaced 80k (turned out it was a bad wire), Alternator 78k; oil, diff, trans, coolant, brake fluid all replaced jan 10 87800 miles. SS Cats scheduled to come off...Magnaflow legal units going in...Stock software reloaded. Shark is too jerky. Magnaflow Cats on, so: SS Headers, Magnaflow cats, Magnaflow Resonators, SS Mufflers...Nice sound, different than stock but still civilized...BSW Ipod dock in ashtray...
Linear Mode
