Is it normal for dealer to drive 8 miles for brake flush serivce?

SWing · 4th April 2002, 18:23

Hi guys,

Ok, maybe I'm just being paranoid over here but I just had my car in for a brake flush service and when it came back, it had additional 8 miles on it.

Knowing that there have been some *horror* dealership stories, I'm just wondering whether this is normal?

BTW, I also had to replace myu cupholders...twice already and I casually mentioned to the SA that the cupholders were flimsy and he said "Yeah, you should try to avoid using them"...and he was not joking...I was just thinking inside myself "Dude, I'm not going to sacrifice my daily Starbucks for a design flaw"

Cheers,
Sugi

atomic80 · 4th April 2002, 18:36

Hmmm....I also had my brake system flushed a few weeks ago and they put only 2 miles on my M5 at the time. I know that the service technician + head technician had to drive my car before doing the flush. 8 miles seems unusual. Did the mileage of your car match the paperwork when you picked it up? That's the first thing I would check. I doubt that they did anything bad though.

Bart Carter · 4th April 2002, 18:47

What we need is a valet mode that would only allow 1/3 throttle and 3500 RPM. Then we wouldn't have to worry about anything but how the clutch is treated.

I wonder what we could do about that?

atomic80 · 4th April 2002, 18:51

Bart,

That's a great idea...the only production car that I can think of that actually had this feature was the Corvette ZR-1. Remember those? They had an extra switch usable only with the master key. We really need that!

SWing · 4th April 2002, 19:01

While...the paperwork said my car had 16,176 miles when I dropped it off. When I picked it up, my car had 16,185....so thaz about 9 miles...

Haha..I wish someone out there can invent the system that Bart was mentioning. Hopefully, they didnt abuse my car when test driving it --> there have just been too many horror stories with technicians test-driving the car.

Sugi

atomic80 · 4th April 2002, 19:08

Quote:

Originally posted by SWing
Haha..I wish someone out there can invent the system that Bart was mentioning. Hopefully, they didnt abuse my car when test driving it --> there have just been too many horror stories with technicians test-driving the car.

Sugi

You should ask your dealership why they put 9 miles on your car. Maybe they did some freeway driving?

Also, Sugi, someone DID invent the system Bart was talking about. I just mentioned the one in the ZR-1.

louv · 4th April 2002, 19:34

Yes, it probably is necessary.

If you want them to fully test the brake job, they will have to take it up to speed and do some repeated, hard braking. You wouldn't want it back untested, would you? That could be scary if they did something wrong.

Now, if it came back with more that 10 miles, I'd say there might be an issue. Remember, they run a business, and all those miles ar time away from fixing other cars (read: more money).

Diamond Dave · 4th April 2002, 20:40

Sugi,

Please don't get upset with me but I gotta get back up on my soapbox relative to our relationships with Service Advisors and Techs (mechanics).

If at all possible can you stay at the dealership and watch them do the work? As I've said before, where my cars go I go. I'm not suggesting that you stand back in the service area with your arms crossed and a scowl on your face the whole time looking over the tech's shoulder. Rather show the mechanic that you're a certified car guy and ask a few smart questions. Usually they are more than happy to share their knowledge about BMWs with you.

Another thing you guys have heard me talk about is befriending both the SA and Tech and using them exclusively. I trust both gentlemen implicitly and often take them some adult beverages in a gesture to say thanks for taking such good care of me and my personal car collection.

Yes, they were correct in driving your car to see if they bled the brakes properly. One of my pet peeves is a spongy pedal! Not knowing your dealership and the streets surrounding it, I can't say if nine miles is excessive or not. Is your dealership off a highway? Is the tech's only option to drive that highway which might explain the mile discrepancy. In know had I been you, I would have requested to be in the passenger seat during that test drive.

Thanks for reading. Just my thoughts!

DWP

SWing · 4th April 2002, 20:52

Jason: Maybe itz time to write to BMWNA to get that system installed in out M5s..hehe..j/k and I'm guessing they prob. did some highway driving

Louv, Dave: Yeah...I understand what you guys meant. I'm totally fine with the miles...It prob. just that I do not know what they had done in those 9 miles..whether they over-rev it before the engine warms up properly etc...but then again maybe I'm paranoid..hehe...before, I never checked the miles on my car and I trusted the dealership, but after so many horror stories on this board, it just give me goosebumps sometimes thinking about what COULD have happened in those 9 miles

Sugi

Diamond Dave · 4th April 2002, 20:54

That's why I recommended that your behinie should have been in that passenger seat during the test drive!

I'm sure your car is fine.

Take care!

DWP