Just picked up my car ('00 m5) from Mountain View BMW (AKA Allison BMW). Took a close look at the car and discovered that the five (5) test-driving miles put on the car incurred SERIOUS tire wear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both front and rear (stock S-03's) tires showed very aggressive wear on the tire shoulder. This can ONLY be caused by throwing the car into tight corners: tire has to "roll" a ways for that shoulder portion to wear. Having already been familiarized with their "test course" when getting the car checked out, I know that it includes some pretty tight bends.
So, for all those owners posting stories of joyriding... I fully concur!!! The test drive was done to check for the "bunny hop" symptom, NOT to throw the car around and possibly take it OFF the road. NOT only were the tires showing aggressive (i.e. coarse) wear, they were dirty as well: who knows, possible off-roading????!!!!!
In addition, the engine oil had been over-filled. Oh well, what can you expect. Apparently the dealership has more than enough business than it can handle. They NEVER return phone calls. You have to consider yourself lucky to get your car back period. They won't have to worry about my business again.
Could have been worse, one of the poor victims (errr... customers) before me had a nice 3 or 4 inch crease put in his driver's door: read "serious door ding".
Anyone know of a good privateer to service the Bimmerr at??? Also, what about parts where you don't have to go through the dealer???
Do a search for Bay Area shops. I concur in regards to the service dept. at Allison.
I personally recommed Dinan. They have a location in Mtn. View and Morgan Hill.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 00m5
Just picked up my car ('00 m5) from Mountain View BMW (AKA Allison BMW). Took a close look at the car and discovered that the five (5) test-driving miles put on the car incurred SERIOUS tire wear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both front and rear (stock S-03's) tires showed very aggressive wear on the tire shoulder. This can ONLY be caused by throwing the car into tight corners: tire has to "roll" a ways for that shoulder portion to wear. Having already been familiarized with their "test course" when getting the car checked out, I know that it includes some pretty tight bends.
So, for all those owners posting stories of joyriding... I fully concur!!! The test drive was done to check for the "bunny hop" symptom, NOT to throw the car around and possibly take it OFF the road. NOT only were the tires showing aggressive (i.e. coarse) wear, they were dirty as well: who knows, possible off-roading????!!!!!
In addition, the engine oil had been over-filled. Oh well, what can you expect. Apparently the dealership has more than enough business than it can handle. They NEVER return phone calls. You have to consider yourself lucky to get your car back period. They won't have to worry about my business again.
Could have been worse, one of the poor victims (errr... customers) before me had a nice 3 or 4 inch crease put in his driver's door: read "serious door ding".
Anyone know of a good privateer to service the Bimmerr at??? Also, what about parts where you don't have to go through the dealer???
'00m5
__________________
sgou
2000 M5 (titanium silver)
1995 540 (Dinan 5) (calypso red)
2004 Infiniti QX-56(Silver) (wife, kids, dog transporter)
2007 Audi A4 Avant Quattro (APR chipped, Silver)
May be a bit far but they do offer loaners ... Bavarian Professionals in Berkeley (www.bavpros.com). Ask for Nat. They service my E34 M5. I have been very satisfied with their service so far. As for parts, contact Pacific BMW (mail order dept) or BMA Parts (both located in Glendale in SoCal.) Check to see if all of these shops give the BMWCCA membership discount.
I've had my E46 serviced at Stevens Creek BMW and I only work with SA Patrick Minnehan - very professional, honest, and easy to work with.
My car had a 10W60 Oil sticker in the engine compartment (build date 05/00 so it may be one of those "don't put it in the Z8 engines"). The tech REMOVED the sticker!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a factory original sticker!!! I have never, ever seen something so stupid by any dealership. Even if they (the dealer) insist that the car take 5W30 (that's what the tech put in), they have no absolutely no right in removing the sticker. It even LOWERS the resale value of the car. Anybody with attention to detail will notice the sticker missing.
'00m5
p.s. thanks for the responses. I'll be checking out the alternatives.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 00m5
Just picked up my car ('00 m5) from Mountain View BMW (AKA Allison BMW). Took a close look at the car and discovered that the five (5) test-driving miles put on the car incurred SERIOUS tire wear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both front and rear (stock S-03's) tires showed very aggressive wear on the tire shoulder. This can ONLY be caused by throwing the car into tight corners: tire has to "roll" a ways for that shoulder portion to wear. Having already been familiarized with their "test course" when getting the car checked out, I know that it includes some pretty tight bends.
So, for all those owners posting stories of joyriding... I fully concur!!! The test drive was done to check for the "bunny hop" symptom, NOT to throw the car around and possibly take it OFF the road. NOT only were the tires showing aggressive (i.e. coarse) wear, they were dirty as well: who knows, possible off-roading????!!!!!
In addition, the engine oil had been over-filled. Oh well, what can you expect. Apparently the dealership has more than enough business than it can handle. They NEVER return phone calls. You have to consider yourself lucky to get your car back period. They won't have to worry about my business again.
Could have been worse, one of the poor victims (errr... customers) before me had a nice 3 or 4 inch crease put in his driver's door: read "serious door ding".
Anyone know of a good privateer to service the Bimmerr at??? Also, what about parts where you don't have to go through the dealer???
To their credit, the service manager at Mountain View set up a lunchtime appointment so I could take the car back and have the oil changed "back to" 10W60. They also re-affixed the original sticker in the right place. They even got the oil level dead on. Clearly another tech in charge. No discussion of the joyride as that falls under the "neither here nor there" category. There is never any absolute proof of joyriding unless you put a special box in the car which measures lateral G's, top RPM, yada, yada. They do that in Ferrari rentals and the like.
So, the Mountain View Service Manager gets top marks in the dealer category.
'00m5
Quote:
Originally Posted by stever
i had reasonable luck with warranty issues at SF BMW (Dinan dealer), otherwise continue to use Dinan as i have for the past 20 odd years.
The test drive was done to check for the "bunny hop" symptom, NOT to throw the car around and possibly take it OFF the road. NOT only were the tires showing aggressive (i.e. coarse) wear, they were dirty as well: who knows, possible off-roading????!!!!!
I have never, ever seen something so stupid by any dealership. Even if they (the dealer) insist that the car take 5W30 (that's what the tech put in), they have no absolutely no right in removing the sticker. It even LOWERS the resale value of the car. Anybody with attention to detail will notice the sticker missing. 
Clearly another tech in charge. No discussion of the joyride as that falls under the "neither here nor there" category. There is never any absolute proof of joyriding unless you put a special box in the car which measures lateral G's, top RPM, yada, yada. They do that in Ferrari rentals and the like. 
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