First Service & dealer issues

Corey Voss · 3rd January 2006, 18:14

I am wondering how people's experience has been with their dealers. I was in for my 1250 mile service today, and wanted to stand the work bay behing a half cement wall whiel the tech worked on my car. The annoying service managaer came out an politely ushered me out. Is anyone else allowed the service bay while they are working on your car. I want to get a feel for other's experiences so I can get my dealer to comply.

AbruzziBoy · 3rd January 2006, 18:29

Now that I do understand. I really don't like people hovering over me while I work. Do you?

m_five · 3rd January 2006, 19:05

My experience is it all depends on the relationship you have with the service personnel & manager. The standard line is their insurance prohibits it (plus they don't want the pressure of having some anal

owner watching, in case they mess up), but I've watched from 2 feet away as they pulled the transmission from my Carrera, and walked under the car to examine a leaking RMS, for example.

Spiroman · 3rd January 2006, 19:22

A lot of the more modern dealerships have at least one wall of their service area glassed in so customers can watch their car being worked on. You might want to consider switching to one of those.

Best regards,

rodman31 · 4th January 2006, 02:47

True story. Local dealer had a gentlemen walk into the service area and tell the tech he was there to pic up his 7 series BMW. Tech gives gentlemen the keys, man drives away. Problem is, its not his car!!!!

I have been using the same dealer for 5 years and they will let me watch, this has been for maintenance repairs nothing big. Plus I like shooting the bull with the techs, gives the car a face and they maybe take better care of the car. However, I completly understand them not wanting people hovering while they work, so I usually keep it brief. "Hows she look", "what did you see", small talk and then I am out.

MPULSV6 · 4th January 2006, 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodman31

True story. Local dealer had a gentlemen walk into the service area and tell the tech he was there to pic up his 7 series BMW. Tech gives gentlemen the keys, man drives away. Problem is, its not his car!!!!

I have been using the same dealer for 5 years and they will let me watch, this has been for maintenance repairs nothing big. Plus I like shooting the bull with the techs, gives the car a face and they maybe take better care of the car. However, I completly understand them not wanting people hovering while they work, so I usually keep it brief. "Hows she look", "what did you see", small talk and then I am out.

$20 to the service writer doesn't hurt

rayt · 4th January 2006, 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodman31

True story. Local dealer had a gentlemen walk into the service area and tell the tech he was there to pic up his 7 series BMW. Tech gives gentlemen the keys, man drives away. Problem is, its not his car!!!!

I have been using the same dealer for 5 years and they will let me watch, this has been for maintenance repairs nothing big. Plus I like shooting the bull with the techs, gives the car a face and they maybe take better care of the car. However, I completly understand them not wanting people hovering while they work, so I usually keep it brief. "Hows she look", "what did you see", small talk and then I am out.

Im sure there is a story whereby a man breaks into the service dept at night, hosts a rave and then takes the car and smashes through the metal doors.. The point being - there are always exceptions ...

m_five · 4th January 2006, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodman31

True story. Local dealer had a gentlemen walk into the service area and tell the tech he was there to pic up his 7 series BMW. Tech gives gentlemen the keys, man drives away. Problem is, its not his car!!!!

I have been using the same dealer for 5 years and they will let me watch, this has been for maintenance repairs nothing big. Plus I like shooting the bull with the techs, gives the car a face and they maybe take better care of the car. However, I completly understand them not wanting people hovering while they work, so I usually keep it brief. "Hows she look", "what did you see", small talk and then I am out.

When the Porsche 996 Turbo was first released a few years ago, a guy walks into the detailing area at the largest Porsche dealer in the bay area, says to the detailer "I'm here to pick up my Turbo--there it is" and the guy gives him the keys. Turbo never recovered.

rodman31 · 4th January 2006, 18:09

This is actually a true story. The car '03 745li, was being worked on at BMW of Fairfax. They have a policy know, when you pull into the service drop off you are greeted by an SA who takes your keys and places them in a lock box, which attaches to your window. No chance it will ever happen agian, only SA and techs are allowed to handle keys. They recovered the car 4 months later in DC. Bmw of Fairfax gave the gentlemen a brand new '04 745li.