Zoso
04-02-2002, 04:09 AM
Thought I may as well pass on my experiences with the BMW dealers I have visited here in Massachusetts.
1) I bought my used M3 from Chambers Motor Cars in Somerville. Horrible. Granted that this one is a Porche, Mercedes, Saab dealer they did work on my rims. Getting anything done with them was like pulling teeth. It took me a long time to get their records on the car from them. It took even longer (many months and countless calls) to get my spare key and floor mats from them as I was promised when I purchased the car. I've never been to Herb Chambers BMW, but I have vowed never to go to any of that chain again.
2) Foreign Motors West. I have had positive experiences with Foreign Motors West with the exception on a mark on my front end which I believe was gotten there when I had the car there for service... but I can't prove it as I didn't see it the moment I picked it up. The service has been exactly what I've been wanting in a dealer and they have been helpful with everything I've brought to them. They also support the local chapter of the BMWCCA and I went to a couple of events there where I had my car on the lift and a technicial answered questions.
3) Wagner BMW in Boylston. I would not go to this dealer again for service. I now live closest to Wagner and I brought my M3 in to get the rear shock mounts replaced and a roundel for the center of the rims replaced. Those damn things always fall off on me... I've lost 3 already. Foreign Motors West replaced the first two without incident. Wagner told me that it was not covered under warranty and were surprised to hear that FMW had replaced them before. I had to call FMW to confirm they are covered and went back to Wagner where they reluctantly put a new roundel on the rim. As for the rear shock mounts, when I went to pick the car up the trunk liner was torn up. I mean slashed near the shock towers. They told me that it was like that but I find it funny that I never noticed this in the two years I've owned the car. They said that the previous owner of the car must have done it with a shock tower brace. Very possible, but couldn't they at least put it back the way they found it? They went on to give me a hard time about replacing the rear shock mounts under warranty because it was obvious to them that the previous owner must have messed them up because, according to them, the rear shock mounts RARELY EVER fail in E36s. Sure. The nail in the coffin was that when I got my car back it had something like 40 additional miles on it with the drivers seat low rided back and a straw wrapper in the passenger seat. Great... so some techie was joy riding - no doubt testing to see if the rear shock mounts were in fact making the rattling in the back like I told them.
So.. of all three that I've had experiences with, Foreign Motors West has been by far the best and I will continue to bring my car to them and would buy from them in the future.
1) I bought my used M3 from Chambers Motor Cars in Somerville. Horrible. Granted that this one is a Porche, Mercedes, Saab dealer they did work on my rims. Getting anything done with them was like pulling teeth. It took me a long time to get their records on the car from them. It took even longer (many months and countless calls) to get my spare key and floor mats from them as I was promised when I purchased the car. I've never been to Herb Chambers BMW, but I have vowed never to go to any of that chain again.
2) Foreign Motors West. I have had positive experiences with Foreign Motors West with the exception on a mark on my front end which I believe was gotten there when I had the car there for service... but I can't prove it as I didn't see it the moment I picked it up. The service has been exactly what I've been wanting in a dealer and they have been helpful with everything I've brought to them. They also support the local chapter of the BMWCCA and I went to a couple of events there where I had my car on the lift and a technicial answered questions.
3) Wagner BMW in Boylston. I would not go to this dealer again for service. I now live closest to Wagner and I brought my M3 in to get the rear shock mounts replaced and a roundel for the center of the rims replaced. Those damn things always fall off on me... I've lost 3 already. Foreign Motors West replaced the first two without incident. Wagner told me that it was not covered under warranty and were surprised to hear that FMW had replaced them before. I had to call FMW to confirm they are covered and went back to Wagner where they reluctantly put a new roundel on the rim. As for the rear shock mounts, when I went to pick the car up the trunk liner was torn up. I mean slashed near the shock towers. They told me that it was like that but I find it funny that I never noticed this in the two years I've owned the car. They said that the previous owner of the car must have done it with a shock tower brace. Very possible, but couldn't they at least put it back the way they found it? They went on to give me a hard time about replacing the rear shock mounts under warranty because it was obvious to them that the previous owner must have messed them up because, according to them, the rear shock mounts RARELY EVER fail in E36s. Sure. The nail in the coffin was that when I got my car back it had something like 40 additional miles on it with the drivers seat low rided back and a straw wrapper in the passenger seat. Great... so some techie was joy riding - no doubt testing to see if the rear shock mounts were in fact making the rattling in the back like I told them.
So.. of all three that I've had experiences with, Foreign Motors West has been by far the best and I will continue to bring my car to them and would buy from them in the future.