Left my car with the dealer for a oil service. They called me up and said that the rear control arm bushes need replacing soon.
I told them I don't think so as you only replaced them 2 months ago!
His reply was it must be the front control arm bushes on the rear suspension then.
My reply was well seen as you had the rear suspension off surely it would have been a good idea to check them all!
He said that they are only checked when a service is done.

On the way there I realised it was actually the front control arm bushes on the rear suspension they had replaced & charged me for!
They came back with, sorry the mechanics hand writing was misinterpreted and it is actually the rear break pads that will need replacing soon. I paid my bill and walked out.

Why is it so hard to find a decent garage these days, just cos I am young and drive a Bmw does not mean I am rich, I make other sacrifices to have a car like this. Pees me off. I have two Bmw garages in my area, one has been prosicuted by the police twice for fraud (using non Bmw parts but charging for them) and now the garage I thought were trust worthy are nothing more than crooks as well!

They're not all bad, but most are well versed in separating you from your money.

I worked in a service department for a while. Every car got a 15 minute 'inspection' to find everything wrong with it possible. Theory was if 10 things were wrong, we would be able to sell at least 5 of them. Of course, it's not hard to find 10 things 'not perfect' on any car over a few years old.

My job was to convince people that they had to have this stuff fixed, and what great guys we were for noticing!

You can be that the old lady on a fixed income who drove her car once a week 6 blocks HAD to fix squeaky bushings, replace rotors, exhuast that would pass inspection but had some rust on it, the rear window knob that fell off but nobody ever rode in the back.

Place was called 'All-Star Ford.' Our motto was play ball with us and we'll stick the bat up your azz!

I did not work there long. I was not a good 'salesman.'

What I don't get is if they treat everyone with respect and didn't rob them they would actually do better. Once a garage gets a reputation etc they struggle. The one that got prosecuted near me nearly went bankrupt, so they changed there name and moved premises. Now they don't rip people off and do good work, they have never been busier (min 1 month for an appointment!). My sisters boyfriend works there now and he says they are all fair and good apart from the valet boys who redline the cars around the building while they are still cold! Only reason I didn't go there was because my usual dealer was cheaper and I already trusted them. Think I will go to the other one now and make sure the valet boys don't touch my car!

beware the Microfilter ploy. And if they start out any sentence with "well BMW recommends..." put up you bullshit antennae immediately.

RobH
95 M3

I was at the dealer one time to take care my personal problem with them. I met a guy that had his car's side mirror to be replaced brand new by the dealer. He told me that he lost the back plate of the mirror and the dealer told him that the whole mirror needed to be replaced. He was so pissed and asked the dealer NOT to do it. He was charged while the job was not done. Luckily, he found the back plate and asked the dealer to reimburse. It was awhile after the dealer agreed to pay him back. B.S.