I am picking up my new 528i in 2 days. I was confronted with an interesting issue. They called to say the vehicle in transport sustained $400 in damage to one of the bumpers but it is repaired 100% and looks perfect. I understand that re-painting a bumper cover is easily $400...even from just a scratch.

Salesman wanted to disclose it to me so I could chose another car if I wanted. He claimed is < $1500 or so they dont even have to state it, but wanted to anyway.

Regardless, what would your feeling be on this?

I am moving forward as it is the perfect vehicle for us right now in color, options etc...and dont want to compromise if you cant tell anything happened to the car anyway.

If purchase, I would not take the car.... ask them to give you a loaner until you get another new & flawless car... no matter how good the repair is, it won't be as good as new.

If lease, I would try to get a discount.... like cash, no payments for 2 months etc. My friend got his front bumper drilled even after he repeatedly asked not to drill it. I think he got the bumper replaced for free and the lease payments were waived for the 1st 2 months.

If the damage is more than some surface damage, I would try to get even bigger discount. If they don't budge, get another car....

I ended up agreeing to get the car.

I am leasing and got them to minimal fees, bank rate on everything and $540 over invoice (invoice including maco, training...it was $950 over invoice I calculated with the bmw costs sheets)...plus they had to transport the car from another dealer 200 miles away. $600/month, 24 months, 10k miles.

If the car isnt as perfect as they say, I will walk.

zoink is wrong about the repair. Bumper cover is plastic. Easy to repaint, replace, whatever. Won't be flawless for long anyway. Good decision to take the car.

zoink is wrong about the repair. Bumper cover is plastic. Easy to repaint, replace, whatever. Won't be flawless for long anyway. Good decision to take the car.

Ditto. I see it all the time. If the dealership uses a quality body shop (or has one on-site), it should be fine. If the bumper cover was removed, prepped and painted, you (or I) would have a very hard time determining if a repair was performed. Especially on a brand new car. To pick another vehicle because the repair was substandard is one thing, but to pick another vehicle because it makes you 'feel better' is another all together. It'll be fine.

Well, I found out more. The scratches were actually very minor and only in the clearcoat. They only had to buff them out.

It looked flawless.

thx

Ditto. I see it all the time. If the dealership uses a quality body shop (or has one on-site), it should be fine. If the bumper cover was removed, prepped and painted, you (or I) would have a very hard time determining if a repair was performed. Especially on a brand new car. To pick another vehicle because the repair was substandard is one thing, but to pick another vehicle because it makes you 'feel better' is another all together. It'll be fine.

Are you opposing me saying no matter how good the repair it won't be as good as new?

Sorry if it didn't come across as I intended.

Put it this way.... even if the repair is as good as new or even better (yes, I've seen it), deep down inside, you know that the car was damaged. And it is not "new" any more, hence, my advice to OP above.

I was hit in the rear while I was stopped at a red light. A pickup truck tapped my read bumper and put a few scratches in it. The body shop was able to repaint the bumper. The cost was $464. It looks as good as new. I forgot all about it until I read this topic. I think you will forget all about it too. Besides, it's a lease.

Are you opposing me saying no matter how good the repair it won't be as good as new?

Sorry if it didn't come across as I intended.

Put it this way.... even if the repair is as good as new or even better (yes, I've seen it), deep down inside, you know that the car was damaged. And it is not "new" any more, hence, my advice to OP above.

Sort of. Just keep in mind that we're talking about a car here. Not your impression of quality or perception of quality. The repair is either sound or not. Having seen this done on countless cars in the past; only a few being sub-standard, there is probably no 'real' (or even perceptible) damage to the vehicle. If done properly (it sounds like it was), a body man or technician would never know any repair was made, particularly a superficial finish repair on a bumper cover. Were metal or structure damaged other than paint, maybe I'd be concerned. I see where you're coming from, but it's based on an emotional reaction to the scratch rather than the reality of the situation. I've been a tech for BMW for some time now and let me tell you...if you're distressed over a scratch, don't EVER walk into the shop to see your car being worked on for something significant. You might have a heart attack:D I had a woman break down when she saw her Z8 gutted for a harness problem (no interior, wiring all over the place, etc...). You would have thought she walked in on her husband during open-heart surgery. Just try to keep it in perspective. In the real world things happen and they're either dealt with properly or not and in this case it sounds like it was.

Sort of. Just keep in mind that we're talking about a car here. Not your impression of quality or perception of quality. The repair is either sound or not. Having seen this done on countless cars in the past; only a few being sub-standard, there is probably no 'real' (or even perceptible) damage to the vehicle. If done properly (it sounds like it was), a body man or technician would never know any repair was made, particularly a superficial finish repair on a bumper cover. Were metal or structure damaged other than paint, maybe I'd be concerned. I see where you're coming from, but it's based on an emotional reaction to the scratch rather than the reality of the situation. I've been a tech for BMW for some time now and let me tell you...if you're distressed over a scratch, don't EVER walk into the shop to see your car being worked on for something significant. You might have a heart attack:D I had a woman break down when she saw her Z8 gutted for a harness problem (no interior, wiring all over the place, etc...). You would have thought she walked in on her husband during open-heart surgery. Just try to keep it in perspective. In the real world things happen and they're either dealt with properly or not and in this case it sounds like it was.

Agreed... it's mostly emotional reaction as I always want to have a perfect one when buying anything new plus taking advantage the situation :devillook