Got $500 to spend at the dealer, what to get?

D_o_S · 08-30-2009, 06:12 AM

Ok, well the story is this (for all those that are interested)...

FYI, I am in Europe, so no Dinan, Tischer, etc.

I ordered the car back in March, and since my country is not in the EU, I had to pay in local currency. Well, the deal was that you pay at the current exchange rate, and then, once the car arrives, the difference in the exchange rate is taken into account.

BUT, here comes the problem...

Last year, all the contracts were done in the sense that the difference in exchange rate is based on the day you are given the final invoice.

However, since the Euro has been all around the place lately, BMW CZ decided to set a fixed exchange rate for the forecoming month based on the exchange rate from the previous month.

All in all, I got a contract that says that "exchange rate will be calculated based on the exchange rate at the date of final invoice delivery" (in that sense, can't give you the official wording because its in my language). Of course, the dealer says that this clause is no longer regarded, as they are using the above system.

How did I find out they screwed me over? Well, I had some extra stuff installed in my car, and I thought that it was all paid for... when about a week ago, I had a phone call "You still haven't paid us for the stuff we installed on your car!", I said "well, I figured the dealer paid for it"....

I go and investigate... I find out that the calculated price for the car was 27 Kc/1 EUR, and the price upon delivery was 27.25 Kc/1 EUR. First, I'm like fine, you acted nice and gave me a good discount... but I couldn't stand it based on one principal thing: since I ordered the car, the Euro has been going down, so I have no idea how I could have gotten a higher rate. Moreover, the dealer claims that the exchange rate is set by the Czech National Bank, which I checked, and of course, the exchange rate was quite different for my month.

So I call BMW CZ, and as them how they calculate exchange rates - the woman (help-desk operator) says that its based on the average set by the Czech national bank - and WOOHOOO - I tell her that its much different than what I got... well, I ask her for the current exchange rate, and its like 2 or 3 CZK higher than the one at this moment, according to the Czech national bank (which means you'd be loosing like $10K on a car if you ordered it under these conditions). I clearly tell her that I don't understand where they're getting their numbers from, she promises to call with an explanation the next day...

So she calls the next day, and tells me the same thing, and then says "You know, you should sort this out with your dealer" - so BMW CZ is putting their hands away from this.... oh well... not the best practice IMO.

So, I explain the situation to my dealer, say I won't sue him if they offer some sort of compensation. Yes, they owe me roundabout $5K, which I believe I could get from them if I took them to court, since their contract is poorly written.

However, the thing is, they HAD to pay some amount of money for my car, which was based on the exchange rate calculated by BMW... so it sort of seems unfair to me to ask them to pay such a high price for their "small" mistake...

I kindly informed them of the error in the contract (honestly, if they had paid everything that was installed in my car in the first place, I wouldn't be too bothered, yes, they do owe me cash, but their approach was first class and they gave me a decent discount). So, all in all, I don't want to be an asshole, and make them pay for their mistakes that happened (I believe) by accident on their behalf. We're all humans, we all make mistakes.

Spydeputy · 08-30-2009, 08:01 AM

performance package, and free oil changes every 10K miles.

you know they would stick it to you if it were the other way around.

tyler9595 · 08-30-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D_o_S

...So, all in all, I don't want to be an asshole, and make them pay for their mistakes that happened (I believe) by accident on their behalf. We're all humans, we all make mistakes.

It's nice to see the golden rule being put in practice

With that being said, don't let it keep you from negotiating what you have coming to you. Look at it this way: If you would take responsibility to make it right if it were your mistake (and I get the feeling that you would)...your dealership should be expected to do the same.

ianbiz · 08-30-2009, 10:08 AM

All Dinan parts

E92-Lighting · 08-30-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepJeep

....they owe you $5000 but you're letting it slide because they're being nice? can you please explain the situation because that doesn't even begin to make sense in any logical way.

+1 5000 to 500, lol

Perfectus · 08-30-2009, 12:43 PM

get your money...the dealer doesn't need it!

D_o_S · 08-31-2009, 04:22 AM

Any other opinions? I'm considering asking them for a set of winter wheels... I know thats more than my initial sum, but doesn't seem to be that much...

Bimmerdriver17 · 08-31-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

performance package, and free oil changes every 10K miles.

you know they would stick it to you if it were the other way around.

+1

cloakster · 08-31-2009, 05:18 PM

I know you want to be the nice guy, but you really should go for the $5k. It may not be the dealer's fault, but its not your fault either. Since its not your fault, it doesn't make sense for you to pay the $5k.

E90SLAM · 08-31-2009, 05:22 PM

Get....CASH!

Kroy · 08-31-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloakster

I know you want to be the nice guy, but you really should go for the $5k. It may not be the dealer's fault, but its not your fault either. Since its not your fault, it doesn't make sense for you to pay the $5k.

+4500

richtorr · 08-31-2009, 07:59 PM

500, get the carbon fiber trunk spoiler?

iheartsole · 08-31-2009, 08:41 PM

$500 isnt really alot t get anything. you can get after market parts though not from the dealer but from the vendors here. haha

MuchMoore · 08-31-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

you know they would stick it to you if it were the other way around.

+1

I would definitely get CASH.

slimmie · 09-01-2009, 12:29 AM

Stop being a puss and juice them for all you can.

They would do it to you if the situation were reversed. You being "nice" and letting them slide 4,500$ is drops in a bucket for them

dpwr · 09-01-2009, 12:30 AM

it's not your problem how they wrote their contract, they own you $5g's so take that, don't settle for $500....

Hecticrulerz · 09-01-2009, 01:45 AM

Ok dont ask for 500 ask for parts for your car. Im sure they'll find a way not to take hit on parts and you'll get what you want for free.

PokGuy · 09-01-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hecticrulerz

Ok dont ask for 500 ask for parts for your car. Im sure they'll find a way not to take hit on parts and you'll get what you want for free.

yeah just ask for...
black lines
grilles
mtech
bmw performance exhaust + intake
maybe a trunk spoiler and youre all set!
then get a jb3 and have fun unlike us n52s out there =[

and if they say no just try getting the bmw perfomance exhaust + intake and if they STILL say no sue the ****ing sh*t out of them ~>=[

klipseracer · 09-01-2009, 01:58 AM

Just tell them you've been eyeballing the performance package lately, and would really like to show it off to your potentially prospecting friends and would like to get the package instead. They won't say no. What could they possibly tell you? "You know, I think i'd rather take you to court and lose and spend 10 times that much on a lawyer"? Heck no. Get what is coming to you. If you took someone for 5000$ more than you should have, the golden rule is you'd want to give every penny of it back PLUS some extra for the inconvenience. Not 1/10. Oh, I owe you a 100 dollar bill for that purchase I made don't I? Well. Here is a 10. Thank you for your business! THAT is not professional. That is cheap skate. A contract is a contract for a reason. They make you sign it so they can put you in the squeezer if they can. I can guarantee there are horror stories from every stealership. They might have been 'professional' that occasion but they all have the darkside in them.

The Horsepower Freaks single turbo upgrade is 15,000 dollars? Oh. Well, here is 1,500. Cya! Thanks a lot

/professionalism

jlstyle · 09-01-2009, 06:54 AM

Get 5k cash.
Use it as your gas money for next 2 years.
Wasting money on mods you don't even know what to get is stupid. Dont rush to get it spent, get the money in a way that you can actually need it for.
People tend to use up 'easy money' very unwisely just because it was the 'easy money', pure dumbness.

E92-Lighting · 09-01-2009, 12:03 PM

spend it on aftermarket accessories

stressdoc · 09-01-2009, 12:14 PM

New car, presumably with free maintenance, so no good options there.

If it were my car I would try hard to get the Performance kit. Invoice is about $1150, and you could offer to be an "advisor" for potential customers interested in this kit.

Winter wheels is practical, but BMW dealers are usually not the best place to shop for wheels/tires.

08-30-2009, 06:12 AM	#23
D_o_S LCI'd 256 Rep 819 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	Ok, well the story is this (for all those that are interested)... FYI, I am in Europe, so no Dinan, Tischer, etc. I ordered the car back in March, and since my country is not in the EU, I had to pay in local currency. Well, the deal was that you pay at the current exchange rate, and then, once the car arrives, the difference in the exchange rate is taken into account. BUT, here comes the problem... Last year, all the contracts were done in the sense that the difference in exchange rate is based on the day you are given the final invoice. However, since the Euro has been all around the place lately, BMW CZ decided to set a fixed exchange rate for the forecoming month based on the exchange rate from the previous month. All in all, I got a contract that says that "exchange rate will be calculated based on the exchange rate at the date of final invoice delivery" (in that sense, can't give you the official wording because its in my language). Of course, the dealer says that this clause is no longer regarded, as they are using the above system. How did I find out they screwed me over? Well, I had some extra stuff installed in my car, and I thought that it was all paid for... when about a week ago, I had a phone call "You still haven't paid us for the stuff we installed on your car!", I said "well, I figured the dealer paid for it".... I go and investigate... I find out that the calculated price for the car was 27 Kc/1 EUR, and the price upon delivery was 27.25 Kc/1 EUR. First, I'm like fine, you acted nice and gave me a good discount... but I couldn't stand it based on one principal thing: since I ordered the car, the Euro has been going down, so I have no idea how I could have gotten a higher rate. Moreover, the dealer claims that the exchange rate is set by the Czech National Bank, which I checked, and of course, the exchange rate was quite different for my month. So I call BMW CZ, and as them how they calculate exchange rates - the woman (help-desk operator) says that its based on the average set by the Czech national bank - and WOOHOOO - I tell her that its much different than what I got... well, I ask her for the current exchange rate, and its like 2 or 3 CZK higher than the one at this moment, according to the Czech national bank (which means you'd be loosing like $10K on a car if you ordered it under these conditions). I clearly tell her that I don't understand where they're getting their numbers from, she promises to call with an explanation the next day... So she calls the next day, and tells me the same thing, and then says "You know, you should sort this out with your dealer" - so BMW CZ is putting their hands away from this.... oh well... not the best practice IMO. So, I explain the situation to my dealer, say I won't sue him if they offer some sort of compensation. Yes, they owe me roundabout $5K, which I believe I could get from them if I took them to court, since their contract is poorly written. However, the thing is, they HAD to pay some amount of money for my car, which was based on the exchange rate calculated by BMW... so it sort of seems unfair to me to ask them to pay such a high price for their "small" mistake... I kindly informed them of the error in the contract (honestly, if they had paid everything that was installed in my car in the first place, I wouldn't be too bothered, yes, they do owe me cash, but their approach was first class and they gave me a decent discount). So, all in all, I don't want to be an asshole, and make them pay for their mistakes that happened (I believe) by accident on their behalf. We're all humans, we all make mistakes.
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08-30-2009, 08:01 AM	#24
Spydeputy Brigadier General 205 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: 2015 F23 M235i/2008,E90,335xi Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The County, Maryland iTrader: (19) Garage List 2017 X5 M Sport Pac ... [0.00] 2015 M235i, F23 [0.00]	performance package, and free oil changes every 10K miles. you know they would stick it to you if it were the other way around.
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08-30-2009, 10:08 AM	#26
ianbiz Back in a BMW 205 Rep 5,208 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Msport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (8)	All Dinan parts __________________ Ian
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08-30-2009, 12:43 PM	#28
Perfectus Major 35 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: e92 335i/F10 528XI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NOVA/MD iTrader: (10)	get your money...the dealer doesn't need it! __________________ 2012 528XI Saphire Black Stock for now 2007 e92 335i - Monaco Blue Injen DCI w/ Cyba Scoop - M-Tech Rear - ///M3 Rear Lip Spoiler - ///M5 SMG Shift Knob & iDrive Knob - BMW Performance Hand Brake - BMWCCA Member
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08-31-2009, 04:22 AM	#29
D_o_S LCI'd 256 Rep 819 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	Any other opinions? I'm considering asking them for a set of winter wheels... I know thats more than my initial sum, but doesn't seem to be that much...
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08-31-2009, 05:18 PM	#31
cloakster Lieutenant 34 Rep 407 Posts Drives: 2012 VW GLI Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I know you want to be the nice guy, but you really should go for the $5k. It may not be the dealer's fault, but its not your fault either. Since its not your fault, it doesn't make sense for you to pay the $5k.
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08-31-2009, 05:22 PM	#32
E90SLAM Supreme Allied Commander 1963 Rep 61,781 Posts Drives: A BBS WHORE Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: . iTrader: (6) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 sDrive30i [0.00]	Get....CASH! __________________
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08-31-2009, 07:59 PM	#34
richtorr 328i/AW, Coral/prem., sport, 5 Rep 219 Posts Drives: e93 m sport Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: brooklyn, ny iTrader: (0)	500, get the carbon fiber trunk spoiler?
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08-31-2009, 08:41 PM	#35
iheartsole Brigadier General 85 Rep 4,929 Posts Drives: 08 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	$500 isnt really alot t get anything. you can get after market parts though not from the dealer but from the vendors here. haha
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09-01-2009, 12:29 AM	#37
slimmie First Lieutenant 14 Rep 345 Posts Drives: 2008 JB e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles, Koreatown iTrader: (1)	Stop being a puss and juice them for all you can. They would do it to you if the situation were reversed. You being "nice" and letting them slide 4,500$ is drops in a bucket for them
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09-01-2009, 12:30 AM	#38
dpwr Captain 36 Rep 852 Posts Drives: a good one Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	it's not your problem how they wrote their contract, they own you $5g's so take that, don't settle for $500....
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09-01-2009, 01:45 AM	#39
Hecticrulerz Commander 6 Rep 138 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nj,deptford iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Ok dont ask for 500 ask for parts for your car. Im sure they'll find a way not to take hit on parts and you'll get what you want for free. __________________
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09-01-2009, 01:58 AM	#41
klipseracer Banned 219 Rep 3,012 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i, 05 E46 330i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona iTrader: (27) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00] 2005 330i [0.00]	Just tell them you've been eyeballing the performance package lately, and would really like to show it off to your potentially prospecting friends and would like to get the package instead. They won't say no. What could they possibly tell you? "You know, I think i'd rather take you to court and lose and spend 10 times that much on a lawyer"? Heck no. Get what is coming to you. If you took someone for 5000$ more than you should have, the golden rule is you'd want to give every penny of it back PLUS some extra for the inconvenience. Not 1/10. Oh, I owe you a 100 dollar bill for that purchase I made don't I? Well. Here is a 10. Thank you for your business! THAT is not professional. That is cheap skate. A contract is a contract for a reason. They make you sign it so they can put you in the squeezer if they can. I can guarantee there are horror stories from every stealership. They might have been 'professional' that occasion but they all have the darkside in them. The Horsepower Freaks single turbo upgrade is 15,000 dollars? Oh. Well, here is 1,500. Cya! Thanks a lot /professionalism
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-01-2009, 06:54 AM	#42
jlstyle Lieutenant Colonel 355 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: Porsche Panamera Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Audi S7 [0.00] 2015 BMW X5 [0.00]	Get 5k cash. Use it as your gas money for next 2 years. Wasting money on mods you don't even know what to get is stupid. Dont rush to get it spent, get the money in a way that you can actually need it for. People tend to use up 'easy money' very unwisely just because it was the 'easy money', pure dumbness.
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09-01-2009, 12:03 PM	#43
E92-Lighting 858 Rep 35,253 Posts Drives: Next Generation LED Lighting Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walnut iTrader: (324)	spend it on aftermarket accessories
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09-01-2009, 12:14 PM	#44
stressdoc Moderator 617 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	New car, presumably with free maintenance, so no good options there. If it were my car I would try hard to get the Performance kit. Invoice is about $1150, and you could offer to be an "advisor" for potential customers interested in this kit. Winter wheels is practical, but BMW dealers are usually not the best place to shop for wheels/tires. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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