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      10-01-2012, 09:50 PM   #1
abhishriv
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Bad tow service to stay away from

Just wanted to give you guys some feedback on a towing service which REALLY disappointed me today. Was on my way to work today and my car overheated suddenly on the on-ramp from HWY 401 to HWY 427. It went to the yellow engine overheated symbol to Red in 10 seconds and power was cut. I ended up stalling in a place where there is barely any shoulder.

I called the bmw road side assistance and they said they would send out a tow truck through Abrams Towing, and that I had to wait for an hour. I specified that I needed a flat bed truck since my car is lower than normal. Just over an hour passes and a truck finally comes, but its not a flat bed.. the guy comes to my window and says he cant take me since my car is too low, and that I should have specified (which i did). He calls for a flat bed and drives off, saying it would be another hour... ...

I figure my car is probably cooler by now so I try to get off the highway.. i get 1 km further up the highway until i have to shut it off again. About 45 mins have now gone by since the tow truck came, so i give Abrams a call again and ask for their update... and they tell me "its going to be another 90 mins"... At this point i'm fairly upset having spent almost 2 hours on the side of the highway. So i decided after a while to just try to get to the next exit again, and luckily i did... just got off the next exit on to a side street before the engine overheated again and i had to shut it down. (btw i know i shouldnt have kept starting my car but i just had to get off the highway). i call Abrams again and they guy says he is still about an hour away.. I got so fed up i just told him not to come anymore since i was only a couple km away from the dealership.. and his priceless response "Ya i was kinda expecting you to make your own way before i got there" ...... :S thats some great customer service. I eventually got my car to the dealership by myself... after waiting 3 hours for a tow that never came. I'd expect BMW to give these towing contracts to people who provide much better customer service.

The problem with my car turned out to be a malfunctioning water pump. which is being replaced on CPO.
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      10-01-2012, 10:13 PM   #2
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Damn... sorry to hear but glad you got off the highway safe and issue tracked down. You end up calling BMW back and let them know your experience? Cynical side of me thinks it may not make a diff but figured it doesn't hurt either.
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      10-01-2012, 10:35 PM   #3
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BMW road side assistance sux ass. My experience with them is not worse than yours but it's still frustrating especially the waiting. When my car broke down I always call two flat bed trucks. One is from BMW, one is private. I don't mind spending some money to save my time. So whoever come first, I will let him tow my car and call the other not to come. That's it.
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      10-01-2012, 10:40 PM   #4
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This is the reason why i have CAA. they have great customer service.
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      10-01-2012, 10:41 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pHo_e92 View Post
This is the reason why i have CAA. they have great customer service.
+1

OP - how many km do you have on your car?
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      10-01-2012, 11:09 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pHo_e92 View Post
This is the reason why i have CAA. they have great customer service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nemo07 View Post
+1
+2

If you use Rogers as your cell phone provider check your plan. I have free CAA through my cell phone plan with Rogers. Mind you I have a corporate account, but its worth a look.
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      10-02-2012, 07:17 AM   #7
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For those who have TD credit cards, give them a try. they have been there within 40-60 min for me in the past.
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      10-02-2012, 08:20 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nemo07 View Post
+1

OP - how many km do you have on your car?
just about to reach 108,000 km
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      10-02-2012, 08:21 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pHo_e92 View Post
This is the reason why i have CAA. they have great customer service.
yup i signed up for CAA last night itself.... while i was waiting i saw 2 CAA flatbeds drive by
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      10-02-2012, 08:44 AM   #10
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I deal with towing companies all the time through work and I really would never ever recommend Abrahams. Try KBW or another smaller company, they are much happier to have your business!
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      10-02-2012, 09:59 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by abhishriv View Post
just about to reach 108,000 km
Ivo @ Columbus said he always sees E92s water pump go around 100k. I am approaching 100k and I ordered the a water pump and thermostat. Will change them when they get in.
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      10-02-2012, 05:29 PM   #12
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Same experience with the waiting.

Drove my car 9 minutes after accident repair - limp mode, dead.

Call BMW ASSist, x-drive vehicle = send flat bed = 60-90 minute wait.

The tow company (Co-op) called back, hmmm maybe send a regular tow truck with a dolly, that should work and will save you time.

Mind you it's Feb, it's chilly, I'm parked at an apartment building off Albion.

Waited 90 minutes nonetheless.

Tow truck came, looked at the car....Nope, can't tow it, need a flat bed.

Waited 90 more minutes.

Flatbed came, the rusty front chain scratched the lower lip
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      10-03-2012, 10:12 AM   #13
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I've used BMW Assist and they sent a flat bed first time... but it's more expensive.

I recommend using Cardinal... sent a flat bed when I requested and much, much cheaper.
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      10-03-2012, 11:53 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdot328Xi View Post
For those who have TD credit cards, give them a try. they have been there within 40-60 min for me in the past.
This. TD VISA Gold Elite, iirc. The annual fee is cheaper then CAA and they subcontract to them anyways. Not to mention you get 1% cashback.

Had them tow my e30 on a flatbed when my rear hardlines burst (due to rust) and the car started pissing brake fluid. The guy took incredible care with my car to make sure nothing was torn off when going on and off the truck.
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      10-20-2012, 07:17 AM   #15
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From my understanding, BMW Roadside assistance uses whoever is closest to your location. Having had my car towed twice, both ended up being CAA flatbeds, both times I waited 2-3 hours for the tow, fortunately for me, I was not on the highway.

I have had good experience with Abrams, although they could not provide a flatbed when I called, they were the first company that managed to get someone over with a service truck to assess the issue and manged to get the siezed wheel off the car, so we didn't need a tow that time.

CAA is a better service provider for tows however.
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      10-20-2012, 09:29 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SGxi View Post
From my understanding, BMW Roadside assistance uses whoever is closest to your location. Having had my car towed twice, both ended up being CAA flatbeds, both times I waited 2-3 hours for the tow, fortunately for me, I was not on the highway.

I have had good experience with Abrams, although they could not provide a flatbed when I called, they were the first company that managed to get someone over with a service truck to assess the issue and manged to get the siezed wheel off the car, so we didn't need a tow that time.

CAA is a better service provider for tows however.
yes the their first tow truck came on time.. but it was the wrong one.. what really ticked me off was that the 2nd person they were sending would keep calling me saying hes "not too far away" but then never came.
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      10-20-2012, 10:21 AM   #17
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Same thing happened with me, flat tire and no RFT's nor spare kit... waited 3 hours.. atleast my service guy sent a flat bed without even asking, but I still had to wait 3 HOURS.. and when I made the call , he originally said it would only be 40 mins..

It was a small company ..I forget the name
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