[cfc67]

I would avoid Harry Fairbairn in Irvine South west Scotland.

Needed EGR stat and main thermostat replaced.

Parts came to £90 and they wanted £415 all in to fit them

Thats without them running a diagnostic as well...

[un1eash]

for BMW Marshall Scunthorpe. Sale was good with decent price and things thrown in without question. Car unexpectantly broke a couple weeks later and everything was sorted asap and given a replacement car while fixed. Service manager was very helpful and explained everything well.

[Shaun69]

Would be nice to have a dealer thread that just list good dealers, I bet it wouldn't have half as many pages a this one

[Thermobaric]

Avoid Sytner High Wycombe. Don't ever let them give your car a complimentary clean. Utter shambles.

[Jason_]

Originally Posted by Thermobaric

Avoid Sytner High Wycombe. Don't ever let them give your car a complimentary clean. Utter shambles.

Care to elaborate? Did they miss a piece of fluff on the carpet or has it been washed with a Brillo pad?

[Thermobaric]

I wish it was a bit of fluff, would have saved a hell of a lot of time. Sadly it was closer to the latter but they skipped the Brillo pad and just went for a handful of gravel. To be fair, they did hold their hands up to it straight away and take full responsibility and eventually got it sorted after a bit of faffing. Not sure how much it cost them to fix but if you or I had done it, we're talking £1.5K...

[Soul_Glo]

Rybrook Warwick: I am going to take back what I have said about Rybrook Warwick. Things seemed to have changed. They took good care of my needs for all of 1 year. After that... half of my warranty claims have not been addressed under warranty as they were not considered to be a warranty issue... then we moved back to London... and my local dealer addressed those issues under warranty... the local dealer found other faults and addressed those to without me requesting them under a separate claim... may be it is an after sales support thing... the usual of how they are quick to sell you the car, may support you for a while and with age they just don't want to know... to them having to replace the valve cover on mine was not worth it... because they would have to prove the fault first.. it took me £150+ in engineers fees and reports to have that addressed... the only praise I can give them is that when I have asked them not to wash my car they have listened and the car has never been returned with more scratches then it went in with... some of their pricing is reasonable at times.. they knocked a few £10's off the differential re-grease... the customer service manager (Faye) was okay for a while and sent me a few things as an apology.. I was in fast lane service and given zero updates... the guy dealing with me had disappeared... no one knew a damn thing... and I was say there for 4 hours for what should have been a 1 hour job... so they gave me a free MOT, some £10 vouchers.. and discounted my next visit... but the same happened again in the fast lane service and I complained a second time.. there was an apology but no compensation...

Spire Ruislip: I have yet to find a dealership I can truly trust... the service advisors are either twats or the technicians are not too clued up... with Spire Ruislip (London).. the master tech is a God... and only two of the service advisors (Kerry and Tom) are amazing... the other guys are jumped up little pricks with anger issues... I had a loan car from Spire... and there was a slight chip to the wheel which was my fault... I offered to pay the £90 fee for the refurb but the guy Steve... dragged it out and embarrassed me... as if I was not going to pay.. I kept saying... let me pay and I can be on my way but we stood there for all of ten minutes with him telling me of it was my fault.. that the car would not be fit for sale as I had damaged it... and I felt furious afterwards and never returned to them... they also seemed to have made their own pricing rules up. The deals were on the BMW site for service... £189 for an oil service... but they insisted to charge £249 and informed me that they were under no obligation to follow the offers... the service lounge is also cold and uninviting but you get to listen to Steve being an absolute cockwomble to clients on the phone...

Dealerships that are not worth the time in my eyes: Berry Heathrow. Bunch of used car salesmen who are probably failed estate agents. No sense of customer service whatsoever... you could walk in to the used car showroom and they won't come to you unless you are suited and booted.. with a look in your eye of the urge to splurge. They remind me of Audi in Coventry... you could visit the parts desk in jeans and you would get ignored even if you were the guy before the one in the shirt and trousers. Berry Heathrow are full of shoite too... the guy kicked my exhaust with his foot and said to me: "Well it doesn't look like there is any blow-by." They also gave me the wrong advice to dodge a warranty claim.

Cooper Reading... they were good up until all of six months after purchasing the car and after that "everything was in spec." Whatever complaint I took to them... "it was caused by the driver..." They sounded like a bunch of cowboys. Mike (sales man) was a star but the rest of them can go bite a pylon. Yeh I said it.. that is how bad the experience there was for me. Their idea of a complimentary clean is kerbing your wheel and leaving water marks all over your car... sadly they don't always listen when you tell them to stick the 'do not wash' tag on. I evoked the Sale of Goods Act and the manager was leaving me voicemails that were abusive in tone: "Mr xxxx hello it is xxxx from Cooper Reading. Why am I getting calls from the customer service department telling me that you are evoking the Sale of Goods Act?" At the time I was shocked by his unprofessional nature but I got the new windscreen the car deserved as they had sold it with one that was so badly pitted you could hardly see when you drove in the sunlight...

Since then... I have started using genuine parts.. keeping all of my invoices and using BMW specialists... the dealerships are only good for one thing in my eyes when it comes to servicing... and that is making a warranty claim that you have rock solid evidence for that they cannot worm their way out of. Out all of these stealerships I think Spire comes out on top in terms of the Technicians experience and knowledge.. very personable guy and likes to speak to customers although they won't let him out of the bay too often... Warwick was good up unto a point... and I can conclude that no dealership is perfect... each has their good and bad and sometimes the bad just outweighs the good.

[jimborae]

Agree with you re Cooper Reading the others I have no experience of.

[Mikeyscott]

Harold Wood (Sytner) bloody awful, I want to buy a car, yet demands like it can't be viewed, deal must be complete before end of month as I need figures. Err hang on..

So arrogant that it stopped me getting a viable 335i. Only positive, idiot salesman didn't sell it, his colleagues did, so hope he's screwed for bonus

[335d Rocco]

Another Cooper Reading poor experience



I have a car which is under AUC warranty, it developed a fault with the ABS which was throwing up warning so I booked it into the dealer I bought it from, I had to wait about 10 days or so for it to go in as I required a car to keep me on the move, the weekend before it was due to go in the car developed another fault, it just started randomly losing power and having cylinder misfires, I called BMW assist out who recommended the car went into a dealer straight away, they organised it to go to Cooper BMW in Reading, they've just recently had a big flash multi story dealership built, I was sorted out a car by BMW from enterprise and after 5 days(last Friday)my car was ready, I was told the ABS fault had been rectified, a new hydro unit fitted and the misfire and powerloss had been sorted with a software update, I know very little about cars but I was surprised that a software update would have sorted the problem.

Fast forward to yesterday and the car loses power and misfires again, I called the person who I had been dealing with at Cooper Reading to try and find out if they would take care of this problem as it was them that had just carried out the work or would I need to call BMW assist out again, after 3 hours and 3 calls to the dealer I never heard anything from cooper and at this moment still haven't, I called the dealer I bought the car from and who it had been booked in with for the ABS problem and they were reluctant to look at the car due to the work having been carried out by Cooper, so it was back to BMW assist who came out and done the usual checks and came back to me to say the original problem was still present and they can't understand why Cooper had not done what was required to fix it, they took my car there and then to a dealer and sorted me out a hire car, a 65plate X5.

I've heard bad things on here about Cooper BMW in Croydon, seem they aren't much better in Reading either, can safely say they won't be seeing my car anymore.......on the flip side though, BMW assist have been top notch, they couldn't have done more for me and have been very apologetic about the car not being fixed correctly in the 1st place

[Diesel Junior]

This is a very interesting thread, what i would say is that the service i got from Cooper in Sunderland was very good. I got a fair price and was treated well by Gary and the staff there, no problems at all. Berry in Heathrow are the complete polar opposite tho. I was after a 320d SE preferably with sat nav and Berry had exactly what i wanted. E mails were ignored. Promised call backs were never kept until they called me....as i was pulling out of Cooper in Sunderland in my new car. Complete plonkers. And don't get me started on Lloyd of Newcastle, their service department is, i will be polite, and call it appalling....

[arvelb]

Marshals Bmw Scunthorpe-Still waiting for them to ring me back from 7 months ago when they were gonna get me a demo 435d for the weekend!!!
Went elsewhere and parted with 60k on an m4

[Chappers 71]

Hiya, Arden Maidstone I'd give a 2 out of 5.
Last August I got a reduced power warning. I read the fault memory & got a P30FF. I had a good look around the engine to see if there was anything obvious & noticed oil around turbo charger bank 1 & the charge air manifold.
I phoned Arden & got it booked in.
Upon arrival I spoke with my service advisor & tried to explain what I had found, although at that point I didn't know the technical names for the area I had noticed the oil residue. The service guy didn't seem to interested & I was told the workshop would run a full diagnostic.
I was sent a txt at 11.30am to say they were awaiting an update from the workshop, when I hadn't heard anything by 5.30pm I phoned Arden & was told the problem was most likely with the boost pressure pipework & the exhaust pressure converters & the cost to rectify the problem would be £1040.
I agreed for the work to be carried out & was told my car would be ready the next day.
When I hadn't heard anything by 5pm the next day I again called Arden & spoke with my service advisor & was told the work had been carried out but had not rectified the problem & the now suspected faulty turbos.
The cost to replace both turbos was quoted at £2700.
I told them not to do anymore work & I would come & pick up my car.
Upon driving home it went into reduced power mode, so I stopped turned engine off & back on & got the car home.
That evening I had a good look at what had been done & noticed that only 4 of the boost pressure pies had been replaced, the others still had 2006 printed on them!!! The oil residue was still present around the turbo manifold clamp. The next day I took my car back to Arden & asked to see a workshop manager, only to be told there was none available, but I could speak with a technician.
I showed him the oil around the turbo & manifold & asked him to replace the clamps.
After replacing the clamps to booth turbos the car was fine & still is.
If a BMW dealer tells you you need new turbos get the clamps changed first, that may just save you the cost of replacing your turbos.

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Sytner (Coventry) - This is my nearest Dealership and when I was on the search for my 3er I went here to be greeted by a pushy salesman who didn't listen to what I wanted but just kept going on about warranty and trying to get me into a PCP deal on a car that was a belter but way over my budget (plus I wanted to purchase not lease) ended up walking away and will never go back especially as I have since owning my car heard and read how bad the service etc is there.


Cooper Colchester - I purchased my BMW AUC (after finding in the BMW AUC portal) from here nearly 12mths ago absolutely brilliant experience and couldn't find fault with them at all. Easy to deal with and got things sorted as quickly as they could from sale to a second trip down to get the front bumper resprayed to remove a parking scratch from the previous owner (the car had just come in and hadn't been fully prepped when I put a provisional deposit on as live a fair way away) All work done was first rate and again nothing was too much trouble.


Rybrook (Warwick) - This is my chosen dealership in the area in which I live and have over the last 12mths been brilliant again nothing is too much to ask - cars been in for an Inspection service, had a tarnished tailgate badge replaced under warranty, a security update down and is in for an MOT next week with a oil service soon after.

In the time I have had my 3er my mom bought a MINI from the Rybrook (Stratford) dealership and again they were faultless and brilliant even letting her take her chocolate lab fir a test drive to see if the car (clubman) was suitable in the back for her. A coupe of months after purchase she had a heater fault which was done under warranty at Rybrook (Warwick) again no problem and nothing was too much bother to them and they went out of their way to make it a good experience for her.


If you ever want a truly shocking experience own a VW with a common rust problem and try dealing with VW Uk and the Listers Dealership. It's what made me sell up and walk away and buy my 3er and I will never being going back now.

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Rybrook Warwick- Car went in yesterday for MOT perfect service as previously experienced I stayed and waited and was updated on the status of my car twice even though all staff were very busy. Car is back in again next Saturday morning for its oil, micro filter service and the fitting of a new exhaust pipe trim. Will see how they go but to date every time they have been brilliant and a breath of fresh air after all my bad experiences with VW and their local dealerships.

[Soul_Glo]

Cooper Cobham. As much use as a chocolate tea pot. Found a car. Put a hold on it. Got a call the day before to confirm I was coming in. I confirmed. Went in... Sorry sir the car has been sold. Here was me thinking the deposit secured it but in reality... Legally the deposit is not binding and is seen as a gesture of goodwill. Took my money back and walked...

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Rybrook Warwick - My car went in yesterday for its oil and micro filter service, and had the exhaust trim changed out for a direct new replacement (ordered in last Saturday when I was there having the MOT done)

Arrived at 8:30 and found the part (exhaust trim) had not come in as it was a parts apprentice who took my order but actually didn't actually place it. Was told they could get the part but car would not be ready before 3:30.

Got a call at 1pm to say it was ready arrived and picked the car had further apologies and all was good. Didn't get too on it with them as mistakes happen and it's a lesson for the apprentice and to be fair work ok with the way my day panned out in the end.

Not a full 5 out of 5 this time but in terms of general service and customer care they again were very good and I'm more than happy with them at the moment.

[Kev_G]

I cant name the dealer yet BUT

car went into bmw to see about a warranty claim for body work but the bodyshop manager went to dry the areas with a paper towel got some dirt or something caught and scratched nearly all my boot lid making it a mess. Shrugging it off as nothing is what f**ked me off so looks like ill be polishing them out asap as he wouldnt do anything about it at all. Then proceeded to tell me that I didnt have the tick sheet for the anti corrosion check so bmw may reject the claim on this. How was I suppose to know I needed it?!?!?!

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Rybrook Warwick

Car was in today for a brake fluid service (part of the service plan) as per usual much was the same a high level of service and great customer care.
The bonus was they had a 7 series demo day and even tho my car was just in for the device I was welcomed to view the demos and when my car was returned I had a demo day goody bag left in my car for me with a thermos mug and Air fresher starter pack kit which was a nice unexpected touch.

Back there next sat for a QE on my car but am leaving it with them but again I don't doubt it will be a good experience yet again.

[sparkie1984]

I hope this is ok to post here.

I bought my 116i a month or so ago from sytner in Milton Keynes. It was the sytner select used cars from the Lexus dealership.


My Mrs called in the morning to confirm the car was still available and it was.

Upon our arrival we were having a look at the vehicle and were met by a salesman who it happened was the one my Mrs spoke to. He was really nice, no pressure told us to feel free to have a look around the car and take our time. He the walked off back to the showroom.

I though this was great as there was no pressure.

Anyway we then went and asked for a test drive, we were took in whilst he ran my license, offered a seat and sorted out the bits and bobs.

Back from the test drive we had a chat and I asked if I could have a chat with my Mrs which he said, not a problem at all and he went back inside.

Once we decided to go for the car we were offered a seat, some tea and the use of his laptop for sorting out tax and insurance etc. The lady on the front desk was lovely and kept checking we were ok and did we want another drink.

My only one thing about the buying was the having to chat with the manager about gap insurance, it felt a bit like we were being pushed into it. Anyway when I said no he was fine and didn't push any further.

Bearing in mind this is a Lexus dealership and we were buying a £6500 car we were treated as well as if we were buying a Lexus. I was very impressed.


My one grip is when we took the car back a week later for its mot. As we pulled up a warning light came up on the dash to do with the oil. so I spoke to the lady who took our keys and asked if they could check it over for us, she said sure no problem.

When we picked it up I asked if they checked and she said yes it's fine, it's just saying it's due for a service. Even though it was all serviced up to date. When I got home I checked up on it and it turns out the oil was below the minimum!!!!

Was really not impressed, If I had taken her word for it I could have wrecked my engine. Also made me question the quality of the checks the car has had by Sytner.

Shame as I was very happy and confident with the car until that, now I am worried that it hasn't been checked over properly.

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Originally Posted by sparkie1984

I hope this is ok to post here.

I bought my 116i a month or so ago from sytner in Milton Keynes. It was the sytner select used cars from the Lexus dealership.


My Mrs called in the morning to confirm the car was still available and it was.

Upon our arrival we were having a look at the vehicle and were met by a salesman who it happened was the one my Mrs spoke to. He was really nice, no pressure told us to feel free to have a look around the car and take our time. He the walked off back to the showroom.

I though this was great as there was no pressure.

Anyway we then went and asked for a test drive, we were took in whilst he ran my license, offered a seat and sorted out the bits and bobs.

Back from the test drive we had a chat and I asked if I could have a chat with my Mrs which he said, not a problem at all and he went back inside.

Once we decided to go for the car we were offered a seat, some tea and the use of his laptop for sorting out tax and insurance etc. The lady on the front desk was lovely and kept checking we were ok and did we want another drink.

My only one thing about the buying was the having to chat with the manager about gap insurance, it felt a bit like we were being pushed into it. Anyway when I said no he was fine and didn't push any further.

Bearing in mind this is a Lexus dealership and we were buying a £6500 car we were treated as well as if we were buying a Lexus. I was very impressed.


My one grip is when we took the car back a week later for its mot. As we pulled up a warning light came up on the dash to do with the oil. so I spoke to the lady who took our keys and asked if they could check it over for us, she said sure no problem.

When we picked it up I asked if they checked and she said yes it's fine, it's just saying it's due for a service. Even though it was all serviced up to date. When I got home I checked up on it and it turns out the oil was below the minimum!!!!

Was really not impressed, If I had taken her word for it I could have wrecked my engine. Also made me question the quality of the checks the car has had by Sytner.

Shame as I was very happy and confident with the car until that, now I am worried that it hasn't been checked over properly.

If you have concerns take it to your nearest sytner BM dealership explain where you purchased and when say you have little confidence can they check it over based upon the fact it was purchased in one of their groups dealerships even tho it wasn't a directly linked BMW one.

[Mani59]

Originally Posted by sparkie1984

I hope this is ok to post here.

I bought my 116i a month or so ago from sytner in Milton Keynes. It was the sytner select used cars from the Lexus dealership.


My Mrs called in the morning to confirm the car was still available and it was.

Upon our arrival we were having a look at the vehicle and were met by a salesman who it happened was the one my Mrs spoke to. He was really nice, no pressure told us to feel free to have a look around the car and take our time. He the walked off back to the showroom.

I though this was great as there was no pressure.

Anyway we then went and asked for a test drive, we were took in whilst he ran my license, offered a seat and sorted out the bits and bobs.

Back from the test drive we had a chat and I asked if I could have a chat with my Mrs which he said, not a problem at all and he went back inside.

Once we decided to go for the car we were offered a seat, some tea and the use of his laptop for sorting out tax and insurance etc. The lady on the front desk was lovely and kept checking we were ok and did we want another drink.

My only one thing about the buying was the having to chat with the manager about gap insurance, it felt a bit like we were being pushed into it. Anyway when I said no he was fine and didn't push any further.

Bearing in mind this is a Lexus dealership and we were buying a £6500 car we were treated as well as if we were buying a Lexus. I was very impressed.


My one grip is when we took the car back a week later for its mot. As we pulled up a warning light came up on the dash to do with the oil. so I spoke to the lady who took our keys and asked if they could check it over for us, she said sure no problem.

When we picked it up I asked if they checked and she said yes it's fine, it's just saying it's due for a service. Even though it was all serviced up to date. When I got home I checked up on it and it turns out the oil was below the minimum!!!!

Was really not impressed, If I had taken her word for it I could have wrecked my engine. Also made me question the quality of the checks the car has had by Sytner.

Shame as I was very happy and confident with the car until that, now I am worried that it hasn't been checked over properly.

Bear in mind that Sytner Select operate independently from Sytner BMW and so the cars at Sytner Select dealerships are not checked / of the same standard to that of a BMW Approved Used Car.

Having said that, if the oil was below minimum, you should go back to the supplying dealer and ask them to rectify it. You could also ask to look at the inspection sheet as I believe that there are around 100 checks that Sytner Select do.

You could try going to your local Sytner BMW dealership but I would imagine that they would charge you for this as the car was not purchased from them. They may also bring up issues that would fail on a AUC car but Sytner Select deem this acceptable to their standards.

Hope that helps.