[toxicnerve]

Gents,

Is it normal to be charged for a loan car while yours is in for warranty work?

My view is surely not? There's a defect with my car that needs sorting, it is still under OEM warranty. Why should I have to pay for a loan car while the work is carried out and I am being inconvenienced.

What are the opinions of the convened masses?

[kaishang]

AFAIK the standard BMW warranty includes a loan car when your own car is being repaired.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by kaishang

AFAIK the standard BMW warranty includes a loan car when your own car is being repaired.

Does that include insurance costs etc? I'm not being charged much but it still irks me...

[giotecno]

I thought if the car has a fault and you bring it in for warranty work you shouldnt have to pay as its you who is inconvenienced on that occasion as the car is faulty, for service visits its normal for them to charge you.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by giotecno

I thought if the car has a fault and you bring it in for warranty work you shouldnt have to pay as its you who is inconvenienced on that occasion as the car is faulty, for service visits its normal for them to charge you.

Hrm, so maybe it balances out, I don't think I was charged for a loaner when mine was serviced last year???

[zltm089]

yeah! shouldn't get charged!....

another annoying thing is the " unfortunately we don't have any loan cars available atm sir and the next slot will be in 2020...."

[xenon]

They charge you for insurance generally which is fair enough. Your insurance would only cover it 3rd party.

[doughboy]

Without prior arrangment yes, but if you ask, your own insurers will provide a free cover note for fully comp on a courtesy car for a few days for no charge (7 days minimum), as long as the loan car is not a higher group than your own car. (I had to do this for a while as I'd had a ban and the dealers own insurance won't cover bans in the last 5 years)

But the dealers still tried to charge me £15, even though they used to blag it was for 'insurance' then they tried to say ohh, errr, its for 'maintenance' or 'wear and tear' or some other tripe.

Years ago I just refused to pay the loan 'charge' when they tried it on my old E90 on some warranty work.

Once you start raising your voice a little at the service desk, they usually 'go to see their manager' and then as if by magic its free.

It's poor customer relations really. Pay for a loan car for servicing (maybe), but not warranty repairs IMO.


Honda know how to do it - My missus 35 month old Civic went in for a non critical rattle investigation, 2 guys pick it up and drop off a loan car for free next day. (mind you honda give free loan cars and free collection for regular servicing too)

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by xenon

They charge you for insurance generally which is fair enough. Your insurance would only cover it 3rd party.

I get that but even when it's warranty work? The defect shouldn't have been present/been an issue...so for BMW's sins I'm still left out of pocket?

Originally Posted by doughboy

I just refused to pay it when they tried it before on my old E90 on some warranty work.

Once you start raising your voice a little at the service desk, they usually 'go to see their manager' and then its free.

It's poor customer relations really.

lol. I don't want to cause a scene but I am a little aggrieved about it.

Originally Posted by doughboy

Honda know how to do it - My missus Civic went in for a non critical rattle investigation, 2 guys pick it up and drop off a loan car for free next day. (mind you honda give free loan cars and free collection for regular servicing too)

Quite...

[catdog1121]

Thats a worry, recently gone from hyundai to BMW, my hyundai dealership gave me a loan car every single time, warranty work, service, mot everything, no hastle. Does make you wonder....

[davyk31]

I have this argument often with the dealers over warranty work, usually end up with the car insured on their policy free to me. There is no way they should charge to provide a car, perhaps insurance could be viewed differently but in general I say it should all be free. I can see the dealers point that why should they take the risk of insuring me for their car but then again if there wasn't an issue with the car they sold me then the issue would never arise.

[zedman]

They should never make you pay for a loan car, I had one for 2 weeks as BMW were unable to supply the correct parts for the car and they tried to make me pay the £15 PER DAY, thats about £180.

I told them where to stick it, after a 'discussion' with the service manager the bill was dropped and I got the first service for £50.

[zltm089]

Now this is good value from Honda!!!...free courtesy car for servicing aswell!...

[rs939]

You think thats bad a skoda dealer in wanted to charge me £25 per day for a warranty fix then the excess on any claim is....


wait for it...


£3000!!! WTF - This was because all the cars had been trashed in the past and the insurance company raise the premium on them.

Saying that Northampton BMW have just replaced my ABS sensor on the rear along with the bearing and gave me a lovely hirecar at no cost. - Excellent service

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Is it normal to be charged for a loan car while yours is in for warranty work?

I have never been charged for courtesy car or insurance, have even been given the Dealer Principle's & Service Manager's own cars on several occasions, and DP & SM have been taken home that night and picked up for work by one of their staff, just so I could have a car !!!!!!!

[charliesum]

no charge last week from my locals
BUT
insurance excess is £1000
you can remove this risk sir by paying £15 per day or part of day!
walked off and got the train for £8
not the money just the principle as I hadnt been told until the morning I arrived to drop car off / pick up loan car

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by charliesum

no charge last week from my locals
BUT
insurance excess is £1000
you can remove this risk sir by paying £15 per day or part of day!
walked off and got the train for £8
not the money just the principle as I hadnt been told until the morning I arrived to drop car off / pick up loan car

Quite. I was forewarned of cost but it's not sitting well with me.

[catdog1121]

simple vote with your feet, go somewhere else.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by catdog1121

simple vote with your feet, go somewhere else.

Hrm. Tempting but not sure any other dealer would be any more accommodating...plus the added cost of me going elsewhere would probably render the whole exercise moot.

Plus, the work has been booked in for a couple of weeks now, cancelling last minute is not my style.

Having said that, the service advisor who was supposed to call me on two separate occasions never has and I've had to get my information via other avenues.

Maybe I'm the mug in this?

[Baby Dave]

Sounds like they just don't give a shit. Unbook it then tell them why, I bet their piss poor attitude will change on the spot

[Jon D]

Utterly unacceptable and I think you should contact BMW UK.
From what I've gleaned on this forum over the past 18 months, it would appear that UK dealerships are a bit of a lottery and I'm very pleased to have the support of John Clark, Aberdeen.
Since buying my F10 last September, their service has been nothing short of exemplary. The car was in for a software update under warranty last week, which was estimated to take just a few hours, but they asked me if I'd like to have the new F12 (6 series convertible) for 24 hours whilst the work was being done - hmm tough decision there!
Of course they're trying to sell me the new car and from my time with it they're well on their way, but that's business and they do it very well.
I collected my car the next day and whilst I'd asked them not to wash it (standard procedure), they respected my wishes, but took it upon themselves to immaculately valet the interior.
As long as I have a BMW, John Clark will have my business.

[jonnydrama]

I could tell you some stories about them....Safe to say they aren't all you expect.