[lifeofjono]

Took my car in today for diagnostic on possible flywheel replacement. Despite chasing up with, receiving a text and email saying they will call me shortly, I've had bugger all update and now i ring and the receptionist tells me the departments closed and theres no-one who can help or update me, so i'm left vehicle-less and with no idea whats going on with my car?

which is a joke considering they are charging me £100 for this pleasure.

absolutely livid, i wouldn't have been mad if they needed to keep the vehicle in as they did say when they took it in if parts need replacing they might have to but thats IF they actually bothered to tell me but NO sweet fa from them.

I'm in two minds whether to complain incase they try shaft me for the price.

thoughts?

might wait till they give me what my options are then complain

[pmmcbl]

I complain all the time, becoming a pro now. It helps getting things sorted and some take advantage since most people don't moan.
I would say if they are not keen on the work to stop and you will take the car to another dealer, also you will complain with BMW UK.

[AlanYoro35i]

Be ready to be rape... friend got charge 800 for a NOX sensor replacement despite alot of cars get that fault!

[lifeofjono]

I have the bmw warranty on it flywheel covered but clutch not so hoping my sphincter will at least get a lubing first.

[Jeff123]

Go to an Indy for the repairs that are not covered by your warranty. You will get an ex-BMW technician for £50 per hour, as opposed to a 21 year old trainee at £150 per hour at the dealer.

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by Jeff123

Go to an Indy for the repairs that are not covered by your warranty. You will get an ex-BMW technician for £50 per hour, as opposed to a 21 year old trainee at £150 per hour at the dealer.

The trained second master tech only make's £6 out of that !

[mr_mason]

Document everything. Times of calls, names of who spoken to, write down all promises. Gather as much info as possible and start kicking up a fuss now.

If you have a bucket load of examples of times you have been let down it can work wonders.

[lifeofjono]

Generally I would go to an indy but if they are going to be pulling the car apart to put in a new flywheel, it will likely work out cheaper to have them fit the new clutch at the same time as the labour cost will be already be covered under the warranty so will only have to pay for a clutch.

i have the persons card, dropped the car at 9, got a text at 11 saying car will be worked on shortly and will be in contact, had to email her my service logbook which i did when i got home at 2 and she responded saying thanks and she will call later, rung at 5 and receptionist transferred me to no answer so took my details and said she'd get her to call me back, rang at 6 to be told the dept closed and to call back tomorrow, started kicking up a fuss and she just played ignorant stating shes only a receptionist and can only take messages, i asked to speak to someone in charge and she stated its only her and the sales team and no one could help, actually that was on the the second call on the first one she put me through to some guy who thought i was someone else and when i said im chasing whats going on with my car his response was oh ok hold on a minute *hungs up on me*

theres a store in bromley that i much prefer and seems to be run by people who know what they were doing but its further away for me to get back without a car, i only booked here in a moment of weakness when i thought just maybe they aren't as shit as everyone says they are and will be quicker to get home.

all im thinking is..

[The0pportunist]

Completely agree, BMW Cooper Croydon is the worst dealer. Like you i was kept in the dark when my fuel pressure sensor was getting changed. What they do is take customer cars home, i hope you noted the mileage?

They got caught out with me...

My car was spotted by a colleague with a smartly dressed male dropping a 'blonde bombshell' to the train station. I WAS FURIOUS. What i did was called them to ask the rules on driving customer cars AND to email me the answer in writing. Coincidence was the service manager i was speaking to was also the same chap who was driving my car that morning without my permission. He gave me bullshit answer about they hook it up to diagnostic while the car is driven & that a passenger may have been in the car to hold the machine. TOTAL BOLLOCKS, i dont mind a proper technician testing my car. However a smartly dressed chap who is effectively customer service dropping of his misses to the train station in my car!?!? HELL NO.

Anyway, i was gearing up for a formal complaint and the service manager knew this, he randomly calls me and says he's managed to waive my £250 excess. Not sure if the garage took to the hit or if he convinced warranty people to waive the charges but this was good enough for me. I will however NEVER go there again.

Soper Lincoln BMW, however. The best BMW garage i been to, i would drive the 100+ miles just to take it to them.

[lifeofjono]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

Completely agree, BMW Cooper Croydon is the worst dealer. Like you i was kept in the dark when my fuel pressure sensor was getting changed. What they do is take customer cars home, i hope you noted the mileage?

They got caught out with me...

My car was spotted by a colleague with a smartly dressed male dropping a 'blonde bombshell' to the train station. I WAS FURIOUS. What i did was called them to ask the rules on driving customer cars AND to email me the answer in writing. Coincidence was the service manager i was speaking to was also the same chap who was driving my car that morning without my permission. He gave me bullshit answer about they hook it up to diagnostic while the car is driven & that a passenger may have been in the car to hold the machine. TOTAL BOLLOCKS, i dont mind a proper technician testing my car. However a smartly dressed chap who is effectively customer service dropping of his misses to the train station in my car!?!? HELL NO.

Anyway, i was gearing up for a formal complaint and the service manager knew this, he randomly calls me and says he's managed to waive my £250 excess. Not sure if the garage took to the hit or if he convinced warranty people to waive the charges but this was good enough for me. I will however NEVER go there again.

Soper Lincoln BMW, however. The best BMW garage i been to, i would drive the 100+ miles just to take it to them.

didn't note exact mileage, will do for future ref. Was gonna say mines only a humble old 2006 e90 pre-lci 320i, out of all the cars they got there i wouldn't imagine mine would be first choice but then i notice yours is an 08' pre so not far off (nice colour btw)

i put a massive sign on the dash saying 'do not wash' as well as last time they had it putting in new bumper and bonnet after a crash (terrible paint job too) they put several scratches on other parts of the body which i couldn't prove but i know my car and what was on it. my only guess was an over zealous jr tech with da polisher. When the master tech was looking at my car as he mentioned my car looked new (i like to keep it clean and waxed) i mentioned this and he said they've recently changed contracts with the cleaners as they weren't good.

Hopefully they'll think the owners particular and decide against doing anything like they did to you.

[lifeofjono]

update:

just had a call from them today stating they had a temp last night and that she didn't receive any messages, still should have called me though, surely thats the basic level of service?

anyway they've just told me they believe its the gearbox and need my authorisation to take it out at £495 which will be charged to the warranty if it is.
I'm still under the impression its the flywheel as never had any issues with actual gear changes.

and the car makes the noise while in neutral and bringing up the clutch so surely can't be the gearbox, rung up and asked to speak to the tech to get some clarification and she said hes got it on the ramp atm and he's adamant its coming from the gear box?



gonna start applying the lube now ready for the shafting.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by lifeofjono

update:

just had a call from them today stating they had a temp last night and that she didn't receive any messages, still should have called me though, surely thats the basic level of service?

anyway they've just told me they believe its the gearbox and need my authorisation to take it out at £495 which will be charged to the warranty if it is.
I'm still under the impression its the flywheel as never had any issues with actual gear changes.

and the car makes the noise while in neutral and bringing up the clutch so surely can't be the gearbox, rung up and asked to speak to the tech to get some clarification and she said hes got it on the ramp atm and he's adamant its coming from the gear box?



gonna start applying the lube now ready for the shafting.

And if its not?

You shouldn't be paying for their wrongful diagnosis. Clutch up in neutral, sounds like the many clutch issues that most people get.

Ask to get the Senior tech opinion. Having had the misery of dealing with BMW garages, I can vouch for that fact that at times they have no f**king idea what they are talking about.

[lifeofjono]

Thats what i was saying but she was saying he was adamant its the gear box,

I still believe its the fly wheel, its makes this short ruddering sound when i put the clutch down which i believe is the failed springs in the flywheel juddering trying to stabilise itself, also makes a sound if you put in neutral and bring up the clutch.

i've not had any issues changing gears or anything?

can someone more technically minded than me reaffirm my thinking before i ring them again, they said they'd call me back at 12.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by lifeofjono

Thats what i was saying but she was saying he was adamant its the gear box,

I still believe its the fly wheel, its makes this short ruddering sound when i put the clutch down which i believe is the failed springs in the flywheel juddering trying to stabilise itself, also makes a sound if you put in neutral and bring up the clutch.

i've not had any issues changing gears or anything?

can someone more technically minded than me reaffirm my thinking before i ring them again, they said they'd call me back at 12.

old grey steve is probably the best authority.

Sounds like typical clutch problems to me though. A guy at work has the exact same thing on his 320d.

[lifeofjono]

they've just phoned me back and said its a gearbox failure and needs a new gearbox they are currently chasing previous service invoices for the warranty, I know im not a mechanic but im still certain its the flywheel and they are making a mountain out of molehill

never had any issues with changing gears.

[dy63]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

Completely agree, BMW Cooper Croydon is the worst dealer. Like you i was kept in the dark when my fuel pressure sensor was getting changed. What they do is take customer cars home, i hope you noted the mileage?

They got caught out with me...

My car was spotted by a colleague with a smartly dressed male dropping a 'blonde bombshell' to the train station. I WAS FURIOUS. What i did was called them to ask the rules on driving customer cars AND to email me the answer in writing. Coincidence was the service manager i was speaking to was also the same chap who was driving my car that morning without my permission. He gave me bullshit answer about they hook it up to diagnostic while the car is driven & that a passenger may have been in the car to hold the machine. TOTAL BOLLOCKS, i dont mind a proper technician testing my car. However a smartly dressed chap who is effectively customer service dropping of his misses to the train station in my car!?!? HELL NO.

Anyway, i was gearing up for a formal complaint and the service manager knew this, he randomly calls me and says he's managed to waive my £250 excess. Not sure if the garage took to the hit or if he convinced warranty people to waive the charges but this was good enough for me. I will however NEVER go there again.

Soper Lincoln BMW, however. The best BMW garage i been to, i would drive the 100+ miles just to take it to them.

lol that's messed up imagine seeing your own car out on road being used by some one when its supposed to be in garage

smartly dressed male is getting pulled out the car

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by lifeofjono

they've just phoned me back and said its a gearbox failure and needs a new gearbox they are currently chasing previous service invoices for the warranty, I know im not a mechanic but im still certain its the flywheel and they are making a mountain out of molehill

never had any issues with changing gears.

Service invoices...for what? There is no gearbox service for BMW. Everything is a lifetime fluid.

What next, sorry you can't claim on warranty because you missed a wiper blade service by 2 days.

[lifeofjono]

I guess to prove that I've had it serviced at the correct intervals. Am only missing one which is from the dealership where the previous owner bought it from serviced it them selves and logged in the book but I guess it never officially had an invoice as the dealership owned it. Bmw have chased and the dealership said they can't provide it until tomorrow? Why it takes a day to find a piece of paper I don't know.

Another day vehicleless then. If they have to order a gearbox then I doubt that will come before the weekend too so no vehicle for then too. Hoping they can provide me a loaner if that's the case.

Ah cars.

[The0pportunist]

I'm sure you aware but its great that we no longer have to service the car at dealer to maintain the warranty. Just needs to be VAT registered garage & OEM parts.

[lifeofjono]

Yup. Fortunately there's a bmw specialist right near me who does all my servicing and repairs not covered by warranty and they use oem parts. It's all the previous owners stuff they're after.

[lifeofjono]

Like previous poster said there is no gearbox service so could only be oem stuff on there. Only done 35k miles too surely gearbox should last longer than that anyway.

[oliver51090]

I would never buy from or use cooper Croydon for any service. I go to Stephen James Bromley the best BMW I've been to is dick lovett Bristol, the worst is a tie between vines Redhill and cooper Croydon.

Coopers took my last car for an MOT and it was smoking when i drove it home (never smoked in its life) took them 3 hours to MOT the car and the wash was atrocious. Always go stephen james get first quality service, and there actual service costs are flexible. Got a brake fluid change for 25 quid as opposed to 60 and a full service for 300 on my 325i