|
|
|
08-03-2015, 09:05 AM | #23 | |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 03:01 PM | #24 |
Brigadier General
504
Rep 3,446
Posts |
I just had the battery replaced in my car. It is a bit more than 3 years old and BMW covered it under warranty. The car has very low mileage, but nobody said anything about not driving enough. They said the battery had an internal short. The car did all kinds of weird things including not letting go of the key.
__________________
See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 06:51 PM | #25 | |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 09:17 PM | #26 |
Brigadier General
504
Rep 3,446
Posts |
You should consider complaining to BMW USA. I don't see how not driving enough let's them out of the warranty.
__________________
See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 10:47 PM | #27 | |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Quote:
I got all of my money back and a letter from the local dealership saying it was a "Goodwill" gesture... No apology at all for trying to eff me over.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 11:33 PM | #28 | |
Second Lieutenant
98
Rep 233
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-04-2015, 11:53 PM | #29 | |
Disrupter
1562
Rep 2,484
Posts |
Quote:
Used to be, cars were simpler and came with warranties that covered the sort of stuff that should be warranted, and didn't cover the disposables. I preferred that era. Disposables should be fairly cheap; a new battery for $600 installed, so it can be "coded" to the vehicle, is just total horse crap, when you can buy a battery that is about as good for $100, $150 tops, anywhere in town. Designing windshield wiper inserts so that standard ones won't fit (which BMW has been doing for close to 2 decades) is also HORSE CRAP. Just because you cover the part that costs you $2 for a few years so you can charge $35 for it later (when the $5 version down the street barely won't fit, which was intentional on your part as a manufacturer) is HORSE CRAP. So this sort of situation arises because the manufacturer intentionally designs things so that the owner, barring real independence on their part, is obligated to come to you for what should be generic parts replacements. Again, anything that is free is going to have unlimited demand, and the response to that is to try to limit those who qualify for the "free stuff." This results in unhappy customers who feel they have been abused, and later on, unhappy customers who think they are being ripped off on $600 battery replacements when the $150 battery down the street should suffice. All in the name of claiming to offer the customer free parts and maintenance for 4 years. Time to rethink the design of these overly and unnecessarily complicated vehicles, and to reduce the price a bit and then eliminate the unnecessary free disposable parts as part of the warranty. If the battery replacement was something you could do reasonably anywhere for a reasonable price, because in fact batteries ARE generic, are disposable, and should not cost $600 installed, then no one would be feeling sorry for this individual who had to go buy themselves a battery for their 2 or 3 or 4 year old car; it is an expected part of car ownership. It is the "being gouged" part that irritates. |
|
Appreciate
1
|
08-05-2015, 12:24 AM | #30 | |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Quote:
Why did one of the other members here have to go to a different dealership from the original one that they went to in order to get their battery replaced under warranty and not get stuck with a $600+ bill? Why is there an apparent inconsistency in how each dealership handles warranty work? Seems that the warranty guidelines are totally subjective and up to each dealership to determine how they want to handle it.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-05-2015, 07:51 AM | #31 | |
Disrupter
1562
Rep 2,484
Posts |
Quote:
Most things like this are not black and white, unless you happen to run into a totally strait-laced, toe the line person who sees everything in absolute black and white. There is usually a happy median in there somewhere, where the mfr isn't getting cheated, the dealership isn't lying, and the customer is getting a fair deal. I have no doubt that there is variability in how the various car dealerships handle warranty claims, and given that there is more than one technician and one service writer at each dealership, there may be variation within a given dealership as well. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-05-2015, 08:37 AM | #32 | |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Quote:
What's surprising is the degree of variability: Why would one dealership claim that the battery is not covered by warranty and another say it is? And why would one dealership charge over $600 while another charges $400 for the same work? If that's not a pricing gouge, I don't know what one is.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-05-2015, 08:45 AM | #33 |
Banned
117
Rep 460
Posts |
I've never gotten less than 10 years out of the OEM battery in previous cars. If the battery fails in the BMW, I'm putting a $100 unit in and not registering anything. BTW, it is very simple to check the out the battery or the alternator with no more than a multi-meter:
The link above is for the alternator which should always be checked. A link is given to check out the battery. You'll notice these are very simple tests anyone can do. Unfortunately, when you go to a local shop to have your battery checked out, the shop will do a static test with some electronic gadget which will always indicate you need a new battery. This has been a running con for years, but I have to admit BMW has brought it to a high art form! |
Appreciate
0
|
08-05-2015, 01:32 PM | #34 | |
Captain
216
Rep 664
Posts |
This is completely false.
I respect you're statement Silenus however, some BMW dealerships just want $$$ which is completely understandable as it's a business. A few dealerships will deny you're warranty / battery issues over "bs" reasons but others will cover it, no problem. For example, i went to Crevier BMW and they denied coverage of my battery because while AAA was towing my vehicle, the tow driver left the key in the ignition while towing it for 40 minutes which drained the battery. I took it to McKenna BMW and the SA took care of me, no questions asked. Covered it 100% since my vehicle was still under the 4 year / 50,000 mile warranty. Nobody is complaining, just helping other forum members out. It's a 50/50 chance. You just have to find the right dealership and SA. -Hillstrand Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-06-2015, 04:47 PM | #36 |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
That's a very good deal... Dealership?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-19-2015, 01:44 PM | #38 | |
Brigadier General
504
Rep 3,446
Posts |
Quote:
All's fair in love and war.
__________________
See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|