[deutschmann59]

My car died yesterday (see: "my car died" thread). Anyway, I don't know if it was a battery issue or what, but the battery wasn't holding a charge. I called BMW roadside assistance and let them know i couldn't get my car out of the garage.

They sent a roll-back and got the car started, but said it was best to have the dealer look at it. I didn't want to take any chances so they towed it up to the nearest dealer--which wasn't the dealer I bought the car from, but I didn't have a choice. This was all last night. I called the dealer after they towed it away and I let them to they should be expecting my car. They took down my info. and told me I'd be getting a call from them tomorrow (Saturday).

Well, I didn't get any call today, so I called them up a few minutes ago, but their service shop closed at 1:00. So now I won't hear anything from them until Monday morning.

1. I am without a car
2. No one offered me a loaner
3. I have no idea what is wrong with my car or when it will be fixed

I know that the car should have probably been taken to my dealer, but it had to be towed to the nearest dealer, so I didn't have a choice. That's no reason for them to blow me off like that.

So I called BMW NA to bitch about this and they're closed until Monday morning, too. Needless to say, I'm pretty pissed right now.

[LEDZEP]

I understand your frustration. Unless your dealer is significantly further, you should have that choice!

[deutschmann59]

Thanks, LEDZEP...yeah, my actual dealer is about 20 miles further

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by sharp1183

Thanks, LEDZEP...yeah, my actual dealer is about 20 miles further

So why didn't you have it transported to your dealer? It's your choice as long as it's not over 30 or so miles (or something like that).

[deutschmann59]

Originally Posted by JSpira

So why didn't you have it transported to your dealer? It's your choice as long as it's not over 30 or so miles (or something like that).

Because I didn't know how far they'd allow it to be towed. BMW roadside assistance told me where it would be towed to...I didn't have a choice. I told them that wasn't my dealer, but they said it need to go to the nearest.

[deutschmann59]

Besides, the dealer they took it to is about 25 miles away. My dealer is about 45 miles away.

[picus]

I understand the issue about towing, but you definitely should have been given a loaner. The service department is closed; what about other departments at the dealership that now has your car? I think I'd call and see about having a loaner delivered, and if I met with resistance perhaps try calling your dealership for guidance.

[CALIF65GM]

Shoot if BMW Assist tells me that it has to go to closest dealer then I'm just going to call AAA and use my AAA Premium Membership and get up to either 50 or 100 mile towing to my own dealer, if I'm in my home area. My dealer is like 45 miles away too.

It's one thing if you're away from home.

[BMW F22]

I was about 90 miles away from where I bought my car from and BMW assist approved for the car to be towed. I think you have to ask them if they can do that for you.


Anyway, sorry about your situation. BMW service does suck at times. Im waiting for the rental guy to call me back regarding the loaner. My car is in the shop cus there's something wrong with my ASsist system and it wont be ready til maybe tuesday. Needless to say, Im a little pissed since he was supposed to call first thing in the morning.

*sigh*

EDITL: just called them and the rental department fuckin closed at 12. So much for calling me first thing in the morning. GODDAMN IT I FUCKING HATE BMW SERVICES!!!!!

Sharp- I think we should go down to the our dealer and shoot them in the face!

[firstkill]

See if you can find the "trip interruption clause" for the road side assistance. Im not sure how far you are away from home tho. It has to be more than 100 miles away from home.

Try calling road side assistance to see if they can hook you up with a rental car free of charge or at a discount at least.

BMW also states that your choice of dealer ship within 50 miles. (enforcing this is tough since the towtruck is a seperate company)




~fk

[David328M-Sport]

firstly sorry to read about your problem. if we can look at your situation from an outside perspective, perhaps i could help ease your anguish.

at least your car broke down in a safe familiar territory. it could have been worse. as the non start was obviously unpredictable towing your car to your dealer may have resulted with the same result as you are in now - no car and an anxious wait till monday.

please remember that the deale has to contend with lots of repairs and services and the worst time to break down in is on the onset of the weekend.

1300 service department finish on saturday is pretty common so - and i know this is in hindsight and not made to anger you - did you not call the dealer early to explain the situation and follow up with another call or two?

the main thing is your car is ok, it will be fixed no doubt, you know where it is and you can call the dealer up first thing monday to get an answer. please do it plesantly because if you become aggressive, they may become defensive and slow the repair up.

take this time out to rest or carry out some jobs that have been waiting on the sidelines or whatever, but try not to get worked up and stressed about a situation that WILL be sorted, just a day or two later than you would have liked.

at least you are not in any life threatening situation. (i know that being without your e90 may feel like it)

all the best and please let us know what happens.

[Jay_328]

BMW Roadside Assistance reads;

"If towing is necessary, your disabled BMW will be carefully loaded onto a flat-bed truck by only an approved service provider ... so it won't be "dragged" like the more common method of towing.

"Where will you BMW go? That's up to you. The BMW Service Card guarantees you NO-DOLLAR-LIMIT towing due to a mechanical disablement to the nearest BMW Dealership, regardless of how far away that is ... But, if you'd rather take it to another shop, or even to your home, it's no problem. We'll cover you, prepaid up to $50 for the tow, or reimburse you if you choose to make your own arrangements."

Sorry to hear about your ordeal. Call BMW Assist again and see if they will work something out regarding a rental for you. Good Luck.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by David325Australia

1300 service department finish on saturday is pretty common so - and i know this is in hindsight and not made to anger you - did you not call the dealer early to explain the situation and follow up with another call or two?

I agree, definately should have called the dealer first thing this morning.

[deutschmann59]

Well, thanks for all your comments so far guys...

I think I did the best I could under the circumstances. I mean, I guess I should have thought about this when I first got the car--what happens if it needs to be towed somewhere; how will the closer dealer react when they know I didn't get the car from there? Etc, etc, etc...I would think about this, but never give it any serious consideration because I thought this would never happen. I mean, for crying out loud, I've only got the car for a year!

I agree I should have called the dealer earlier in the day, but I was busy this morning...I had things to do, too, and the dealer told me to wait for a call from them, not the other way around.

I'm still pretty pissed about the whole thing. I guess I could have had them tow the car to my actual dealer rather than the "closest" but then why should I have to pay for the tow if there's a balance? So I figured they should just take it to the nearest dealer, like the lady on the phone said to.

Well, now I know how the procedure works for next time--I hope there won't be a next time, but you never know...

[BMW F22]

^ hey man, just wanted to say that I dont think any of us was criticizing u. We were just sharing our experiences. BMW service kinda pisses me off now too so...

[deutschmann59]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

^ hey man, just wanted to say that I dont think any of us was criticizing u. We were just sharing our experiences. BMW service kinda pisses me off now too so...

No, I wasn't saying anyone was criticizing me, I guess I was just trying to sum-up exactly what was going through my mind. I'm still trying to make sense of it all, I guess

I mean, I certainly wasn't expecting any of this...I was expecting just another normal, boring weekend!

[bsjd00]

Call BMW Roadside assistance right now and have them arrange for a loaner!

This is what they are there for!

[NaTuReB0Y]

Do i have BMW roadside assist too or is that an "option" package?

[BMW F22]

^ it comes with the Premium package. BMW assist includes bluetooth so if you have BLuetooth, you have Assist.

[Nikki]

My boyfriend used to work for service at Audi and he said you can't rely on them to call you ever. It isn't just BMW, it's basically all service departments. They get a call the day before, someone writes it on a piece of paper, who knows where it ends up, and then the next day comes along they are so busy on Saturdays and the person who originally wrote down the note may not even be there the next day. I'm not giving them excuses, I'm just saying it's common and you can't rely on them to call you, just the way it is.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

^ it comes with the Premium package. BMW assist includes bluetooth so if you have BLuetooth, you have Assist.

No, nothing to do with Premium package. Roadside Assistance comes with all new BMWs for the duration of the warranty period.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Do i have BMW roadside assist too or is that an "option" package?

Yes, you do. Comes with your warranty - for 4 years also.