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Has anyone gotten this voided crap from someone who works for BMW NA? Like a regional service manager? BMW NA is the people you need to talk too... not some smuck in the service dept.
I use to work for a Volkswagen dealer in Washington DC area. We worked on about 150 cars per day! A big service department so say the least. You might get some SA(service advisor) to say that voided bs crap... or even a service manager... but when push comes to shove... the regional service manager from the manufacture will approve the work. They will cave in! It is simply cheaper for the car manafacture to FIX the car, then to fight it out in court! Even for stupid things that should not be covered "under warranty" or even a "good will" - the regional service manager (RSM) will approve the repairs.
I can remember a few cases where it was silly stuff that we should have had teh customer pay for... but RSM told us "just fix it"!
Case one). This guy drove his car for 48K miles. He NEVER changed his oil. It came in three quarts low on oil! And the engine only hold 4.3 quarts! The engine was ticking like you would not believe! it was low on power and in bad shape. It needed a new engine to the tune of $8K! but since the car was still under the powertrain warranty... and EVEN though two dealers had told him no proof of oil changes and no stamps in his maint book... no warranty!!! BUT.... our RSM approved the repair!
The RSM told us... even though we are correct, in that the customer did not do ANY service to the car... other than put gas into the car... VW corperate would loose money trying to fight this in the courts. SO... VW paid us to repair the car under warranty.
Case 2). We had a customer who drove the car until the timing belt broke. At that time VW called for a 60K mile change of the timing belt and rollers. The car had like 72K miles. When teh belt breaks you need a new cylinderhead and MAYBE an engine too! Pistons get damaged. Well... this car only needed a new head. It was several thousands as well. But VW ate the repair. Because.... they would have to provide experts in court... provide tests data from engines that were driven with NO maintance vs ones that got serviced. In the end... it is just cheaper for the car maker to eat the repair and call it: "Good Will".
Now sometimes after the warranty period is over... the RSM would also cover repairs. That is the good flip side. This was mostly pro-rated, but miles out of warranty and time/months. But that is the good side of the car makers.
So... I seriously doubt a dealer can void or even denie a warranty covered part.
1. Talk to the service manager. If that fails, arrange a meeting with the RSM from corperate HQ. Normally he comes once per month.
2. Read your warranty book! Go seek teh advice from a law firm that specializes in these things. Norammly a firmly worded letter to the Service dept AND to the corperate HQ - will make them shake in their boots - and cave in.
3. Stand your ground and do not buy into this "your warranty is voided BS".
Good Luck,
David
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