Ask a dealer

[BMWfan69]

I posted this in the service section and probably should have put it here. So sorry for the dual post!

I had the dealer install brand new 18" Style 182 rims on my brand new 2011 128i that I picked up last week. It cost me an extra $1,700 for the tires and wheels. Upon cleaning and close inspection of the wheels. I noticed that there are gouges right through the finish on the rims. Two wheels are particularly bad. These gouges are right on the edge. They are about 3/4" long and evenly spaced around the wheel. I am thinking that some dolt at the dealer who installed the wheels messed up during mounting. Does anyone know what the mounting setup is like for the run flats. Are there clamps or something that can gouge a wheel like that?

Anyway, I took the car in to have my CA take a look and while I was there I noticed that in addition, one of the wheels actually looks like it was dropped on it's edge and scraped along the floor. Again, hard to see if you are standing back, but these scrapes are right through the finish and are likely to corrode and peel over time. What are these guys amatures?

The dealer CA agreed that they shouldn't be there and to have them repaired, but I am starting to think that I should ask for replacements. I mean I did spend $1,700 for the wheel and tire upgrade and they f'd them up. What do you think?

Will a repair be as good as new?

Is this normal damage during mounting?

Should certain precautions be taken during mounting of RFT's to avoid this?

Should I be demanding replacement wheels? Is this unreasonable?

[BMWfan69]

Originally Posted by maxnix

Wheels should not be damaged during tire mounting! Strictly legally, you probably have to give them a chance to repair them. If that is not satisfactory, demand new wheels and compensation for having them mounted elsewhere, like at a Tire Rack recommended installer.

Thanks for the tip! I will see how they look when done and make my final decision then. It just bothers me that I paid for new wheels and now I am getting refinished wheels. If I wanted refinished wheels I could have gotten them for half the price, or most likely less. I would expect that a BMW dealer would know how to install RFT's for God's sake! They are options or standard on all of their cars. Seems to me that they had some new kid mount them and that was the problem.

[Boxtyp3]

Here's a quick one. Does the dealer waive milage penalty on leased vehicle if you will get a new one from them? Thanks in advance!

[Boxtyp3]

Originally Posted by Boxtyp3

Here's a quick one. Does the dealer waive milage penalty on leased vehicle if you will get a new one from them? Thanks in advance!

Anybody?

[UdubBadger]

they COULD but its not something they have to do

[Boxtyp3]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

they COULD but its not something they have to do

That's what I thought so too. I just love driving this car that I put 4000ish miles in just 3 months. Thanks.

[UdubBadger]

You would be better off just buying more miles 6 months before the lease is up.

[Boxtyp3]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

You would be better off just buying more miles 6 months before the lease is up.

Thanks for the advice.

[Jeffreybonelli]

Any dealers in southern California having the ultimate driving event in the next couple weeks?

[rkdiddy]

My apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place.

I live in Orange County and I have a certain configuration I'm searching for. I've contacted a few dealers out here and they have similar configurations, but not the exact car.

Is there a site I can actually search for a configuration and see what dealer has it in stock? It would be nice to find the car I want, without having to order it - plus, I figure it gives me a little more buying power.

Cheers!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by rkdiddy

My apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place.

I live in Orange County and I have a certain configuration I'm searching for. I've contacted a few dealers out here and they have similar configurations, but not the exact car.

Is there a site I can actually search for a configuration and see what dealer has it in stock? It would be nice to find the car I want, without having to order it - plus, I figure it gives me a little more buying power.

Cheers!

you really just have to go into each dealers website inventory and look that way. The only other alternative is to have a BMW CA look to see who has what. He can search for ANY car across the country that hasn't been sold. So if you want a montego blue 135 with ipod pwr seats and sports pack, he can tell you where every single one is.

[rkdiddy]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

you really just have to go into each dealers website inventory and look that way. The only other alternative is to have a BMW CA look to see who has what. He can search for ANY car across the country that hasn't been sold. So if you want a montego blue 135 with ipod pwr seats and sports pack, he can tell you where every single one is.

Great, thanks.

It has been very frustrating since a lot of the dealers websites don't list the installed options. It's like I'm Sherlock Holmes...ok what options add up to $42,035, that equals - M Sport, HK, Convenience, etc.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by rkdiddy

Great, thanks.

It has been very frustrating since a lot of the dealers websites don't list the installed options. It's like I'm Sherlock Holmes...ok what options add up to $42,035, that equals - M Sport, HK, Convenience, etc.

I agree... I had to do the same thing.

Go to BMWusa.com and do a dealer location search. Then go down the list of the first page, and open each dealers website in a new tab on your browser. Look through their inventory and close the ones that don't have at least the model/color that you want. Then check and see if they have options installed or else write down the stock # and call/email on it asking what it has. Then once you've done that for page 1 of the BMWusa search, go on to page 2 and so on... it sounds like a lot but I only was able to find about 10 cars total that were considerable to what I was looking at in about a 500 mile radius. It'll take you an hour or two but you'll have a firm grasp on what is actually out there and available.

Worst case scenario, just give the CA at your dealership the specs of what you want on the car, have him do a search for you and since you KNOW it's not out there you'll have to get something similar on the boat coming over soon or order one from scratch in which case you can tell him you want $xxxx over invoice or whatever you're comfortable paying and just use the fact that any dealership can order you this car as your leverage to get a good deal. If you're dealing with a good CA he won't put up a fight and wants to earn your business anyway.

[corbs]

Originally Posted by Boxtyp3

Here's a quick one. Does the dealer waive milage penalty on leased vehicle if you will get a new one from them? Thanks in advance!

to my knowledge probably not, im sure you may be able to get them to help you out a bit but idk i work in service..



as for the scratched wheels above from mounting tires. depends on what kind of machine they have but the ones we have here grip on the inside of the back of the wheel so no damage especially visible marks. it sounds like a few things could've happened..

a. when taking the tire off the bead he could've hit the face of the rim cuz its a flat metal piece you need to be careful when alligning it.

b. when removing the tire off wheel you use a pry bar type deal he could've been a moron and srapped it somehow but you gotta put some muscle into it.



hope all that helps

[dicker]

OC,CA CA here.

Boxtyp3 - About the mileage waiver, no they cannot waive it, if they do they're just taking money out of the deal elsewhere.

Jeff- Hi! This is Derek! Hope you're excited about your impending 135i!

RK Diddy - PM Me and I'll be able to help you out.

[madowwn]

Can a dealership in NJ provide a title and registration for another state? I currently have a 128i on order, awaiting transport from European port to my dealer in NJ, and I just accepted employment in Maryland. The vehicle will be arriving in NJ after I've already moved to Maryland and would love to have the car initially registered in MD. Any input is appreciated.

[UdubBadger]

No but all you should have to do is go register it at the MD DMV and you won't have to do any of that stuff in NJ when you get the car, you have 30 days of grace period to register and all that. I'd as your CA about temp plates though, they should be able to issue you some.


FWIW if both purchased and leased several cars from "out of state"

[carl1]

I have a128 (2 years old) with sports package. It came with shadow line trim which included black exhaust tips. My mufler was changed last weeks under warranty (it rattled since i bought the car) but the new exhaust tips in my car are now chrome. I don't like the chrome look at all. I called the dealer today and the service advisor told me that the new tips for the shadow line are now in chrome and that the exhaust was correctly replaced. Is this true? The new tips come just in chrome?


Thanks for your responses.

[UdubBadger]

well maybe on a 128 but my 135 has black glossed tips.

[carl1]

Mine (128) originally had black tips. I think the dealer made a mistake, or didn't have the right replacement tips, and is just telling me a story . But I'm not sure.

[UdubBadger]

wouldn't doubt it. Just tell him you had black tips and you expect the same thing as it had before. The tips aren't part of the muffler so he coulda even reused your old ones if he wanted to.

[madowwn]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

No but all you should have to do is go register it at the MD DMV and you won't have to do any of that stuff in NJ when you get the car, you have 30 days of grace period to register and all that. I'd as your CA about temp plates though, they should be able to issue you some.


FWIW if both purchased and leased several cars from "out of state"

FYI, my dealer will indeed title and register the vehicle for the state of Maryland. I just need a MD license by that time. This will make things much simpler for me.