Trustworthy Dealership in SoCal?

[a burrito]

I used to service at Irvine BMW all the time until I got rid of my 3 series 2 years ago. Despite their generally crappy service team, Gary Bessa did me and my family well for awhile until he left. About 4 months back I serviced my M3 at Irvine with Darko Despotovich and to put a long story short, he doesn't know what in the world he is doing. Follow up calls are not in his vocabulary and his willingness to help me out after they damaged an item inside my car has dissolved; I havent heard from him since the service. The complementary shuttle guy works harder and more precise than him..

Anyways, where are you guys servicing at? And who are your SA's?

[GOLFFRR]

if you like i can schedule you an appointment with one of our SA. We have a great staff of 4 awesome SA's just let me know.

[ES_TRADER]

DO NOT go to Crevier..fuck i went there 2 days ago...drove all the way from LA, had an appt, told them what i wanted to do, told them i would wait all day if i had to...when i arrived, they handed the wife and I cups of coffee and turned us away...saying they are 3 days backed up and wont be able to fix my issue that day.

WHY THE HELL COULDNT the SA CALL ME ahead of time to tell me that? their notes stated my issue and that i would wait...i wasted 2 hrs time in morning traffic and gas...all for nothing just to drive right back.

I made appt w/ a fellow named John Thatcher. if u do a search here many members here highly recommended him and RAVE about him but personally, i felt he was a POS SOB...Rude, gave me attitude, no smiles, didnt shake my hand or greet me by my name....fawking asshole jerkface..kinda gave me the look like WTF are u doing here with a Steve Thomas tag on the back.

I will be complaining to the service manager FOR SUUURE

[ES_TRADER]

To answer ur question OP...ive been going to Steve Thomas..same place i bot the car...they certainly took care of me on the sales side AND service side...I use WARREN MATSUI...he is awesome, honest, and straightforward. If he doesnt know the answer, he will find out and tell you. He doesnt bullshit and pretend to know if he doesnt.

I like how they took me in the shop and introduced me to the techs who actually worked on my car...awesome guys..professional, courteous, and know what they doing

Also, i like that when i leave him a message, he returns my calls that same day..Ive been at their service dept 3 times already and told them NOT to wash my car on my first visit...after that, i didnt have to mention it again..he remembered and my car came back to me serviced and dirty the second and third times...the way i wanted it. =) Warren and they guys ACUTALLY Listen and follow directions...dam Crevier washed my old 330 twice when i requested them not to and TWICE it came back to me swirled to high heaven and twice they had to pay to detail my car.



The only reason y i went to creiver that day was because i wanted them to fix a small tiny issue and my schedule didnt permit for me to make the 70mi drive out to camarillo.

[OC3]

This is a recurring theme w/ most BMW dealers, SoCal & nationwide... I know I have my share of unpleasant experiences.

Have to say, though, haven't heard complaint about Steve Thomas.

[MDrill]

call mark david at valencia bmw.
the best SA there is.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by richpuer

To answer ur question OP...ive been going to Steve Thomas..same place i bot the car...they certainly took care of me on the sales side AND service side...I use WARREN MATSUI...he is awesome, honest, and straightforward. If he doesnt know the answer, he will find out and tell you. He doesnt bullshit and pretend to know if he doesnt.

I like how they took me in the shop and introduced me to the techs who actually worked on my car...awesome guys..professional, courteous, and know what they doing

Also, i like that when i leave him a message, he returns my calls that same day..Ive been at their service dept 3 times already and told them NOT to wash my car on my first visit...after that, i didnt have to mention it again..he remembered and my car came back to me serviced and dirty the second and third times...the way i wanted it. =) Warren and they guys ACUTALLY Listen and follow directions...dam Crevier washed my old 330 twice when i requested them not to and TWICE it came back to me swirled to high heaven and twice they had to pay to detail my car.



The only reason y i went to creiver that day was because i wanted them to fix a small tiny issue and my schedule didnt permit for me to make the 70mi drive out to camarillo.

Warren has won the service of excellence award 10 years in a row and is considered by BMW as one of the top SA in the country, he is also hotrod182 on the 3 series forum if you follow that forum ,he has one of the fastest 335 ever recorded. Search him on the forums or youtube

At the end of the day there are a lot of great SA's at a lot of of the surrounding SoCal delears, i suggest pick one and create a good relationship with one of the SA's if you are not satisfied im sure you can go down the road and find another SA that will fit your needs

[a burrito]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

if you like i can schedule you an appointment with one of our SA. We have a great staff of 4 awesome SA's just let me know.

Upon seeing the replies on this thread Steve Thomas seems promising for service but it is so far away from me. I usually drop it off and get a courtesy rental to head out to work. Then I usually pick it up on the way home.

Originally Posted by richpuer

To answer ur question OP...ive been going to Steve Thomas..same place i bot the car...they certainly took care of me on the sales side AND service side...I use WARREN MATSUI...he is awesome, honest, and straightforward. If he doesnt know the answer, he will find out and tell you. He doesnt bullshit and pretend to know if he doesnt.

I like how they took me in the shop and introduced me to the techs who actually worked on my car...awesome guys..professional, courteous, and know what they doing

Also, i like that when i leave him a message, he returns my calls that same day..Ive been at their service dept 3 times already and told them NOT to wash my car on my first visit...after that, i didnt have to mention it again..he remembered and my car came back to me serviced and dirty the second and third times...the way i wanted it. =) Warren and they guys ACUTALLY Listen and follow directions...dam Crevier washed my old 330 twice when i requested them not to and TWICE it came back to me swirled to high heaven and twice they had to pay to detail my car.



The only reason y i went to creiver that day was because i wanted them to fix a small tiny issue and my schedule didnt permit for me to make the 70mi drive out to camarillo.

That sounds like what I'm looking for.. Maybe I should take a friday off and drop it off then?

Originally Posted by OC3

This is a recurring theme w/ most BMW dealers, SoCal & nationwide... I know I have my share of unpleasant experiences.

Have to say, though, haven't heard complaint about Steve Thomas.

This is why I may not buy another BMW..

Originally Posted by MDrill

call mark david at valencia bmw.
the best SA there is.

Valencia may just be do-able. I'll keep that in mind for reference, thanks.

Can anyone chime in on BMW Riverside's service, pacific BMW, or even maybe shelly bmw?

[GOLFFRR]

^^no prob i totally understand. Good luck on your search

[persian54]

Golffrr + Stbmw Ftw

[GOLFFRR]

[persian54]

Originally Posted by MDrill

call mark david at valencia bmw.
the best SA there is.

He is amazing

But the techs there aren't too mod friendly

[sensi09]

For a SA, I don't really care who I go to personally. The techs and the people actually servicing the car are the important ones, but I never get to meet them.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by MDrill

call mark david at valencia bmw.
the best SA there is.

hmmm, wish I knew about Mark David. I tried Greg Schwach & Fernando Altonaga, and both are meh...

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by persian54

He is amazing

But the techs there aren't too mod friendly

is he amazing with cars not purchased from their dealer? will he give out loaners too if u didnt buy from them?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by richpuer

is he amazing with cars not purchased from their dealer? will he give out loaners too if u didnt buy from them?

Originally Posted by OC3

hmmm, wish I knew about Mark David. I tried Greg Wach & Fernando Altonaga, and both are meh...

Well, my 335i WAS purchased from Valencia BMW so I had no problems

Best part was he went out of his way to help me get a new tire hehe

and helped fixed the scratch on my bumper

[nerweezyTA]

with my M3, Ive always gone to Shelly in Buena Park so far, both thumbs up

[JAX S50]

Riverside is not too bad, make an appt though they get busy

[Raptor251]

BMW Encinitas is super mod friendly, a Dinan dealer and they have loaner cars!

[persian54]

Originally Posted by nerweezyTA

with my M3, Ive always gone to Shelly in Buena Park so far, both thumbs up

strange consider a lot of us have problems from going there..

[rex5272]

Center BMW.

Ive seen supercharged e92/turbocharged e46s getting serviced there lol.

They do a good job, I like them

[Shamim]

Originally Posted by rex5272

Center BMW.

Ive seen supercharged e92/turbocharged e46s getting serviced there lol.

They do a good job, I like them

century is great. Take my car their and all the service workers love it. They are very friendly. Come on if you can service Gintani's vehicle, im sure they will handle everyone elses. Go to John