[Baker]

Well, based on the good name & reccomendation of Alan around here, I thought I'd try BMTech for my servicing.

BIG MISTAKE.

Now, do not get me wrong - Alan is brilliant. The rest of the company (well, that I've dealt with) is absolutely terrible.

Lets start off:

I was booked in - I'd advised that I would be arriving around 3:30-4:00, and that there would be a car waiting for me as a loaner. When I got there, this was not the case - in fact, I was told in quite a funny tone that I'd come in too early! They eventually found me a car.
Next - technical knowledge - I mentioned not to put any detergent in the washer bottle due to my intercooler sprayer. "Why would you spray water on your intercooler?". I put this down to lack of knowledge on the front desk, but it still worried me. They asked what time I'd be picking the car up, I told them 3:30 to 4:00.

The next day (today) I got a phone call detailing the work. They alleged that castor rod bushes on my car are destroyed and need replacing, at a cost of nearly $1000. Now, I know quite a lot about Minis - and this is not a problem I've heard of! After asking them if they could see a cause for it, they told me "This is a common problem, we see it on all of the Minis we have in here". Big mistake lying to someone who knows what they're on about! I told them not to do it (and also wipers at some crazy cost). They wanted me to know how soon I could pick it up, and were a bit huffy because I couldn't pick it up before 3!.

Went to pick the car up, and what do I see but a BMTech sticker on my back window, and one in the top corner of my windscreen. I pulled the back window one off straight away and went inside. I told them how having people put stickers on my car really annoys and upsets me, but it was laughed off "You've got big stickers on anyway!". No "very sorry we'll pull them off" or anything.

To top it off, they charged me more than I was quoted. I was quoted at $330 for the service, less 10% MINI club discount. My total invoice cost was $399.45, minus hire car fees (I'll get to that later), minus droplink fitting (I didn't have time to fit them), that comes to:

$399.45
- GST = $363.13
- Droplink fitting, hire car charges = $299.57
+ GST = $329.53

Now these prices include the MINI club discount, which means the price of $330 that I was quoted was EX GST - it is actually illegal for a company to quote an ex-GST price unless specified as it is misleading to the consumer. So I've actually paid ~$30 more than quoted.

I've since noted on the invoice a "Rad. Corrosion Inh. 200ML", and a "Petrol & Injection Clean" that I've been charged for. I was not asked if I wanted this work done.

I took the car straight down to Doncaster BMW to have a chat with my service manager there. He's also never heard of any castor rod bush problems (and after being in my car thinks its extremely unlikely they have problems), and mentioned that there was no need to do the injector clean etc at this stage in the cars life.

Now, BMTech are supposed to be cheaper than getting BMW service. I could have got BMW to service the car for the same (or slightly less) cost than going to BMTech (I am including BMTechs loan car price into this - BMW don't charge for one, so this way it is comparing Apples to Apples).

So, all in all, I've had a stressful day worrying about my car. I've paid more than I would at BMW for totally sub-par service, and given myself more stress.

To add insult to injury, while driving tonight I've noticed that my front fog lights wern't on - I've got the GBMINI Auto front fog circuit though! Yes thats right, BMTech have also turned off my auto-front-fog function, and I've had to re-program it in.

I don't think I'll ever stray from Doncaster BMW again.

Kev .

[doona]

Kev,

I had my second service at Doncaster last week... I was really happy and PK looked after me as always.

-Dan

[Baker]

Yeah, spoke with PK, he knows I won't be straying from him again as always he was a pleasure to deal with.

[Tit]

That's worse than my $500 15,000km Alto Artarmon service.....where they gave the car back to me with the hose from the Alta intake disconnected and pointing upwards at the bonnet.....lucky I checked!!!

[MiniFr34k]

Mate thats seriously dissapointing to hear.

Well atleast we can be thankful it was only $330 and a fog thing which was easily fixed, and not something else!

[Baker]

Well, it was $400, and a lot of stress .

Having troubles getting the stupid in car sticker off, its just tearing will have to get the Big Kev Goo Remover on it.

[Todd!]

Great advertisement for them I woul dhave also let them know this was going to be posted.

[TheBert]

Sorry to hear this Kev, I think I'll stay with Doncaster after this!!

[minigolf]

Sorry to hear about your experiences, and I appreciate you're frustrated, but maybe it would have been a good idea to have sat on this post for a day and to have taken an opportunity to speak to Alan before publicly venting so outwardly. I'm with you though, I hate the sticker thing, that really bugs me. Hope you're looked after better next time.

[Baker]

I really don't see the need to sit on this at all mate - I shouldn't have to try and wrangle things to be put right. The community needs to know that things like this happen. If I have to take a fall for the team, and lose any chance of them setting things right, so be it - but you all know how much I care for my car, and honestly this experience has been devistating for me.

[MiniFr34k]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baker

Well, it was $400, and a lot of stress .

Having troubles getting the stupid in car sticker off, its just tearing will have to get the Big Kev Goo Remover on it.

heat the sticker - so park ur car in the sun for a bit or pull out the hair dryer.


Also - im with liam about sitting on it for a day speaking with Alan first, but nevermind.

[Babes]

I personally dont see the point of sitting on it, they were obviously rude, tried ripping him off, lied to him and put stinking unwanted stickers on his car. To me that needs to be aired immediately, how many other unsuspecting MINI owners have they done over....sorry but it peeves me when this kind of thing happens.

[Baker]

The car had been out in the sun and was quite hot and the sticker still didn't want to come off.. I'll get it off with the goo remover.

For the record - my beef is NOT with Alan - I quite like him. My beef is with BMTech.

[MiniFr34k]

lol sounds like one sticky sticker !

[St00ge]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baker

The car had been out in the sun and was quite hot and the sticker still didn't want to come off.. I'll get it off with the goo remover.

For the record - my beef is NOT with Alan - I quite like him. My beef is with BMTech.

this is no good for me, cos i'm getting them to fit my pulley and sparks for me.

[2bob]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baker

The car had been out in the sun and was quite hot and the sticker still didn't want to come off.. I'll get it off with the goo remover.

For the record - my beef is NOT with Alan - I quite like him. My beef is with BMTech.

Seems like they are using the same glue shopping centers use when you park in the wrong spot---------pain in the a to remove -----i suggest that BMTTech should get their act together as we all talk .

[Baker]

Quote: Originally Posted by etalj

this is no good for me, cos i'm getting them to fit my pulley and sparks for me.

Personally I'd go with Doncaster - you might pay a bit more, but whats a hundred or 2 when you know you're getting quality work.

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baker

For the record - my beef is NOT with Alan - I quite like him. My beef is with BMTech.

Yeah, I realise that … and who pays Alan's wages? It was out of respect for Alan I made my previous comment.

On another forum a respected poster in a similar position to Alan almost lost his job after a scenario very similar to this. Your anger may well be justified, I'm not disputing that, but I just hope you considered your actions from Alan's perspective before teeing off with Big Bertha.

[Baker]

This has nothing to do with Alan. I didn't deal with Alan, I dealt with another member of the BMTech team.

[minigolf]

*woosh*

Forget about it.