[kshapiro]

I was happy with Towson until I needed service (three times since May and now awaiting parts for trip number four). Their worst offense is communication (or lack thereof). I can seldom get anything other than voice mail, and if I do leave a message it seldom gets returned. Forget about e-mail. Billy Fotzpatrick is the only bright spot there and now he's not answering my e-mails. Parts are never in stock. That might be OK, but when you tell them a week ahead of your appointment that you need an overflow bottle...your's is leaking, and at the end of a full day with the car they say, "You need an overflow bottle. we'll order it and you can leave your car again"..well, that simply sucks. Sales were fine (of course), but service is WAY below anything I've experienced with a new car (Honda, Saturn (the best), Chevy (believe it or not), even Suzuki.
I can't believe they treat their BMW customers the same way.

[COOPERation]

I have yet to visit Towson for service, but the time is rapidly approaching.

Should I, could I, would I try another dealership? Don't know...any opinions?

[kshapiro]

Quote:

Originally posted by COOPERation
I have yet to visit Towson for service, but the time is rapidly approaching.

Should I, could I, would I try another dealership? Don't know...any opinions?

Going in for an oil change? Go for it. They'll keep the car clean, wash it for you in fact...it'll be fine. My poor experiences have revolved around lack of parts, even when they freakin' know you're coming in for a new coolant overflow bottle, poor communications, and lousy product knowledge (like most MINI dealers I guess). If you're an avid MINI2 reader you know MUCH more than the service people. You'd think they'd be reading MINI2 just to keep from looking like fools with folks like us.

[paddy]

good. I have brought my MINI twice and each time I Have needed parts to complete the service call. Both times I have scheduled the work and have made sure that the parts have been ordered and that they are there waiting for me when I arrive for the work. So far 100% on the ordered parts.

[COOPERation]

I appreciate the response on this.

paddy, what the hell was that against Notre Dame today?

[kshapiro]

Thought I bring this thread back up since it's been two months since it was around and more people have bought cars at Towson, or had service done for the first time. Me...I've been in four times in the past eight months. The technicians do good work, but I still find the service writers (advisors) aloof, unfriendly, and unwilling (or unable)to discuss technical issues or concerns. Phone calls and e-mails are not returned in anything close to a timely manner.

This past Wednesday, as I was paying for my new windshield, I noticed a charge for "environmental disposal". It wasn't that much, but it piqued my curiosity...couldn't imagine what it was for realtive to a windshield. The cashier called back to my servicew advisor of the day, Alan Wilks, who obviously didn't know he was on a speaker phone on the cashier's end. After a few moments she needed to cut him back to private as he ranted and moaned about..."What's his problem...Why....".

Anyway, it turns out they charge everybody a small fee to cover rags, disposal, cleaning fluids, etc.

[isabellamini]

I just got my mini on a wednesday and a week later someone ripped the top in front of my house.

So the following friday I go to towson to get an alarm system placed in at BMW towson.

Dewayne told me it was 650 for the alarm on thursday, but then changed it to 800. I look at the accessory book in the rental and found out that it's only $500 for the alarm.
It got me very upset that they switched on me on the last minute. I'm still upset.

What's worse is that the alarm doesn't even work. So I am livid.

The insurance guy told me this is the 6th mini that he had to make a claim.

I'm just upset because the Miller Brothers Ford that I had used (They didn't even sell me my last car) gave me better service with my dinky ford than this BMW or any other dealership.

[cookma]

I too have had NO ONE return my phone call from Towson Mini...in our final MINI sale, they were suppose to include wheel locks...I've been told two different time that they were in the mail but it's been over a month now and I still have not received the wheel locks. THEY'RE A BUNCH OF LIARS!!!!! BUY YOUR MINI ELSEWHERE - DON'T GO TO TOWSON MINI!!!!