[azmil]

hi,

to those in the know, my mcs was scheduled to be collected on 29th march. at present, i'm still waiting. i had an inkling that the car will be delayed when i first ordered it. i made a passing comment to my dealer about my concern but he said not to worry as they are part of bmw and not a franchise.

initially they said that the delay was the oxford plant's fault. all the march production cars are delayed. god knows how true is this. they also said that my car will take longer as i requested an aerokit and colour coded arches. apparently, from now on, all accessories such as aerokit etc. will be fitted in oxford. then the car was finally delivered but the arches were not colour coded. so much for being part of bmw the car has "supposedly" been colour coded but now waiting for the clips.

i'm in the motor trade too and i know all the bull***t being used but this takes the mickey.
i'm not saying avoid this particular dealership but if you're gonna spec the car then these guys cannot handle anything but a standard sale. oh and their technical knowledge is as broad as my 3 year old godson.

[Ezzer]

Maybe it is the attitude of the dealership on that road (sorry, lane)? I had v. bad experience with Lexus down the road there, I call it the 'London' attitude - too many people with too much money and too little time who don't really care about the nitty gritty of their car/the purchasing process.......

And those who do notices it! Went to Lexus in Croydon and it completely lived up to everything they say in the press about Lexus......

Now in Switzerland.... can't comment about BMW dealers in UK, but they are the same here as with the London attitude! sigh......

[beej]

Given the opportunity, I'd have bought my MCS from Park Lane rather than Park West [in W4 - no Park relation]

The off-site BMW repair/aftersales at Brentford appears to be staffed by people who just don't seem to care about anything MINI. Perhaps they don't like having us tacked onto their corporate-centric £100/hour BMW business.

When they wouldn't split the Aero Kit for me ("we can't do that") I went straight to Park Lane and their aftersales were happy to provide me with the parts I requested.

Swings and roundabouts in'it...

[techiedoc]

Anyone with any more experience at the Park Lane MINI?

[dietcokeplease]

I've seen a lot of adverts for sales staff over the past year for BMW/MINI Park Lane. Take that comment as your own indication.

[Shem]

I am sorry but I would have to say that my experience with Park lane Mini (Sales) and Aftersales in Battersea has been the most pleasant one I could ever hope for.
It took 24 hours from the time I walked into the dealership to drive off in my Cherished Cooper S.

The one time I have taken my Mini into Battersea Aftersales, they were helpful and friendly and offered me a lift to the station (something you just dont get with VW or Audi)

So for me at least, its SO FAR, SO GOOD with Park Lane!!! Well, it could always change - lets see when I go and pick up my car in a few days !!

[techiedoc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shem

I am sorry but I would have to say that my experience with Park lane Mini (Sales) and Aftersales in Battersea has been the most pleasant one I could ever hope for.
It took 24 hours from the time I walked into the dealership to drive off in my Cherished Cooper S.

The one time I have taken my Mini into Battersea Aftersales, they were helpful and friendly and offered me a lift to the station (something you just dont get with VW or Audi)

So for me at least, its SO FAR, SO GOOD with Park Lane!!! Well, it could always change - lets see when I go and pick up my car in a few days !!

Is the aftersales of BMW Park Lane MINI at Battersea only? Do they not have it in Mayfair?

[Joyrider]

I ordered my MCS from Park Lane back in January and am picking it up next Wednesday - So far I couldn't fault them, they've been very helpful and patient (while I kept changing my mind on what options to have) so as long as I get my car next week then I'll be very happy - much better than a lot of other dealers I've had to contend with in the past.

[miniXL]

My experience with them were exactly as described by Ezzer.

The staff have either no product knowledge or have just started with the company so you "have to forgive them - their in training!"... Or the attitude is that we are just abiding our time here with MINI until we can start selling "real cars" (read BMW's)...

Once you have placed your order and you try to contact the dealership you will only be put through to voice mail and will rarely have those calls returned.

Any e-mail instructions or special requests are ignored even if they are repeated.

Yes I know what you are thinking I should have canceled the order at this stage already. The problem was that during my initial inquiry they were claiming to be able to deliver my MINI nearly 6 weeks earlier than anyone else and over two and a half months quicker than my local dealer. This was the main reason I went with them. In the end I received the car 3 weeks earlier than my local dealer !

My car was promised on a specific date and my MA even phoned on the day before to tell me how beautiful my car was. On the collection day he phoned me just over an hour before to let me know that the car will not be ready for another week as they just took delivery of the car a couple of hours before.
Thus making it blatantly clear that the MA lied to me the day before.

When I then went to collect my MINI a week later at the new agreed time. My MINI was still not ready and had 5 items wrong, damaged or not actioned on it. These items I have had to live with for the past couple of weeks as Park Lane have either been dragging their feet, ordered the wrong replacement parts or they fitted non-BMW parts and I refused to accept them!

I have contacted Customer Services and have had some compensation it that my TLC have been given to me for free. I can not see the point however in wasting my time with having to complain to get things done that was supposed to have been sorted in the fist place. Things that I repeated, highlighted, took care to ensure that it will be executed correctly AND paid for!!!

The whole MINI experience have been water down for me a bit due to Park Lane's incompetence. Also keep in mind that the first couple of weeks are the "best" time with your car - you are starting to get to know it and showing it to all your friends. It is a bit embarrassing to keep on saying to them that this is wrong or that needs replacing. People find it strange that you accepted a car that was not "right" in the first place - not realizing of course that you have been waiting for this car for months and months and months!!!

And as far as them telling you that due to them being BMW owned they can sort things more quickly - PLEASE - just save yourself the trouble and go to a "real" dealer that will actually value your custom!