The X5 just got back from its second, and last, oil change during its stay with us. It took one hour -- exactly the amount of time the service guy estimated when we made the appointment. It cost us nothing, as is the way with new BMWs.
We test drove the customer lounge at Erhard BMW in Bloomfield Hills, MI and found that the chairs were not long-term supportive but the all-you-can-eat doughnut bar suited us just fine, despite a narrow selection. Curiously, BMW owners in suburban Detroit apparently really like People magazine judging by the mountain of issues in the lounge.
We also had the rear-wiper nut cover -- which our service man, Richard, took to calling "the doo-hickey" -- replaced for $6.44. It was lost in a California car-wash incident some time ago.
--Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit at 26,293 miles
plateface says:
12:30 PM, 02/19/09
What's with the sign?
"This costs more to maintain than a BMW."
joefrompa says:
12:50 PM, 02/19/09
They are trying to say it costs nothing to maintain a BMW, due to their free maintenance program.
Of course, free maintenance doesn't include tires....so the point is kinda moot :)
337 says:
12:50 PM, 02/19/09
Love the free donuts at my local Bimmer dealership. Steer clear of the free Saturday car washes if they offer them though. Can you say "please dry my car with that already used bath towel?"
fadetoblackii says:
12:52 PM, 02/19/09
placeface-
I work at a BMW dealer. The point of the sign is that on a new BMW you get free factory maintainance for the first 4 yrs/50,000 miles. Ergo, no matter what it is, it costs more to maintain than a BMW. We have one on the espresso machine in our service dept.
wobbly_ears says:
12:52 PM, 02/19/09
"This costs more to maintain than a BMW."
After the warranty expires, they'll recoup the money to pave the entire parking lot to fix a broken Bimmer.
stingray454 says:
02:11 PM, 02/19/09
Wow, only $6.44?? That might be the least expensive BMW part out there!
subytrojan says:
03:27 PM, 02/19/09
doo-hickey = wiper arm cover in BMW's electronic parts catalog
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=FE83&mospid=50043&btnr=61_2145&hg=61&fg=45
I'm guessing the MSRP for the part is less than $4.
lazyhater says:
04:02 PM, 02/19/09
Nothing is free, all maintenance cost was just added to the price of the car initially. So basically BMW collected money up front and collect interest on it and make people think they are getting free stuff!
lazyhater says:
04:07 PM, 02/19/09
Same with the doughnuts, they were factored into the price of the car somehow, they aren't free. It is only free if you don't own a BMW, just walk in there to grab the doughnuts! Everything is free at the Lexus dealer's lounge, coffee, doughnuts, soda, juices, pastries, newspaper, magazines......etc. That is why the oil change are $85 instead of $20 at Jiffy Lube, someone has to pay for all that stuff.
santiagofdz says:
04:22 PM, 02/19/09
Mmmm... forbidden doughnut
epbrown says:
07:08 PM, 02/19/09
You guys got cheated. A buddy of mine went to a suburban BMW dealership near Chicago and they had a full espresso bar with pastry next to a 12-seat surround-sound theater (playing "Iron Man" while he was there). :) From what I've heard, on Saturdays they offer free breakfasts and car washes (you don't have to have a service appointment).
Where I take my M Coupe is similar to where you guys went, but it's 10 minutes from home and they're reasonably competent (if only they'd stop washing my car, including free swirls on my black paint - grr!).
blueguydotcom says:
07:52 PM, 02/19/09
That's a bad dealer that they charged you for that. That kinda behaviour reminds me of our cruddy audi dealer.
minibro77 says:
07:28 AM, 02/20/09
You break, you buy. The part they replaced was due to an accident/incident. They were very generous for replacing the part for very little cost. That is not bad behavior.
edubya says:
08:35 AM, 02/20/09
epbrown, a BMW dealership playing Iron Man? That's like running a two-hour Audi commercial! :)
I'm aware that free maintenance isn't really free. Nor are the refreshments cited in the various comments. But consumers eat that kind of treatment up. The last time I took my Toyota to a dealer for service several years ago, I got to sit in a dirty gray room, drinking muddy water that passed for coffee, watching a tiny television tuned to some low-brow talk show. The experience made a $50 doughnut seem almost sensible.
audisport says:
12:45 PM, 02/20/09
At my Audi dealer, once you are welcomed by the kind service staff, two big dudes come over, hold you upside down, and shake all of the money out of your pockets. It's awesome!
allthingshonda says:
05:00 PM, 02/20/09
You only get car washes on Saturday. My Acura dealer details the car inside and out any time it is brought in for service.
lazyhater says:
09:04 AM, 02/22/09
audisport, you cracked me up with the 2 big dudes comments.....thank you. It is very true though!
lazyhater says:
11:04 AM, 02/22/09
audisport, actually, I forgot a friend of mine just sold his 04' Audi S4, really because of the dealer shaked a whole bunch of money out of him, that made him got rid of the car quickly.