Hi All - I’m having a weird problem with BMW generally and would appreciate some feedback.
Background: we are long-time BMW drivers. We are coming up on lease end in about a month. This is my seventh BMW. Our credit is stellar. We’re simply trying to buy or lease another vehicle - probably an X1.
For weeks, our long-time dealership did not return multiple emails. I finally contacted the general manager who said he would make things right. Then he too ignored my emails. Then there was some “fibbing” about the money factor, then we were told financing terms didn’t exist. I’ve asked them to send me details about a current lease offer. Crickets.
Throughout the process I’ve remained resolutely civil.
We tried another dealership. An even worse experience. Too many lies to recount here. Pre-inspection came back at well over 2k - for a few bumper scrapes, tiny windshield ding, and $600 for two run flats on the front. This has never happened before. The current vehicle only has 26k miles out of 30k allowed.
It seems like BMW literally isn’t interested in selling us a vehicle. I’m thinking of just writing a check and walking away from the brand, forever. Which is a lot to say, given that I’ve driven Bmers for decades.
What do y’all think is going on here? The process has been terribly time-consuming and demoralizing, to say the least.
Sounds like you need @GAngellBMW who is in your region. Alternatively you could make a trip to SoCal and work with one of our esteemed brokers or dealers down there.
That’s the way MB acted w/ me in December (and our family has been driving MBs since the 1980s).
Agree about using a broker or contacting a SoCal dealer. Century West and Crevier were super responsive and seemed pretty straightforward when I e-mailed them.
Thank you so much, Firefighter. I’m a little nervous about driving all the way to SoCal only to be backed into a corner on the lease end charges. I’m not sure what the solution is there.
Sounds like your lease vehicle is beat up so either you need to fix those issues or they’ll charge you one way or another. Either they’re charging you for it upfront or it’s coming out of the savings you could have had on your next vehicle.
The other problem is to qualify for Loyalty on your next BMW you need to have a close overlap between your current lease and your next vehicle. Otherwise I’d say see what your current vehicle is worth vs what the payoff is because then you could just sell it and avoid the lease hand back.
Alas, the vehicle is not beat up - garaged and well-cared for. No more than a few bumper scrapes - which we’ve had on vehicles we’ve turned in in the past, without a problem.
I believe BMW follows the credit card rule. If they’re bigger than that, you should plan to be charged even if you were forgiven in the past. It is what it is.
I’m sure you’ve aimed to take good care of the car but, personally, I don’t consider a car with bumper scrapes to be well kept.
BMW owners eligible for BMW Loyalty Lease/APR Credits include current and former BMW owners who have sold their BMW car/SAV vehicle within the past 12 months, regardless of financing source. Must provide proof of ownership within the past 12 months in the form of registration, insurance, vehicle title, or DCS vehicle history.
I leased a BMW for my mother here in Northern CA a few years back. We visited a local dealer and the way they spoke to my mild mannered 80 yr old mother was reprehensible.
I ended up going to BMW of San Francisco. Did all the dealing over email and made the 30 mile drive. We arrived and just signed the contract.
We feel the same way, we had 4 BMW in the pass. We always ended up going SoCal to lease another car.
Our X1 was returned back in November. Fremont BMW told us we need to replace all 4 RFT, and we only drove 25k miles.
Figure it’s a waste to buy brand new tires to return it, so we bought 4 used tires from eBay and get them installed at local tire shop, $20 per tire.
Tires + installation cost me $375, compare to what BMW wanted which was $1200.
Drove to Mountain View BMW to do inspection again + return. 0 charges!
For your windshield chip, I suggest you to go get it fix by glass shop, cost about 50~80. I don’t know how much bmw charge you on that chip, if it’s smaller than a dime, they told me no charge.
I noticed people in sales department don’t stay long… they jump around very often. So I give up on staying with only one dealership.
Bay Area got bunch of tech people who got $$$ and will throw $$$ to speed things up(they are very impatient), so dealerships here won’t bargain that much. (At least that’s what I think). North never give me a quote with base MF which in SoCal they always give me base MF without me asking.
You can always return the car first and get another from somewhere else within 3 month to avoid disposition fee.
If your norcal dealer is named after a fictional character that won’t grow up created by a scottish novelist, then I advise running away fast. I’ve had nothing but run around and ignorance from them.
Tried to make an appointment to test drive, they said, “Just come on in”. Showed up and they didn’t have the car I wanted to test. Tried to find another one, and couldn’t get any help. I was all set to pull the trigger that day too.
For what it is worth, I returned a car with maybe a 1 inch paint chip on the front and no one cared at BMW. I did have to replace a back bumper, however. They’re pretty lienient as long as the car isn’t abused. They are sticklers about tires, however.
Also, I’d handle the deal over email then say you’ll be in town for family and would like to take a look. Just don’t make it seem like you’re going down there for a car.
How many vehicles do you have in your household? The real reason here might be that you have too many vehicles being financed under your name. My friend is a physician and makes over half million dollars a year, but could not finance his sixth car (VW Jetta for his college-bound son), so he had to pay cash. I am on my fifth BMW and working on a sixth as we speak (530e deal, submitted yesterday). But it wasn’t automatically approved since I already have a 328i GT, X3 for my wife, and just got a Toyota Corolla for my retired mom. All are under my credit and while I have a good credit, this could be one that breaks the camel’s back since I am not trading in anything, but adding a vehicle. Now, I might be in a different situation as my 328i GT’s seatbelt refuses to roll out of its housing now. Since there’s only 8 months left on the contract, I spoke with BMW to see if they could take me out of the contract early and let me move into a 530e. A lot of times, if you are a loyal BMW customer, they will work magic for you as long as you go through them to lease/buy another BMW. I would definitely call the BMW FS and tell them your situation. Then simply go to the dealership of your choosing, and get another car. As long as you have never missed a payment with them, I’m sure BMW FS will be more than happy to help you.
Hi Uberwagon - Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Only two cars in our household, one of which is paid off. We’ve never gotten far enough in a discussion to run our credit - which is outstanding. Top 1% BMW financial services so far has been unhelpful, but I’ll try again.
