making Karl proud?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:49 pm

Karl,

Thanks for asking--sorry for the late reply, I've been in Atlanta helping a friend get his NA Miata ready for EStock...

He did call. He apologized, but was quick to say (approximately) "What do you expect me to do?" Typical response, IMO. Well, I guess I could have said something like "I want 2 free oil changes for the effort to repair my car" but didn't. He said I should've told him after I saw it, so that he could've repaired the situation. I told him that he needs to do a better job monitoring his (machine) courtesy car wash and that his team needs to do a better job. He probably thinks he got away with something, and that's OK with me. Even if he gave me two free oil changes it wouldn't change how his service employees function.

I basically feel like because I didn't show him the damage immediately that it wouldn't be right for me to ask for some compensation (oil changes), as he could accuse me of being dishonest and trying to "shake him down" for some freebies. Instead I just sternly told him that (a) I was disappointed in the whole customer care experience that Johnson has shown me (b) after all the hassle I've gotten by entrusting the service of my car to them I will no longer buy cars from them (c) to mark in my account that NO ONE ever touches the outside of my car. EVER. And I told him that I would tell my car/work/golf friends what happened to me. Which I have done.

Is that reasonable? I guess. I'm not on a witchhunt, as I solved the problem myself. Water under the bridge, bigger issue to think about, life's too short to hold grudges, etc. I'll just look elsewhere for my new car needs.

Oh, and don't let dealers offer you a courtesy carwash.

And the best part: trying to load the tools and equipment for my ATL trip I scratched the bejeebus out of the rear bumper cover. Karma and all that, I suppose...

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:15 pm

last time i took my X5 to Performance i found a big chip out of the driver's side door edge. no doubt smacked on the side of a lift.

am i pissed? yes. am i over it? somewhat.

i do like my SA, so if i have an issue i will mention the door.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:22 am

steve remchak wrote:

last time i took my X5 to Performance i found a big chip out of the driver's side door edge. no doubt smacked on the side of a lift.

am i pissed? yes. am i over it? somewhat.

i do like my SA, so if i have an issue i will mention the door.

This crap (and worse) happens more than you know. Guess how many times my vehicles have been to a dealer? The answer to the question is FIVE. Yes, five trips total in 29 years. I avoid dealers like the plaque. If I need something done that I can't do myself I always use an independent shop. I guess I have trust issues with people working on my stuff.

Doesn't Dave work on new BMWs? I know you'd certainly prefer him over the dealer.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:02 am

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:08 am

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

They let you, or you do?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:16 am

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

Free my @ss. With the price tage on an X5 it ain't free.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:17 am

JamesShort wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

They let you, or you do?

i didn't actually drive it on the track, but i did tell them i was going to SC for the weekend. fun car to kick around in for the weekend. i know Cline was bracing himself a few times. :lol:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:29 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

Free my @ss. With the price tage on an X5 it ain't free.

Plus they only change the oil every 15k miles or something ridiculous like that....so they make it so the car is very expensive to fix when the car is out of warranty and free maintenance

.

There was a UOA on BITOG of a e90 330 that went the recommended 15k miles the oil (BMW LL01 5w30). It has sheared to a THIN 20 weight and had tons of insoluble, low flash point, and the TBN was almost non existent. Definitely not a situation conducive to a long lasting engine. I'd do 2 oil changes in between my free ones if it were my car.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:56 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

Free my @ss. With the price tage on an X5 it ain't free.

Plus they only change the oil every 15k miles or something ridiculous like that....so they make it so the car is very expensive to fix when the car is out of warranty and free maintenance

.

There was a UOA on BITOG of a e90 330 that went the recommended 15k miles the oil (BMW LL01 5w30). It has sheared to a THIN 20 weight and had tons of insoluble, low flash point, and the TBN was almost non existent. Definitely not a situation conducive to a long lasting engine. I'd do 2 oil changes in between my free ones if it were my car.

every 7500 miles. :wink:

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:27 pm

JamesShort wrote:

There was a UOA on BITOG of a e90 330 that went the recommended 15k miles the oil (BMW LL01 5w30). It has sheared to a THIN 20 weight and had tons of insoluble, low flash point, and the TBN was almost non existent. Definitely not a situation conducive to a long lasting engine. I'd do 2 oil changes in between my free ones if it were my car.

I'm changing the oil every 2k miles on the STi.

- AB

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:50 pm

steve remchak wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

free dealer maintennance up to 50K, plus warranty work. besides, they let me take 335i loaners to CMP for the weekend. :twisted:

Free my @ss. With the price tage on an X5 it ain't free.

Plus they only change the oil every 15k miles or something ridiculous like that....so they make it so the car is very expensive to fix when the car is out of warranty and free maintenance

.

There was a UOA on BITOG of a e90 330 that went the recommended 15k miles the oil (BMW LL01 5w30). It has sheared to a THIN 20 weight and had tons of insoluble, low flash point, and the TBN was almost non existent. Definitely not a situation conducive to a long lasting engine. I'd do 2 oil changes in between my free ones if it were my car.

every 7500 miles. :wink:

What is every 7500 miles? How frequently you change it or the dealer? The dealer will only do it on the 15k BMW recommended intervals last time I heard.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Wow, the finish does look better. I've done any sort of detailing on a car's surface past some simple wax. What's involved in doing this sort of makeover? Would I need to buy one of those twirly, spinny, things?

http://www.cityviewcarwash.com/i/car_waxing.jpg

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

An orbital isn't necessary if you're a masochist.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Andrew Jonell wrote:

An orbital isn't necessary if you're a masochist.

Well, I've tried using a polishing paste and rubbing it on and off by hand and didn't see a damn bit of difference.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:29 pm

steve remchak wrote:

every 7500 miles. :wink:

That's what I did on the M3. There was no way I was going 15k b/c the oil was pretty dark around that point.

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