oblu

BMW dealers in my area have always felt this way. I go through a BMW - non-BMW ownership cycle because I love the cars, but hate the service depts at the two dealerships we have in our town. Then after awhile, I forget/forgive and go back to owning a BMW just to go through the nightmare all over again. Even routine (free though) maintenance is cringe worthy.

The sales side of both Merc dealers was the same way as BMW, they've got enough business that they could care less about the customer. They were nice enough, but ultimately they knew somebody was queueing up behind me so why waste time.

Luckily the service depts for the Merc dealers are world class.

Dema

I can just add that lease of my BMW is expiring soon, so BMW sent me such package about lease ending procedure, so I feel guilty that drove BMW after. I understand that intention of marketing people creating this document was pushing me on purchase of the lease car, but effect is completely opposite, never lease or buy BMW again. It is only BMW specific because when I leased Lexus I didn't get such feel, they just called me few times offering lover price for purchase. Returning vehicle was really easy. They also offered $1,500 for dings or other cosmetic repair and charged only over this price. No such thing is for BMW.

oblu

I don't get it? You're upset that BMW sent you a packet about the end-of-lease with information that might answer any questions that come up, and for that you'd never lease a BMW again?

I'd rather get a packet than walk in and get hit with a ton of fees that I didn't know I was going to have to pay.

Dema

BMW tells me, you used our beautiful car and now be prepared to pay tons fees, unless you buy it, so think about it.
I'd rather to get something telling me that we are happy that you used our car and will happy to see you an owner of it, so we reducing price.

I also do not see worth of tons of inspection papers, because I do not get paid for inspection, and my inspection isn't accepted by BMW anyway, so why I need to spend time on it? Why BMW wants keeping me busy on some stupid stuff?

Now what Lexus does. - You used our car and after that it may have some cosmetic damage, do not worry we will take care of that.

You still like more BMW's approach?

oblu

Ah, that makes more sense. I didn't get that out of your first post.

Yeah, that'd **** me off. They'd get that car back without being washed for the next month and about as much caked on brake dust as I could manage.

ghstudio

While tihs isn't a driving comment, compared with the 300/350 navigation system/multimedia package, the BMW navigation system is an antique.

aika

Don't forget about the 335D coming out in a few months!

narky

Yes.

I beg to differ.

Yes... Lexus pretty rocks the house in terms of... let's see... everything. Reliability, service, everything. Now only if they would make cars that were a little more exciting (my personal definition only), I'd listen to my Lexus fan father and buy one... I've never owned a BMW, but I've heard lots of "exciting" stories about ***** salesmen, service guys, etc. Germany rocks!

narky

My friend has a 335 coupe with this chip. Wow. Can I say blisteringly fast?

StickyZ

a correctly tuned and chipped 335i can and will keep up/pull on the v8 M3

narky

Really? And with an available 6MT to boot!

When did you switch from your 350z? Your profile changed.

Derspeed

I never noticed this before, but the OP said he removed the rear mufflers from his W204. I thought of doing that. I had a car in which the center resonator was plenty to keep it in check. I wonder how it sounds.