bluejae

i recently read a thread on the m5 forums that a dealership wrecked an m5 that was in there for service. apparently it was a "test drive" that went wrong.

this made me think, is it possible to not allow the dealership to test drive the car after service? or notify you when a test drive will be taken, or that you want to be present when it is done?

sflgator

With those MBH LT headers on your car, they won't need a test drive to figure things out...just starting up your car and pulling it into the service bay will alert them, lol! You're much better off (if you haven't already done so) finding a very mod-friendly SA and dealership and telling them what you have on your car. Otherwise, you're likely to get flagged and possibly denied for any warranty work should any be needed within your warranty period (depending on what's wrong with your car).

SonnyakaPig

That would be nice, TS.

Last time I took my car to a MB dealer, I picked up the car and when I initially turned it on, I noticed it was in "Sport" mode (I left in "Comfort" and I drove to the dealership pretty relaxed), so no adaptations should have occurred.

I then checked the "mpg" and it was at "8 mpg." I've driven this car hard and I've never seen the gas "mpg" start out at "8 mpg." It took me like an hour of driving to get the mpg back up into the teens.

So, I believe someone didn't just take my car for a test drive, but I think they somehow know of a dragstrip near my house that I am unaware of. I wish they would tell me where it's at. Or at least stop driving my car like they stole it.

bluejae

i've got prepaid maintenance on it until 40000 miles. plus, i'm not too worried about the warranty issues. my only concern now is their "test drives"

kngof9x

there was an issue with a dealership in longisland ny that took a lady's E350 out for a test drive, but their idea of a test drive was for their tech to take it home, who lived like 25miles away and then got into an accident when driving his girlfriend to work and refused to pay for the damages. insane!! it was Lakeview Mercedes, video was on Fox5 but isnt on there anymore.

bhamg

My friend had his M5 t-boned by a tech who went on a run to fill up a gasoline can. He never did resolve that case to his satisfaction so buyer beware. That said, my SA will alway ride as a passenger if a tech takes my car out. Great guy, great policy (for me). But then, he absolutely loves my car in its present state.

bluejae

i guess i'll just have to talk to my SA when i bring it in at 10000

GHAZAN

They will probably just say they need to take it out during service to check any issues or do a "test" run to identify problems....

Any GPS systems out there to follow them when they drive as they go WOT that'd be hilarious.

SonnyakaPig

^^^ And, if you have lo-jack, call them and have them shut the car down.

khmergod

I once had to get my steering column fixed due to a manufacturer problem with the sensor light coming on (2005, c230), they kept it for like two weeks and I think they put about 60 miles on it. Sons of *****es. Their explaination was that they had to test it after the fix.

JonMBZ

Asking goes a long way. If you tell them exactly what you want they will adhere to your requests.

cyberorth

When I had my e46 m3 competition, after a service I noticed about 38 miles added to odo. I made a stink and the department manager came and apologized and assured me that this wouldn't happen again. That was irvine BMW. I am sure that it's a 'look the other way' thing with service depts along with valets all alike. They get their fix and call it a road test or whatever. I try to build a rapport with my SAs and also make a point of the milage in to the SA and ask for road test only if necessary. I figure they then would try to mess with the next car and not mine.

_AMG_

It is always a possibility, It can happen to anyone at anytime. Even going to work back and forth.

VCA_AMG

Especially if you're "test driving" a SL65 BS

MBFLO

On one of my service records it shows dealer service manager took car home for night < 40 miles each way>to test a wheel vibration it kept going back to the dealer for .

There all kind of gps , will text alert you once your car moves , can log into the map will show location ,speed and such and even log it. Theres expensive contract style and there cheap boost phones dl the gps tracking and its free to log in . Actually used to use it on my motorcycle when parked outside . Pretty cool !

loungn14

Hey guys, this is also why we always have the carchip pro's in the cars.

This simple device plugs into obd2 and datalogs.

Take it to your laptop and see whats happened with the car. You can image the surprise of the dealer when you plug it in right in front of them and say things like wow, you got the car up to 70mph when all the roads around here are 35mph zones huh.... its happened and lets just say they are very careful with my car now....

PistolWhipC63

^^LMFAO haha. I'm def. getting one of those.

GBlansten

You can also use the iPhone MBrace app to locate the car.