Dealers & ignorance (archive)

I had a very funny/(sad) experience here in western Sydney a few years ago. I drove the E9 to the local dealer parts office and strolled in to the counter. I forget what part I was after, but the conversation with the spotty-faced 20yo sales monkey went like this,

Me; I'm after a part for my 3.0CS.
Him; Yes, what model is it?
Me; It's a 3.0CS.
Him; No, what model number is it?
Me; It's a 1971 BMW three point oh see ess.
Him; It'll be 3-series, 5-series...
Me; This is before they introduced the series numbers.
Him; (blank look - handing me a sheaf of photocopied photographs) Can you find a photo of it here?
I scan the photos - mid-late 70's 3ers, 5ers.
Me; No, it's not here.
Him; Oh. You're sure its not a 3-digit number?
Me; I've got the car outside here if you want a look.
Him; Oh, ok.

We walk outside to the parked car.
Me; There it is.
Him; Oh, I've never seen one of those before...

Nowadays, if I visit there, I budget for 30 minutes (while the fiche fires up), and call out 3.0CS, E9, VIN 2230508
It's really kind of sad...

cheers,
Graeme

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