Was Your New BMW Damaged? (long) (archive)

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Some of you on the E46 list (I've cross-posted this since anyone with a new BMW, I think, should be aware of this) may remember the problem I had concerning my "new" 2000 323Ci. I discovered that the left side of the car was previously repainted (poorly, at that). I've been trying to work this out with the dealer and BMW with the aim of getting a replacement vehicle, since I was not told that the car was damaged when I bought it.

After a 2-month "investigation", BMW and my dealer have offered me this deal. They'll fix the car, since the job was done in non-professional way, and they will reimburse me 2 car payments! Frankly, I'm quite astonished at this. Assuming I were to keep the car, it seems a given that they would at least have to fix it. On top of that they're essentially offering me $1000 off the price. Hell, I paid $1500 over invoice. If I were in the market for a previously damaged vehicle (which I wasn't) I would have insisted on at least 3 times that.

Here's what they said happened. The vehicle was obtained by my dealer (Dreher-Holloway in Stratham, NH) from another dealer (Girard BMW in New London, CT). Initially, the BMW representative told me that there was no record of the car ever being repaired and that he personally talked with both Dreher-Holloway and Girard. Eventually, he visited Girard checked their records and talked with the body shop manager and determined that this was one of a number of cars that was damaged in their lot. This particular car was keyed. I'm a little skeptical of this since the car has other problems, including an ill-fitting door, but I'll take their word for it (despite their questionable veracity).

In any case, BMW said that the most they would help me with is the above settlement (fix it + 2 payments) and that this is really between two dealers anyway. I wasn't satisfied with this and set up a meeting with the operations manager at Dreher-Holloway. I told him I felt that it was ultimately Dreher-Holloway's responsibility and they needed to work it out with this other dealer. The meeting came to nothing. He questioned how I had been harmed and told me he thought the problem (i.e., the car having been keyed) was "minor". So now I'm in a position where it looks like I'm going to have to take legal action. In any event, the best I can probably hope for is a monetary settlement and not a replacement (what I really wanted). I just wish I could have made them see that the route they're forcing me to take will ultimately be more expensive for them.

1) Apparently when you buy a "new" BMW you should have it checked by a mechanic and a body shop. You just never know.

2) BMW will leave you hanging. Whatever influence they have over their dealers is either not sufficient or they are unwilling to exercise it. Neither are they willing to guarantee the quality of the vehicles delivered to consumers.

3) Finally, if you bought a new BMW at Girard BMW (particularly this year) you'd better check it. I _was_ told that this was only _one_ car that was damaged. It does not seem such a great stretch to believe that if I was not informed that a "new" car was damaged, others might have unknowingly purchased similar vehicles.

As for me, I've just purchased my first, and last, BMW. Thanks, BMW (and dealers), for changing me from an enthusiast to a disgruntled consumer. I hope Audi appreciates my business more than you do.

I don't know if it will help, but if you feel as strongly about this as I do please send a friendly note to both BMW (http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/intro/dialogue/) and Dreher-Holloway (mailto:bmw@dreher-holloway-cars.com) telling them what you think.

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