Yesterday our BMW stranded my wife...(more, long)
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Yesterday our BMW stranded my wife...(more, long)
Sorry, you'll have to twist this one a bit to fit it into the A6 forum, but not much.
Our beloved 1986 535i had the clutch pedal go to the floor - and stay there. It was just about 6:00 PM, and I called our shop (HB, Inc., formerly Hardy & Beck; Berkeley CA) to see if someone might be there for us to get it towed over. I talked with our man at the shop, and gave him my wifes cell phone number (she was about 5 miles from the shop) who was with the car.
I immediately headed out in the reliable car (our one-month-old-better-be-reliable 4.2) toward the 'scene' which was maybe 8 miles from where I was. By the time I was half way there, my wife called (yes, I talked with her on a hand-held while I was driving, sorry) to report that he (our shop guy) had just dropped off their loaner car with her and he was taking care of getting the car over to the shop.
Holy ****!!
Local Audi Dealers, AoA, CAN YOU READ THIS?!?!?!
Anyway, sorry if this was too off topic, but it was a nice car-thing that happened. :-)
Our beloved 1986 535i had the clutch pedal go to the floor - and stay there. It was just about 6:00 PM, and I called our shop (HB, Inc., formerly Hardy & Beck; Berkeley CA) to see if someone might be there for us to get it towed over. I talked with our man at the shop, and gave him my wifes cell phone number (she was about 5 miles from the shop) who was with the car.
I immediately headed out in the reliable car (our one-month-old-better-be-reliable 4.2) toward the 'scene' which was maybe 8 miles from where I was. By the time I was half way there, my wife called (yes, I talked with her on a hand-held while I was driving, sorry) to report that he (our shop guy) had just dropped off their loaner car with her and he was taking care of getting the car over to the shop.
Holy ****!!
Local Audi Dealers, AoA, CAN YOU READ THIS?!?!?!
Anyway, sorry if this was too off topic, but it was a nice car-thing that happened. :-)
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Hang on now, you gotta play fair
Your story isn't about a BMW dealer, it's about a BMW garage that you have a relationship with.
Most people would have called BMW Roadside Assistance, just like you would have called the Audi equivalent if your car had been involved. They would have sent a wrecker, and depending on the dealership's service policy you might or might not have gotten a loaner.
It seems like your story is quite un-brand related; it's a testament to a good garage, which is good to have with ANY car.
Most people would have called BMW Roadside Assistance, just like you would have called the Audi equivalent if your car had been involved. They would have sent a wrecker, and depending on the dealership's service policy you might or might not have gotten a loaner.
It seems like your story is quite un-brand related; it's a testament to a good garage, which is good to have with ANY car.
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I know, it's a third party shop, which makes it...(more)
...even more remarkable to me. They drove to us directly and assumed responsibility for the broken car. FYI, I do not have a super-long relationship with this shop either.
There have been enough posts here with people concerned about Audi service that it seemed a worthy story to relate.
Pretty awesome for a car which is worth roughly 9-10% what our 4.2 cost....
I did not imply any brand issues, other than my impending concerns regarding Audi (concerns that have become so from reading posts here). I really don't mean to slam Audi service. I just hope that they too become a "good garage."
I'm looking forward to a relationship with my Audi dealer that equals what we've experienced thus far with the private BMW shop...but from what I've read here...I'm wary.
In any case, if finances permitted, I'd sell the BMW in a second, and get another new Audi (and NOT a new BMW).
There have been enough posts here with people concerned about Audi service that it seemed a worthy story to relate.
Pretty awesome for a car which is worth roughly 9-10% what our 4.2 cost....
I did not imply any brand issues, other than my impending concerns regarding Audi (concerns that have become so from reading posts here). I really don't mean to slam Audi service. I just hope that they too become a "good garage."
I'm looking forward to a relationship with my Audi dealer that equals what we've experienced thus far with the private BMW shop...but from what I've read here...I'm wary.
In any case, if finances permitted, I'd sell the BMW in a second, and get another new Audi (and NOT a new BMW).
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Re: Hang on now, you gotta play fair
You're right Phred. I'll bet the local garage that maintains my wife's 87 4KQ would have done the same thing for her. And its an Audi, so this would be even more relevant. But still not brand-related.
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I have had nothing but poor experience from independent BMW shops in the NYC area..
They all try to nickel and dime me, calling themselves "experts". 'Bimmers Only' installed an inferior aftermarket water pump in my car rather than OEM quality which blew after 10k miles causing my car to overheat.. 'Euromechanicca' who always advertises in the NY Times as an Ex-BMW racing mechanic actually charged me for labor on an oil pan screw that broke off during an oil change... He didn't even know my car took 7 quarts of oil.. I never paid $100 before for an oil change... Ridiculous..
I now take my car to a generalist, who charges more reasonable rates for the last 5 yrs.. Never had any problems..
I now take my car to a generalist, who charges more reasonable rates for the last 5 yrs.. Never had any problems..
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Message retrospect: (more)
- The shop wants to service my car.
- The dealer wants to sell me a car.
The big deal for me with these guys is that I have not been a customer for very long (nor spent very much $$ in that time either).
Needed a new clutch master cylinder, some connecting line (to the slave) and a weld(!) to patch a small crack(?) in the firewall(!). Will pick up and return the loaner am, I believe it will be approx. $350. Cheap parts plus labor.
High? Low? I don't know, but it FEELS low. :-)
P.S. The loaner is a Saturn. Yeow, nasty. It sure makes me appreciate every last one of the rest of the stable: 15 year old 535i, 6 year old Golf GTI and 30 day old 4.2.
- The dealer wants to sell me a car.
The big deal for me with these guys is that I have not been a customer for very long (nor spent very much $$ in that time either).
Needed a new clutch master cylinder, some connecting line (to the slave) and a weld(!) to patch a small crack(?) in the firewall(!). Will pick up and return the loaner am, I believe it will be approx. $350. Cheap parts plus labor.
High? Low? I don't know, but it FEELS low. :-)
P.S. The loaner is a Saturn. Yeow, nasty. It sure makes me appreciate every last one of the rest of the stable: 15 year old 535i, 6 year old Golf GTI and 30 day old 4.2.
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Although my M5 goes to a BMW shop..
given how basic most car repair is, I agree that a good generalist is as good as most BMW techs. My shop has proven to be quite careful and attentive so I like them -- reasonable rates also.
The fear with an M5 is that some idiot will blow your engine which is minimum $10k to rebuild.
The fear with an M5 is that some idiot will blow your engine which is minimum $10k to rebuild.
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