I writing this review based on my recent doing business with this shop whom was recommended by a very good friend. This friend thought very highly of this shop. So, I decided to take my 2013 550i to this shop based on the recommendations of a friend. So based on my experience with this shop I would give a very detail review and information on why I gave one (1) star to this shop. My original fault on my dash board was (DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION FAULT). This is a really big deal for me because I’m not big on writing reviews. I like reading them. I really don’t have a horse in this race one way or another just to let others know my experience with them. First, I would like start off by saying I made an appointment to drop my car off on June 15th and did not get my car back until June 20th.
June 15th: I dropped my car off the night of June 14th and dropped my key inside the mail box. I received my first phone call on June 15th at 3:54 p.m. Keep in mind they close at 6 p.m. The owner stated based on what the technician said and the diagnostic machine that I had high and low pressure faults on one of my banks. I assumed I must have more than one bank. He went on to say that other alarm codes were there and that he think it could be a bad sensor. This was the norm for BMW’s. With that being said I had to trust his BMW expertise, experience and his opinion based on what he has seen in the past.
June 15th: He gave a quote over the phone that range between $500 to $550 dollars to install the sensor that included parts and labor. I gave the okay to do the work.
June 16th: I called the shop around 11:19 a.m. to check the status of my car and talk with either the owner or the service manager who is his son. Based on the information that I received that they had to tear out a lot parts to get to this sensor in particular. So he stated that it should be ready after lunch. However, I don’t know what after lunch meant since he did not give a specific time. So, after I ate lunch I had a friend take by the shop after 2 p.m. thinking my car was going to be ready. When I got there the owner stated that the technician was still working on my car and sensor was being installed at that time and my car was not ready.
June 16th: At 5:23 p.m. I received a call from the owner stating that my car was not going to be ready due to other alarm codes that happen after the sensor was installed. The sensor was not the fix for my original problem of (DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION FAULT). Keep in mind that they close at 6 p.m. and closed on the weekends. What really got me with him is that he (owner) was very un-apologetic about not having my car fix or finish or even knowing what the real problem was. In addition, he (owner) did not even think about the weekend or the in-convenience that he might have cause me. Again, very un-apologetic.
June 16th – June 18th. I had no car and closed on the weekend.
June 19th: I missed the call by the owner at 3:36 p.m. I returned the call at 3:45 p.m. and asked to speak with the owner and no one could find him at the moment. At 3:52 p.m. the owner returned my call. Here where it gets very interesting. The owner stated after all the sensor was not the problem that one of the banks reading low and high pressure was causing the drive train malfunction alarm fault. He went on to say that he wanted to remove the sensor however, still charge me for the labor. Who does that? He gets it wrong and still wanted to charge me for the labor for installing the wrong part. So, for the shop to fix the real problem it would be $900 plus dollars to fix. Keep in mind my original quote. This would be to remove the sensor and installed the new part and labor. At first I agreed and then I thought about it. Why should I have to pay for his shop mistake? No way. I called him back immediately and said leave the sensor in since you have already installed it and still trying to charge me for labor. So, he then goes to say that it would be $ 100 plus dollars to leave in the sensor and do the work for the original problem. Wow!!!!!!Then goes on to say at 3:59 p.m. that they can rush putting everything back together and give me my car back on 19th. Keep in mind they close at 6 p.m. I said no. I asked to have my car ready the next day.
June 20th: I called this morning 8:28 a.m. and talked with the son who is the service manager and asked when my car will be ready and the cost. He stated that the service technician is still putting everything back together and he shouldn’t be long and the new cost was $1,142. Backtrack to June 19th of trying to do a rush job. At 10:57 a.m. on June 20th the son called me and said that my car is ready. The moral to this story for anyone doing business with this shop be careful on what’s being said to you. Everyone knows BMW’s are a complex car. However, make sure that you know what they are saying and doing to your car. I felt like I was cheated and I will never recommend or take my car back to them. I have warned all of my friends, family and co-workers who drive BMS’s VW and Audi’s not to do business there. If you do, be careful you are at your own risk. I don’t care how long they have been in business. If the theme is business as usual. Then it will cost you not them.