M3 - No Test Drive

JohnM · **M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-12-2008, 09:49 PM

Just got the following from the dealership "salesman" when I mentioned driving one of the four cars sitting at the dealership:

"With a Deposit on an order or incoming car they will let the Salesperson Take you for a Short Drive. There will definately be a "Wow Factor" with this car compared to an E36 M3. I will make sure the Demo drive will be exciting for you, your just gonna have to hang on to the "OH Shit" Grab handles."

Is this normal? How strong are these cars selling, does anyone have a link to numbers (the salesman obviously has no clue because he didn't think they would get any cars until April/May)? I don't purchase new cars every year but I've always test driven a car if it's available and I'm considering buying it. Then again I've never considered buying a new model just as it's introduced before either.

dr Dunkel · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 04:56 PM

That's just plain silly, take your business elsewhere, that git doesn't deserve it.

Merc1 · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 05:05 PM

Sad to say, but this is pretty normal in the U.S. when a hot new car comes out. Salespeople don't want to be bothered unless you have money in hand. It will be a about 6-12 months before the hype around the M3 cools off to the point of where dealers have one around that you can test drive. Very unfortunate, but it is what it is.

M

BMW Power · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 05:41 PM

found this on another forum, I cant believe BMW actually give such crappy service in some places!!

Quote:

Tischer BMW
3211 Automobile Blvd3
Silver Spring, Maryland
20904

I know there are a ton of people in the MD/DC/VA area- and even people who visit here as well, so here is my lowdown about this dealer.

I've bought my car from Passport BMW on 7/7/07, but they are quite a distance from me. So about 3 miles away from my home is located "Tischer BMW". Since its so close, why not go there right? Wrong.

Sales:

Its ****** awful. I know I'm a 19 year old- although I don't look it, I do dress proper, I don't walk around wearing Jerseys and whatnot, and there isn't anything wrong with that, just you know what salesmen look for. I tried to ask them if I could test drive the E60 M5 or the E92 while I wait for my car to be done (from being serviced) and they said only people who have ordered the car can test drive it. Really? Because I haven't ordered one and test drove an IB M3 the other night. Anyways, not a big deal- but here is what really started pissing me off; I ASKED to SEE NOT DRIVE a 550i, and the gentleman (Aka slicked back hair douche bag) asked me what transmission I would prefer, I told him 6spd Man. He told me that the SMG and the tip were more popular, and that all they had in stock was a tip 550i in CB. He REFUSED to show me to the car. His first reason was that I wouldn't want it, because its not manual . Second, because I was not purchasing the car- today. Also, I had to ASK for help versus someone helping me, I'm in sales- and this is not how it works.

Service:
When I took my car in, here is the following which was supposed to be accomplished:

* Service Engine light- why is it on.
* Airbag light reset- IS on because of body shop never reset it after new bumper install
* Tire Pressure light on- Why? Tires are fine.
* Major service- Oil service, brakes, gear fluid...all that stuff.
* Installation of new BMW BOUGHT lenses.
* Installation of Mtech fogs
* "All window" button needed replacement, stopped working. Why? No clue.

The airbag light was reset with no problem, as was the tire pressure gauge. The servicing was also fine, the car runs like a complete champ. The window button was fixed, yay.

They said they couldn't install the lenses- because they don't deal with epoxy. Was it me, or do the e46 lenses CLIP off unlike my old X5 where you had to oven bake them. Hmmm, ok- still whether they do or not, I can do them my self- but the dealer should do them. I ordered them FROM BMW. The Mtech fogs, they said they couldn't do- fine I expected that, but worth a try right?

Service engine:

This has unfortunatley been on and off since I've bought the car. I have taken it back to both dealers numerous times, and they said because the light wasn't on at the dealer they could not run a diagnosis. Well, this time it was ****** on- and now I happen to have an exhaust system (Agency Power). So, of course- they blamed it on the exhaust system- and instead of putting it into warranty they tried to charge me $119.99 for labor for the PLUG in of the OBDII. Nice. Well, my father came to the dealer so we could talk to the GM of the dealer- and the guy was being obnoxious, I mean a complete "I'm wearing thin sqaure frames, I drink a Caramel Machiatto and drive a BMW with a key Fob...I need a KEYY FOBB". lol sorry I'm still pissed. Well, I was telling him how I didn't want to pay for it and he kept saying "uhhhhuhhh...uhhhuhhhhhhhh" non stop so I mimicked him and asked him are you even listening? He YELLED the following "YOU CAN EITHER PAY THIS DAMN BILL OR I'LL PUT A MECHANICS LEAN ON YOUR CAR AND SELL IT".

Well if I had stayed in that cheap dry walled office of his, I would have slapped him. I walked out, my father got the fee waived and this is when I decided I'm going to contact BMW NA. I'm sick of this. My parents bought a E34 525i from there back when, a E53 4.4i, I've bought SO many parts from them and even reffered TONS (20+) customers to them. Going into a Honda dealer- I get treated like its a priority to be treated well, not a ****** option.

Centurion · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 05:53 PM

It is like that someone, especially when a car is hot on the plate. Dealers don't want any "unnecessary" mileage on the car. So unless you're a previous customer or a heavy hitter a sick car parked outside the dealer, they won't let you test drive it.

Sunny · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 06:01 PM

My dealer let me test drive the E46 M3 when it came out, hoping the same this time around. But the dealers got a demo car for E46 M3, not sure if they do for E90/E92. I can see why the don't want you to test drive some one else's car.

Merc1 · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW Power

found this on another forum, I cant believe BMW actually give such crappy service in some places!!

Happens all the time with any car manufacturer. Dealerships and a car company's corporate office are like the seperation of church and state. Or well something like that. BMW corporate has very little control over what happens at the dealership level. Then can assign penalties to really bad dealers, and the customers should call corporate, but unless the car is an outright lemon or the dealer is just off the chart ridiciulous, there isn't a whole lot that can be done.

M

warot · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-15-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merc1

Sad to say, but this is pretty normal in the U.S. when a hot new car comes out. Salespeople don't want to be bothered unless you have money in hand. It will be a about 6-12 months before the hype around the M3 cools off to the point of where dealers have one around that you can test drive. Very unfortunate, but it is what it is.

M

There are places were they will let you test drive the car. There are numerous user reviews of it already. You just gotta find a dealer that is willing, that's all.

Merc1 · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-16-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warot

There are places were they will let you test drive the car. There are numerous user reviews of it already. You just gotta find a dealer that is willing, that's all.

Of course there are, never said there weren't any willing dealers. Just stating the usual scenario...especially if they don't think you're serious.

M

Guibo · **Re: M3 - No Test Drive -** 03-16-2008, 05:12 AM

Yes, some BMW salespeople can be jerks. But from the point of view of the dealership, it makes sense to offer test drives only to those who have deposits (or have the deposit in hand), especially if the dealer has only one or two demos and is expecting very limited alotment for the coming weeks.

Regarding the Tischer BMW case, it's totally understandable that the guy was turned down for a test drive. 19-year-old with an E46 in for servicing wandering around a metropolitan area dealership (~8 miles from DC). Doesn't sound like a serious customer at all. At the very least, he should have made an appointment ahead of time. This tells the salesperson he is at least somewhat serious. Dealers in rural areas may be more hard pressed for sales traffic, so are likely more willing to give test drives. The behavior of the general manager is pretty inexcusable, though.
I hear that Lexus dealers and service reps are very nice and accomodating.