King Tut's 1,200 Mile Service and Loaner Experience

[King Tut]

We will start off with some background information. I originally ordered my car from Sandy Sansing BMW in Pensacola, FL for $1,500 off MSRP and was told they would have a 2009 allocation for me in a couple weeks. I was also doing the Performance Center Delivery. Well, a couple weeks went by and they didn't have one so I e-mailed every dealer in Florida and ended up finding a great Internet CA named Jeff at Coggin BMW who could get me a first week of production 2009 at $3,500 off MSRP. I called up my CA at Sandy Sansing and he said he could do $2000 off MSRP and said you gotta do what you gotta do since $1500 if alot of money. I said thanks for understanding and he said I will get your $500 partial payment refund processed today with a check to pick up tomorrow. Since I was doing the Performance Center Delivery, I really didn't care who I purchased from so I went with Coggin.

Well this week was time to get my 1,200 mile service done. So since Sandy Sansing BMW was still my favorite local dealer (I have 2 choices within 30 miles), I called my SA up on Monday morning stated I needed the 1,200 mile service for my new M3. She immediately said would you like a loaner. I said sure. She said we have Friday and any day next week available. I said Friday sounds great and that was that. I had formerly had my 2004 M3 serviced multiple times at Sandy Sansing with the same SA. She never asked me any details or if I had purchased the car there even though they have signs that say priority for loaners goes to customers who purchased their car there.

Fast forward to today, and I showed up right before the service department opened at around 7:25 am. I was the only customer there and even though it wasn't quite 7:30 am I walked inside. I was immediately met by another SA who asked for my last name and made sure 1,200 mile service was all I needed. I said yes, and he said do you have the keys, I said yes gave them to him and said to make sure the car isn't washed since I would be doing it on Saturday. I also asked him what would be done for the 1,200 mile service as a little quiz. He asked 6MT or DCT. I said 6MT and he said transmission, differential, and possibly oil change. I knew the oil change was part of it, but I decided not to say anything. He said no problem about no car wash and wrote it in big letters on the work order and went and got my loaner car.

We pulled up in a white BMW X3 and said the keys are in it you are good to go. That was it. I was good to go. I went to the fridge, grabbed a nice ice cold Dr. Pepper and headed out. Note there was no mention or question of if I bought the car there. There were no restrictions placed on bringing it back, mileage, or filling it up. I just drove my 70 miles to get to work.

When I got to work I thought, I wonder if I have to fill it up. They didn't mention anything, so I consulted E90post and it seemed to be the courteous thing to do. So when I was done with work I reset the trip meter and the gas mileage meter and did the 70 miles back to the area of the dealership. When I got there I calculated out how much gas I felt I used, and I filled it up with a little bit more than that. I then headed to the dealership and arrived at 5:15 pm and they close at 5:30 pm. They had my car under the awning waiting for me.

I walked inside, they had me sign the work order, handed me my keys, and asked if the keys were in the loaner. I said yes they were, and I took my copy of the invoice and was on my way. Again no real mention of any rules regarding the loaner or checking of the mileage or the fuel left in it. I went to my car and removed the floor mat protecting sheet and headed home. The car had 3 miles on it from a short test drive the tech did I must assume.

The only downside to this whole experience occurred on the way home when I checked the oil level. Of course I had the dreaded > MAX on the oil level. I said no biggie this happens quite often with these cars, and I continued home. I got home and tested the level again and it was still > MAX. So I said not problem tomorrow morning I will put it up on my ramps and drain half a quart out since they aren't open until Monday, and I will be doing in between oil changes anyways so why not familiarize myself with the underside.

The overall experience was really painless. I was glad I got a loaner car instead of having to take time off of work today or burdening my buddies to take me and drop me off. Here is what is printed on my invoice:

DUE FOR STANDARD SCOPE
STD. SCOPE
COMPLETED.RESET CBS

REPLACE MICRO FILTER
DUE FOR MICRO FILTER
NOT DUE FOR REPLACEMENT

OIL SERVICE
DUE FOR 1200 MIKE RUN IN SERVICE (little typo, haha)
1200 SVC
COMPLETED
QTY NUMBER DESCRIPTION
9 07-51-0-009-420 OIL
1 11-42-7-837-997 SET OIL-FILTER ELEM
2 83-22-1-467-993 DIFFERENTIAL OIL
3 83-22-0-406-941 1/2 LITER

Now after seeing my buddies invoice form the other dealer with no part numbers, I was really glad to see this. I checked all the part numbers and they are verified as being correct. The only other thing that concerns me a little is the quantities. I know that the 9 liters of oil probably lead to my car being a little bit overfilled if they put it all in. The 3 1/2 liters of the tranny fluid though only makes 1.5 liters, and I belive the car takes 2.1 liters. I am not sure if the 2 DIFFERENTIAL OIL is correct either. I am fairly confident in their service department though after getting my Inspection II done on my E46 M3 there, so I am not too worried.

Hope you guys enjoyed my write up. Comments and questions are always welcome.

[PLAYON]

Nice write-up King Tut. . .you put those 1,200 miles on fast! I guess its a hike from SC to FL. . .how many miles exactly?

[King Tut]

I put just under 900 miles on my trip back from the Performance Center.

[PLAYON]

Originally Posted by King Tut

I put just under 900 miles on my trip back from the Performance Center.

what a trip that must of been, you don't have any video of the trek home do you?

[batchelorc]

How close are you to Destin/Fort Walton? I'm down there milling around quite often

[King Tut]

I am real close. I work at Eglin AFB, so I drive through Fort Walton every day.

[batchelorc]

We should meet up sometime

[King Tut]

Just send me a PM or hit me up on AIM. I ended up having to drain out about 750 mL of oil today to get it not to say > MAX on the oil level check. Time to go out and beat on the car and then give it a nice wash.