I think the dealer may have hooned my car

[OneMmmm]

I dropped my car off at the dealership this AM with complaints of a squeal coming from one of the front wheels/brakes, and another sound coming from the rear exhaust.

When I picked it up... 3 hours after receiving a call that it was ready... It took the valet 10 minute to bring the car up. The temp was already close to 210, and the MPGs had dropped to a staggering 12.2 MPG, and the mileage was also up by 12 miles.

Am I right to be suspicious, or could this have been the result of the car running but not moving for an extended period of time? It was on the drive for roughly 20 minutes while I was waiting to drop off and take a loaner. I also reset the MPGs yesterday evening.

Anyway, I'd love some feedback. Happy to share more details as needed. Thanks!

[iamcpap]

It's an M3, the service guys love them, of course they romped on your car... As long as nothing is wrong with your car no harm no foul... Although I am sure some people will have some differing opinions...

[Stainless 45]

12 miles of drifts and burnouts.... yeah that temp sounds about right. F- service departments.

[OneMmmm]

Originally Posted by iamcpap

It's an M3, the service guys love them, of course they romped on your car... As long as nothing is wrong with your car no harm no foul... Although I am sure some people will have some differing opinions...

Word. My primary concern is someone thrashing it while not warmed up.

[WingZeroX5]

probably test drove the car since you went in for brake and exhaust complaints. As far as how hard they drove it and whether they joy rode it or not who knows. Suggest you fit a cam inside not only for this but also recording everytime you drive. It may save you one day in an accident!

[OneMmmm]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

probably test drove the car since you went in for brake and exhaust complaints. As far as how hard they drove it and whether they joy rode it or not who knows. Suggest you fit a cam inside not only for this but also recording everytime you drive. It may save you one day in an accident!

+1

I'm going to do this. Not sure why this pushed me over the edge, but it did. I'll, go searching the forums, but feel free to offer any recommendations off the top of your head for a cam.

[WingZeroX5]

Originally Posted by OneMmmm

+1

I'm going to do this. Not sure why this pushed me over the edge, but it did. I'll, go searching the forums, but feel free to offer any recommendations off the top of your head for a cam.

I'm actually researching this too but one made by blackvue is really appealing to me.

[truths2k05]

If the car is idling with the Ac running while they diagnose your mpg plummets.

[imserious]

Dealer diagnosed some squeaks in the door and changed a tire. They drove 12 miles. I found it highly suspicious, but nothing was broken after. They said the TPMS could take a while to reset... Although it is more convenient to get a loaner and forget about it, I'd prefer to wait while simple services are done.

Who knows what happened.

[iron_man]

this is my biggest fear on bringing my car in to be serviced.... truly..

[Lute__]

I am always very up front about this with the dealer, and make sure to let them know I logged the mileage, mpg and fuel level all upfront.

This puts them on notice and they have yet to pull this when I go in for service.

Having a good SA also helps

[mlambert890]

Originally Posted by Corbis

I am always very up front about this with the dealer, and make sure to let them know I logged the mileage, mpg and fuel level all upfront.

This puts them on notice and they have yet to pull this when I go in for service.

Having a good SA also helps

+1000. In my opinion the SA is everything when it comes to service. Part of why (I think) my decade+ of bmw dealer service experience has been exemplary is the SAs I have had.

[iron_man]

Originally Posted by Corbis

I am always very up front about this with the dealer, and make sure to let them know I logged the mileage, mpg and fuel level all upfront.

This puts them on notice and they have yet to pull this when I go in for service.

Having a good SA also helps

how do you go about telling them this, do you just tell them "look i logged everything so i know if your service guys drove it."???

[Lute__]

Originally Posted by iron_man

how do you go about telling them this, do you just tell them "look i logged everything so i know if your service guys drove it."???

Absolutely, I work it in through casual conversation and banter though. I do the walk around with them pointing out that the car has no defects and I expect the car back the same way. Something like "hey look man, please have the forman or the SA road test my car, because I want someone who's going to be very careful with it"

After a while they begin to know you as the "pesky" customer who breaks balls and they really know not to mess with your car.

I am not naive enough to think that they don't talk smack about it, but it's whatever, the end result they don't mess with my car.

[dreamspeed]

It's a bit ironic we have to go through these precautions and fears just to have our cars serviced by what should in fact be the safest place to take your car... And it's a luxury brand too....

[Eau Rouge]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

It's a bit ironic we have to go through these precautions and fears just to have our cars serviced by what should in fact be the safest place to take your car... And it's a luxury brand too....

Count yourself lucky if the tech(s) has the good character to refrain from doing anything more than is necessary for proper service. Being respectful of someone else's property will never leave one having to explain himself.

[Antonio1988]

I always take care of my people and know them all by name and I simply tell them that when they take it out, don't crash it or curb it. I have yet to get my car back with anything wrong with it

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by Corbis

I am always very up front about this with the dealer, and make sure to let them know I logged the mileage, mpg and fuel level all upfront.

This puts them on notice and they have yet to pull this when I go in for service.

Having a good SA also helps

Yes. I show the SA i logged the same information and have him verify its correct.

[bigup]

I once saw a lot attendant curb a customer's F10 really bad when I was sat waiting for my sales guy. When parking, he drove it up onto a high curb and then the car dropped back down with a crunch.

Lots of people seem to have the misconception that because it's a BMW, it will be taken care of. It won't, it's just another car in a volume dealership filled with $11/hr lot guys and detailers.

Another time my service adviser told me to take out my radar detector since they have a problem with staff stealing items from customer's cars! There was also a salesman door ding event which fortunately did no damage.

I trust nobody with my car; which is why I DIY as much as possible. When it is in for CBS service, I take a photo of the odometer with time stamp and then spend a good 10-15 minutes checking car on collection. I feel like an ass for doing it, but the minute you drive it off the lot, any damage will be disputed.

[mdosu]

given what you wanted them to look at with your car, they had to test drive it to diagnose the noise

[Haywood]

> Insert scene from Ferris Bueller's Day off here!<

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by OneMmmm

Word. My primary concern is someone thrashing it while not warmed up.

It's just a car, I pushed my car hard a few times with the engine not completely warmed up...the engine is still fine.

We have people who lost everything and you're worrying about perceived damage to your car.