Complaint Review: BOB SMITH MINI BOB SMITH BMW BOB SMITH AUTOMOTIVE

I got RIPPED off at Bob Smith Mini. Consumers BEWARE!!! Bob Smith Mini, Bob Smith BMW, Bob Smith Automotive in Calabasas is Rip Off.

If you own a MINI COOPER, you need to read this. COOPER has put a special tool on the window motor of the MINI's only the dealer can replace the part. They won't even sell the tool to anyone. SO the consumer is stock taking their vehicle to the dealer and since they are the only ones that can do the job they RIP YOU OFF.

I needed my window moter replaced in my 2002 Mini Cooper. So I called Bob Smith Mini to get an estimate. They Service Advisor, Steve Dempster, told me it would cost me $135-$185. I tool the vehicle all the way to Calabasas and dropped it off on Monday January 21st, 2008.

On Tuesday, I got a phone call, from Steve telling me that I needed to authorize 21/2 hours of work to replace my Window Motor on my Mini Cooper, which would be $385.99. When I asked him what happened to the $135-$185 he Quoted me, he said this was a worst case scenario, and that if his technician finished the job in less hours, I would be charged less.

Around 3 pm on Tuesday, I get a phone call from Steve, stating that my car was finished and I owed them $385.99. Of Course, It took his technician the full 2 and a half hours to replace a window motor in a 2002 mini cooper. Any mechanics out there? Does this make sense? They are rip off artists.

I then called his service manager, whose name is Brian Howard. He goes by the name Howie, and guess what, he did not return two of my phone calls. He was at work, I made sure of that, but he decided he had better things to do than return my phone call. So he had another person by the name of Natalie N. Call me.

She head my side of the story and said she would talk to Steve the next day. Next day Morning Steve Dempster, calls me and tells me he understands my frustration but that I HAD AUTHORIZED $385.99.

Then I get a phone call from Natalie N. who tells me that she had spoken with Steve Dempster and that the original estimate of $135-$185 was a guestimate.
DO YOU GUYS FOLLOW? A reputable Dealership right off the 101 freeway hires people who guess how much it would cost to fix your MINI COOPER.

I am not the only person they have ripped off by the way. I have name of other cosumers, some in the MINI COPPER Club, who have told me they have been ripped off at BOB SMITH MINI COOPER. But that's a different Story.
I did My homework. Me being in the Automotive Industry, I also work for a Car Dealership. So I asked my service manager to pull up how long it would take to change the window motor in the MINI COOPER.

It only takes 1.6 Hours to replace it. That's what the book shows. Its the All Data Book, Most mechanics use it. I asked them what their labor rate was, they told me it starts at $135/hour. So $135 an hour at 1.6 hours we are looking at $216, and that's full retail.

But obviously that's not enought money for Mr. Steve Dempster who is a "motoring Advisor" service advisor. Then he had the never to call me and ask me if I wanted to flush my brake fluid and radiator. I'm sure they would have charged me $750 to do it, but I declined the work.

All I am saying is, do your homework before taking your vehicle to them. Call a couple dealers get their prices, as long as you are paying a fair price its not a problem.
These people knew I was in the car business cause I told them, and knowing that they still Ripped Me off.
I am a car fanatic. I have 7 cars. But BOB SMITH AUTOMOTIVE, BOB SMITH MINI, BOB SMITH BMW, WILL NEVER SEE MY BUSINESS.
EVER AGAIN!!!!
SHAME on them!!!!

Greg bebe
Ventura County, California
U.S.A.