Valencia BMW ripoff Damaged New Car Valencia California
I bought a new 2003 BMW Z-4 at Valencia BMW. When I picked it up, I noticed a blemish on the hood (paint). I was told to bring it back.
Five days later, I brought the car back. While I was inside trying to find someone to help me, a Valencia BMW saleman got into another customers car and rammed my new car.
Without going into all the conversations and actions, the bottom line is that the dealership said not to worry, they would take care of everything.
They did not take care of anything. They didn't even call. After many calls by me and much leg work, I had the car repaired through my insurance.
When I finally got to the General Manager, Valencia BMW claimed it was the responsibility on the owner of the car their saleman was driving, to cover the repairs. They had no obligation to assist me in any way. Not even give me the name of the owner of the other car (which they bought after the wreck). Good thing I got the license plate number.
After many phone calls and much leg work, and false promises by BMW insurance carrier (national), I was still at square one. My insurance company had also been blown off by Valencia BMW.
Bottom line, I took Valencia BMW to small claims court. Judge thought dealership was on drugs for insisting it wasn't their responsibility. Won case for damages, other than repairs. My insurance company was taking Valencia BMW to court, for the repair costs, admin costs, and legal fees, in a separate case.
To this day Valencia BMW still insists it was ok to blow me off.
Funny thing is, the repair shop had to take the car back to the dealership to have them replace the airbag. While there, the dealership technicians took (stole?) some of the repair parts out of the car, bought by the repair shop. This delayed the reapir by 1 1/2 weeks (Valencia BMW had to work with repair shop to replace).
David
Valencia, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
David
Valencia,California,
U.S.A.
Valencia BMW Damaged New Car, the main complaint against Valencia BMW is their not wanting to resolve the issue in a timely maner.
#2Author of original report
Tue, March 01, 2005
This is a clarification of my earlier post concerning Valencia BMW.
1. According to the repair shop, the vehicle was return to the same dealership to have the airbag in the door replaced. When the repair shop got the car back to finish the repair, part(s) that had been left in the car were no longer there. It is uncertain how the parts became missing. This delayed the return of the car to me by 2 weeks.
2. The judge did not necessarily "think" the GM was on drugs (cannot read minds), however he did rebuke the GM for taking the stance that the dealership was not responsisble for the damages. He did find them legally responsible for the damages.-*
3. I have since found out that the dealership has reimbursed my insurance company for the repairs. My insurance company did not have to go to court to collect the repair costs. However they were out the funds for close to a year.
4. With respect to the false promise of the BMW insurance carrier, it might be better classified as a "change in mind". Originally, the national carrier was going to process my claim. They had asked for all the paperwork, and I had sent in. After time had passed with no contact, I called and found out that due to feedback (not repsonsible) from the dealership, the BMW insurance company no longer intended to process the claim. This was followed up in writing, to me, by the agent.
In summary, the main complaint against Valencia BMW is their not wanting to resolve the issue in a timely maner. I didn't like having to file a claim with my insurance company (going on my record), doing all the leg work and calling to get the car fixed and then reimbursed, and having to pay the deductable and other expenses and getting reimbursed many months after the fact. Of course there's the issue of my 5 day old, $46K+ (sticker), car being damaged.