[bavarianboar]

Picked up my car from service yesterday, I live about an hour from the dealership.

I bought my car from the same dealership. They had to work on the car twice to get the issues resolved. I had a loaner car for roughly 2 weeks and put about 600 miles on it (two round trips to the dealer included).

Everything was good yesterday when I dropped it off and picked my car.

Today morning there is a voicemail from SA that they found roof damage on the loaner car. They had not notices this before according to them.

I smell some foul play here, because they probably think I cannot go there again to see the car. I am not aware of any damage. I always park away from tall trees, and have a covered spot at my apartment. Never had any damage in the last 4 years living in the same neighborhood and workplace. I did not make far away trips (or parked in random places) during this 2 week duration either.

Any advice? How should I deal with this?

Thanks guys!

[335BOY]

Too bad it wasnt noticed when you dropped it off because maybe it did happen while you had it. Having said that, they took a while to notice so it probably can't be proven one way or the other. Real drag because now its a game of he said/she said with nobody knowing what actually happened. May have happened while you had it but if left unattended at the dealership it just as easily could have happened there. If youre calm and confident you'll be fine... get angry and it might go the other way.
The next 5 posts will be about how "stealerships" try to rip you off at every opportunity etc etc.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

Too bad it wasnt noticed when you dropped it off because maybe it did happen while you had it. Having said that, they took a while to notice so it probably can't be proven one way or the other. Real drag because now its a game of he said/she said with nobody knowing what actually happened. May have happened while you had it but if left unattended at the dealership it just as easily could have happened there. If youre calm and confident you'll be fine... get angry and it might go the other way.
The next 5 posts will be about how "stealerships" try to rip you off at every opportunity etc etc.

This. Including the last sentence.

[justinnum1]

Call the service manager, tell him who you are and then just start laughing. Then hang up the phone.

[bavarianboar]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Call the service manager, tell him who you are and then just start laughing. Then hang up the phone.

Can you please do that for me?

[F87_LCI]

Unfortunately, they didn't make note of the damage when you dropped the car off so they can't prove it happened while you had it. My advice would be for you to calmly advise this particular service department that they should more closely follow their protocol on returned vehicles and then they wouldn't be in the situation they are now...which is that of being unable to prove that the damage occurred while the car was in your possession, not theirs. If they pursue/press the matter, I would also remind them that you can take your car elsewhere to be serviced.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Car was checked in with no damage reported by the dealer, once it left your hands its no longer your responsibility.

[adhrp]

Agree with the two posters above - its the dealership's job to do a thorough walk around in your presence and identify damage if any. After that it could be caused because of anything and there's truly no way to know so they cannot pass the blame around.

[kyouhakuteki]

The nerve of the dealership.

I'm sure some tech or whomever probably damaged it and trying to pawn it off on you. Shame on them.

I had my S2000 at a dealership for 2 days and "somehow" my rear wheel was damaged in a way that could've only happened if you slid into a curb sideways. I noticed it right away and confronted them about it and their excuse was "maybe it happened when it was being put in the car wash?" which is a load of bull.

Note to self: don't trust the dealer.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Car was checked in with no damage reported by the dealer, once it left your hands its no longer your responsibility.

This. Call them back and say, "The car was fine when it was checked in otherwise damage would have been noted at that time. Anything that happened after that is not my responsibility."

[Fenster]

If it's a lot of damage it seems the dealer would turn to his insurance. If it's too little to bother with insurance then why is he alienating a customer?

I don't understand why businesses (of any type) decide to piss off their customers for no good reason.

I mean if you brought it in on a tow truck with the engine in the back seat that's one thing, otherwise it's just a cost of doing business.

[dtn]

Originally Posted by Fenster

If it's a lot of damage it seems the dealer would turn to his insurance. If it's too little to bother with insurance then why is he alienating a customer?

I don't understand why businesses (of any type) decide to piss off their customers for no good reason.

I mean if you brought it in on a tow truck with the engine in the back seat that's one thing, otherwise it's just a cost of doing business.

I was told by multiple people at dealerships during casual conversations that the deductible for an average BMW dealership is in the $10K ballpark. So most damage outside of catastrophic is pretty much out of pocket.

That being said, that really blows op. I hope it gets resolved in your favor. Makes me really appreciate the good service we have in our area. They are still cut throat on selling, but the service is excellent.

[snowghost]

Hertz in Munich did this to me last August with a 320d. Mailed me a 500 Euro bill. Luckily I had taken pics right before dropping it off.

Took my lawyer buddy a couple letters, pic and the threat of suing to get them to go away.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Agree with the two posters above - its the dealership's job to do a thorough walk around in your presence and identify damage if any. After that it could be caused because of anything and there's truly no way to know so they cannot pass the blame around.

^This. I do this with both my car and their car at pick up and drop off. Both parties get a verbal confirmation in person that both cars are ok or not ok. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

[Mobster1983]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

This. Call them back and say, "The car was fine when it was checked in otherwise damage would have been noted at that time. Anything that happened after that is not my responsibility."

Exactly. Although I am curious as to what kind of damage it is. Did they say? Was it something major? Or just some scratches.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by LagunaSecaBlue

Unfortunately, they didn't make note of the damage when you dropped the car off so they can't prove it happened while you had it. My advice would be for you to calmly advise this particular service department that they should more closely follow their protocol on returned vehicles and then they wouldn't be in the situation they are now...which is that of being unable to prove that the damage occurred while the car was in your possession, not theirs. If they pursue/press the matter, I would also remind them that you can take your car elsewhere to be serviced.

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Car was checked in with no damage reported by the dealer, once it left your hands its no longer your responsibility.

Originally Posted by adhrp

Agree with the two posters above - its the dealership's job to do a thorough walk around in your presence and identify damage if any. After that it could be caused because of anything and there's truly no way to know so they cannot pass the blame around.

Originally Posted by chiefneil

This. Call them back and say, "The car was fine when it was checked in otherwise damage would have been noted at that time. Anything that happened after that is not my responsibility."

^^ all of these

[Fenster]

Originally Posted by dtn

I was told by multiple people at dealerships during casual conversations that the deductible for an average BMW dealership is in the $10K ballpark. So most damage outside of catastrophic is pretty much out of pocket.

$10k, wow. That would change the equation a bit.

[Jparker82]

Originally Posted by bavarianboar

Picked up my car from service yesterday, I live about an hour from the dealership.

I bought my car from the same dealership. They had to work on the car twice to get the issues resolved. I had a loaner car for roughly 2 weeks and put about 600 miles on it (two round trips to the dealer included).

Everything was good yesterday when I dropped it off and picked my car.

Today morning there is a voicemail from SA that they found roof damage on the loaner car. They had not notices this before according to them.

I smell some foul play here, because they probably think I cannot go there again to see the car. I am not aware of any damage. I always park away from tall trees, and have a covered spot at my apartment. Never had any damage in the last 4 years living in the same neighborhood and workplace. I did not make far away trips (or parked in random places) during this 2 week duration either.

Any advice? How should I deal with this?

Thanks guys!

The dealer won't do crap about it. They can't prove you did it and they have a body shop where it can be fixed practically free.
Trust me I am a retired dealer. Hell I've had customers go on a test drive and smash up a car and just hop in the car and leave. If you can't prove they did it they are screwed. I am surprised the deal even called.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by kyouhakuteki

The nerve of the dealership.

I'm sure some tech or whomever probably damaged it and trying to pawn it off on you. Shame on them.

I had my S2000 at a dealership for 2 days and "somehow" my rear wheel was damaged in a way that could've only happened if you slid into a curb sideways. I noticed it right away and confronted them about it and their excuse was "maybe it happened when it was being put in the car wash?" which is a load of bull.

Note to self: don't trust the dealer.

see last line in post #2.

[gerbs]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Car was checked in with no damage reported by the dealer, once it left your hands its no longer your responsibility.

This is correct.. don't let them tug you around.

[tntsE90]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Car was checked in with no damage reported by the dealer, once it left your hands its no longer your responsibility.

I think this is correct.

If they inspected it when you returned it then it might be a different story. Too much variables can be factor in if they noticed it the next day and called you.

Anyway, I would suggest to the OP to called your Insurance company and explain the entire situation. Don't be surprised if the dealership threaten to sue you. This is why we all (or least most of us) buy auto insurance, let the Insurance companies handle it if it goes to that.

[Mobster1983]

Originally Posted by dtn

I was told by multiple people at dealerships during casual conversations that the deductible for an average BMW dealership is in the $10K ballpark. So most damage outside of catastrophic is pretty much out of pocket.

This is probably correct. Many businesses (mine included) have a much higher deductible to keep costs down. Mine is also $10k, so if anything happens less than that, we pay out of pocket. Insurance is only used for the catastrophic events.

That said, still would like to see pics of what the dealer is talking about.