Stealership tried to screw me over: please read

So last night, I saw that my passenger side xenon was out. So I decided to bring it out to the only dealership around here open today (Sunday). Since tomorrow is July 4th, I wanted to get it done ASAP. I sit there waiting, then the service advisor comes up to me and says they refuse to fix it because I had aftermarket parts installed on my car. So I ask "what?" and demanded that I talk to the technician.

He brings me to the service area and this dumbass looking technician comes up to me and says that the angel eyes I had installed made the module and the ignitor go bad on the projector. They explained that they put a new bulb in and it still didn't work.

So I sat there explaining to them that it couldn't have been the angel eyes because they're a completely different system, different harness, and all the connections. I showed them all the wires and connections. And they said "as much as you like to believe that it isn't, we can't take that risk, BMWNA will kill us, it's our ass".

I asked them to prove to me that the angel eyes caused the problem. And they avoided my question, continuing to explain that it shorted out the ignitor and module. I asked them to prove it at least 6 or 7 times until the service advisor finally said "ok, we can run a diagnostics, but you'll have to pay for it". So I said "no, this is ****in' ridiculous, prove it to me, it's under warranty". Then the irate advisor told me to come back tomorrow and talk to the manager.

As I left, the technician pulled my car up and the service advisor told him "just let him go, he won't come back". I look at him and said "what? I'll be talking to your manager tomorrow".

Should I even go back? Or just try to go to another dealer? I'm driving with one headlight right now, and I do a lot of night driving. I don't even think they're allowed to let me leave like that, since it's a driving hazard. Anyone have the link to the SEMA law passed about warranties?

Vista BMW in Pompano Beach, FL. Don't EVER go there to get your car serviced. Incompetant and rude. The service advisor didn't even know the color of my car, he said to the technician "it's that dark blue car over there".

-Ken

Hell yes you should go back and talk to the manager. Jerks like that shouldnt be allowed to get away with that kind of crap. Keep us posted.

Some of you guys are idiots.

http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=8124

that's total bull. they probably thought you were some sucker and didn't know anything about your own car. my dealership does that to me a lot.

Originally Posted by kpeng

The service advisor didn't even know the color of my car, he said to the technician "it's that dark blue car over there".

-Ken

OMG! Now that's inexcusable. BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT!

ugh, thats why i wont install that stuff.

try to simmer down and avoid using foul language when you go back to talk to his manager. you lose serious credibility when you appear as a lunatic with a potty mouth. you will fare much better if you keep your cool and provide documents that back your case.
i almost lost my mind earlier this year when i bought my '05 325. they tried to pull every stunt in the book and i wanted to firebomb their sorry excuse of a dealership. i kept my cool and CC'd an attorney friend of mine and it worked wonders. i've taken the foul language, loose canon approach in the past and it got me nowhere. sorry for the lecture, but just trying to help. good luck.

Originally Posted by kpeng

So last night, I saw that my passenger side xenon was out. So I decided to bring it out to the only dealership around here open today (Sunday). Since tomorrow is July 4th, I wanted to get it done ASAP. I sit there waiting, then the service advisor comes up to me and says they refuse to fix it because I had aftermarket parts installed on my car. So I ask "what?" and demanded that I talk to the technician.

He brings me to the service area and this dumbass looking technician comes up to me and says that the angel eyes I had installed made the module and the ignitor go bad on the projector. They explained that they put a new bulb in and it still didn't work.

So I sat there explaining to them that it couldn't have been the angel eyes because they're a completely different system, different harness, and all the connections. I showed them all the wires and connections. And they said "as much as you like to believe that it isn't, we can't take that risk, BMWNA will kill us, it's our ass".

I asked them to prove to me that the angel eyes caused the problem. And they avoided my question, continuing to explain that it shorted out the ignitor and module. I asked them to prove it at least 6 or 7 times until the service advisor finally said "ok, we can run a diagnostics, but you'll have to pay for it". So I said "no, this is ****in' ridiculous, prove it to me, it's under warranty". Then the irate advisor told me to come back tomorrow and talk to the manager.

As I left, the technician pulled my car up and the service advisor told him "just let him go, he won't come back". I look at him and said "what? I'll be talking to your manager tomorrow".

Should I even go back? Or just try to go to another dealer? I'm driving with one headlight right now, and I do a lot of night driving. I don't even think they're allowed to let me leave like that, since it's a driving hazard. Anyone have the link to the SEMA law passed about warranties?

Vista BMW in Pompano Beach, FL. Don't EVER go there to get your car serviced. Incompetant and rude. The service advisor didn't even know the color of my car, he said to the technician "it's that dark blue car over there".

-Ken

hell yes go back... But how was the mechanic so sure your dde's caused the problem when they didnt do a diagnostic? Have them do the diagnostic and tell them IF your dde's caused the problem then you'll pay for the diagnostic. If it doesn't show the dde's caused the problem which we all know already, then your not paying for the diagnostic and you want your light fixed!

thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to go back tomorrow with a copy of that SEMA act.

-Ken

first get the car repaired at another dealer.
then bring proof back to the manager show him what
the real problem was.
after that ask him for the mech. service adviser and his
name and tell him your going to call bmwna and
file a complaint.
good luck

Originally Posted by bm2u

first get the car repaired at another dealer.
then bring proof back to the manager show him what
the real problem was.
after that ask him for the mech. service adviser and his
name and tell him your going to call bmwna and
file a complaint.
good luck

...and then firebomb

good idea bm2u. I'll probably end up doing that.

-Ken

doesnt it say something about any aftermarket parts void the warranty. The mechanics are right in a sense. Yea it probabaly didnt cause the bulb to blow, but you did install some aftermarket stuff

if there is an aftermarket part, they have to prove that it caused the problem though. they refused to even prove it to me.

-Ken

Take out your angel eyes and go to another dealer. Most dealers won't fix your light when they see aftermarket parts attached to it (even if it runs on a separate harness). I don't think they'll understand or even want to understand if you try to explain.

Exactly wrong.

Originally Posted by SollyD

doesnt it say something about any aftermarket parts void the warranty. The mechanics are right in a sense. Yea it probabaly didnt cause the bulb to blow, but you did install some aftermarket stuff

Originally Posted by Synonymous

Take out your angel eyes and go to another dealer. Most dealers won't fix your light when they see aftermarket parts attached to it (even if it runs on a separate harness). I don't think they'll understand or even want to understand if you try to explain.

I think that quote should read:
"Take out your modification and go to another dealer. Most dealers won't fix your car when they see aftermarket parts attached to anything. "

(If BMWNA is like other car manufacturers the following applies..)
If a dealership has done poor work in the past and built up a bad reputation with BMWNA with too many claims, they will start trying to rebuild that reputatation by denying any claims to BMWNA that they can... or that seems remotely reasonable. I would be willing to bet that's the case here since the advisor is already worried about what BMWNA will say. (or that their ass would be had )

I've never done the GAE (ghey angel eye) mod (sorry, couldn't resist, I don't like the things) but my guess is that you do actually deal with the xenon system and could do actual damage to it. So, even though they didn't prove it, their suspicions are reasonable to me. But, I think they wanted to charge you for a diagnostic to make more money only. They knew they couldn't prove anything. They needed a paying ticket today and not another warranty claim that wasn't a crystal-clear case to BMWNA. Sounds like you walked into the wrong dealership on the wrong day. Sorry to hear it and best of luck getting it resolved.

I agree with the suggestions above.

But the thing is, there is absolutely NO way an angel eyes kit can interfere with the xenons because none of the connections or power is related to it in any way. The only time it can interfere is during the installation process, knocking loose a connection or something. But that was months ago. First chance I get, I'm going to take it to another dealer, hopefully things can get resolved there.

-Ken

Funny thing just happened. My friend Ashley works at Vista as a receptionist. And she gave me the screename for the service advisor I dealt with today. Let's just say I'll keep it handy for now
-Ken