[geep81]

Dropped off my M235 to service today to investigate the clunk noise. They provided me a loaner 528, which after driving for a few minutes I discovered reeked of cigarettes. Car only had 1400 miles on it. So I asked them if I could bring back and exchange it, and they give me a base model 320. Ugh.

It stinks going from an awesome car to something that is so boring. From a 50k car to a 30k car, you really notice the difference! And that 528 was also underwhelming, the interior looks and feels the same as the M235 - I expected better!

To top it off it's end of the day and I didn't get any news about the status of my car. And I've only had the car 3 weeks to top it off even more.

First BMW service trip gets a

[shark715]

I've had plenty of experience with loaner cars at a number of BMW dealers. Their loaner fleets tend to be "base" cars with not a lot of options, and what they give you seems to be a function of what's available, not the value of the vehicle you are having serviced. I've had the same experience with Mercedes and Audi.

[Cyberdemon]

Just be glad you aren't one of the poor people who has to drive a base model 320 on a daily basis.

The horror.

#firstworldproblems

[3.0L]

When I take my BMW in for service, my wife is waiting nearby in our Mercedes. When I take our Mercedes in for service, my wife is waiting nearby in our Bimmer. Heh!

[Cyberdemon]

To make you feel better, Nissan once promised me a loaner when I brought my car in and they didn't have one. When I pointed out I couldn't leave the car without the loaner, they pulled around a 1987 Sentra XE.

Needless to say, I took it and then proceeded to drive it like the Dukes of Hazzard. Yee haw.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by geep81

Dropped off my M235 to service today to investigate the clunk noise. They provided me a loaner 528, which after driving for a few minutes I discovered reeked of cigarettes. Car only had 1400 miles on it. So I asked them if I could bring back and exchange it, and they give me a base model 320. Ugh.

It stinks going from an awesome car to something that is so boring. From a 50k car to a 30k car, you really notice the difference! And that 528 was also underwhelming, the interior looks and feels the same as the M235 - I expected better!

To top it off it's end of the day and I didn't get any news about the status of my car. And I've only had the car 3 weeks to top it off even more.

First BMW service trip gets a

I prefer to think that my 2-series has just as nice an interior as a 5-series.

#FirstWorldPRoblems indeed.

[aerostar]

I'm surprised you didn't threaten to sue.

[Transfer]

I had a 528i loaner 2 years ago and you're better off in the 320i. The 528i was a powerless wallowing whale and I agree the interior is no better than a 2 or a 3. I'd rather have a gutless smaller car than that behemoth.

[RWDdrifter]

It's better
to prefer the car you own
over the one they loan you
rather than the other way around.

[TiM235i]

My dealer has gone a full range of experiences with loaners, from the best with an M Roadster to the worst with a Dodge Caliber. Trust me, five minutes in the Dodge and you will beg for a 320i.

[uberspeed]

Originally Posted by RWDdrifter

It's better
to prefer the car you own
over the one they loan you
rather than the other way around.

Great perspective.

[Merc for hire]

last time i needed a loaner, I got a Kia Soul
Oh the joy!

[TBro2002]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I had a 528i loaner 2 years ago and you're better off in the 320i. The 528i was a powerless wallowing whale and I agree the interior is no better than a 2 or a 3. I'd rather have a gutless smaller car than that behemoth.

I was a a BMW driving event two weeks ago. I got to drive the 320, 328 and 528 on a couple of laps of an autocross course. I was not at all impressed with driving the 528.

[AUSf22]

When I took my 228i in for a checkup BMW gave me the LCI F20 125i, definitely made me miss my car. I don't think there are many cars in the BMW lineup that drives better than the f22 chassis.. unless they loaned you an M car then that is a different story

[MikeRR]

Poor you:
One of my near relatives got a Fiat 500 Abarth at Ferrari when he brought in his 599 and at Porsche a Golf Diesel... what should he say about it?
We also get a Lancia when we bring in our 2014 Jeep SRT8 for service.

They are just loaner cars. Also can you imagine what kind of fleet of loaner cars a dealer would need if everyone would like to have the exact same car as loaner? It's just not possible.

[scrape1]

As long as it gets me home and back to the dealer.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by TBro2002

I was a a BMW driving event two weeks ago. I got to drive the 320, 328 and 528 on a couple of laps of an autocross course. I was not at all impressed with driving the 528.

The base 5-series has never been a particularly involving car. Certainly my Mom's '83 528e was a LOOOOONG way from being "The Ultimate Driving Machine". It was a very nice German Buick. Which is pretty much what the current 528i is as well.

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by geep81

Dropped off my M235 to service today to investigate the clunk noise. They provided me a loaner 528, which after driving for a few minutes I discovered reeked of cigarettes. Car only had 1400 miles on it. So I asked them if I could bring back and exchange it, and they give me a base model 320. Ugh.

It stinks going from an awesome car to something that is so boring. From a 50k car to a 30k car, you really notice the difference! And that 528 was also underwhelming, the interior looks and feels the same as the M235 - I expected better!

To top it off it's end of the day and I didn't get any news about the status of my car. And I've only had the car 3 weeks to top it off even more.

First BMW service trip gets a

Moving up in the BMW lineup gives you more options for a better interior, many do not take advantage of it. They get the 5 series for the size and that's it. BMW's standard interior is pretty average. My parents are retirement age and bought a Lincoln. That interior blows away BMWs standard fair.

[shark715]

One of the guys I work with has a new 528 and I've driven it several times.

It's not the car I would buy, but it's not exactly a slug either...just needs lots of motivation with the gas pedal. The engine has a surprising amount of power for what it is, you just need to get it up above 3000 RPM. Take a look at the 0-60 times quoted on BMW's website. Again, pretty remarkable for what it is.

For a real treat, take a test drive in a 550i. No doubt it's a much larger car than most on this thread would be interested in, but it's so darn quick off the line that it will almost certainly being a smile to your face. Nothing like having 445 horsepower on tap with that fast shifting 8 speed trans.

[RWDdrifter]

Originally Posted by shark715

For a real treat, take a test drive in a 550i. No doubt it's a much larger car than most on this thread would be interested in, but it's so darn quick off the line that it will almost certainly being a smile to your face. Nothing like having 445 horsepower on tap with that fast shifting 8 speed trans.

+1. I had a 550i loaner car for two days about a year ago. It ran like a scalded cat. It's a big heavy car but its V8 is powerful enough to yield 0-60 in 5 sec or so. Far better than most loaners. Too big and heavy for me. It felt detached from the road. But I might prefer it to other cars in its class.

[geep81]

Originally Posted by shark715

I've had plenty of experience with loaner cars at a number of BMW dealers. Their loaner fleets tend to be "base" cars with not a lot of options, and what they give you seems to be a function of what's available, not the value of the vehicle you are having serviced. I've had the same experience with Mercedes and Audi.

When I took my Mercedes in (I had the CLA) I received: 2 brand new body C-class', with a bunch of options, a E350 that was pretty well equipped, and 1 CLA that had less than mine. My experience was always pretty nice loaners from MB!

[geep81]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Just be glad you aren't one of the poor people who has to drive a base model 320 on a daily basis.

The horror.

#firstworldproblems

I actually like it more than the 528(I think that was it) they gave me at first. It's more fun to drive.