12-01-2015, 03:54 PM | #1 |
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Yuck @ loaner car experience!
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 |
12-01-2015, 04:17 PM | #2 |
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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.
Last edited by shark715; 12-02-2015 at 01:23 PM.. |
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12-01-2015, 07:18 PM | #3 |
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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
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12-01-2015, 07:33 PM | #4 |
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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!
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12-01-2015, 07:41 PM | #5 |
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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.
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12-01-2015, 07:45 PM | #6 | |
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#FirstWorldPRoblems indeed.
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12-01-2015, 07:50 PM | #8 |
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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.
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12-01-2015, 08:19 PM | #10 |
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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.
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12-02-2015, 12:15 AM | #13 |
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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.
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12-02-2015, 03:18 AM | #14 |
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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
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12-02-2015, 07:40 AM | #15 |
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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. |
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12-02-2015, 01:11 PM | #17 |
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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.
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12-02-2015, 01:33 PM | #18 | |
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12-02-2015, 01:34 PM | #19 |
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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. |
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12-02-2015, 02:16 PM | #20 | |
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12-02-2015, 04:06 PM | #21 | |
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12-02-2015, 04:07 PM | #22 |
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