Brecht in San Diego -- $795

 

My clear bra was just installed by the guy who does the installs for East Bay BMW...but my MINI wasn't his first. He did a good job. And he did do the fog lights...so we'll see if they turn yella.

 

I was at my local BMW dealer getting my annual oil change on my Z3 (I have a Mini also) and noticed something new while visiting the Mini store. A brochure was taped on each new Mini on the showroom floor offering a protectall finish for $500.00. No need to wax for 7 years, it said. Waxing my cars is part of the fun. This is nothing but additional dealer profit.

 

I love the "extra" options the dealer is desperately trying to sell to every customer
What a rip off...
I would not accept any "option" from the dealer. They are not doing you a favor ofering something and don't care about your car's longevity. They just simply want to make money on ridiculously marked up crap.
Just give me the F'n car and don't try to screw me.

 

The product I got taken in by was called AutoArmor. About $500 with the promise of not needing to wax. I've had my MINI for 2 years now. I can say that I've never seen evidence that I've needed to wax (i.e., I've never had water not bead on the car), but I've waxed (with Epic) regularly anyway (twice a year) and I use Hydro at least every other wash. So, I don't think I've ever given my wax a chance to fully weather off.

For sure, however, the product does nothing to protect from paint chips and swirl marks.

 

I have an appointment Tuesday morning to install a 3M clear bra. Priced at $180.00 for a 12 inch install and $229.00 for 18 inches. This shop has 30 years experience and has done several cars for me. Includes warranty. Also, we are doing a 15% tint on the sunroof. Cost for that is $60.00 for both sections. When you arrive at this business you usually see several cars sitting there dropped off by dealerships for clear bra or tinting. Shop around folks. For several hundred dollars over what I am paying, the dealership takes the car over and brings it back.

 

They put this crap ("Perma Plate") on every car, and install a LoJack ($895) to boot. Every car on the lot have these two items listed and included in the total. on the Dealer's Asking Price sheet. The graciously mark "waived" next to "Added Markup". Whoo Hoo!

If the stuff cost anywhere near $795 for materials and application, then they are idiots. But, of course, they aren't, and the stuff probably costs $9.95 and another $15 bucks for an hour of the car washing dude's time. So, they put it on every car in advance so that they can avoid prep time that might interfere with making a sale. No, they don't retrieve the LoJack either if you don't pay for it. (It's not "activated".)

The General Manager of Brecht BMW/Mini basically admitted that they do this in lieu of jacking up the price above list. "At least you get something for your money with us vs. other dealers." That's a direct quote.

After I objected to the usual time-wasting sales techniques and called the GM to explain to him why he'd just lost a sale, I suggested that I might still purchase a car from them if they could take off the crap and conclude the transaction with a minimum of BS. He agreed to remove the extras and sent the salesman 30 miles to pick me up.

They had the gall to beg me for a positive ("two fives") review when Mini calls, offering bribes of "lifestyle" merchandise and followed-up with a begging letter. I have a mind to forward the letter to Mini to illustrate how useless any customer-satisfaction survey results are.

Not sure if Mini ever called, but if so, they lucked-out. They'd have gotten my standard "I don't take survey calls" response. I got a couple of such calls, but neither identified themselves as Mini - just as "such and such survey firm".

Love the car, so far. Hate the dealership. Hate the one-dealer-per-market monopoly which leaves dealers basically unaccountable.