A local BMW dealership does oil changes for me on a reg. basis and I thought nothing of having them winterize my car. (I"m not mechanically enabled) The service gal called me on my cell & asked if I could possibly pick it up the next day as they had more on their plate than they thought. I told her no, that my appt. had been for 10 and it was already 5:30!! and that I didn't want to wait and have to drive another 60 miles. So when I pick it up, I'm halfway to home when I notice my temp. light was on. I stop and turn off the engine, the fan is going like crazy trying to cool the engine down. When it was cooler, I opened the cap and nothing come out...na da. I can't see anything with a flashlight even. I called the dealership and was told the service dept was closed til the next day. I simply asked for a salesman, told him what happened and BMW sent a tow truck to pick up my car. I was told that their machine hadn't worked quite right and I had a air bubble in my anti freeze. They did a free computer scan on it and it seemed ok. I asked for and they reluctantly gave me copies and a letter stating what they had done. I feel so lucky right now, because I could have fried my engine. And then, I would have had to sue some BMW folks. I'd never heard of an air bubble trapping anti freeze. I hope they weren't pulling my chain.

 

air bubble or the tech was in a hurry and didn't put enough (or any ) coolant in, which granted is in effect a giant air bubble. There is a process to a complete swtich of coolant fluid on the MINI its not just a drain and refill of the tank; to me sounds like tech was hurreid, didn't go through the whole proceedure and put your MINI at risk to get the car out by 5. This is precisely why you have a parking lot scoped out near the dealer, you drive a few blocks pop the bonnet give everything a once over and continue on your merry way. not that you'd have caught this (the coolant takes a while to move at low engine speeds) but it does add some piece of mind. Its a scary thought to think what could have happened glad you got lucky.

 

it's either imcompetence of the tech or getting rushed. could've been
both. regardless, ive had several issues like this before where i got
my various cars back, damaged from the dealer.

what ive learned is:
1. if they tell you they can't get it done by soso time, let them keep it.

2. always inspect car when you receive it back. even so, you can miss
something...but better sooner than later to catch it.

3. small problems are usually better left untouched unless you can fix
it yourself.

 

My BMW dealer won't even work on my MINI because it is not their franchise. Given that story, I don't think I'll be asking them to again anytime soon! Good heads up watching of the gauges.

 

Hmmm, maybe it would have been a good way to get a Brand New MINI.

It seems you did the right thing in stopping and having them tow it back. I would have to agree with the others too, this is the type of thing that happens when someone is rushed. Yeah they promised it but I would leave it with them and ask for compensation for not having it when promised instead.

 

Small problems?

 

If the service tech was rushed, it was the dealership's fault for over-scheduling, not mine for insisting that they get me out that day. They were supposed to have had my Mini done by 1:00, it was 5:30 before I could pick it up. I live quite a ways from town and felt that they should honor the verbal agreement of time. I have a business to conduct and lose money when "pros" decide that I can wait for whatever lame reason they might have. Instead, in the end, they had to pony up for a free tow, a free computer scan, a letter stating that they were at fault and a free car wash and wax job. I was being stubborn, yes. But I can't do a lot of the mech. stuff on my Mini and am forced to take it to a dealer that will handle it. I was lucky and I know it. But I figure they came out the loser (money wise) in the end.

 

Oh I know how you feel about not having a car back when promised.

And yes, either they overscheduled, or like being in the doctors waiting room, something came up that took far longer than originally planned for. What are you going to do?

Reality has it's own way, and never expect a car to be finished when first promised.

In a similar situation, my wife faces angry customers all the time, when a flight for her airline is late, or cancelled, or has a mechanical. No amount of talk, anger, or blustering will change a thing. Not one iota.

The similarity I'm aiming at, is that a car repair, like traveling by air, may very well take longer than expected. Feel free to vent, but it really changes nothing.

 

I've got over 20 service slips with small problems and weekly vists to my dealer. Then they had an accident, I'm afraid to go back, even for the big stuff.

 

the MINI coolant system is the worst I've ever seen, this speaking after replacing my radiator hoses. there's no way to fill the radiator directly, and you have to manually bleed the air out, plus you can't even see inside the overflow coolant tank, rediculous! no excuse for your dealership not doing it right though!