[tboooe]

So today I brought my car in for just standard oil and cabin filter. Great, 2 hours later I am home. I was reviewing the invoice and noticed that there is a line that says "Client reports windshield wiper inserts streaking.". The action was that my dealer replaced it under warranty.

The thing is I never talked about the wipers. In fact, I have never even used my wipers in the 15 months I've had my car. So is my dealer scamming BMW NA? I know it isnt a lot but if they do this sort of small warranty repair on a bunch of cars I am sure it all adds up.

[bimmercar]

my dealer always changes wipers with oil change. they need a "reason" to change the wipers, i assume you're under maintance

[lesnica]

When i went in for an oil change late last year the same thing was written on my invoice, i've probably had my windshield wipers replaced 2 times in the 3 years i owned the car. And i never even mention an issue with the wipers.

[alex2364]

How is it scamming? Wipers are covered under the maintenance plan and can be replaced once a year. My dealer usually replaces mine if it's been more than a year even if I don't say anything because it'll start streaking. They're trying to do you a favor so you don't need to come back a second time.

[ah3]

Heard from my CA you get a free pair of wipers every year under maintenance. They do need to put in a "reason" for the change to bill BMWNA.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by tboooe

So today I brought my car in for just standard oil and cabin filter. Great, 2 hours later I am home. I was reviewing the invoice and noticed that there is a line that says "Client reports windshield wiper inserts streaking.". The action was that my dealer replaced it under warranty.

The thing is I never talked about the wipers. In fact, I have never even used my wipers in the 15 months I've had my car. So is my dealer scamming BMW NA? I know it isnt a lot but if they do this sort of small warranty repair on a bunch of cars I am sure it all adds up.

While this is pretty small and I have had them replace things they said needed replacing(which is fine by me), my neighbor who had an auto shop and worked for several dealers was just a day ago telling me how they operate. He said, it is or was (since he worked at dealerships years ago) standard practice for them to "find" little jobs to add on. He said, they basically would not be doing anything bad to a car but would replace things that did not need replacing to add to the profit of the dealership.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by jgoens

While this is pretty small and I have had them replace things they said needed replacing(which is fine by me), my neighbor who had an auto shop and worked for several dealers was just a day ago telling me how they operate. He said, it is or was (since he worked at dealerships years ago) standard practice for them to "find" little jobs to add on. He said, they basically would not be doing anything bad to a car but would replace things that did not need replacing to add to the profit of the dealership.

Yeah thats what I figured. If all dealerships do this and given their volume of cars they see, I imagine this would add up to a lot of cost for BMW which they must recoup one way or another. In the end, the consumer probably ends up paying more for the car, products, service, etc.

[XRAVE]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Yeah thats what I figured. If all dealerships do this and given their volume of cars they see, I imagine this would add up to a lot of cost for BMW which they must recoup one way or another. In the end, the consumer probably ends up paying more for the car, products, service, etc.

Probabbly why they removed it for MY17

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by XRAVE

Probabbly why they removed it for MY17

What did BMW remove?

[Alamat]

Ah yes,....hail the almighty dollar!

[XRAVE]

Originally Posted by tboooe

What did BMW remove?

The reduced the maintenance program for MY17. It will go down to 3 years, 36 months and basically only include oil changes. You will no longer get wipers, brakes, rotors, clutches, etc.

[BM57]

Wiper blade replacement is not free in Canada unless you purchase what BMW Canada calls (Service Inclusive Plus). The Service Inclusive Plus is offered to new car buyers at the time of purchase for an additional charge and it covers replacement of front and rear brake pads and discs, replacement of clutch and replacement of wiper blades for the duration of the new Factory Warranty (4 years/80,000km in Canada).

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by XRAVE

The reduced the maintenance program for MY17. It will go down to 3 years, 36 months and basically only include oil changes. You will no longer get wipers, brakes, rotors, clutches, etc.

An odd move, as many other car makers are now including maintenance.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by tboooe

In fact, I have never even used my wipers in the 15 months I've had my car.

Such a California thing to say.

Plus wipers will deteriorate over time, regardless of whether or not you've been using them.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Such a California thing to say.

Plus wipers will deteriorate over time, regardless of whether or not you've been using them.

Depends what part of Cali...you know El Nino is here, for sure. Used my wipers more in three months than 3 years.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Such a California thing to say.

Plus wipers will deteriorate over time, regardless of whether or not you've been using them.

I will take that as a compliment!

[XRAVE]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

An odd move, as many other car makers are now including maintenance.

Very discouraging. A reason I went for a MY16 instead of MY17

[DG20]

I heard an advertisement on the radio saying that if you drive in to my local dealer (Center BMW), they'll replace your wipers for free, maybe some type of promotion that some dealers are having?

[CalCarNut]

My car is due for it's 1st oil change..I'll have to review the invoice and see if the wipers get replaced. I've used them a couple of times out here but they certainly aren't in 'need' of being replaced. For free, what the heck

[Beek]

Originally Posted by jgoens

While this is pretty small and I have had them replace things they said needed replacing(which is fine by me), my neighbor who had an auto shop and worked for several dealers was just a day ago telling me how they operate. He said, it is or was (since he worked at dealerships years ago) standard practice for them to "find" little jobs to add on. He said, they basically would not be doing anything bad to a car but would replace things that did not need replacing to add to the profit of the dealership.

Ex Partsman for Volvo here. All parts removed for warranty issues that were not immediately returned to Volvo for inspection were retained by dealer and kept available to be spot inspected quarterly by Volvo Parts Rep. Dealers caught cheating paid a lot more they ever would have stood to gain. Plenty of Tech's would do what you describe and many of them wound up working at the independent garages because of it.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by tboooe

So today I brought my car in for just standard oil and cabin filter. Great, 2 hours later I am home. I was reviewing the invoice and noticed that there is a line that says "Client reports windshield wiper inserts streaking.". The action was that my dealer replaced it under warranty.

The thing is I never talked about the wipers. In fact, I have never even used my wipers in the 15 months I've had my car. So is my dealer scamming BMW NA? I know it isnt a lot but if they do this sort of small warranty repair on a bunch of cars I am sure it all adds up.

I just had that too. I asked them to replace the wipers under normal maintenance, and that was the language they put in my invoice--I never complained about streaking; I just said "replace them".

Wipers are not covered under warranty--they are a normal wear and tear item. They are covered under the current 4/50 maintenance program, and that's the magic language to have them replaced.

BTW--even if you don't use your wipers in 15 months, the rubber can dry out and they would be in need of replacement.

Originally Posted by tboooe

What did BMW remove?

4/50 maintenance coverage for wipers (and brake pads).

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by SoCalDave

My car is due for it's 1st oil change..I'll have to review the invoice and see if the wipers get replaced. I've used them a couple of times out here but they certainly aren't in 'need' of being replaced. For free, what the heck

Just tell them to do it when you make your appointment.