[muditrawat]

So my first scheduled maintenance service is due very soon. I spoke to the BMW downtown dealership (where I purchased my vehicle from) and I'm surprised to hear that I can't get a loaner vehicle as it is my 1st service and its only a 2-3 hour job. For such services, they would only provide a shuttle service which will only drop and pick me from a downtown location. As I work in Mississauga, technically I either have to work from home or take a day off if I want to use their services on a week day.

I'm pretty sure when I was looking to buy a car, part of the sales pitch was that as this will be "your showroom", I will be always be provided with loaner cars and I will never have to worry about things like that. Someone in the service center said the same thing when I went in to for a 3 hour job to fix the "Drive Terrain malfunction" error a couple of months back.

When I quoted what I was told, I got a response that as this is not part of your contract and the person who sold you the car has left BMW (and has also misinformed you on our car loaner policy) you would not be given a loaner. And for future loaner cars for certain services, you will have to pay a $35/day fee.

Anyone had similar experience and know what is the official policy on this? I could technically work from home and work around not having a loaner car, but I feel like I was lied to when the car was sold by one of the biggest dealerships in Toronto!

[M2Cmtl]

isn't there a dealer in Mississauga? I know MINI would charge you 50$ per day if the car was in for less then a day. I will see with BMW in a few months

[bobblehead]

that's true. bmw toronto implemented this rule about 3+ yrs ago. If regular maintenance service is required, they will not give you a free loaner. However, if the car is in service for warranty which may take 1 day or more, then they will give you a free loaner until the car is repaired.

[lighthousemoon]

That is strange. I've always got loaners for anytime I take my car in. Once I took it in for a quick check, they gave me a great X1 - my wife loved it and it was for a few hours and no charge at all.

[TheWhiteStig]

The dealership I used to go to charges for loaner too, they didn't have that policy at the beginning then applied it few years ago. I stopped going there, including the purchase of my new 428i.

[muditrawat]

Originally Posted by f31mtl

isn't there a dealer in Mississauga? I know MINI would charge you 50$ per day if the car was in for less then a day. I will see with BMW in a few months

Yeah I'm just going to give it to the Mississauga BMW which is very close to my office and not deal with the BMW Toronto in the future. I only called them coz apparently I was supposed to get better treatment than other dealership as I purchased the car from them.

Technically I can work around my schedule and use the shuttle service and all that but as a customer I'm extremely disappointed with the way they deal with the situation. They should tell potential customers these nuances when they are trying to make a sale or not talk about it at all. Definitely not use it as a selling point IMO.

[muditrawat]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteStig

The dealership I used to go to charges for loaner too, they didn't have that policy at the beginning then applied it few years ago. I stopped going there, including the purchase of my new 428i.

Congrats on the new ride! Still to see white 428 in TO, but I can only imagine how amazing it looks. Saw a Blue and Red so far and the car looks stunning!

[TheWhiteStig]

Originally Posted by muditrawat

Congrats on the new ride! Still to see white 428 in TO, but I can only imagine how amazing it looks. Saw a Blue and Red so far and the car looks stunning!

Thanks! My car is still in production; counting down the delivery day. . It was a tough choice on color for me, my last two cars were black and wife says it's time for a new image. So alpine white it is.

[carzaddict]

wow thank god dealers dont charge for loaners here in the states

[bobblehead]

just matter of time

Originally Posted by carzaddict

wow thank god dealers dont charge for loaners here in the states

[focal]

is it a corporate store policy? Maybe the independents will treat you better.

[muditrawat]

Originally Posted by focal

is it a corporate store policy? Maybe the independents will treat you better.

I don't know if the Downtown TO is a corporate store. I always thought it was an independent franchised dealership.

[focal]

downtown is definitely corporate

[muditrawat]

Originally Posted by focal

downtown is definitely corporate

I just looked into it. the TO downtown location is owned by the Quinn family and they own some other dealerships too.

http://www.bmwtoronto.ca/about-us/qu...tomotive-group

Maybe I'm getting the corporate vs. franchised dealership concept wrong here.

For me a BMW corporate store is run by BMW, by employees hired by BMW (or on their payroll) and the sale/services are directly handled by BWW, there is no 3rd party or middle man/dealership involved in the interaction and transaction. A franchised store would be run by an independent company/person who has paid BMW to own the rights to run a BMW store and where they can sell BMW cars, accessories, services, etc (sure their are other stipulations) which are bought directly from BMW. I think the Mercedes showroom downtown Toronto and in Newmarket is purely Corporate store owned by the parent company.

[greengoose]

Scheduled Maintanence such as oil change, filter change, brake fluid. This Service takes no more than 2 hours max, given that it is noted upon appointment booking that you will be waiting. I don't think any dealers give a loaner for this.

They will definetely provide a loaner if your car has to be in longer for any reason..

I don't think there is anything wrong with this policy or that it unreasonable by any means, however, the SA should of noted this and not made false promises. Mayhe he knew he had no long term plans to work there and just figured he'd say whatever it takes to get the sale - and get paid. Nature of the business - these guys dont get paid unless they make a sale so there are definetly indviduals out there who will do whatever they feel it takes to get a deal...

[carzaddict]

im pretty sure the rules are independent.

the dealerships pay for the cars and own them outright.....most are VERY anal about who they give cars to. they will only give cars to their own customers. If its something small like an oil change, they wont give you anything.

one of my old Jag dealerships didnt have any loaners, but would reimburse me to pay for a loaner car.

[Temptazn]

You're not alone on this, booked a service appointment for January last week and got told the same thing. Biggest slap to the face was that I got a email from them this week in regards to loaners, apparently they are changing their policies. They are going to start charging a $25 admin fee to book a loaner car, but thankfully its $25 per repair order and not a daily fee. What a cash grab, considering I get a loaner free of charge when I get service done on my Acura....

[focal]

wow...didn't know...always thought it would be a corporate location.

Originally Posted by muditrawat

I just looked into it. the TO downtown location is owned by the Quinn family and they own some other dealerships too.

http://www.bmwtoronto.ca/about-us/qu...tomotive-group

Maybe I'm getting the corporate vs. franchised dealership concept wrong here.

For me a BMW corporate store is run by BMW, by employees hired by BMW (or on their payroll) and the sale/services are directly handled by BWW, there is no 3rd party or middle man/dealership involved in the interaction and transaction. A franchised store would be run by an independent company/person who has paid BMW to own the rights to run a BMW store and where they can sell BMW cars, accessories, services, etc (sure their are other stipulations) which are bought directly from BMW. I think the Mercedes showroom downtown Toronto and in Newmarket is purely Corporate store owned by the parent company.

[greengoose]

There are no corporate run BMW retailers in the GTA.

[UltimateB]

I got this email:

"Starting January 2, 2014, the Service Departments at Calgary BMW, BMW Gallery, and MINI Calgary will be introducing a $24.95 administration fee for use of our Service Vehicles. This will be a per repair order fee (not a daily fee). Efforts will always be made to provide a BMW Service Vehicle however, during peak periods other make vehicles may be provided. Similar to a rental car arrangement, customers will be responsible for fuel, tickets and damages (unless Customer has insurance coverage for Service/ Rental Vehicles). All drivers of Service Vehicles must be at least 25 years of age. These Service Vehicles are available by appointment only."

EDIT: Someone a few posts above mentioned this.

[dopie]

My understanding is that each individual dealership sets its own car loaner policy. There's no BMW wide policy on loaners

[iagafoor]

Parkview Toronto charges $20/day for loaners..Mississauga BMW charge $35/repair for loaners..or free with service manager approval..