Service at different dealership

Just bought a new 528i at a dealership about 15 miles from my home. Much better price than the dealership that's only 2 miles from home. I would much rather service the car closer to home, but I'm concerned that I might not get the same service level than the dealership that sold me the car. Anybody have experience or thoughts on this subject - buying from one dealership and servicing from another?

Originally Posted by ssolomon1

Just bought a new 528i at a dealership about 15 miles from my home. Much better price than the dealership that's only 2 miles from home. I would much rather service the car closer to home, but I'm concerned that I might not get the same service level than the dealership that sold me the car. Anybody have experience or thoughts on this subject - buying from one dealership and servicing from another?

Usually a dealership is composed of three businesses that generally operate independent of each other: sales, parts, service. The BMW dealerships in my area are no different.

If the person running the service "department" (remember, it is likely an independent business, or at least treated as such) isn't inclined to give you the highest level of service regardless of where you purchased your vehicle, then his department will suffer.

Now, the service department at the BMW dealership nearest to me has made special concessions for those purchasing from the dealership's sales department, but they are minor. For example, they will prioritize loaner vehicles to those who purchased from their sales department over those who did not. But again, these sorts of things are minor.

I, and others I know, have always received excellent service from my nearest dealership (BMW of Pleasant Grove) regardless of where we purchased our vehicles.

Originally Posted by cordoor

Usually a dealership is composed of three businesses that generally operate independent of each other: sales, parts, service. The BMW dealerships in my area are no different.

If the person running the service "department" (remember, it is likely an independent business, or at least treated as such) isn't inclined to give you the highest level of service regardless of where you purchased your vehicle, then his department will suffer.

Now, the service department at the BMW dealership nearest to me has made special concessions for those purchasing from the dealership's sales department, but they are minor. For example, they will prioritize loaner vehicles to those who purchased from their sales department over those who did not. But again, these sorts of things are minor.

I, and others I know, have always received excellent service from my nearest dealership (BMW of Pleasant Grove) regardless of where we purchased our vehicles.

Bingo.

Back end of the house usually carries the front. There are examples of pickup for service if you buy there, etc. But no dealer in their right mind would turn away service.

"Now, the service department at the BMW dealership nearest to me has made special concessions for those purchasing from the dealership's sales department, but they are minor. For example, they will prioritize loaner vehicles to those who purchased from their sales department over those who did not. But again, these sorts of things are minor."

Not so minor if you must have a loaner quickly.

Originally Posted by Mikez38

"Now, the service department at the BMW dealership nearest to me has made special concessions for those purchasing from the dealership's sales department, but they are minor. For example, they will prioritize loaner vehicles to those who purchased from their sales department over those who did not. But again, these sorts of things are minor."

Not so minor if you must have a loaner quickly.

True.

But it can be costly if your local sales department was thousands more than the best offer you received from a not-so-local sales department as mine was.

I've never had to do this because my local service department has always had loaners available, but I'll bet they could be enticed by $100-$200 to bump me to the top of the priority list if I really needed it. Still much cheaper.

Really, the local sales department just needs to man up and get my business by being competitive with their best offers. I would be willing to pay $500 more to stay local, but not thousands more.

By servicing at the dealership where I purchased, I am guaranteed a BMW loaner, plus valet service. If I go to a different dealer, I get an Enterprise rental car, and obviously no valet. Luckily, the service at my dealership is excellent, so there is really no contest.

There are many BMW dealers in my area. I use a dealer closer to home for service, and they seemed to really want the business. They asked if they could "officially" change my default dealer to them. BMW loaners have never been a problem (not Enterprise). The competition around here helps, I'm sure.

My servicing dealer treats me very well, but they've never asked where I buy my cars from which by the way isn't them.

Originally Posted by cordoor

True.

But it can be costly if your local sales department was thousands more than the best offer you received from a not-so-local sales department as mine was.

I've never had to do this because my local service department has always had loaners available, but I'll bet they could be enticed by $100-$200 to bump me to the top of the priority list if I really needed it. Still much cheaper.

Really, the local sales department just needs to man up and get my business by being competitive with their best offers. I would be willing to pay $500 more to stay local, but not thousands more.

I completely agree with you. My local dealer just sucks for sales. I went to Chicago and got 3.2 grand more for trade in and got the new car for invoice plus 400 which included weather mats. If it was $500 difference, I would have stayed with my local dealer too !

If anybody cares to know my local dealership name, its Enterprise BMW, Appleton, WI.

Originally Posted by cordoor

Really, the local sales department just needs to man up and get my business by being competitive with their best offers. I would be willing to pay $500 more to stay local, but not thousands more.

^^^ this is reasonable, clear minded thinking.

Does your local BMW dealership really refuse to sell you cars for MORE than another dealer???

Perhaps they don't believe you're buying really somewhere else?

I'm a businessman and I can understand drawing lines with customers but if I had a serious customer who was willing to actually pay more money to do business with me versus one one of my true competitors (another BMW retailer),,, well, I think they seriously need to re-think their business purpose...

I think there's like 20 BMW dealerships within 1 hour of my place in brooklyn. There's another 20 if i include my apt. in manhattan.

I can almost throw a baseball to the dealership closest to me in bklyn but I would never buy a car from them because they suck and their service is lazy. Instead I go all the way to the ass end of New Jersey because they're really cool with me. Helps that I know the owners but I love the way they do business. The retail car business generally sucks and I hear people talk **** about my dealership too...

When I lived in Northern Illinois (IL/WI state line near the lake), there were about 5 Lexus dealerships either within 15 miles of my house, or just a mile or two off my commute (50 mile commute 1-way). Instead of going to them for service, I drove 50 miles in the opposite direction to go back to the dealer I purchased from. IMHO, if you went to one dealer because they did well by you in the sales dept, you should reward them by sticking with them for service. Most dealerships make their money off of service, not new sales.

Considering it's only 15 miles and unless there were problems with the level of service, I would most definately go back to your selling dealership. If on the other hand, their service dept treats your poorly, then I would go elsewhere.

Originally Posted by quackbury

By servicing at the dealership where I purchased, I am guaranteed a BMW loaner, plus valet service. If I go to a different dealer, I get an Enterprise rental car, and obviously no valet. Luckily, the service at my dealership is excellent, so there is really no contest.

This is true among most dealerships here in LA. The only perk in buying a car from the same local dealership as the one for your service needs is the priority to access their loner fleet. But my local dealer is so busy, nothing guarantees a loner these days.