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South Bay BMW
Torrance, CA
1,229 Reviews
This rating includes all dealership reviews, with more weight given to recent reviews.
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1,229 Reviews of South Bay BMW
March 07, 2012
I first bought my car in August of 2011 and I have been hooked to this place ever since. It is the most customer friendly dealership I have ever been to. The staff is amazing. I first bought a 650i in 2011 hooked to this place ever since. It is the most customer friendly dealership I have ever been to. The staff is amazing. I first bought a 650i in 2011 and recently decided to upgrade to an M6. Damien Watters was my sales representative and the whole process was quick and painless. He made it easy for me to test drive the vehicle, trade in my old vehicle, and most importantly, find financing for a reasonable APR. He handled everything with class. I couldn't have been any happier with the way things turned out. However, the best part of buying a car here is the VIP service treatment you get here. As soon as you drive up, there is someone there to greet you and show you to your maintenance service advisor. Also, the place has a terrific snack bar and waiting area that always has the best things on television (ESPN, CNN, etc.), and even a shoe shine area! The whole experience is amazing, while you are waiting to get your car serviced. Most importantly, they have a great staff of maintenance advisors. My advisor is Kevin Smuckler- extremely reliable, personable, and knowledgeable about cars. He takes care of me all the time and I have always left 100% satisfied. Just last month, I had to replace my brakes because they were squeaking pretty loud. I was already under warranty. I brought the car in, sat down with him for about 10 minutes, signed a few papers and he set me up with a shuttle ride back home, while leaving the car there. The next day, the job is done, and the car is ready for pick up. He will set me up with a shuttle pick up from my house back to the dealership just to pick up the car. That's huge! I highly recommend buying a car from here, also because of the free car washes for the life of the car...yes thats right, not 1 or 2 years after your purchase the car, but for the life of the car, as long as you own it! More
by Kensonite
Employees Worked With
Damien Watters, Kevin Smuckler
March 03, 2012
I walked into the dealership with my significant other. We were looked up and down and then the salesman walked away without even greeting us. Also, the woman sitting at the reception desk couldn't be bot We were looked up and down and then the salesman walked away without even greeting us. Also, the woman sitting at the reception desk couldn't be bothered to say "hi" or anything else. What happened to customer service? I came with the intention of buying an X5 and left with a horrible impression of this dealership. I will say one thing, their Mini department is great. I think the BMW sales team could learn a few tips from them about good customer service and GREETING a customer. More
by mjluvzcarz
Employees Worked With
N/A
March 02, 2012
I purchased a 335i coupe from Center BMW in August. This is my first BMW and the second time I was in for service. Both times I chose South Bay BMW due to location. My Service Consultant Frank Perri who was is my first BMW and the second time I was in for service. Both times I chose South Bay BMW due to location. My Service Consultant Frank Perri who was very nothing short of professional. The staff did excellent and timely work even with a delay caused by miscommunication on my end. Got the car finished and back to me clean and in excellent condition. The loaner provided for me both times was a 335 sedan that was clean and washed. I would definitely recommend South Bay BMW to anyone. -Fred More
by fred2012
Employees Worked With
Frank Perri
March 01, 2012
always welcoming and accommodating my requests have been dealing with Kevin Smuckler for few years now going beyond excellent job and always going the extra mile to make customer satisfied would definitiv dealing with Kevin Smuckler for few years now going beyond excellent job and always going the extra mile to make customer satisfied would definitively recommend dealing with him and the dealer More
by ramooza
Employees Worked With
kevin smuckler
January 31, 2012
Had many service problems that I brought my new car in for. Obsurd problems that would never happen on most any other vehicle that I could purchase. Most of these had to be repaired during the extended wa for. Obsurd problems that would never happen on most any other vehicle that I could purchase. Most of these had to be repaired during the extended warranty which cost us a minimum of $200/visit regarless. Module to light the headlamps went bad, they refused to fix it cause they could not find the problem. I drove for years on an intermittent headlamp until I found a private repair shop that would bill the insurance. The dealers excuse, was that when I brought it in they didn't see anything wrong. In the process the ignitors headlamp burned out the lamp given that it continued to fire when the lamp would not light which I had replaced. The tail lights shorted out and both assemblies had to be replaced, which they said was not covered by warranty even though I was well within the timeframe. BMW came up with a ground wire fix to keep it from happening again, but they never took responsibility for it. The sun shade broke twice during ownership. I was told it was not covered by extended warranty and is still broken today becuase only the dealer can fix a sunroof and I would never go back for any service, unless BMW is paying for it. Other issues: various engine leaks, front left and right window motors, engine mounts, sunroof leaks, overflow coolant container cracked, washer motor failed, returned after service with a loose spark plug wire which caused it to misfire, all belt tensioners had to be replaced and various over charging for maintenance service that cost 2 to 3 times the independant shop rates. More
by family_vic
Employees Worked With
Alex Caicedo
January 21, 2012
Only have gone to SB for service because of location. Have purchase 5 bmws, never from south bay. Way too many games they play. Their service costs are higher than any other dealer. You have to negotiate Have purchase 5 bmws, never from south bay. Way too many games they play. Their service costs are higher than any other dealer. You have to negotiate the price for service and they end up dropping their price 30%. Went in recently for air bag seat belt malfunction. It took4 hours to tell they found nothing for $175. I then drove with the tech who diagnosed the problem in 5 minutes. Had to then renogtiate the price for 15 minute fix. After wards my ipod port did not reconize my ipod which had worked fine until this time. They wanted another 175.00 to diagnose. If you are out of warranty go to an independent for half the price. More
by snickers1
Employees Worked With
service personnel
January 02, 2012
I purchased a new 2011 535i through European Delivery. When the car was delivered at the West Coast and through the dealer, it has a damaged rear bumper. They blamed it on VDC or port transportation and a When the car was delivered at the West Coast and through the dealer, it has a damaged rear bumper. They blamed it on VDC or port transportation and agreed to reimburse me for the $1600 repair I paid out of pocket and sort out the insurance paperwork through BMW; after it was done, my original salesperson (Phillipe Kahn) had left the dealership. After innumerable email communications and hiding that fact my salesperson was MIA for weeks, they said it was not their problem and refused to reimburse me for it. After four frustrating months, it appears this dealer has systemic management problems and should be avoided. Senior managers would not even return a phone message after someone spent $60K in their delearship. DO NOT BUY A EUROPEAN DELIVERY VEHICLE THROUGH THIS DEALER! An otherwise great experience has been ruined by their internet department whose sole motive is the quick flip/sale with no care about the customer after the sale. BMW USA has acknowledged they can do nothing from their end about this company in transition....evidently their lack of quality assurance and customer service. More
by emaurer
Employees Worked With
Phillipe Kahn, Chris Conway, Ben Majidi, Chris Boesin
December 12, 2011
Certain service and "quality management" staff at this dealership (they know who they are)are totally useless and unreliable, will tell you what you want to hear to get you off their back. They fo at this dealership (they know who they are)are totally useless and unreliable, will tell you what you want to hear to get you off their back. They follow up either by phone or email rarely, and only after you have them contacted numerous times first. The issue with the brakes on my wifes 328i started back in October and has now been forgotten. They put a car back on the road with dangerous brakes. The warranty was 1 day over and they wouldn't offer a "good faith" extension. They then wanted $4,000 to fix them. I contacted BMW Corporate, still no help. Between my wife and I we have owned 3 BMW's, 2 525's and now a 328. It will be the last I ever purchase so long as South Bay BMW is the closest dealer to my home. More
by ladriver
Employees Worked With
5
November 20, 2011
I am torn. I think their service department is great, but their sales department is horrendous. Long ago, I leased an X5 from them. A couple days after I drove the car off the lot, they called to say but their sales department is horrendous. Long ago, I leased an X5 from them. A couple days after I drove the car off the lot, they called to say that they screwed up the lease and charged too little. We buckled and just paid the difference per month when we should have given the car back. This was in 2002, and I forget the name of the salesperson. It wasn't Tim. September 2011, I test drove a car with Tim, and we talked numbers that were way too high. I thought I was an informed consumer, so I was really offended when Tim made a snide comment about how a lot of consumers do not know how deals work. Whatever. I was in no hurry. And he was right, I knew MUCH less than what I know now. So now it's time to shop for a car, and I contact Tim to help him out because he helped with the test drive. By this time, I made my own excel sheet that allows me to expect a range of lease rates based on the MSRP, selling price, MF, etc. With sites that tell me how much the car costs to the dealer, I was ready to negotiate. Tim calls and tells me he doesn't have the car I want. In the previous contacts, I clearly told him what an ideally equipped car is for me and a range of acceptable options because I figured their inventory would be limited. Anyway, Tim offers a lease rate, which I thought was appalling. So I told him politely that I would go another direction and make a deal with another dealership. Tim comments, "Well, I can assure you that you will have a much less delightful experience there than at South Bay." While I appreciate the pride he has in his dealership, I cannot work with someone, who trash talks another dealership. To me, that is unethical. Of course, this isn't the only reason. Ironically, the Internet sales department cannot answer and communicate through emails. I had to repeat some information when my initial contact already had everything they needed to know. He insisted we talk on the phone when I wanted to just communicate through email before the deal got more serious. Why claim being an Internet salesperson if you can't work through the web??? As far as the service department goes, they are phenomenal. Free car washes, any time, as much as you want, is something new I think. They didn't have this 3+ years ago. I brought my X5 and 530i here all the time. They gave free loaner cars, but now, I think they give out any free loaner BMW model. DEFINITELY beats BMW SF (at least 3 years ago, don't know about now), which loaned me a little Corolla. I serviced my 530i and received a Corolla for 24 hours. While this may not seem like a big deal, it actually is when this kind of thing won't happen at South Bay. More
by namja
Employees Worked With
Tim
August 23, 2011
Great experience purchasing my pre-owned BMW from this dealer. However, their parts dept pricing is outrageous. typing more words for minimum entry of review. dealer. However, their parts dept pricing is outrageous. typing more words for minimum entry of review. More
by jhova.on
Employees Worked With
Rich
