BMW of Sarasota

WE HAVE HAD OUR 2005 BMW CONVERTIBLE 325i IN TO THIS DEALER SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR AND IT IS A FIGHT EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TO GET THE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TOP REPA DEALER SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR AND IT IS A FIGHT EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TO GET THE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TOP REPAIRED AND EVERY TIME WE GET IT BACK, WE PUT THE TOP DOWN AND THEN IT WILL NOT GO BACK UP. THREE TIMES AGO, THEY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX WEEKS AND THE LAST TIME IT WAS FOR ONE WEEK. THEN, WE TOOK THE CAR HOME, PUT THE TOP DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP AND WE HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN THE DOWNPOUR OF RAIN. THIS TIME WE FOUGHT WITH THEM AND THE WERE GOING TO CHARGE A $150 DIAGONISTIC FEE. THEN THEY CALLED AND SAID THE PART THEY PUT ON THE CAR IN sEPTEMBER HAD FAILED AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD CALL TO DAY AFTER THEY MADE SURE IT WAS REPAIRED. WE HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED AND I ASSUME, AGAIN, THE TOP WILL NOT GO UP. I HAVE CALLED THE FACTORY ON TWO OCCASSIONS AND THEY TOLD ME EACH DEALER WAS INDIVIDUAL AND THEY WOULD MAKE A COURTESY CALL AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. ON THE OTHER HAND, I WENT FROM THE BMW GARAGE WHERE I WAS TREATED BADLY AND WENT INTO THE JAGUAR DEALER AND THEY WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND PUT A NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB AND SAID THERE WAS NO CHARGE IT WAS ON THE HOUSE AND THEY ONLY REQUIREMENT WAS THAT I HAVE A GOOD DAY. WHAT A CHANGE IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS. BMW SHOULD GO DOWN TO THE JAGUAR DEALER AND TAKE SOME LESSONS. More

My wife Sheri and I feel fortunate to have been serviced by Arnold in the process of choosing a vehicle from your dealership. Arnold is well schooled in his knowledge of your product. We where very happy wi by Arnold in the process of choosing a vehicle from your dealership. Arnold is well schooled in his knowledge of your product. We where very happy with the care and understanding given to us while we made the decision on which vehicle to purchase. The process was smooth and timely. Arnold is a asset to your dealership and we look forward to our next experience. Thank you, Keith and Sheri More

Ed was customer driven all the way. He was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and very thorough. He took the time to make sure we understood our options and what would work the best for us. He went abov knowledgeable, helpful and very thorough. He took the time to make sure we understood our options and what would work the best for us. He went above and beyond to get us into our new BMW. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Ed and BMW of Sarasota for a new or used car. I can't thank Ed enough. Paula Curtis More

When I called BMW of Sarasota Rico was so helpful about my needs as far as giving me all the information needed for me to drive all the way from Tampa to see the car. His caring attitude got me there and t my needs as far as giving me all the information needed for me to drive all the way from Tampa to see the car. His caring attitude got me there and then Ed did a good of job showing me a car I didn't even go there to see and worked to get a deal that I felt was fair for me and BMW of Sarasota. Thank you, Ralph Rodriguez More

I compared purchasing my BMW to the similar experience of buying my last car from Wilde Lexus. The buying experience was fine but it was the associated detail where I fould the BMW dealership to be lacking. buying my last car from Wilde Lexus. The buying experience was fine but it was the associated detail where I fould the BMW dealership to be lacking. Nitrogen in tyres came standard at Lexus (including lifetime inflation)whereas BMW offered me nitrogen for $260, which I considered rediculous. I tried to order rubber floor mats over the phone from "Parts" and they wanted a form filled in and faxed back before any order would be placed. I expected "you just bought an expensive new car from us, no problem, I'll order the mats and call you when they're in". I subsequently bought the mats on the internet instead, and at a cheaper price. I'm pleased with the car but I worry about my future interestion with the BMW dealership having experienced real quality customer service at Lexus. More

I consider BMW of Sarasota, Used vehicles division to be Excellent. There was one communication failure during their sale and my purchase agreement which when I brought it to the attention of the salesman t Excellent. There was one communication failure during their sale and my purchase agreement which when I brought it to the attention of the salesman the matter was satisfactorily rectified. Follow up communications and cooperation were quite good. I met with the parts and service manager who was friendly, helpful, and offered advice, an overall great experience. More

Stop!! Step away from this dealership!! This is the most unethical and least customer-centered BMW dealership I have ever worked with. They manipulate trade-in values, they sell BMW Certified Pre-Owned most unethical and least customer-centered BMW dealership I have ever worked with. They manipulate trade-in values, they sell BMW Certified Pre-Owned vehicles without completing the necessary inspections, they use bait-and-switch techniques when quoting for service prices, and worse ... they are totally arrogant and insensitive to the concerns of their customers. I currently own four BMWs and have owned at least twenty in the past thirty years. I have never had problems with a BMW dealership, until now. When this dealership was named Southpointe BMW a few years ago, they weren't great but they weren't horrible. When the franchise was purchased and renamed BMW of Sarasota, the business began a downward slide that has taken it to depths of disorganization, arrogance toward customers, and deceptive business practices that I could not believe were possible with a BMW dealership. They tried to sell me a CPO car that had a cracked windshield and when I suggested that they replace it before selling it to me, they proposed that I buy it "as is" and then report the windshield to my insurance company two weeks hence ... no harm, no foul. What's up with that? A month ago, I brought one of my cars in because a brake-wear light was on. I was originally quoted $900+ for a complete front brake job (which included new rotors). It wasn't until the front was finished that it was discovered that it was the rear brakes that was causing the brake-wear light to illuminate. Then they quoted an additional $900+ to complete that work. And this was just the latest in a string service-related snafus that had been occurring at BMW of Sarasota. I stopped at the dealership three times to attempt to discuss my concerns with President Victor Young in person, and even though he was on the property, he did not have time to talk to me. His subordinates, at least six of them, sat in a closed office with their cups of coffee and never came out to see me either. Apparently they were having too good a time shooting the breeze. I also wrote three emails to Mr. Young and never received a response. I eventually registered complaints with BMWNA and the auto-group that owns BMW of Sarasota (Morgan Auto Group of Tampa). Mr. Morgan expressed concern but then delegated it back to Young, who by now had devolved into a passive-aggressive state. I knew there was no possibility for rational discussion at that point. What a mess!! Naples and Germain BMW ... here I come!!! More

BMW of Sarasota is absouutely the WORST dealership I have ever dealt with. Be warned and DO NOT buy from them. I was disappointed in the Finance / Business Manager and his pushy manner. He rushed through t ever dealt with. Be warned and DO NOT buy from them. I was disappointed in the Finance / Business Manager and his pushy manner. He rushed through the paperwork regarding financing through BMW of North America. I was never offered the three different options of low interest financing, two years of maintenance, or $500 a month credit for three months. It was never discussed and I was only given a contract to sign for 3.9% for 60 months. I understand that this dealership also sells high end Lamborghini sports cars and my BMW X5 is a much smaller sale; however I should not have left feeling demeaned, and substandard. Two days after my purchase of the Certified Pre Owned BMW X5, the check engine light came on. I took it for service at BMW of Ft. Myers. The staff advised me that the battery needed to be replaced - apparently the battery had a recall and should have been taken care of before this car was sold to me in Sarasota. The car also had a tank venting valve replaced. I also asked them to replace the rear climate digital display and front ashtray, both of which were not functioning properly on delivery of the car. Another concern with my X5 purchase is the fact that when I purchased this CPO vehicle, I was given only one working key. BMW stresses that their CPO program is so thorough: “Not every BMW becomes a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. In fact, there's an entire certification process, including a rigorous inspection. They must pass an extensive examination - a thorough and rigorous inspection by BMW factory-trained technicians.” If this is the case, then why is my car in service two day’s after delivery with these five problems? Also, the “rigorous inspection” completely overlooked routine maintenance which should have been taken care of several months ago. Oh did I also say that the owner of BMW of Sarasota will be doing NOTHING to rectify this...certified letters have been mailed to a variety of leaders at BMW of North America, and...NOTHING!!!!!!What a shame. More

Recently purchased a 328i from BMW of Sarasota. The car was represented as being untitled. Became suspicious of the dealership due to the demeanor of the salesman and the sales manager and went to DMV and was represented as being untitled. Became suspicious of the dealership due to the demeanor of the salesman and the sales manager and went to DMV and had them do a check. The vehicle had been titled. Went to the dealership and confronted the salesman and the sales manager and the sales manager presented me with a Car Facts document that he said I signed proving that I knew the car had been titled. I told him I have never seen this document and that is not my signature. I signed immediately in his presence and we verified that it was not my signature. I also told him to look at the date at the bottom of the internet printed document. The date was 10/12/10. I then told him to look at the date on all the contract documents. It was 10/9/10. I then said why would I go into your dealer ship 3 days after the original purchase and sign a Car Facts Document. I then contacted BMW North America and BMW Financial and they gave me the runaround for two weeks and then said I would have to go back to the dealer. Dealer did several things to try to further gain financially including not giving me the Holiday Rebate that I had coming. I am amazed that such a high profile company is willing to risk their reputation by using such shady tactics!!! I will never buy another BMW again!!! Buyer Beware!!! More

Caution: If you are thinking of buying a certified BMW better have the wheels and tires checked before you purchase. Better yet go buy a Lexus or any other luxury vehicle. Otherwise you may end up as I better have the wheels and tires checked before you purchase. Better yet go buy a Lexus or any other luxury vehicle. Otherwise you may end up as I did. Paid almost 60K for a 328i with 13.1K miles. At 17.9K (4K miles later) I am told I need 2 new front tires at a cost of over $1200. Mgr says no tires are fine just get an alignment and bring back in 6 month to have alignment checked; you will be fine. Yeah!(was really a kiss off). So I bring it back in 3 months (because I had taken a +2K mile trip). So now the odometer is reads approx 19K miles and I am told that I need not two tires but all 4 tires. Mgrs, Asst Mgrs, Used Car Salesmen were all going to get involved nada, nothing. Service rep called and said what do you want to do about the tires DUH was no one listening! When I told him my speel I was told me BMW does not certify the tires, so buyer BEWARE. I would have been glad to pay my prorated share of the wear and the alignment wasn't looking for something for nothing. Also the computer system went down. Brought it in rep says we can tell there was a failure but don't know what module, said just bring it in when it happens again. Told him I don't live around the corner. Well for he next week or two it was out 99% of the time. This time it was off but all it needed was software updates. WHY PRAY WASN'T THAT CHECKED THE FIRST TIME! To top it off the rental is a little Mazda 3 with no automatic "safety locks" and when you step on the gas the a/c blows hot air! This was my 2nd and last BMW and I would not recommend South Pointe BMW of Sarasota (FL) to any More