BMW of Sarasota - Service Center

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

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

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