Checkered Flag BMW MINI

I brought my E-46 here back in July for a check engine light and a rough idle. The service rep Jason told me it could take longer than a day and he would let me know. Sure enough he never called me, I cal light and a rough idle. The service rep Jason told me it could take longer than a day and he would let me know. Sure enough he never called me, I called him the next day and left several voicemails, until he finally called me back after lunch. He told me there was a page of faults, and I already informed him I was troubleshooting the car myself and couldn't figure out what was going on so this is why I opted to pay them $200 for them to diagnose it. But this was why I had a page of faults. He told me that the only thing that makes sense is the Intake camshaft position sensor and it would be another $250 to replace and the car would be fixed. I told them to do the work and let me know when it was complete. That night they called and told me it was done and I could pick it up. So that night I came and picked it up and was told the car runs great and there’s no more check engine lights on. So I paid and as soon as I turned on my car I noticed the check engine light was on. I asked Jason why he told me it was clear and he informed me that they didn't know it was on and it would go off in a day or 2. I asked him what happens if it doesn’t; he replied that I'd have to bring it back in. Obviously the Tech didn't test drive my car after replacing the part. So 2 days later the light is still on and I brought it back in to have to re-scan. Jason say's to bring it in after 1pm so I got there at 1:15 and he informed me that everyone was still at lunch and I would have to wait. As I was waiting in the guest lounge Jason came in and said there were 2 problems and briefly explained them and when I asked what does this mean, he told me to drive the car again for another 2 days to see if they come back. The light came back after one day and I ended up having surgery and not being able to drive for 3 weeks, so I let him know the light was still on and Jason told me to schedule an appointment and they would diagnose it for free (I thought I paid $200 the first time I was there for them to do it). So the next day after I brought it in Jason calls me and tells me it’s either a Mass air flow sensor or my aftermarket cold air intake but they don’t know which one it is. Luckily my brother is a BMW tech in MD and I called him and asked him if this sounded right, he told me there were ways of know what the actual problem was and that they needed to figure it out because they were BSing me. So I called Jason and after a very rude one sided conversation being Jason the one who kept talking I asked him if he was done talking, and he said “no I’m not come pick up your car" I'm sorry I’m not into spending $800 on a maybe. I figured a $200 diagnostic fee would cover figuring out what the problem actually is. So I thought hey they've sent me multiple emails with customers review questionnaires and I had already filled them out saying I didn't like the experience and they said they would contact me, funny thing is they didn't. So one of the emails was from the service director saying if I wasn’t 100% satisfied then I should contact him. So I took him up on that offer, after explaining the situation to him he responded with they followed the troubleshooting flow chart and it says go from A to B and replace X. and the X was either the Mass air flow sensor or my aftermarket cold air intake. The intake had been on my car for 4 years now and makes no sense to start having problems. I told him that x normally doesn't stand for 2 parts and that it sounded like they weren't done troubleshooting because they don't have a definite answer. He told me that honesty couldn't allow him to say the MAF was the problem and I asked him how he could say he honestly diagnosed my car if he still has a What-if's. The service director told me he didn’t want to put in a MAF sensor to see if it fixes it because he might damage the part. He told me he understood why his service rep was annoyed with me and he would love to talk with my brother because he would understand. So I had my brother call him, and my brother called me back saying that they were going to troubleshoot some more to figure out if it was the MAF or not. (Turns out my brother didn’t buy in on their BS and said in their shop a car was diagnosed when they knew what was wrong) A couple hours later the Service director called my brother back saying they know for sure it was the MAF and it would be a little over $800. The part on line costs $250 and it’s only about 15minutes of work. No thank you. So I called the service director back and he tells me how they figured it out and the cars going to work 100% for a little over $800. I told him No, I am not paying you all to do any more work on my car with this kind of service, and I couldn’t afford paying $550 over what it would cost me. Then he said that I just made them diagnose my car for free, and I replied with no, I paid you all $200 last month to diagnose my car but you never actually did, you had me spend $250 for a part that wasn't the problem or wasn't the only problem. You knew when I drove my car off the lot with a check engine light there was something else wrong. After a very humorous phone call where he told me I couldn't afford a BMW or their service I could maybe afford my brother or a junkyard car but not them. I informed him that I would spend the $250 for the part and spend the 15 minutes to replace it and be happy with the 550 left in my pocket. And I would happily pick up my car. I know this is a long story but I felt it was needed it to try and explain my frustration. A couple other things to note is that every time with the exception of the last one I had to wait over 25 minutes for my car to be ready when I already had been told over the phone that it was ready. And their customer surveys are useless since they don’t actually follow up with the customer’s complaints except for their automated emails. I thought it was cool they gave me a packet of paper the last time I picked up my car after they told me I couldn’t afford they that was written “Dear Valued Customer, We use the term valued customer because”?????? I felt light a second rate citizen at best, no where’s near a Valued Customer More

Great man, very knwowledgeable about vehicle. Wasn't pushy and really help me understand what I was investing in. Will buy my next BMW after graduation from Him! pushy and really help me understand what I was investing in. Will buy my next BMW after graduation from Him! More

Checkered Flag and Brett Shopsin made this car purchase the easiest out of the 14 I have made. From start to finish I felt respected, got a great car at a great price and I know I will get great after the the easiest out of the 14 I have made. From start to finish I felt respected, got a great car at a great price and I know I will get great after the purchase treatment. Brett and the entire Checkered Flag team gets it! More

Scott is very energetic and passionate about BMW, and he knows the features inside and out. he was very responsive to our needs and questions. Delivery of vehicle took place without a hitch and staff took t knows the features inside and out. he was very responsive to our needs and questions. Delivery of vehicle took place without a hitch and staff took time to explain the features and how everyything worked. More

Checkered Flag, thank you for being so professional and getting me the car I have always wanted for a GREAT price and experience. The process was painless and quick, and I would recommend CHECKERED FLAG BM getting me the car I have always wanted for a GREAT price and experience. The process was painless and quick, and I would recommend CHECKERED FLAG BMW to anyone looking for a great car buying experience. Again Thanks, David Shaner More

Outstanding service, Brian was extremely knowledgable and provided us with all the answers and then some. Brian is a enthusiast of Mini's and it shows in his service to customers. Checker Flag dealership wa provided us with all the answers and then some. Brian is a enthusiast of Mini's and it shows in his service to customers. Checker Flag dealership was by far the smoothest car purchase we have made yet. THANKS!! Chris Gazey More

Checkered Flag BMW was exactly what I would hope for - great price, transparent approach, complete information, terrific customer service. It was a person-person experience, where I felt respected at eve great price, transparent approach, complete information, terrific customer service. It was a person-person experience, where I felt respected at every step of the way. I worked with Bret Shopsin - ask for him. He's hard to beat...among the best I've worked with in all my years buying a car. Bret not only addressed all my requests, but actually anticipated them! I didn't have to ask. He's also super-keen to the unique requirements of the military buyer. Again, ask for Bret, he'll do right by you. More

My experience was spectacular! I didn't feel swindled or My experience was spectacular! I didn't feel swindled or taken advantage of and I left happy and confident in coming back again. I was very impressed My experience was spectacular! I didn't feel swindled or taken advantage of and I left happy and confident in coming back again. I was very impressed with the service and the immediacy of everything! More

It was refreshing to go to a dealership and feel like you are trusted. I appreciate Checkered Flag allowing me to test drive the vehicle without a salesman looking over my shoulder. I bought the vehicle I te are trusted. I appreciate Checkered Flag allowing me to test drive the vehicle without a salesman looking over my shoulder. I bought the vehicle I tested! Also, it was very clear that Darrel wanted to ensure that I completely understood the vehicle operations with his very detailed tutorial. The pricing was absolutely outstanding! I couldn't walk away from the FIRST price presented! Very fair and reasonable. Thanks Checkered Flag BMW for making this a very pleasurable experience! More

We had very little knowledge of Mini cars walking into the dealership. Tommie let us drive as many cars as we wanted, for as long as we wanted. Spent all afternoon driving different models, back and for the dealership. Tommie let us drive as many cars as we wanted, for as long as we wanted. Spent all afternoon driving different models, back and forth. No pressure from the dealership to hurry up and decide. Extremely satisfied with the car, and the sales experience. More