savedsol

My car was just at the dealer since Mon getting my second gear fixed.

While there some careless a-hole either backed my car into something or ran something into my rear bumper. Didn't notice it til I got home. It's scratched, scuffed, bent and cracked. All smaller blemishes (including the crack) but I've photographed them all. I know I'm in for the "didn't happen here" fight.

What do I do?

Huskyfan23

they have insurance for a reason......go in there looking to talk to them. Don't go in mad, because they will pick up on that and get defensive....you'll have a much more difficult time trying to convince them. Just go in to talk to them.......see what they say. if they deny it, go through your insurance company. it will cost you your deductible, but tell them about the auto dealer and maybe they can go after them and get their / your money back.

I just hope you have collision coverage on your car....

savedsol

Thanks for the post. I'm wondering if I should even call my insurance tonight. I have ZERO interest in paying for this and do not consider that an option.

dbdbdb

I know this will sound paranoid ...... But whenever I turn my car over to anybody I buy a daily paper and take snapshots of the cars ex & interior. I haven't had to do this yet on my new 8, but every car I've had since 1995 is photographed.

WHY???? for the same reason your're speaking of. I took one of my old cars to a glass shop to have a rear-side window replaced and the idiot dented & marked up the door in the process ............... and then denyed it.

I know it may seem like a pain, but at least I have evidence and before & after shots. Cover your Azz!!!!

savedsol

Well, verdict is in... the dealer was a total *******!!! "No way this could have happened here" after five minutes became "I don't think this happened here". I'm so pissed. I'll be calling Mazda, the BBB and any other resource I can think of.

Rems31

damn that's gonna be rough though if you have no proof...

rowteree

same thing happen to me. I left my car there to get the rear bumper repaired and i guess one of the porter boys parked my car in between 2 trucks. When i picked it up, it had a door ding the size of a nickle on my passenger door. Stupid dealership, took it back and they told me they didn't do it and they couldn't do anything unless i cough up some cash

dbdbdb

The thing is ..... you just don't have any evidence. No one will be in a position to help you without it.

From now on ...... Take pictures of the front\back\and both sides before you even let them touch your ride. And get a daily paper to validate the actual date.

Also, if you have light leather interior, take pics of that too, because some mechs will sit in your car knowing they have axle grease all over them and not give a sh*t if the f*ck up your interior.

architect

You can't trust dealers anymore. I took my (at the time) 7k mile Z06 in for warranty work and before I left, I told them they needed to use a low-profile lift and I asked for the top mechanic to handle it. An hour later I get a call. They jacked it up incorrectly and put (2), one on each side, 1.5" dia. holes in the rocker panel. The real problem is, those rocker panels are part of the door jamb, which are part of the rear shell. I showed up to find a pile of fiberglass laying underneath the gashes. I was hot!!! But they did repair it and when it was finished, it was left in the garage in a wide open area where nothing or noone could touch it.
From now on, and I have to go to the Mazda dealer for a new headlight assembly Monday, I'm going to have a service rep and the salesman that sold me the car last week to completely inspect the vehicle for any imperfections prior to working on it. If I get it back with so much as a scratched lugnut, it's getting replaced.
You have to let them know you mean business.

early 30's crisis

This sucks!
I had a similar exp this spring, brought the car and my summer wheels to a tire shop to switch them out. I was hanging out in the lot watching the kid (overhead door open). He asked me how to get the center caps off the winters. I said they pop off with a screwdriver. I turned away for a sec, and heard the cap hit the floor. He picked it up, looked at me, and hurried away. I was like.. WTF was that about. Went into the garage, there's a 1 inch tall scratch deep into the fender right above the drivers wheel. The kid is gone. The manager comes over to take over. I said "He just scratched my car with the screwdriver!" He looked at me and said "No he didnt, its time for his break so I'm taking over". I insisted he did and explained how he didnt know how to take the cap off and asked, it came off and then he bailed. He looked at me sternly and said "Lady, he's my son, and he DID NOT scratch your car".

Unbelievable.
Now I'm mad all over again. Good luck with your bumper, I know how aggravating this can be..

savedsol

Yikes, that's worse. No offense, but as a woman I've got to imagine they think they can really walk all over you.

New Yorker

Unfortunately, how many people will bother to take photos of their car every time they go in for service? From now on, I will walk around the car with the service guy when I bring it in, point out that there are no dings or dents, and note it on the service order before they begin work.

9291150

Go up the ranks. Leverage everything - did you buy it there, service it, etc.? Act 120% convinced and don't let up. Good luck.

savedsol

I have two voicemails and email into the owner. Not the manager the owner.

Rems31

voicemails of what?

or do you mean you left two voicemails?

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i understand how you feel.

in the 4 months i've had this car, someone swiped my passenger side front wheel fender. and another person (an suv) drove into my rear bumper. leaving 2 bolt marks, and 2 dents on either side of the license plate.

damn ********. if its your fault, own up and leave your contact/insurance info.

savedsol

Sorry, I left him two voicemails.

Machiavelli

We can only imagine some of the things that go on at dealerships. After I turned in my M3 when it came off of lease (at a Dodge dealer - they also owned a BMW dealership on the other side of town) the sales woman I dealt with called me and asked me to verify with her boss that after she moved it - while I was still standing there - it was still undamaged. Evidently one of the worker bees at the dealership decided sneak it out for a joy ride and managed to smash up the front end before slipping it unoticed back into the same spot in the dealer's lot.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

did you got VOB bmw in rockville?

my brother has a 7 series, so i occasionally browse bmw forums when in need of something. one guy has his car refused to be serviced because he has an amp in the trunk. and he couldnt remove it on the property, he had to drive across the street to remove it. another guy said the valet guy was some little ghetto thug wannabe, put the seat way down, stereo way up, and left the door open. mind you, he was not standing there, he was still inside doing business, and the car just remained like that for 10 minutes, stereo blasting and door open, while he finished signing papers.

apparently VOB has a lot of terrible reviews.

dynamho

Dealer did the same to my rear bumper too for first service. I just put a fig leaf on it.

CarAndDriver

Great advice.

******* dealer.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

When my car goes into the service dept. at the dealer. I walk around it with the service writer. Show him anything that I know is wrong with the car. He writes it all down. Suddenly you have a record of prior damage. Got a door ding fixed in the right quarter panel and a new rear bumper from damage that occurred on their lot.
So take the service writer out and circle the car. Log anything that is wrong with the car, get a copy of the damage sheet, signed and dated.
No more problems with the dealer.