Nicolae T. on BBB 3 years ago
01/08/2020, 00:44 AM
This review is referring more to BMW of North America than Gebhardt Automotive. I have a 2012 BMW X5 and a 2018 BMW X1. I use to love BMW cars ( I was the owner of at least half of dozen of X5's) The 2012 X5 has a N63 engine and after 45,000 miles started to consume oil. It got worse and after multiple trips to the dealerships I was told that my engine had a known problem with excesive oil consumption and they will fix the valves the may lick or will replace the engine for free. It turns out that there was a class action lawsuit settled in the end and BMW was supposed to fix or replace the engine and replace the battery for free. I picked up my car after a few days without paing anything and I check the oil consumption. After over 3 months the conclusion was clear: the oil consumption was better but nut even close to what use to be before the first 35,000 miles. I will have to add a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. What is new my gas consumption went way up. It use to be 17.5 MPG and after the service done went down to 13.9 MPG. in the last three month i took long trips with the car and it went to 14.7 MPG. My car is using 1/4 more gas than before being worked on. I took it back to the dealership left the car there and i was told after they checking that they couldn't find anything wrong with my car. In conclusion, from now on I have to go to the dealership every month to have oil added and I have to put a quarter more gas in my car for the same distance as before the intervention. Another problem, after my car was worked on I got a warning that the battery draining fast. The battery on my car doesn't qualify for free replacement as the other observed in the action lawsuit settlement.
I had another bad experience with my BMW X1. My son left for California, where he finished his college to attend a very important meeting next day. He left early in the morning (3 AM) to make sure he gets ready for the meeting. After almost 2 hrs he called us, very upset on the side of the road in the mountains, terrified by the weather (snowing), middle of the night and the windshield covered with snow ice and mud. The windshield washer wasn't spraying on the windows. He called the BMW road assistance and gave them the coordinates for the location along the I 70. After 2 hrs they located somebody to come and tow the car back to Boulder where he started his trip from. They gave the wrong address to the driver and we were back in boulder at the dealership at 9:30 AM. At 11 we were told that everything was ok and maybe the guys at the dealership in California put the wrong washer for Colorado weather. We could take the car if we pay for their service performed. I got mad, as we didn't do anything wrong, we took a new car for the first service to Buena Park dealership in California, The car is registered in Colorado and they communicated with the dealership in Colorado where we but the car from. Why would they limit my travel to California? and why do I need to pay for their mistakes? who is paing for my son driving on the road for 26 hrs, risking his life in order to make his appointment? for our time wasted and the hazard in the mountains. I am sorry to see what my favored BMW become and I don't think I will buy another one.
