XSeries-forum

Hi all
Advice needed please. I just picked up my car from a local main BMW dealership (south of us)Took it in for a brake fluid change and they found that it needed 2 new turbos. I also then found from them that the intercooler had oil on it. I challenged the replacement of the intercooler and asked them to clean it instead. On collecting today I discovered that they had replaced it without authority as well as the extra pipes and hoses that go with it. This was an additional £1k to the main job.
I paid under protest.
The after sales manager claimed that they cannot clean intercoolers however the service advisor said they would try to as I clearly informed them I was not happy to authorise a replacement intercooler.
Does anyone know if an intercooler can be cleaned effectively and therefore negate the need for a new one and all the pipes and hoses too (that link to intercooler) ?
Also, I never signed to approve this work and has come as a surprise (I was expecting the turbo x 2 work) what are my rights?
I won't name the dealer at this time.
Thanks for your time - longer post than intended!!

We have turbo failure on a regular basis on the large military vehicles which fill the charge air coolers (inter coolers) with oil, they are removed, cleaned out and pressure tested then refitted  without issue. At the end of the day it's just a radiator with air passing through rather than coolant. At the very least if your paying for the new intercooler I'd want the old one back, clean it out and get it on e-bay, get some money back.

Last time my old BMW Dealer pulled that stunt I refused to pay.  I ended up having a 'deep & meaningful' with the Dealer Principal and pointed out that the unauthorised work had also killed the tracker which was mandated by my insurers!

It took an hour of 'warm debate' but I did not pay.  They could not produce a signature from me so had no authority to do the work.  That dealer went bust some months later.

Update: refunded £700 which I have accepted.

However the car came back from the warranty rust repair on Friday and there was damage down to the inside of the tailgate!! They then told me that it was already damaged there!
Fuming I was. After them contacting the body shop they confirmed that it was already there and they had noted the damage.

They didn't realise I had taken a photo as I handed the car in which clearly shows no damage!!
Different when I showed them the photo! I did feel that they felt I was lying until that point.
This was ridgeway BMW in hook, Hampshire - beware!

Hi,

Sadly I have found the same shocking levels of service with  ALL the main dealers I have ever tried.
None of them seems able to do the job properly. Thats why I have stopped using them altogether now my service pack has expired.
Last time my car was in to a BMW main agent for a windscreen replacement and the bill was £1150............!
For that price they managed to fit the rear view mirror on upside down and damaged my bonnet which then had to be repainted.

I obviously can't say that every main dealer is rubbish, but I can say that every one I have tried is rubbish.

If I ever get fired or win the lottery I am sorely tempted to open up a dealership and show them all how things should be done.

Regards.............

Agreed. They are now called Marshalls (still hook Hampshire)