Anyone ever price an interior light bulb at BMW?

[325iCabrio]

When you roll up in an E30, the salesperson knows it is a 2% chance you will buy a new car, and also slim the other staff thinks you will be paying 80/hr to get your shitter worked on. Deal with it. They are most likely liberal art majors who know how to talk to people and get laid too. They look down on people they can't make money from (which includes you) and are snobs, even though they are deseperate car sales people.

And if the parts guy is younger or even just has worked there less than 10 years, he might not have ever seen an eta. Give him a break. I can bet he knows the E46ers like the back of his hand though.

I understand where you're coming from, but I think that applies to the Chrysler dealership when you pull up in an Aries-K. BMWs are premium automobiles, and premium enthusiast automobiles, so the dealership experience should be different.

Car salesmen are car salesmen, whether you're at BMW or Lexus or Kia. But the parts and service guys for a premium enthusiast car should be on top of their game and be ready to help BMW enthusiasts out with whatever they need. Otherwise they should be selling turn signal bulbs down at Sears Auto Center. What's the point of having BMW's commitment to parts for older cars and a whole BMW Mobile Tradition program if the parts guys don't know anything older than an X5?

I'm lucky that I have parts guys who feel the same way I do, and most of the salesmen seem to like my car. But I feel bad for you guys who have a shitty dealer--it dents an otherwise great BMW community.

[CleanAzzE30z]

if im still alive in 20 years which is doubtful

Are you 70? Or do you just do tons of intravenous drugs?

Mariano

[uofom3]

Guys, dealerships are businesses... not charities. Parts and service, and detailing, aren't really the main sources of profit, yet are to help the cash flow in over the year. They could charge less, but what's the point? For the 50 year old business man in the new 6 series, he is not going to spend his valuable time searching on the internet or using forums to save $10. Customers like that, are pretty price inelastic and the dealerships know that. Also, the parts are still a small fraction of their income, so it makes only a small difference to them (whereas they may care about large purchases, like the car itself and spend time shopping around). Micro-economics elective FTW.

When you roll up in an E30, the salesperson knows it is a 2% chance you will buy a new car, and also slim the other staff thinks you will be paying 80/hr to get your shitter worked on. Deal with it. They are most likely liberal art majors who know how to talk to people and get laid too. They look down on people they can't make money from (which includes you) and are snobs, even though they are deseperate car sales people.

And if the parts guy is younger or even just has worked there less than 10 years, he might not have ever seen an eta. Give him a break. I can bet he knows the E46ers like the back of his hand though.

Wouldn't the dealership/bmw actually make a lot more lifetime off of service work/parts than the actual profit of selling the vehicle? I would think so...

[blunttech]

Are you 70? Or do you just do tons of intravenous drugs?

Mariano

im 51 (but easily pass for 50)and not any more

[CleanAzzE30z]

dude, youll be alive at 71 and still look 68 3/4. ;)

Mariano

[blunttech]

Guys, dealerships are businesses... not charities. Parts and service, and detailing, aren't really the main sources of profit, yet are to help the cash flow in over the year. They could charge less, but what's the point? For the 50 year old business man in the new 6 series, he is not going to spend his valuable time searching on the internet or using forums to save $10. Customers like that, are pretty price inelastic and the dealerships know that. Also, the parts are still a small fraction of their income, so it makes only a small difference to them (whereas they may care about large purchases, like the car itself and spend time shopping around). Micro-economics elective FTW.

When you roll up in an E30, the salesperson knows it is a 2% chance you will buy a new car, and also slim the other staff thinks you will be paying 80/hr to get your shitter worked on. Deal with it. They are most likely liberal art majors who know how to talk to people and get laid too. They look down on people they can't make money from (which includes you) and are snobs, even though they are deseperate car sales people.

And if the parts guy is younger or even just has worked there less than 10 years, he might not have ever seen an eta. Give him a break. I can bet he knows the E46ers like the back of his hand though.

anyone who runs a business or service dept or parts counter like that is a fucking idiot. you cant tell much at all about people by how they dress or what they drive. you should treat everyone who walks in like they have a million dollars in their pocket. i remember when my youngest son would go into the dealership and drool all over the new m3's with his buddies when they were 15. the salesmen treated them like shit and chased them out. someday these kids may have enough money to buy and sell these peon salesmen and those kids wont forget the treatment they received when they were punks. they will go down the street to buy their new bmw. if i was in charge of any dept like that all my employees would treat everyone with respect regardless of age or appearance,, even if it was mariano

[equate975]

anyone who runs a business or service dept or parts counter like that is a fucking idiot. you cant tell much at all about people by how they dress or what they drive. you should treat everyone who walks in like they have a million dollars in their pocket. i remember when my youngest son would go into the dealership and drool all over the new m3's with his buddies when they were 15. the salesmen treated them like shit and chased them out. someday these kids may have enough money to buy and sell these peon salesmen and those kids wont forget the treatment they received when they were punks. they will go down the street to buy their new bmw. if i was in charge of any dept like that all my employees would treat everyone with respect regardless of age or appearance,, even if it was mariano

haha, sooo true.

I was at the stealer a few weeks back looking at an 06 a4 for my mom. I was just standing inside waiting, I few sales people kinda looked at me looking at cars but just kinda snobbed me off. Then I got on my phone to give my buddy a call and told him "oh that orange a4 is still here Im going to take a look at it, and maybe buy it" then a mob of sales people ran over to me asking if they could help. I wasn't going to buy it then and there, but I figured I would have my conversation sort of loud just to see what they would do. I suppose I was standing around with a hoodie on and an old coat, old ass baseball cap, studded belt, and old school converse looking shoes, I probably wouldn't talk to me either ;)

Parts people know me, because I spend gobs of money there, also the BMW people in the tech dept kinda know me, because they have done work on my car, I own the car "no one wants to drive because they have children"

[E30 Wagen]

Yeah, I went to the dealer today to get a new LCD backlight for my OBC, and the best he could do was $40. I think I'll go to Radioshack and solder in some new bulbs for $0.50

That doesn't seem right if you should pull up in your e30 that the salesmen will blow you off. If I were a dealer and I see somebody pull up in some older BMW, I'd be thinking to myself that this person is already sold on the quality of BMW's and that there's a good chance he is interested in purchasing another one. Today I was out christmas shopping with my mom in her minivan when we stopped at the dealer. A salesman approached us but when I told him I just needed a replacement lightbulb, we didn't get much attention afteward, but a lot of sideways looks as I sat behind the wheel of the Z4 ///M roadster. That car is so hot in person.

[browntown]

I just bought a volvo 850 for a D.D. and was going through it and found that the ashtray lights were burned out. Not that I really care, and I'll never use the ashtrays for anything but change, but I thought I'd get em anyways while I had the center console pulled apart. The little 1.2w bulbs arent wedge bulbs, and come with their own little plastic plug glued to them. Went to the dealership which is a combo volvo/bmw parts counter, and they cost me 5 bucks a piece for tiny little bulbs, one cost 8 bucks. jeez. Nice thing is they gave me my bmwcca discount even though it was volvo parts. 10% of outrageous equals not much.

[Mr Deagle]

i get my parts at wholesale, no tax, and i can call and have it delivered, i drive up in my pos e30 E and they treat me great. everything is like 50-100 off retail ex: e30 sport evo oil pump 300 retail, my price 200

[rwh11385]

anyone who runs a business or service dept or parts counter like that is a fucking idiot. you cant tell much at all about people by how they dress or what they drive. you should treat everyone who walks in like they have a million dollars in their pocket. i remember when my youngest son would go into the dealership and drool all over the new m3's with his buddies when they were 15. the salesmen treated them like shit and chased them out. someday these kids may have enough money to buy and sell these peon salesmen and those kids wont forget the treatment they received when they were punks. they will go down the street to buy their new bmw. if i was in charge of any dept like that all my employees would treat everyone with respect regardless of age or appearance,, even if it was mariano

are you implying that car salespeople are supposed to be intelligent people?

I never said it was right the way things go, but it is how they do. Why are you guys getting your panties in a bunch that some guys selling 07 BMWs don't get on their knees and blow you when you roll up in your hooptie? Like I said... they are people who only care if you can make them money, and if you won't likely, they look down their noses at you. Get over it, or go buy a Saturn.

And UofOM3, I meant that the target/focus product is the car sale (and the financing). They may make a lot of money from parts or service, but that's not why the dealership is open, and they won't cry over a few lost customers who buyer cheaper parts online or go to another shop. Most of the affluent customers there will go for convienance of the dealership and their courtesy car. If you find the prices too high, you'll search online, but a lot of people won't. So they enjoy their margins just fine and your lost sale isn't much skin of their back.

[Dave]

I don't know, Lance. At my local dealer, the parts counter is separate from the service counter. The guys who come in for parts are either from shops, or DIY guys like me. And even with the newer cars, there are quite a few DIY guys. A paddock-mate at the last DE I was at does his own work on his fully Dinan modded e36 M3.

None of those stuffed shirts who refuse to or can't turn a wrench are going to the parts counter anyway.

Maybe I am just spoiled because our dealer has been in business for decades and knows how to cater to all of its clientele. My parts guy loves that I come in with part numbers or even a print out from the ETK. Unless the dealership in your 'hood is the only game in town (not so, here) then they know that they will lose the business to the other BMW dealer across town.

[Jand3rson]

I never said it was right the way things go, but it is how they do. Why are you guys getting your panties in a bunch that some guys selling 07 BMWs don't get on their knees and blow you when you roll up in your hooptie? Like I said... they are people who only care if you can make them money, and if you won't likely, they look down their noses at you. Get over it, or go buy a Saturn.

You're completely missing the point of what everyone is saying. No one (including me) is asking for special treatment when they go to the parts department in our "hoopties". The only thing I want is the same courtesy that the 40-something standing in front of me getting his oil changed in his 760 is getting. They treat him and everyone else like him like royalty, and when I walk up there, part numbers and/or printout from RealOEM (like Dave said) in hand, practically having done their EXTREMELY simple job for them, I get treated like common trash. It's insulting, and "getting over it and buying a Saturn" isn't going to change anything. I am over it, that's why I don't go there anymore. That doesn't mean I'm not still entitled to my reasons as to WHY I don't go there anymore. What blunt said is absolutely true:

anyone who runs a business or service dept or parts counter like that is a fucking idiot. you cant tell much at all about people by how they dress or what they drive. you should treat everyone who walks in like they have a million dollars in their pocket. i remember when my youngest son would go into the dealership and drool all over the new m3's with his buddies when they were 15. the salesmen treated them like shit and chased them out. someday these kids may have enough money to buy and sell these peon salesmen and those kids wont forget the treatment they received when they were punks. they will go down the street to buy their new bmw. if i was in charge of any dept like that all my employees would treat everyone with respect regardless of age or appearance

You should treat EVERY customer that walks through the door as equals, whether they's spending $1100 on a headlight or $100. I think it would be quite interesting to roll up to the dealership in my E30 and then go in and tell them I need a new water pump for my E46 M3 that's at home undriveable, and watch how quickly they do a complete 180 and DO drop down to their knees and blow me. I bet the flip would be so fast you'd have to go to the replay to see it. But I know it's not going to change, and that's the stigma and the price that comes with cars like these (BMW, Audi, Porsche, anything expensive, really.) So what else can you do but deal with it, say fuck it, and buy your parts online from people like Patrick at BMA, who actually appreciate your business, even if it is just nuts, bolts and clips for my "hooptie".

[fporro]

...

You should treat EVERY customer that walks through the door as equals, whether they's spending $1100 on a headlight or $100...

that it's call professionalism,something seldom found at any establishment with monopolistic mentality.

I love it, rolling on my 87 cab,
parking right up front,
jumping off in my pj's,
walking with head held high through floor and into parts counter,
get what I won't buy used and pay up,

stares ? who cares !!!,

flip my CC and ID with sweet 90265 zip code,
let them eat that for lunch . hahaha.
had one sales lady wanting to check the place out, now they wave and wink., too late sweets.

you should have seen the model quality babe at a Hawaiian restaurant, I pulled up after a junk yard dive adventure, oh the snob, she would not even wanted to get near the counter, talking to her boyfriends if i was not even there.

ordered, pulled the card, shes asked for id, sure thing. here ya go.
SNAP ! Oh ooohh,

made me get up at least 4 or 5 times to repeat my order, she could have not flirted anymore with me even if her BF wasn't there.
darn sweet peaches she sported on a 5.9" frame with a to die for Japanese face, hence I bemused her.
my number ?, oh babe, dream on. hahaha. poor thing. hahaha.

[SykoBMW]

Is 90265 some awesome area code or something?