Center BMW

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
I am fairly certain that I want to lease a specific BMW within the next two months and have spent a lot of time preparing for a major financial investment such as this. Called the day before I planned to test drive the car and was told that no appointment was necessary.

As soon as I parked my car, a salesman approached me and asked to assist me. When I told him that I'm here to test drive the car, he laughed at me, said "We don't do test drives on the weekends" and told me to come back during the week. I walked past him and asked a bored appearing salesman if he could assist me. He said he isn't available as he is seeing an appointment in 5 minutes!! Are there appointments or not?

After about 20 minutes of waiting an uninterested salesman met with me. I persuaded him to allow me to test drive the car although he tried to talk me out of it ("These have features you don't want"). During the test drive he said nothing about the car, showed me none of the features and, after I asked him to put the top down, he stated that he couldn't because "It's broken." Despite the fact that we were next to the freeway the test drive consisted of a 5 minute drive around the block. At the end of the drive, the salesman shook my hand and said "Goodbye" without even attempting to convince me to buy the car or work numbers with me.

This dealership certainly did their best to convince me not to lease from them and they accomplished their mission. Although the fact that I look very young probably resulted in them typing me as a nonbuyer, I am an ideal customer as I have excellent credit and am serious about leasing a BMW. Unfortunately, I am now also serious about not giving Center BMW any business. I recommend you do the same.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
When I bought my Z4 they told me it was certified. When it came to the paperwork they told me it wasn't certified but they would certify it within a week when I went back to have it certified they said they wouldn't certify it but would give me a private protection plan with a lower deductable in exchange. When I sold my Z4 (my wife didn't like comuting with the SMG) I took a 1500 hit in value because my Z4 was not certified. When I went to cancel the remainder of private protection plan I was given the run around by the dealership for three months as to where my refund check was. The private protection plan provider refunded my money to the dealer and now they are refuseing to give me my money. THESE PEOPLE LIE AND SCAM DO NOT TRUST THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!! My attourney advised that I take them to small claims court. So, if you don't want to end up in court do not deal with Center BMW.


Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
Experience here was a nightmare. Told me over the phone there would be "NO CHARGE" for looking at a small problem which turned out to be nothing, then charged me an extra $110 on the final bill for an hour of labour to check out the problem. The service advisor Deborah Wolf LIED to my face and told me she had said there would be a charge on the phone. Her supervisor backed her up 100% and told me I could take my business elsewhere next time if I didn't like it. Bill was an outrageous $1500 for regular annual service.

Because of this nonsense I asked to check out their work before I took my car, they didn't want to let me do this but I insisted. Was shocked to see one rear shock was entirely exposed, even though they had replaced the shock. I asked what the heck happened to the protection tube. The shop master then talked to the mechanic and told me three different stories, ending by saying that the shock looked that way when I brought it in but they hadn't noted it on the service sheet or told me!!! LOL. Meanwhile the service advisor came over and told me that she talked to the mechanic and that the protection tube had been repaired and everything was in good order. The shop master told her, "I just looked at it, the protection tube is crushed." The service advisor, Deborah Wolf, then REFUSED to look at the car and started screaming "I've had enough of this! I'm done with you!" and she literally ran away to the employee's area of the dealer LMAO. I swear I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. So then they told me they could fix it but that I would have to pay full labour for them to fix their mistake. Eventually after about an hour of argument they agreed to just charge for the part (the part which they destroyed!) but they said it wasn't in stock so they would have to order it. Bottom line is the problem still isn't resolved and I'm driving around with an exposed shock. Worst experience of my life, they were shockingly rude, openly lying and contradicting themselves repeatedly, prices were skyhigh and service was shoddy, car looked worse when it left than when I droppped it off. STAY AWAY!

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of Center BMW:
After having a terrible experience at Century West BMW, someone recommended that I talk to Bill at Center BMW.

I've taken my car in multiple times for warranty service/maintenance, and Bill has had all my problems fixed quickly. He also takes the time to explain what has been fixed/is wrong, and doesn't try to pass problems off as "It's normal" as other service advisors may. Once my BMW with about 15k miles was having a difficult time starting, and he told me I should take the car in right away. Though the service department was very busy, he was able to have the problem fixed in an efficient manner.

Though I have heard of nightmare problems from friends dealing with another specific service advisor at this same dealership, I highly recommend Bill Parks.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
Went to this dealership's service department during my lunch hour to have them look at a small piece of plastic that came of the retractable roof of my Z4, a job that would take less than a minute plus a few more to write up the paperwork to order the replacement part (that their parts department already know about). They wanted me to make an appointment to make an appointment! That's right, they wanted me to set up an appointment to make an appointment I told them if I were to do that, I'd be visiting their service department three times to fix a small item. They insisted I need to make an appointment. Needless to say, I'm taking my business elsewhere.

This experience confirms the BMW forum's negative assessment of Assael BMW Service Department at Monrovia, California.

Also, I heared tires squeeling behind their show building--likely the workers over there hotrodding their customer's cars.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
after internet contact with salesperson, appointment set and up not at our convenience but their's. when we arrived, salesperson was busy with another customer and we were asked to wait... after waiting 20 minutes were told we'd still have to wait longer and when inquired if any other salesperson could help us... since there were at minimum 3 to 4 salespeople wandering around, not with customers, we were told that no, there was only one person assigned for "off internet" customers and that was the only salesperson we could deal with.

As we'd stated on internet and via phone when appointment was scheduled, we were ready to purchase car same day, provided the model we wanted was on site.

Needless to say we left and went to Rusnak in Thousand Oaks -- a bit far but all the salespeople, even those with customers, fell all over themselves welcoming us to dealership and asking how they could assist us -- and then what took the most time was test driving as the purchase was handled very quickly and efficiently -- this was on a Saturday and everyone in the dealership (sales/finance people) stayed after closing to ensure we were taken care of and satisfied.

We definitely were -- pricing very comparable to other BMW dealers, courtesy and knowledge outstanding and we've now purchased 3 other models and from our recommendation of Rusnak, 6 friends have also purchased there.

Center BMW appears to have too many real customers and "lookers" and have attitude if one leaves another one will soon take their place.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of Center BMW:
I have purchased from and brought into this dealership for servicing 2 cars in the last 4 years. They have also assisted me in obtaining quality aftermarket uprade performance parts. I recommend this dealership based on previous experiences with other dealerships which have been been poorer. This dealership is not perfect but straight forward and professional.

Why not a total "5" rating? Because this dealership practices "market value" pricing on "hot" models instead of MSRP and gives less than average dealer trade-in values on quality cars. Of course when a model is not "hot" (or a turkey) then it is us that practise "market value" pricing-right?

The maintenance / servicing department is outstanding.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Center BMW:
Did everything possible to CONFIRM our deal reached over the phone. Was wanting to order a 2004 model. Michael Galli changed the terms of our deal when I went in - two fold. First by removing a fee that he said he would include, then finally to tell me that I couldn't order the car I wanted unless I ordered a moonroof with it. Total car salesman BS. I educated myself for five months on this purchase, so I didn't take his BS; my wife and I walked out.

NEVER go to this dealership, they obviously make a practice at this sort of "say anything" to get you in there - REGARDLESS of "their word" OR of how educated you are on the purchase process. Certainly do not EVER deal with Michael Galli.

I have taken my business elsewhere - they have lost a sale, a profit and possible a lifelong customer. I have no respect for Michael Galli as a gentleman, as he told several bold face lies during my attempt to purchase a car from him.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No