1 reviews | Active since Aug 2026
Why pay for fault finding if the fault is obvious and visible?!
I went to a dealership for a service for my Company Car (116i) and had 2 issues I needed looking at: Irregular Idling Aircon not working - I paid to have the aircon fixed around 6 months earlier. The service advisor mentioned the R1700 fault finding for each, which I then said that I will first speak to my boss about it. The standard service and rear brake pads was done (R13000). When collecting the car, the service advisor said she can point out the problems on both, which I have to say, is something a person with a LITTLE car experience would have picked up straight away. When opening the bonnet, one could see the one air pipe being broken, and on the one pipe one could see where the coolant leaked. I am not that way inclined, so would not even have seen either. Now the real complaint. Considering that for the trained eye, these probably took 10 seconds to diagnose, I asked the advisor if I can bring the car back to have those 2 issues sorted, to which she replies that they will still have to charge the R1700 fault finding fee for each. I then said that "it is not needed because the faults are identified", and as mentioned, "probably took the trained eye 10 seconds, why do I still have to pay the R3400". To which she answered: "That is how BMW works, and we have to report it to them". My response was something like... "This is not a warranty issue where BMW pays, I pay, so no need to report it to BMW", she then just said: "That is just how it works". The nett effect here, is that it just feels to me that because I love my BMW, and BMW knows that to be true, because they also love theirs, as if BMW will just ride on that fact and because we love our BMW's as much as we do, that we will just pay, and pay. Well, I am not sure I agree... I will pay what is due and fair is fair, but don't open an umbrella.........
