Did the dealership intentionally lie to me?

BlitzerRadic · 06-05-2021, 01:05 PM

So I dropped off my car for the 3G discontinuation thing. Told me my car would not be ready until Tuesday next week, which surprised me because I thought it was just a software update. But that's not really what this thread is about.

As I was leaving I remembered I wanted an oil change and figured I would just have the dealer do it since the car is there. So I talked to the SA about it and he said I also needed to change the brake fluid. I thought that was odd because I had oil change, spark plugs and brake fluid (CBS #3) all done August last year.

I've driven approx 3k miles since the last service and according to CBS I'm not due for another brake fluid change until CBS #5 - 50k miles or next year (I'm at 29.5k now).

I'm hoping there is a plausible explanation for this and the dealer is not lying to my face. I stopped going to another dealer for being dishonest (I strongly suspect they took my car for a joyride and scratched the interior CF trim) and I would like to be able to take my car to a dealer near to me for scheduled service.

White340 · 06-05-2021, 01:35 PM

Did you ask them why under 1y and 3k miles especially if the car didn't call for it? Would love to hear how they "recommend" doing it anyway.

BlitzerRadic · 06-05-2021, 02:03 PM

I said to the SA: Why does my car need brake fluid change when I did that last year with the plugs? Arent you able to see what was done to my car in the past?

All he said was oh well guess it doesnt need it then. I didnt push any further. I was thinking maybe he was going by mileage, but then he should have suggested spark plugs as well?

White340 · 06-05-2021, 05:28 PM

My last service at 15k they recommended a fuel injector cleaning service for 599. Dealers seem to know what's needed better than the engineers who made the car it seems…. My guess is that 599 included a chevron Techron can added to the gas tank. Just do what's in the book. Sadly you need to know before you go.

FriedPiston · 06-05-2021, 06:06 PM

Recommend/Suggest vs Required/Need. These are the words you need to pay attention to anytime you go for a service visit.

Service Advisors, especially the ones working at dealerships, are essentially sales people. It's part of their duty to generate revenue for the dealership by recommending service items that aren't needed.

If the SA wrote down Brake Fluid Change Needed -- Customer Declined on the work order, then he can get in trouble depending on state Consumer Protection laws.

06-05-2021, 01:05 PM	#1
BlitzerRadic Enlisted Member 9 Rep 34 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Did the dealership intentionally lie to me? So I dropped off my car for the 3G discontinuation thing. Told me my car would not be ready until Tuesday next week, which surprised me because I thought it was just a software update. But that's not really what this thread is about. As I was leaving I remembered I wanted an oil change and figured I would just have the dealer do it since the car is there. So I talked to the SA about it and he said I also needed to change the brake fluid. I thought that was odd because I had oil change, spark plugs and brake fluid (CBS #3) all done August last year. I've driven approx 3k miles since the last service and according to CBS I'm not due for another brake fluid change until CBS #5 - 50k miles or next year (I'm at 29.5k now). I'm hoping there is a plausible explanation for this and the dealer is not lying to my face. I stopped going to another dealer for being dishonest (I strongly suspect they took my car for a joyride and scratched the interior CF trim) and I would like to be able to take my car to a dealer near to me for scheduled service. Last edited by BlitzerRadic; 06-05-2021 at 02:09 PM..
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06-05-2021, 01:35 PM	#2
White340 Lieutenant Colonel 1397 Rep 1,988 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp / 2022 X5 45e Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NYC iTrader: (3)	Did you ask them why under 1y and 3k miles especially if the car didn't call for it? Would love to hear how they "recommend" doing it anyway. __________________ 2022 X5 45e : AW/Tartufo 2018 M3 Competition : AW/SO 2016 340i xDrive : AW/CR (sold)
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06-05-2021, 05:28 PM	#4
White340 Lieutenant Colonel 1397 Rep 1,988 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp / 2022 X5 45e Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NYC iTrader: (3)	My last service at 15k they recommended a fuel injector cleaning service for 599. Dealers seem to know what's needed better than the engineers who made the car it seems…. My guess is that 599 included a chevron Techron can added to the gas tank. Just do what's in the book. Sadly you need to know before you go. __________________ 2022 X5 45e : AW/Tartufo 2018 M3 Competition : AW/SO 2016 340i xDrive : AW/CR (sold)
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06-05-2021, 02:03 PM	#3
BlitzerRadic Enlisted Member 9 Rep 34 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	I said to the SA: Why does my car need brake fluid change when I did that last year with the plugs? Arent you able to see what was done to my car in the past? All he said was oh well guess it doesnt need it then. I didnt push any further. I was thinking maybe he was going by mileage, but then he should have suggested spark plugs as well?
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06-05-2021, 06:06 PM	#5
FriedPiston Colonel 1977 Rep 2,712 Posts Drives: Scraper Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: East Oakland, CA iTrader: (26)	Recommend/Suggest vs Required/Need. These are the words you need to pay attention to anytime you go for a service visit. Service Advisors, especially the ones working at dealerships, are essentially sales people. It's part of their duty to generate revenue for the dealership by recommending service items that aren't needed. If the SA wrote down Brake Fluid Change Needed -- Customer Declined on the work order, then he can get in trouble depending on state Consumer Protection laws.
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