winchester21 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I thought that I had seen every dirty trick form a car dealer- I was wrong. My 77 yeard old parents have a 07 BMW 525i. The car is absolutely pristine with 10000 miles- 36 k - 3 year lease- no smoke- no dogs - no kids- car still smells new. The cas has a quarter size dent in the rear bumper- mpolice report says less than 100.00 damage. The lease is up in Dec. They got a letter from BMW offering to pay the last 3 months of the lease if they would re up early. The residual on the lease is 30 k. The car is worth 29k on the low end- 33k o0n the high end . Difficult to price exactly due to the esxrteme new condition. no other examples for sale to compare. The local dealer looked a the car for the lease turn in. A slimy character from the used car dept examined the car. He infomed them that the car had been hit hard in the front with panels painted and also in the right rear. The penalty would be 6k for excessive damage to trade cars for another lease. The claims of damage are 100% completely false. My dad told the salesmann that these statements constituted accusal of felony fraud on my parents part and asked for a written evaluation of the car which they refused to provide. The salesman stood firm on the damage claim and the penalty. My parents .. asked to speak with the general manager of the dealership who was convientely not available. They asked for a phone call fro him and received one in 2 days. The general manager caled them back and offered to "do them a favor" but excusing the damage by not turing the car back into BMW(which they obviously never had any intention of doing in the first place) and selling it off the lot. However they would have to make 1 or 2 of the last lease payments until a suitable new car could be ordered or located. Nothing is available off their lot. The dent can be fixed for 200-300 dollars. Here is my question- the car is 26000 under on the allowed mileage. Are the lease cos obligated to refund the value of unused miles to the customers. I recently got a 1200.00 check from GMAC for unused miles from my lease turn in. Aare ther federal laws that govern this?? Comments appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 From http://www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/leasing/resource/faq.htm "7. If I don't use all my allowed mileage, will I get a refund for the unused portion? If you purchase more than 15,000 miles per year, some lessors will refund unused miles. However, you will not get a refund for unused miles unless your lease states that the lessor will refund unused miles." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Thanks for the input- They are 77 years old and of course - the lease papers are misplaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I would expect the dealer to have a copy of the lease as well? (or whoever initiated it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Yeah they should.. if they will give it to us...My Mom went off on them big time in the showroom in front of a bunch of people- I have never seen her curse or say anything bad towards anyone before this. This bridge may be nuked. They are looking at another dealer in Winston Salem and also at an E class MB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I would also write a scathing Letter to Corporate BMW Headquarters ! In this day and age, service like that is Totally Uncalled for. That Dealer needs to have his head handed to him. I bet if you made an appointment with the OWNER and informed him what his people where up to that Heads would Roll............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Absolute slimeballs. Hope your folks can find some honest folks to deal with or otherwise come out OK on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 The correct pronunciation is fleece. It makes no sense to lease a highly depreciating item. Thanx, Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinvermont Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Well I can't help too much with the lease issue but it did remind me of a classic thread on a BMW Board: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294812&highlight=winston+salem It is regarding Flow BMW in Winston Salem. The post went viral and at around page 35 Don Flow the owner begin posting. He did seem interested in clearing up any problems and offered to meet with people personally regarding problems with his dealership. If the lease is through Flow and it was their employees that pulled this on your mom and dad perhaps a direct call or email to Mr. Flow would help. Anyways given the low milage of the car that should offset the cost of the dealer fix one small dent. IThe car can still be a CPO vehicle and the dealer should be able to sell it. I do know that BMW is sitting on a lot of 2006 CPOs that they are trying to get rid of by low financing. If your parents want to keep the car I have heard of people contacting BMW directly and cutting much better deals than the local dealer would give them. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 The dealer was Hendrick in charlotte. The only game in town. this car is so pristine - so new- 10 k miles- tires are nor even scuffed up- it would sell immediately. The dealer wanted this car - he just wanted to screw them out of 6 grand in the process.. and get their car. Their age and bad health is an obstacle in dealing as a normal person would- dont want to be upset by this kind of thing. They just wanted to hand over 3500.00 down payment- swap keys which should have been no problem. I am sure given the condition of the car vs the residual- this will turn out good. The same dealer blatantly baited and switched me on a 335 coupe lease 2 years ago. chased me away from the dealership and the brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Loading... Contact BMWUSA.com Representative If you already have a BMW account, sign in using your email address and password to retrieve your information. Login ID Password Sign in Forgot your password? Forgot your login ID? Sign Up To speak with a BMW representative, please use the toll-free telephonenumbers provided. To contact a BMW representative by email, pleasecomplete the information below. Your email is important to us and youwill receive a reply, Monday through Friday, within 24 hours. If youare an existing BMW Financial Services customer, we can provide afaster response to your request if you use the Priority email optionwithin the Owners' Circle.BMW Bank of North America 1-877-BMW-3655BMW Credit Cards 1-888-BMW-CARDBMW Financial Services 1-800-578-5000Lease-End Specialist 1-800-959-4BMW Please enter required information below: * Required Loading... Title Select Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Rev. First name* Middle initial Last name* Address* City* State* Select Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Dist of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming ZIP code* - Home Phone Work Phone Fax Email* Method Of Contact* Select Home Phone Work Phone Email Daytime Phone Available from 9 A.M Eastern Time 10 A.M Eastern Time 11 A.M Eastern Time 12 P.M Eastern Time 1 P.M Eastern Time 2 P.M Eastern Time 3 P.M Eastern Time 4 P.M Eastern Time 5 P.M Eastern Time 6 P.M Eastern Time 7 P.M Eastern Time Until 9 A.M Eastern Time 10 A.M Eastern Time 11 A.M Eastern Time 12 P.M Eastern Time 1 P.M Eastern Time 2 P.M Eastern Time 3 P.M Eastern Time 4 P.M Eastern Time 5 P.M Eastern Time 6 P.M Eastern Time 7 P.M Eastern Time Other Phone Available from 9 A.M Eastern Time 10 A.M Eastern Time 11 A.M Eastern Time 12 P.M Eastern Time 1 P.M Eastern Time 2 P.M Eastern Time 3 P.M Eastern Time 4 P.M Eastern Time 5 P.M Eastern Time 6 P.M Eastern Time 7 P.M Eastern Time Until 9 A.M Eastern Time 10 A.M Eastern Time 11 A.M Eastern Time 12 P.M Eastern Time 1 P.M Eastern Time 2 P.M Eastern Time 3 P.M Eastern Time 4 P.M Eastern Time 5 P.M Eastern Time 6 P.M Eastern Time 7 P.M Eastern Time If you are a BMW owner please complete this section Year Select 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 or before Model Last 7 digits of VIN Date Purchased Purchased From State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Dist of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Servicing BMW Center City State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Dist of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Select a subject* Select Site Content Technical Issues Corporate Requests Other Please describe your question or request* Send Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 4, 2009 Author Share Posted September 4, 2009 For whatever reason the light finally came on at the BMW dealer. Several interested parties fowarded a mailbox full of scathing e-mail and phone calls t o ..anyone who would answer the phone or reply to an e- mail inculding some listed in this thread. They came crawling back with apologies about the "misunderstanding". The new 528 will arrive in about a month with some extras for nothing to offset all of the trouble and the value of the turn in car. No excess damage fees- SOme kind of concession on the reamining payments until the new car arrives. It is a shame that buying cars has come to this level of business. It used to be fun. Not any more. Thanks for the numbers and links- they were very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dflip Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Glad to hear it worked out for your parents. If it wasn't for the scathing emails, phone calls and negative comments towards the dealership and BMW, then those in charge of this deal would have gladly ripped off your parents. It's a shame that it took getting caught with the hands in the cookie jar before they fixed the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Glad they came back but really do they want to deal with them again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 4, 2009 Author Share Posted September 4, 2009 Believe me JB- I hear you. If it were me .. no way... I would bash them from every website from here to Alaska. But they are in their late 70s and dont like to get upset with this type of stuff- poor health- transplants and such- so if they are happy.. no problem. I am still blown away by the fact that a respected brand and a dealership network like that would try such a trick on old people. Makes me sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 really do they want to deal with them again? Yeah -- it sounds like the BMW superstructure isn't up to much good in that part of the US. Did they like the MB dealer? I like my E and the service here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 We have 2 MB dealers and another closeby in SC. They drove both and liked the 5 better. But were ready to jump ship over this. I drove a 540 for years but never liked the newer Bangleized 5 cars. Personally I would buy a E class over the 5 if I needed a sedan. The BMW has a killer service dept but a bunch of crooks in sales. Go figure. The MB dealer here is 1st class- Felix Sabates owns it as well as part of the cigar shop that I go to. The other dealer got caught up in an FBI investigation involving internet hookers. He no longer owns it. Rick Hendrick -owner of the BMW dealer eceently bought it. So now you have Felix Sabates vs Rick Hendrick selling MBs here. I fI needed a sedan it would be anE class or a Panameria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Here is my question- the car is 26000 under on the allowed mileage. Are the lease cos obligated to refund the value of unused miles to the customers. I recently got a 1200.00 check from GMAC for unused miles from my lease turn in. Aare ther federal laws that govern this?? Comments appreciated. It depends on the contract, most likely, no refund for mileage is due (I didn't get one for my Tundra). The mattter of damage is obviously an attempt to rip-off old people. Go to another BMW dealer. You do not have to return a lease to the dealer that leased it to you. The bumper dent is far outweighed by the car's condition. For their usage, a lease doesn't make much sense. They need to find a car similar to the one they have, and buy it used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 They wanted a new car- new warranty- ect ect- The closest other BMW dealer is 125 miles away. I agree with the lease deal- they never use the miles.The deal was done over the phone without my input after the thing went ballistic. This thing turned pretty nasty for the dealer- lots of people got involved- they got numerous black eyes in the minds of several other customers. I am sure the dealer wishes now that they had not tried this. My 77 year old mother went completely ballistic in the showroom screamed at and cussed out the Lease turn in arpprasier in front of 20 or 30 people. It was not pretty. I am glad that it is resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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