I was really hoping I didn't need to post this. I'm blaming GM. I placed an order for a blackwing on 12/28. I finally got allocation and it was built in July. Been sitting in the parking lot ever since then.
My 2013 BMW 535i has been my nights and weekends car for the past couple of years. My niece asked to borrow my daily driver so I've been using the bmw every day for the past couple of weeks. I do love the 6 speed, though it has been acting funny. Acceleration is off and not responding correctly. I got this warning Tuesday and took it in yesterday.
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I just got the results. New clutch. 4100. Plus it turns out my front brakes and worn and I need new rear tires. 6400 all told. This is for a 9.5 year old bmw 535i with 76,500 miles on it.
If I had my new blackwing already none of this would be necessary. Again I blame GM. I'd be in a brand new car built to my personal specifications. Something I never dreamed I'd be able to do for a car like this.
I'll do the clutch because I can't get rid of that warning message and it doesn't drive correctly. The brakes were about 300 and I'll do those too. Darn Germans and their automobiles!!!
I called back and skipped the brakes too. I'm selling and won't be driving it much any more, especially as it gets colder out...
So, I'm on my 3rd BMW. I've had a 2004 330XI, a 2008 335XI, and I now have a 2015 M235XI that I bought new and currently have over 137,000 miles on it. It's my daily driver. While I've had my fair share of repairs, I haven't had anything out of the norm that other cars wouldn't experience through a lifetime.
European cars will always be more expensive to fix due to the importation of parts. But, we live in a Global economy, and American built cars are slowly becoming just as expensive to fix as their counterparts. Just because the car is "assembled" in the U.S. doesn't mean it's truly "built" in the U.S.
GM, as are all American automotive manufacturers, are at the mercy of their suppliers. If the suppliers are having a hard time getting the raw materials, or the staff to manufacture the parts, then that's going to affect GM's production.
Now, I've heard some people say "well then they should just stop building the cars until they have all of the parts". That's not a good solution either. GM has bills to pay, staff to pay, etc. If you don't have product to sell, you don't have a business (not taking into consideration service related industries).
Dealers are currently having a hard time fixing cars and some cars are sitting at dealers for months waiting for parts. Those parts aren't coming from GM. They're coming from their suppliers. But the parts just aren't available. And of course, everyone points the finger of blame at GM.
Example: the company that makes Edge Red paint for the Corvette's brake calipers and engine covers, was recently destroyed by a fire. Do you have any idea how many customers are pissed that they ordered a Corvette with those options, and had to delete them out of their orders?
You would think the sky was falling.
Expectations...it's all about expectations, and based upon my experience dealing with customers for the last 7 years, their expectations aren't realistic based upon current times and situations. And when you try to explain it to them, they get nasty and don't want to hear it.
Can GM's communication with customers be better, absolutely!!! Right now, I feel it's severely lacking. But you not having your Blackwing yet, and your BMW breaking down, is not GM's fault.
I'm not trying to pick on you, or single you out with my next statement, but let me say this: once I am finished with my current job, I'm DONE working in any customer support role ever again. People in general, suck these days, and their level of assumed entitlement makes me want to vomit uncontrollably.
I bought something online today that has zero to do with the automotive field. After paying the money, I learned it was back ordered for 2-4 months. Aggravating? Yeah. Is the sky going to fall down on me because I can't have what I want now? No. I bought something in high demand, during a time when supply chains may not start seeing relief until next summer.. I get it.
