BMW Dealership Damaged I7

[Venki9990]

Hey folks,

So, here's the deal. The BMW place messed up my 2024 i7 while they were working on it. The damage is gonna cost like, twenty grand 'cause the jack messed up the rocker panel. When they told me, I was bummed but whatever, mistakes happen. I just asked them to fix it, you know? Now, they texted me that this is gonna be on my Carfax, which is super annoying 'cause it'll hurt the car's value. I called BMW customer service, and they said to talk to the sales manager. Anyone else ever deal with something like this? Any advice?

[InterlagosM3]

If you have a good relationship with the dealership, then ask them to provide some goodwill beyond repair to address the decrease in value. Between the dealership and BMW, you should be made whole and thensome. If they are not being helpful then you can take a more aggressive approach with an attorney but that is always the last resort.

[AlteBMW]

20k for a rocker panel? Did they damage the frame of the car? If so, there iis a real iissue with diminished value. I had a G10 in for service and they did something similar but it was just the rocker panel. It had been in for suspension repairs after an encounter with a pothole, and they owned up right away and comped all the labor. And there was no Carfax repoort. You have to get that stopped asap.

[BMW5and7]

The reason they said it will be reported to CarFax is that they don’t want to pay anything themselves. They simply want to use their shop insurance company, and let their insurance cover the damages and costs.

In fact, they might even make a profit on this since their tech and team will be involved in doing some of the repair/diagnosis and provide parts.

I don’t think it’s fair for you to let them report it to CarFax. They should simply cover the repair without involving insurance to avoid reducing the value of the car. It’s an EV, so its value will drop significantly for anything that isn’t a clean Carfax report. If it goes to CarFax, the dealer and BMW should pay you on goodwill basis for all of that, and I’d demanad 10-15K and start from there, If I were in your shoes.

[Venki9990]

They started fixing my car without me saying it was okay, even though I tried calling them a bunch. I finally talked to the service manager and told him to stop and send me the bill first. I also told them I didn't want anything on my Carfax, and I'm getting a lawyer just in case.

[DroMike]

I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate situation. Since I knew little about CarFax and found this situation extremely interesting, I input your original post on ChatGPT. After they explained what it was all about they asked if I wanted info on what one should do to keep it off CarFax or to get compensation for lost value. I thought I'd share what they said in the event it may help you:

1. Push to keep it off Carfax

Some repairs are reported automatically (especially insurance claims or structural repairs). But if this is being paid for directly by the dealership (not insurance), they might be able to avoid reporting it.

The owner can push the dealership to cover the repairs fully in-house without triggering an insurance claim. That reduces the chance it gets flagged on Carfax.

2. Ask for Diminished Value Compensation

“Diminished value” means the car is worth less on resale because of the Carfax entry, even if the repair is flawless.

The owner can demand compensation for this lost value, often thousands of dollars. Dealers/manufacturers sometimes settle to avoid legal trouble.

3. Escalate to BMW Corporate

Instead of just the sales manager, the owner can escalate to the BMW regional rep or corporate customer relations. A dealer damaging a new flagship BMW is a big deal, and BMW may cover compensation to protect their brand image.

4. Negotiate Alternatives

Request a buyback (dealer takes the car back and gives a new one). This is rare, but not impossible for high-end cars.

Request extended warranty or free service as part of settlement.

Request a letter from the dealer on official letterhead explaining that the damage was due to dealer error and not a collision. That letter can help soften resale concerns if the Carfax shows “damage reported.”

5. Legal Pressure (if needed)

If the dealer won’t cooperate, the owner can consult a lawyer for a diminished value claim. Documentation helps: photos, repair estimates, dealer admission of fault.

[Venki9990]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions, y'all. I'm doing what you said and asking the dealership to do it too. Do you think I need to tell my insurance company, or what?

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by Venki9990

Hey, thanks for the suggestions, y'all. I'm doing what you said and asking the dealership to do it too. Do you think I need to tell my insurance company, or what?

Never!… just a personal advice…
Calling your insurance is just you asking for a rate increase and chances it gets noted on your account as well as carfax.
You have time and legal rights to call your insurance later but it looks like you have better legal routes and options through the dealer directly

[Venki9990]

They're being difficult. I asked them to put everything in writing, and I've been trying to get a call with the service manager, but they keep saying he's in meetings. It's been a week since they messed up my car.

[SW17LS]

I would walk in and talk to the dealer's general manager

[Venki9990]

That's what I am going to do tomorrow.

[DroMike]

HEY - opportunity KNOCKS! You should wire yourself for sound and video, then we could do a 60-Minute expose on them. OK then, maybe a local news station "7 On Your Side" consumer-help segment. If none of those then at least we can have a few laughs, alright?! I'm only kidding, really.

Good luck. Remember to be firm but respectful, keeping a friendly and professional tone. No literal or figurative guns or bombs! Should you get nowhere you can still casually intone, "Well gee, I'd hate to sue you."

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by DroMike

Good luck. Remember to be firm but respectful, keeping a friendly and professional tone. No literal or figurative guns or bombs! Should you get nowhere you can still casually intone, "Well gee, I'd hate to sue you."

FULLY AGREE….. Dealing with BMW corporate is all about stratigic, firm but yet soft tone. Threateninig them would just delay the process. But being firm and showing them that you know how to deal with it if they won’t stand up, yet in a friendly and respectful manner, will yield the best results.

Without going through the detail, I had previous experience getting a $15K USD goodwell check just for the inconvenience of a sitiuation….. all that just through a slow, stratigic negotiation strategy. Do I think that the inconvenience level I had to deal deserved a 15K USD? Maybe, but I was surely glad taking that and running with it.

[2001S15]

In my experience with BMW corporate they will jerk you around and delay until you bring in a lawyer. I have done this on 2 occasions for 2 different cars. Weeks/months of delay then a polite demand on legal letterhead and everything got better. YMMV I guess.

[Venki9990]

Yep, I haven't said those legal words yet, but I call them every day to check in.

[Venki9990]

Ugh, I went to the body shop, and they said it'll take two months to fix! I'm so stressed. I just realized both doors are messed up too.

[DroMike]

Yikes - I'm so sorry to hear this! With apologies to the JFK movie, this is definitely a bummer, wrapped in a nightmare, sealed in a curse.

[Wolfman64]

I wouldn’t wait for this nor accept a repair from them.
Especially since you didn’t authorize it in the first place.

This is a headache created all on their own doing so they should just buy the car from you and get you into another one in a deal that favors you (to be negotiated).

Just a thought…

[Venki9990]

So, I leased the car, planning to buy it later. I put down 75k CAD and paying 2.5k PM, and now I'm totally lost. I already told the leasing company, too.

[BMW5and7]

As Wolfman64 said..... "they should just buy the car from you and get you into another one in a deal that favors you".

If I were you, I would be firm on that. I would also get BMW Corporate involved (separately, without informing that dealer). Call BMW 800 number, and ask for the (Premium Team). Ask them to assign you case to an (Executive Case Manager). As you do that, continue working with your dealer directly without mentioning anything about getting BMW corporate involved.

One possible outcome is that BMW corporate may put pressure on the dealership to make it right for you (but keep in mind that BMW corporate has no say in what dealerships can do other than demoting them from a Tier-1 to Tier-2 dealership for warranty claims support based on customer satisfaction rating. Dealerships are privately owned. However, a possible outcome is that if BMW corporate truly wants to help you, they may offer you a refund/loyalty credit towards your new car purchase, such that the amount will cover the difference between what you could sell the car for (or to get out of lease) and get a new one.

In all cases, your dealership should buy that car from you or get you out of lease, and get you a new one. It's fair for them to ask you to pay a small difference towards the new car assuming it will be 1-2 year newer model year with zero miles.

If you get an attorney involved, that case may result in upgrading you to a new car at no cost to you; or at the very least, you keep this car and ask for some compensation, at least 15-20K USD. That seems like serious damage from what you posted in the last post.

[AlteBMW]

75K down and 2.5k per month? That sound strange. Do you mean 7.5k?

[mjr24]

Agreed. Give them an ultimatum to buy it or tell them you are lawyering up.

Also, name this dealer.