General Car Conversation
03-04-23, 06:35 AM
#2896
Super Moderator
At least around here, most of the dealers who have loaner programs also have arrangements with car rental agencies to help them with overflow. They pay some ridiculous rate like $17/day, just because of the volume that they do. Might be worth demanding they put you in one of those if all they have is an A class. I'm sure you'd prefer to spend a week in a Malibu or whatever. I know I would.
03-04-23, 06:44 AM
#2897
Lead Lap
Just be happy you got a loaner and didn’t get Uber credits. That’s my threshold these days.
I will say the BMW dealer near me is really good, they try to give you an equivalent class of car that you dropped off. When I took my X7 they apologized for not having an X7 loaner for me because the one they were going to give me was sold. I told the cashier I wasn’t expecting an X7 so just give me anything so I got an X6, what a POS that was LOL.
I will say the BMW dealer near me is really good, they try to give you an equivalent class of car that you dropped off. When I took my X7 they apologized for not having an X7 loaner for me because the one they were going to give me was sold. I told the cashier I wasn’t expecting an X7 so just give me anything so I got an X6, what a POS that was LOL.
03-04-23, 06:47 AM
#2898
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
At least around here, most of the dealers who have loaner programs also have arrangements with car rental agencies to help them with overflow. They pay some ridiculous rate like $17/day, just because of the volume that they do. Might be worth demanding they put you in one of those if all they have is an A class. I'm sure you'd prefer to spend a week in a Malibu or whatever. I know I would.
This worked out okay, the A Class was all they had and they put me in something better for the weekend after loaners were returned, its fine. The issue really is, they shouldnt have a customer make an appointment, drop their car off and then have it take multiple days before they can even look at the car...I would be less frustrated if they had at least diagnosed the car yesterday. Don't take appointments when you can't service the customer...simple.
I will say the BMW dealer near me is really good, they try to give you an equivalent class of car that you dropped off. When I took my X7 they apologized for not having an X7 loaner for me because the one they were going to give me was sold. I told the cashier I wasn’t expecting an X7 so just give me anything so I got an X6, what a POS that was LOL.
03-04-23, 07:12 AM
#2899
But, to be fair if I need to drive 9 hours away, and my car is at the dealer for service or a warranty repair, then I need to drive 9 hours away. The point of the loaner is so my travel needs aren't interrupted by having my car in the shop. I've taken loaners and rental cars on trips before.
1000% Agree with that. A loaner is a REPLACMENT for whatever I normally would need my car to do while I am paying the dealer premium costs. That was one thing that did annoy me during my service visit with Audi since I always read the whole "rules" sheet and inspect the car before leaving.
I will say the BMW dealer near me is really good, they try to give you an equivalent class of car that you dropped off. When I took my X7 they apologized for not having an X7 loaner for me because the one they were going to give me was sold. I told the cashier I wasn’t expecting an X7 so just give me anything so I got an X6, what a POS that was LOL.
03-04-23, 07:28 AM
#2900
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I think that's your definition of loaners but I do see your point and it's somewhat valid to certain degree. I changed my ways for loaners long ago. Unless I really want to test drive something, I either wait or have them drive/Uber me to my office. I haven't had anything that would take longer than a day so it's been fine for me.
Here's the issue with Mercedes, before I had a Mercedes I never had a car that was in the shop for more than a day or two outside of one thing (the navigation issue on my 15 LS460, they had it for 2 weeks, had to disassemble it and order parts), even with my problematic Chryslers, I always had it back within 2 days, but Mercedes just takes their sweet time. If its going to sit there for 4 days without even being looked at, they need to give me a car I can do whatever I need to do with. I have never had a dealer take multiple days to even look at a car, even CHRYSLER always looks at the car the day I drop it off, has a diagnosis, maybe they need to wait overnight for a part and then I have it back the next day.
Even routine service at Mercedes often isn't completed the day the car is dropped off. I don't think I have ever dropped it off and gotten it back the same day...even for an A service.
As for the radius, I drive a lot for a living, and I drive more than 75 miles away from the dealer, what am I supposed to do?
Yeah some of them know how to make their customers happy. Nice sayings don't cost a penny. So why not say what people want to hear? Care to give more elaboration on why X6 is a POS? I'm not a fan of its design but isn't it very similar to X5/X7 inside/engine but slightly smaller than X7? Or is it because it's not 5.0 like yours?
03-04-23, 07:59 AM
#2901
Lexus Fanatic
I think thats a pretty reasonable definition of a loaner.
Here's the issue with Mercedes, before I had a Mercedes I never had a car that was in the shop for more than a day or two outside of one thing (the navigation issue on my 15 LS460, they had it for 2 weeks, had to disassemble it and order parts), even with my problematic Chryslers, I always had it back within 2 days, but Mercedes just takes their sweet time. If its going to sit there for 4 days without even being looked at, they need to give me a car I can do whatever I need to do with. I have never had a dealer take multiple days to even look at a car, even CHRYSLER always looks at the car the day I drop it off, has a diagnosis, maybe they need to wait overnight for a part and then I have it back the next day.
Even routine service at Mercedes often isn't completed the day the car is dropped off. I don't think I have ever dropped it off and gotten it back the same day...even for an A service.
ol
Here's the issue with Mercedes, before I had a Mercedes I never had a car that was in the shop for more than a day or two outside of one thing (the navigation issue on my 15 LS460, they had it for 2 weeks, had to disassemble it and order parts), even with my problematic Chryslers, I always had it back within 2 days, but Mercedes just takes their sweet time. If its going to sit there for 4 days without even being looked at, they need to give me a car I can do whatever I need to do with. I have never had a dealer take multiple days to even look at a car, even CHRYSLER always looks at the car the day I drop it off, has a diagnosis, maybe they need to wait overnight for a part and then I have it back the next day.
Even routine service at Mercedes often isn't completed the day the car is dropped off. I don't think I have ever dropped it off and gotten it back the same day...even for an A service.
ol
03-04-23, 08:04 AM
#2902
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I have delayed putting it back in for this for months because I knew this is how it would be...and the net result of all of this will be "its normal"...mark my words lol
03-04-23, 08:08 AM
#2903
Lexus Fanatic
life with a German car. My brother had his ball joints changed out on his 3 series (2014). Took 4-5 to get it all done. The simple issue of your MB not even looking at it during your appointment time is a big issue
03-04-23, 08:13 AM
#2904
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The service advisor told me "they only have a few master diagnostic techs we put on cases like this" and thats fine, but when I made the appointment I told them the issue...why wouldn't they just schedule me when the diagnostic tech was available?!
03-04-23, 08:20 AM
#2905
Lexus Fanatic
Poor excuse. Crappy service place. If you have an appointment. , you have an appointment
03-04-23, 08:27 AM
#2908
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
One guy on MBWorld had his W223 in the dealer for 6 weeks because he had some issue with the sunroof squealing when he opened it...I couldn't believe he would put up with it. Give me the car back and call me when you have what you need to fix it...
03-04-23, 08:37 AM
#2909
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
you're not selling me on getting a mercedes. 
i've now experienced service a couple of times at the local dealer though (for someone else) and they're very polite and helpful but not always on the ball. everything seems to take longer and multiple contacts to arrange/do.
but i get to look at eye candy cars anyway.
i've now experienced service a couple of times at the local dealer though (for someone else) and they're very polite and helpful but not always on the ball. everything seems to take longer and multiple contacts to arrange/do.
but i get to look at eye candy cars anyway.
03-04-23, 08:38 AM
#2910
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
This is a potential reason not to lol. Everybody is super nice and for the most part treat you really well, but they seem to have this idea that Mercedes customers don't have a desire to get their cars back quickly...and all the loaner restrictions are a new thing...
Last edited by SW17LS; 03-04-23 at 08:41 AM.