Dealer wants to charge me for activating Launch Control

[tonymac1]

Ok so I got my 1200 mile service done at a dealership which isn't around my area, apparently they didn't have the launch control activated.
So I called my local dealership and asked them if they could activate it for me, the service advisor told me i need to PAY FOR IT, which makes no sense to me. He said BMW only pays for the service once, and he needs to be paid for doing it. Otherwise I have to go to the dealership that did the service for me( which is 1300 miles away from me)
Does this make sense to you guys? Should I pay for it?

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by tonymac1

Ok so I got my 1200 mile service done at a dealership which isn't around my area, apparently they didn't have the launch control activated.
So I called my local dealership and asked them if they could activate it for me, the service advisor told me i need to PAY FOR IT, which makes no sense to me. He said BMW only pays for the service once, and he needs to be paid for doing it. Otherwise I have to go to the dealership that did the service for me( which is 1300 miles away from me)
Does this make sense to you guys? Should I pay for it?

I wouldn't pay for it. I would contact the servicing dealer and tell them the missed a part of the 1200 mi svc. Ask them how they can rectify the situation.

If they say bring it in and we will fix it..... Explain the distance and tell them it won't be a viable option.

Tell them that your dealer wants to charge you for it. So they can recommend another local or closer dealer to remedy the situation or ask them to pay your dealer so they can finish the svc.

See how that goes. Remember be nice.... catch more flies honey....

[tonymac1]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

I wouldn't pay for it. I would contact the servicing dealer and tell them the missed a part of the 1200 mi svc. Ask them how they can rectify the situation.

If they say bring it in and we will fix it..... Explain the distance and tell them it won't be a viable option.

Tell them that your dealer wants to charge you for it. So they can recommend another local or closer dealer to remedy the situation or ask them to pay your dealer so they can finish the svc.

See how that goes. Remember be nice.... catch more flies honey....

Yeah i was just going to call the servicing dealership first and see whats next. To me I don't see any reason why i should pay for it since it should be covered in the 1200 mile service.

[mrkhanna16]

Sounds like a dumbasss.....get bmw na involved

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by tonymac1

Yeah i was just going to call the servicing dealership first and see whats next. To me I don't see any reason why i should pay for it since it should be covered in the 1200 mile service.

Your dealer is trained (too well - and at the consumers expense) to only book jobs that pay. The svc dept can't pull cars in and not have billable time without approval. These stats are watched very closely at dealers and impact everyone. In this case they are a little to black and white on the situation. IMO they should have run it up to mgt and get an approval to keep a local client happy and to come back for more work.

[tonymac1]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

Your dealer is trained (too well - and at the consumers expense) to only book jobs that pay. The svc dept can't pull cars in and not have billable time without approval. These stats are watched very closely at dealers and impact everyone. In this case they are a little to black and white on the situation. IMO they should have run it up to mgt and get an approval to keep a local client happy and to come back for more work.

I doubt how much time would it take them to just get the launch control activated, isn't it just a matter of resetting the computer??

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by tonymac1

I doubt how much time would it take them to just get the launch control activated, isn't it just a matter of resetting the computer??

Not sure how long it takes maybe some BMW tech's here can answer that, it's either a quick fix with that individual line item in the code or they may be running an update script that takes some time to upload and run self checks.... would like to know more about it myself.


It may be simple and easy but simple and easy have a way of turning into something much more when you least expect it. If they try and for some reason can't get it to turn on and it chews up an hr or so then I am sure someone will get reamed if no mgr was involved in the approval of time.

[tonymac1]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

Not sure how long it takes maybe some BMW tech's here can answer that, it's either a quick fix with that individual line item in the code or they may be running an update script that takes some time to upload and run self checks.... would like to know more about it myself.


It may be simple and easy but simple and easy have a way of turning into something much more when you least expect it. If they try and for some reason can't get it to turn on and it chews up an hr or so then I am sure someone will get reamed if no mgr was involved in the approval of time.

Im gonna try to get in touch with the advisor of the servicing center I did the service at, if he's not gonna take the responsibility then i guess i will have to call BMW NA

[Tomtomdrive]

I think the issue goes beyond just resetting the computer. Sounds like your servicing dealer only did a service reset from the odometer rather than the cable reset. If you check the maintainer records from iDrive, I bet there is nothing displayed there. A proper first service will initiate your service record on iDrive and activate launch control at the same time.

[Wah]

How do we know that launch control was activated? Besides, obviously, trying to use it....

[tonymac1]

Originally Posted by Tomtomdrive

I think the issue goes beyond just resetting the computer. Sounds like your servicing dealer only did a service reset from the odometer rather than the cable reset. If you check the maintainer records from iDrive, I bet there is nothing displayed there. A proper first service will initiate your service record on iDrive and activate launch control at the same time.

Correct, I took a look at the first service procedure and obviously it addresses that the reset cant just be done from the odometer, the service guy has been ignoring my calls, guess have to call BMW NA

[tonymac1]

Originally Posted by Wah

How do we know that launch control was activated? Besides, obviously, trying to use it....

Flag man, flag...

[Hobbination]

Took the German dealer I visited literally ten minutes to do this, changed Oil/Diff, drove it around the block, parked, 10 minutes of whatever he did, Launch Mode active.

[SOM3]

It can also be coded on.

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by mrkhanna16

Sounds like a dumbasss.....get bmw na involved

+1