Stories from the Sales Frontlines

abacomike

It's all semantics

The pricing I suggested did not include any fees, taxes, title or registration. Just take the invoice price of the car, just as you want it (or select one the dealer has on stock and look up invoice on Edmunds), subtract all incentives and offer the dealer that price + taxes and any fees. My guess is that the dealer will scoff at the offer and counter with his discounted price. You should be able to pick up that car for $500 over invoice less incentives, + taxes and any fees, which would be an excellent price!

roadburner

Glad you're having a home visit!

roadburner

I noticed a vibration on my wife's X3 and it quickly got worse- I was hoping it was a defective tire but it turned out that the transfer case was going south. Ugh.

abacomike

X3 transfer case

Yes, I've heard of that before. On my case, I have a set of tires that, when cold, develop a flat spot, which corrects itself as the tires gain heat from friction.

Hope it didn't cost you an arm and a leg - was it on warranty?

kyfdx

Ouch... sorry to hear that...

But, you are well over 100K miles, right?

roadburner

Hope it didn't cost you an arm and a leg - was it on warranty?

No, it's a 2004 with over 136,000 miles on it. It's not a common failure but it does happen. In our case, the drive chain had stretched and was jumping teeth on the gears. My research shows that there have been failures as early as 35,000 miles but most failures have occurred after 100,000 miles. I had the TC oil changed every 50,000 miles even though Munich doesn't call for it, so lack of maintenance wasn't an issue. My dealer is working to keep the costs down and it looks like they are going to be charging me about 25% less than most dealers have quoted. I could have bought a used case and swapped it in, but I don't plan to sell it anytime soon.
I can't say I'm happy about it, but we've owned the truck since 2005 and paid it off in 2007, so I'm still much better off than if I had bought and flipped another one or two cars over the past seven years.

roadburner

But, you are well over 100K miles, right?

Yes. I'm trying to find out if the new case is upgraded over the original, but it's essentially a moot point.

kyfdx

Major repairs suck.... but, heck... after 8 years and 130K miles, it can happen to any vehicle...

Actually, you rarely hear of problems with BMW AWD components...

roadburner

Major repairs suck.... but, heck... after 8 years and 130K miles, it can happen to any vehicle...

Exactly!

graphicguy

Thanks, Mike. My sister said she spoke to USAA. Even though our late Father was a WWII vet, they said she didn't qualify to join. Don't know what you need to do to qualify.

She has a Jag. So, don't know if that qualifies for the conquest discount.

But, you're saying invoice less the $1,000 rebate is the number?

abacomike

You're saying invoice less $1000…

Yes, that is what I would offer them. As I said, I believe $500 over invoice LESS the $1000 incentive is where you should be.

GOOD LUCK!

driver100

Major repairs suck.... but, heck... after 8 years and 130K miles, it can happen to any vehicle...

Exactly!

Just how much will this repair cost?

Don't forget to use the "Driver" averaging system ( X divided by 8).

roadburner

Just how much will this repair cost?

@$3k. It's the first major repair in the seven years we've owned it, so as I said I think we're still ahead of the game.

fezo

I hope you didn't use driver's method at arriving at that number...

Well, back in NYC but it was a great weekend. We'll see how I sleep tonight. I'm used to dark and pretty quiet neither of which apply here - though here on an early Sunday evening it's pretty quiet at the moment.

imidazol97

I'm glad you had a great visit home! A few more weeks and you'll be going back home once more.

stickguy

Fez, just curious, but have you noticed any "changes" related to the new marrow/immune system? Hair color (well, if you have any back!), accent, food preference, etc!

fezo

Not really.

As you guessed the hair doesn't exist yet. Will keep you posted.

No accent. When my hands and feet got dark I asked them if my donor was black which got a laugh but that's an early post-transplant thing and went away.

No change in taste yet but there's a guy here who had the same procedure I did six months ago and he's just starting to notice taste changes so you never know.

The big noticeable thing is my hemoglobin count. I was struggling and getting transfusions to keep it above 8. Thursday it came out at 13.3!

driver100

I hope you didn't use driver's method at arriving at that number...

Actually, 7 years into $3000 is only $428.58 a year when ammortized using the Driver Method of Calculating Payments You Didn't Really Want to Make!

That is very reasonable for repairs on an 8 year old car.

Fezo, hope you had a great weekend of freedom. Do you get out again next weekend if you are well behaved?

Many years ago when I went to the world renouned Shouldice Clinic in Toronto for a hernia operation we were supposed to stay over for 2 nights so they could check the progress of the operation. Very strict rules. My room mate lived across the field and he would sneak home in the evening, have a few beers (not allowed) and then sneak back in at 2 in the morning.

I don't get it personally, you don't want to mess up or get kicked out for life, but some people like to live dangerously.

I am sure you wouldn't do that! Have a good productive week - make lots of new cells.

stickguy

that's a good number. When i was going through my issues it was big excitement when it got back into double digits.

fezo

When you said dividing by 7 you didn't say years. I was just thinking 7 times $3K is a heck of a repair.....

I have to ask about when I can go home again.

stick - Ah! Anyone who has been through single digit hemoglobin knows of what I speak. When it gets below 8 you really have difficulty functioning.

stickguy

no problem when you are parked in the ICU with a 3 day Nexium drip going. with 3 IVs in, you aren't going anywhere anyway.

fezo

Well, you beat me there....

I did have as many as 6 IVs at one point though....

abacomike

Hemoglobin levels below 11

After I had surgery on my nack back in 1980, my half blood count was 8.2. They gave me 4 units of whole blood to bring the count to 11+. But that is when I contracted hepatitis C as a result of the transfusions. I also had blood plasma x 4 just prior to my gallbladder being taken out. I hope that had mothing to do with these welts. The one welt on my abdomen is growing larger a larger. I am seeing the doctor tomorrow and the may put me in the hospital due to the rapid spread of these large red areas on my abdomen. I'm really getting worried now with all the pain.

I see the doctor tomorrow morning. I'm praying it is just shingles, but YHE dermatologist and my primary physician don't think that's what the cause is. Also developed very bad chest congestion and head cold - the second time in less than 5 weeks. They think it is probably a problem with my immune system and my liver. Good grief I'm really getting scared!

driver100

seeing the doctor tomorrow and the may put me in the hospital

Looks like you wrote your post on Sunday evening so you should be seeing the doctor today. Good luck with everything. Report back to us as soon as you can.

jmonroe

All this talk about MAJOR repairs had me about to post about the ‘05 XG350 that I lost 3 grand on but since that is a sore subject with me and you guys are tired of hearing it I decided not to post about it.

Then I got to work this morning and a very close friend tells me this:

His daughter is about to buy a used car on Saturday and she calls him to come look at the car before she and her husband decide to buy it. He’s very knowledgeable about cars so that’s why she called him. Low and behold she is about to buy a used 2010 Sonata at the POS dealer that screwed me when the engine blew up on the XG350. He tells her not to buy it but not to tell the salesman anything because he’s coming over there right away just to have some fun. When he gets there he tells the salesman why she isn’t going to buy it there or anywhere for that matter. The salesman says he heard of my problem but he isn’t the one to blame so it should not be taken out on him. He also says that he’s heard of a few sales that the dealership has already lost because of how they treated me. He then says, “how many people does that guy know already where he works”? My friend says, “well, he put in 33 years then retired. Now he’s been back on and off as a consultant for about 15 years, so you tell me”.

If those guys don’t lose another sale, I’m satisfied.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

Jmonroe - keep em coming. I LOVE your screw the Hyundai dealer who screwed me, NO SOUP FOR YOU posts! NEXT!

sterlingdog

I was so glad to read where you went home for the weekend. I can only imagine how much you enjoyed that wonderful experience. You have truly progressed well through this entire process. You're getting down to the "short rows" now. Congratulations.

Richard

sterlingdog

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear that things have gotten worse. Hopefully, the doctors can narrow the problem down to day. The proper diagnosis is so important. It's the sure way to begin the recovery process. Do keep us posted, and you're in our prayers.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...the Driver averaging system..."

Well, I have 40,000 miles on the SRX. My dealer wants $1,360 for a new set of the Goodyear Eagles which is the original brand on the car now. That means that my original tires were driven for 3.4 cents per mile. Not a bad deal when you think about it.

I'm not convinced that I will buy Goodyear; neither am I convinced that I should pay $1,360 if I do. I have an Indy back home where we're moving. My plan is to talk with him about the Michelins and also the pricing of the Goodyear. His prices used to be better than any of the dealers.

As for tire rack and discount tire, my Cadillac dealer will honor their price on the Goodyear---$1,360. I still think that I can do better for the same tire. I'll get down to business with it after we move. It's just too hectic right now.

Richard

driver100

narrow the problem down to day

In Canada we spell "to day" as one word..."today". :P

driver100

That means that my original tires were driven for 3.4 cents per mile.

That's for all 4 tires, taking the Driver Method one step further it is .85 cents for each tire, that should make you feel really good.

Give us the measurements of your tire (or year and exact model) and lets see who can find the best tires for the cheapest price. There are some talented people around here that would love that challenge. It might not be practical, but would give you an idea of whether the dealer price is good, and it would give you a mark to shoot for.

btw...I had the 3M protective shield put on today. It cost a bit more because I wanted the film put about 2 inches on the roof over the windshield where lots of bugs hit, and the mirrors which were coated with bugs. They asked about the A pillars but I guess the windstream carried bugs away from there. I thought they did the whole front, but they don't do the plastic parts because they won't get chipped and the paint won't get ruined by bugs. Guess I will have to wax those parts.

driver100

He also says that he’s heard of a few sales that the dealership has already lost because of how they treated me.

That's great, a customer who was taken advantage of and you are fighting back. If only these dealers realized how much business they can lose if they mess with the wrong people. I tell every one I know who might be in the market for a BMW not to go to my original dealer unless they like to pay full MSRP.

It isn't as good as cash, but it does give me some satisfaction

roadburner

Richard, you might also consider the Pirelli PZero Nero All Season as well as the Cooper Zeon RS3-A. Both are excellent Ultra High Performance all seasons that -in my experience- perform and wear very well in AWD and FWD applications.

fezo

Listen to that guy. He steered me right on speakers!

And he has impeccable taste in cars....

m6vx

80,000 posts..... you guys talk a lot. ;-)

fezo

Yes we do - but it took you to nab the post...... Congrats.

Mike - how is it going? Sure hope you can post soon.

Was at the doctor today. News continues to be good. They took me off one medication because they think it might be inhibiting my platelet production. They also told me I can pretty much go home any weekend I want. Won't be going this one but will take another long weekend for Father's Day. Cool.

roadburner

Glad to hear the news continues to be good!

bolivar

Richard,
Don't know what your SRX needs, but I went into Tire Rack and chose a V8 2WD Luxury 2009 SRX as a wild guess. This thing seems to have different sized front and rear tires. A Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 set is $1170. A Michelin Latitude Tour HP is $1100. After you probably add mount, balance, new TPS seals and tax, and shipping from Tire Rack these will probably be close to the $1,360 your dealer quoted for Goodyear.

Because it's you, I made a trip out to the garage to check out the tires on my 2006 Ridgeline. They are Michelin LTX M/S, size 245/65x17. These have 42,000 mile and will easily go another 10,000 and probably 20,000. There is a lot of tread left. They are slightly noisier than when new, but they are 5 1/2 years old (I know they are getting harder) and something over half the tread is gone. These are the best tires I've had on a car. They have rather aggressive tread and go thru the snow great. But on the Ridgeline, they are smooth and quiet. Tire Rack has these for just under $200 a tire.

If you can find these LTX M/S in your size/s, I think you should consider them.

fezo

GUess I should check this out.

Only a few blocks walk.

driver100

Schedule Change: Space Shuttle Enterprise's Trip To Intrepid

I don't know if you're feeling well enough to go on a trip like that yet?

Or was it to go down the street and get a Mayor Bloomberg submarine sandwich?

jmonroe

Yes we do - but it took you to nab the post...... Congrats.

Congrats my axx. A hit and run poster gets the 80K distinction and all us regulars get is overdue dues statements. :mad:

Great news about your progress keep it up.

jmonroe

graphicguy

fezo.....that's great to hear!

Kirstie_H

If you keep up your dues, when we hit 99,999 I'll lock the discussion until you're available to make the 100,000th post.

m6vx

Congrats my axx. A hit and run poster gets the 80K distinction and all us regulars get is overdue dues statements.

Yeah, but my dues are exactly THREE times as much as yours!
The mega posters all get quantity discounts. :P

driver100

The mega posters all get quantity discounts.

You will have to increase your output or we will take the title away.

driver100

I'll lock the discussion until you're available to make the 100,000th post

I thought at 100k everything gets wiped out and we start all over again!

Also, don't give 100k to the squeaky wheel just to keep him quiet, it should be reserved for the Best Post of 2015 or whatever year it happens in.....

jmonroe

If you keep up your dues, when we hit 99,999 I'll lock the discussion until you're available to make the 100,000th post.

Really?

jmonroe

jmonroe

Also, don't give 100k to the squeaky wheel just to keep him quiet,…

HEY...knock it off. You’re not the determinator around here. We all heard what ‘kirstie’ said so let’s just leave it at that, OK. :mad:

jmonroe

driver100

You’re not the determinator around here. We all heard what ‘kirstie’ said so let’s just leave it at that, OK.

I think there are human rights issues at stake here :P

tjc78

I think that this is the highest post count of any forum here on Edmunds..... and to think it got shut down for awhile.

If we hit about 100 posts per day by Christmas we will hit 100K

In those 20K posts someone may actually buy/sell a car or two. :shades: