had a good car dealership experience yesterday

That's very cool, that you have such a good new car dealer. Stay loyal to them and pray they don't get bought out and run into the ground, because most new car dealers are all about the bottom line these days. You go in for an inspection, even a state one, and they're going to be pushing unnecessary, overpriced work.

The shortage of inventory is why there are no loaners as well as why, as you said, there are demo (salespeople's) cars on the sales floor.

Is not my usual one, but I went there many years ago like 2011. I'll probably go back next year. Can't beat $37 for a state inspection (those of you who don't have annual inspections probably think I'm crazy to think $37 is cheap).

My service advisor assigned to me at my selling dealership, worked there in Dec. 2006 when I picked up the car--he was there last year and I got a text from him this year. Because of him, and another one in NJ, I came to realize, service advisors pick up lingo, but often don't truly know what they are saying--they're not technical. Their job is to sell.

So to be nice about only taking in $37 or even $41 at a dealership is great.

Any good customer service experience in cars, is a win, I think.

I have always got good service from my VW Tiguan dealer, and am always informed of where my vehicle is, plus a video of what they are doing.

When I had a Lexus, I would take it to the stealership for it's scheduled oil changes. It would take near half a day and I couldn't get a loaner for it. (Not to mention all the senseless upselling they would suggest: wipers, brake flush, etc.) After a few times of this, I started to just do it in my driveway. 30 minutes and I was done and all cleaned up. I could even handle that time frame in the middle of winter at sub freezing temps. I haven't gone back to a shop or dealership for an oil change ever since and that was 15+ years ago. Now with this Diesel BMW of mine, the supplies to do the job alone are $100. $80+ for 8 liters of oil, $10 for the oil filter plus shipping since I can't get any of it local. I cringe to think what the stealership would charge! By now they may have changed/adopted but I wouldn't know.

If you thought I was saying something good about Lexus, they're terrible. As mentioned, I bought my car used, and new to Toyota (never had a Toyota or Honda).

So I called Lexus and asked how much for a brake fluid flush and a coolant flush? They corrected me. $59 for the brake fluid, $109 for the coolant, and it's a drain/fill, not flush. I thought hmmm those are muffler shop prices, why not.

I get my car back and from the multipoint inspection they recommend $6,700 worth of repairs. I asked do I need that? I mean are any of those safety inspection items? The SA says, very likely? wth?

I take the car to a Japanese specialist and they do a free multipoint as well. Says you need $0. I learned a lot about automatics as this was my first automatic since 1998. Toyotas have "sealed" trannies, no dipstick, and drain/fill only.

Anyway BMW is interesting, right? 15 year old car, year after year, $0 recommended service, they just take the $37-$41 for the state inspection, multipoint on video says nothing needed, looks good. Different business model, no need to make things up like at Lexus.

My hunch? The original owner of my Lexus was also presented with that $6,700 bogus estimate, and dumped the car--I mean they bought it new 9/05 and it's the flagship. It was dealer serviced and since they left their home address in the GPS, I can see it really was a FLA car and lived in an 8 car garage. it's so sad today lol

I have to admit that although the Lexus lacks the "enthusiast" aspect, I don't mind working on it. It's the first V8 that I've ever owned. Also per the forum, the dealers routinely only change 7/8 plugs, since the # one plug near the dipstick (driver side front) is difficult to access. Shady city.

p.s. I was once given a 335d loaner. Man that thing was super low rpms, like 1800 or just over 2000. Also, I got 41 mpg highway. Ridiculous, I loved it and only wished it had a stick!

Another car I'll never have but love....GTI or Golf R. I once test drove a passat 6 speed diesel manual, and the salesman was an enthusiast. He said drive it as long as you want. So we went 54 miles round trip! lol

Too bad the passat had no feel to the steering, due to it being eps....

@johnnatash4, how does one do a brake drain and fill. You must do a flush. Or do they just suck out fluid from the reservoir, fill with new and call it a day... for $59?

Love my 335D, but since it is now approaching ten years old, repairs are getting expensive. I bought it at about 7 years old. It's been said that BMW couldn't get a manual transmission that could religiously handle the torque this monster puts out. 425 ft/pounds is a bit much if you dump the clutch. Also, I have never gotten 41 MPG. The best I could wrangle was 36.

Love my 335D, but since it is now approaching ten years old, repairs are getting expensive. I bought it at about 7 years old. It's been said that BMW couldn't get a manual transmission that could religiously handle the torque this monster puts out. 425 ft/pounds is a bit much if you dump the clutch. Also, I have never gotten 41 MPG. The best I could wrangle was 36.

What I didn't like in general was it always seemed that diesel costs more than premium. Actually premium is no picnic it's well over $4 in my neighborhood.

Interesting I learned from a coworker, that while full service is required for gasoline in NJ, people can self-serve with diesel.

Dunno what the upkeep is on a 335d to tell you the truth, it's been pretty low on a 335i from my experience except my DSC/ABS failed, but that's across all E9x and even motorcycles....

The flashpoint of gasoline is -45 (note the minus) and the flashpoint of diesel is about +125. That means that at normal temperatures gasoline is easily ignitable whereas diesel isn’t. Gasoline vapors are also very heavy so tend to hug the ground or the opening of the container. Rapidly pass a flame above a dish of gasoline, you’ll likely have an explosion. Do the same with diesel, nothing likely will happen.