The rear brake pads needed to be changed in 1000 miles on my 540. I was about to move to Las Vegas so I requested a quote from Niello BMW Elk Grove, BMW Only in Las Vegas, and BMW of Las Vegas (A.K.A. Autonation). The first two asked me for my VIN number to see what kind of breaks I had, and quoted me respectively $869, and $882.26. They both said they would replace the pads, rotors, and sensor. BMW of Las Vegas, on the other hand, didn’t ask me for my VIN. I talked to Carlos Castro, who told me it was going to be between $500 and $550. I immediately thought the other 2 would change the whole system to get a few bucks more but BMW of Las Vegas would only replace what was necessary.
I set the appointment but once they had my car, Carlos said:
-“Your rotors are rusty so we’ll have to change them as well. It’s going to be $1250. “
I was livid. I told him and showed him my notes about the different quotes.
-“You told me it was going to be about $500, and now you more than double the price?
And how can you charge almost $400 more than the other 2 shops?”
His answer was that the other shops installed after-market parts, not original BMW parts, and if they had BMW parts, they bought from his dealership, making the repair more expensive.
I said – “Niello BMW Elk Grove" is a BMW dealership. How is it that they don’t have access to original parts? As for BMW Only, how are they paying more for the parts, yet charging less than you?” His reply was that the best he could do was to take $150 out.
I told him to go ahead and do that and also that I would never be back again. He said I could take the car now and not give them any money. He knew that I knew I was due for the maintenance and not doing it would risk causing damage so I asked him to only replace the pads. He answered that he couldn’t – He had to replace the whole of it. And that’s how they get you. They quote you for the pads but once you’re there they tell you they have to replace the whol
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