Durban BMW dealership sends Netstar to collect a courtesy car

Dr Evil

Active member
Check this ouens

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/dealer-driver-battle-over-bmw-1.1349751#.UBJ2k6PRZSQ

And for those of you that do not want to click on the link:

Desperate to retrieve a courtesy car from a customer, BMW Auto uMhlanga sent an armed car tracker team with helicopter back-up to recover it. But days later they were forced to give the car back in terms of a high court order.

Chatsworth administrative clerk Ravindra Jainarain is locked in a legal spat with the dealership, saying they sold him a “defective” new car and then demanded he return the car they lent him.

Jainarain secured a high court order to have the loan car returned to him, but days later the dealership dashed to court to get the car back.

On Wednesday, Durban High Court Judge Gregory Kruger confirmed a consent order that both applications would be argued next month and Jainarain would keep the car in the meanwhile.

In papers, Jainarain said he had bought a new BMW 320d from the dealer in November.

“I noted certain defects, including that the doors were not aligned properly and that the air conditioner was not working. I returned the vehicle to the dealership.

“However, the vehicle was not fixed to my satisfaction and (BMW) did not give me any explanation as to how such defects could be present (in) a new car. I requested that they take the vehicle back and give me another new vehicle.”

Jainarain said the dealership lent him a BMW 325 to use in March while the dispute was being resolved.

But two weeks ago, BMW sent a Netstar recovery team to Jainarain’s workplace in central Durban to recover the car.

Jainarain said “aggressive and arrogant” Netstar personnel, with a helicopter hovering above, barged on to the premises with guns and demanded the vehicle.

He had been forced to hand over the car and had been left without transport.

“I am paying monthly instalments for a car I am no longer in possession of or am using. If the loan car is given back to the dealership I will be forced to hire a vehicle at my own cost.”

In an affidavit, the dealership’s principal, Brenton Cole, denied that Jainarain was unlawfully dispossessed of the BMW 325.

Cole also denied that Jainarain had been given a loan vehicle to use while his dispute was resolved.

“The applicant (Jainarain) requested the new BMW to be replaced because of the repair work to the air conditioner. I explained to him that BMW South Africa would have to make the decision on whether to replace the vehicle and it would have to be inspected.

“He left the vehicle at the dealership and I provided a loan vehicle to use while we waited for BMW South Africa’s decision.”

Cole said when BMW SA decided not to replace Jainarain’s vehicle, he had asked for the loan vehicle to be returned.

“The matter was concluded and Jainarain was no longer entitled to keep the loaned vehicle.

“The applicant has three years to institute action. It may take years to be resolved, therefore it is absurd that we would give him a loan vehicle for so long.

“The vehicle is depreciating from daily use and there is prejudice to the dealership as we cannot sell the loan vehicle to potential buyers. The applicant is also at liberty to collect his vehicle.”

Netstar employee Farhad Bux said in an affidavit that his team had not been aggressive towards Jainarain.

He said he had told the parking security staff at Jainarain’s workplace to allow them on to the property or they would call the police. - The Mercury
 

Smartiesman

///Member
Not on. There must be a reason the court ruled he return the loaned vehicle. Something don't add up here.
But removing a vehicle from a man's workplace is embarrassing to the guy. Make it seem as if he never made payments or stole the car.
:thumbdo:
 

Prev

Administrator
Staff member
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. BMW wont like the bad press thats going to come their way.
 

Dr Evil

Active member
yeah i agree, just imagine, you rock up at work and all of a sudden a friggin helicopter lands infront of you and some bra who woke up eating his Chuck Norris corn flakes jumps out the bushes with a gun, I would k@k myself.
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Smartiesman said:
Not on. There must be a reason the court ruled he return the loaned vehicle. Something don't add up here.
But removing a vehicle from a man's workplace is embarrassing to the guy. Make it seem as if he never made payments or stole the car.
:thumbdo:
The court ruled that the complainant can keep the vehicle until the matter is heard next month.

Fundamentally the dealer had to return the vehicle that was loaned to the complainant, well done to the Court.
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
well done BMW for standing behind your quality product.... NOT...

Im sure im not the only one who thinks that when you buy a NEW luxury car it all of it should be working 100% all BMW is proving here by going to court is that they dont stand behind their product...
 

tcal69

///Member
I can see both ways...

The guy was def taking a chance asking for a new car with the CPA...

And the dealer was def taking a chance of not fixing it for him...

so is like he said she said thing.... pitty:nonono:
 

Raybimmer

New member
If you buy a new BMW there may be features that do not work , but a BMW SA approved dealership will try fix it and they will even provide you with a loan car while they attempt repairs .

If they say the car is fixed you hand the loan car back and take your vehicle . Now you find it is not repaired or properly repaired but they do not care , they tried and that is it !!!

Sorry but IMHO a car should have all items functioning correctly , and the dealer should look after the customer till he sorts the car out . If this car has say panel gaps different to similar models on the showroom floor then it has a problem !!
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
Raybimmer said:
If you buy a new BMW there may be features that do not work , but a BMW SA approved dealership will try fix it and they will even provide you with a loan car while they attempt repairs .

If they say the car is fixed you hand the loan car back and take your vehicle . Now you find it is not repaired or properly repaired but they do not care , they tried and that is it !!!

Sorry but IMHO a car should have all items functioning correctly , and the dealer should look after the customer till he sorts the car out . If this car has say panel gaps different to similar models on the showroom floor then it has a problem !!

no Ray we should give the dealer the benefit of doubt because the owner might have opened the doors too often and pushed the aircon button many times...

this kind of abuse is clearly not bmws fault so why should they fix it...
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
Im telling you guys.

You wont believe what abuse brand new vehicles go through before it has ever 5km on the clock.
 

Yuvan

Active member
Im on the customer side here, i wont accept and brand new car either if it has defects and i just paid over R300k for it!!!! :thumbdo: :nonono:
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
I dont care what happened...

if for whatever reason one of my customers gets a faulty shock it gets replaced free of charge as quickly as possible...

Its bad enough if the shock got out the factory with a defect... no way in hell will i then make the customer fight for a new shock when they already paid for a quality item...

what BMW are saying by letting this go to court is they are not producing quality and have to try keep repair costs down by not fixing problems when a customer complains...
 

ambroseg1

New member
PhoenixGG said:
BMW SA better step in quick or this is going to turn into a PR nightmare.
dont see the PR nightmare you are refering to. BMW will still sell cars despite the bad press. Be honest, how many "fanatics" on this forum who would have bought another BMW would now not because of this? I suspect none. :nonono:
 

rick540

///Member
Sabretooth tiger said:
I don't think BMW SA is bothered by the bad press, I mean have you seen on their FB how they don't respond to people's complaints

Why do you okes keep buying the cars then?

I for one would shoot myself in the head first before buying a new BMW after all their bad publicity with service.

Dont get me wrong, I truly love the products and I think they are fantastic and I have owned many BMW's over the years. But dealer service rep..... buy a new one after all I have seen and read...never!

I honestly would rather drive a lesser car and get good service than buy the best and be ignored or have a hard time.

In any case I'm playing with the classics for now (not that I can ever get any parts out of BMW for them anyway) but that is another story for another day.
 

ambroseg1

New member
rick540 said:
Sabretooth tiger said:
I don't think BMW SA is bothered by the bad press, I mean have you seen on their FB how they don't respond to people's complaints

Why do you okes keep buying the cars then?

I for one would shoot myself in the head first before buying a new BMW after all their bad publicity with service.

Dont get me wrong, I truly love the products and I think they are fantastic and I have owned many BMW's over the years. But dealer service rep..... buy a new one after all I have seen and read...never!

I honestly would rather drive a lesser car and get good service than buy the best and be ignored or have a hard time.

In any case I'm playing with the classics for now (not that I can ever get any parts out of BMW for them anyway) but that is another story for another day.

very well said. :bravo:
 
Top