I questioned why there were several hundred Km extra on my Car when I picked it up from a main BMW dealer for a service and replacement of front discs/pads. They said that the garage driving 300Km is normal to bed them in before I collect the car. I can understand they need bedding in before they reach max performance but find this somewhat surprising - not only for the time involved in one of the garage employees just driving around so far but why it is necessary rather than just saying for me to go gently for the first x Km.

Is this normal practice?
If so when the car was new with new discs/pads was it also drived hundreds of Km's I wonder.

Biggest BS from a dealer I have EVER heard!

Normally a garage will do a round the block test drive, rather like the one done at an MFK test. 1 km would tell them all they need to know unless there is a problem that only kicks in after driving at least 300km

They are taking the piss...

They used your car for joy riding.

Not sure what you can do about it, but there is no valid excuse for them driving 300Km...

Just had all four disks and pads replaced a week ago. The odometer climbed a total of seven kilometers between drop off and pick up.

300 is IMO not acceptable. To make your point, I would send them an invoice for 290 kilometers at CHF 0.70 per kilometer... total of CHF 203.-
JC

I'm looking to get my brakes/discs repaired. Can anyone tell me of a dealer that I should avoid?

Yes I'd been thinking of doing something like that but glad to hear yours only climbed 7km. I am waiting to hear back from them after I questioned it. Actually the reading from what they recorded on arrival to collectiuon is even higher, but they said it should only have been abaout 300!

Is the 0.7 per Km some sort of offiicial rate (tax allowance etc)?

I wish I hadn't already paid the bill whilst I was there by postcard (thought it was easier)

Yeah, exactly - libel/smibel, get the feedback on the net with the garage's name on it. Do it anonymously from an internet cafe if you prefer.

I had several terrible experiences with a dentist (complete stuff up followed by amending the problems with stuff ups etc etc etc). Don't know about Switzerland but there are sites where you can leave reviews for some types of business in the UK, and I added my feedback. Said dentist now is no longer registered with the British Dental Council (or whatever it's called) and my current dentist has told me I'm certainly not alone with the bad experiences from that guy.

These people are just taking the piss and it's unlikely to be the only time they'll ever do it.

70 Rappen per kilometer is the current standard rate (AFAIK) when charging for transportation. For example, if I were to deliver a project result for the customer, I would charge them CHF 0.70 per kilometer, then add MwSt/VAT on top of that (if you are required to report MwSt. then add that too).

Another idea, ask the garage what they charge per kilometer when someone uses one of their vehicles?

I do not know of a source... again, this is the current standard rate. Maybe someone knows of a valid source.
JC

http://www.polizei-horgen.ch/polizei-horgen-wir-e.php

Link to their English webpage...Give them a ring, sounds like someone was using your car beyond the permission implied (test drive to make sure everything is ok, not to drive to the other end of the country)

send them a bill!.....D

The best proof of this being bullshit is that if they would indeed have made a 300 km test drive, they would definitely have charged you the hours for it

They probably gave the car to another customer. File an official complaint, name and shame the dealer and never go there again.

That is really outrageous.

I'd call the headquarter (http://www.bmw.ch/ch/de/general/contact/overview.html here in Switzerland) and ask who is responsible for quality management and send them a letter by registered mail, explaining what happened and asking for reimbursement (the above-mentioned .70 CHF per KM).
Or, you could go directly to Germany. As they've recently been hit with a big fine, it's unlikely they want any more negative PR...
No need to go to the police (for now).
You could also call your insurance agent - as Switzerland is a small country, chances are he knows who to call at the garage to get this straight.
I know for sure that none of my Swiss coworkers would let such a thing happen to them without consequences.
300km, that is Horgen-Bern and back.

They also initially mistook that my car's service was included from BMW for the first 10 years and tried to charge me SFr1150 for oil service plus front dics/pads. It then dropped to Sfr750. (still steep IMHO)

When I worked for a Swiss smash repair shop this was common practice. Employees who were in the boss's good books were given the best cars available to use for commuting etc.

So it's not common practice but don't be surprised if it happens. Unless of coarse you have a super car. Those owners tended to be very protective of their cars. I even heard one mention that he was aware of the kilometers on the car. In other words 'don't even think about it!'.

An Aussie BMW mechanic rote off a McLaren F1.

That's the biggest screw up I have ever heard of.

This is disgusting from a BMW dealer! I would go ****ing ballistic! if they drove my car for 300km!!!

Which dealer is it? Just so we all know...

Absolutely. No joking - bloody well do it.



And then they sit there, moaning about everyone buggering off to Germany to get their cars fixed.

Never heard of such a thing.

And I certainly wouldn't settle for chf 0.70 per km.
tehy drove your car without permission. and then lied to you.

demand damages, and threaten to name and shame them.
and of course, get in touch with BMW. that will get them to listen up...

Presuming that the garage at least re-filled the tank, you'd need to deduct fuels costs from that. Of course if they didn't...

Soon you will get the bill for 4hr driving time . labour charges