BEST BMW Dealership

killerbeekilled

Could anyone recommend any of the BMW dealers to make a deal with purchasingwise/discounts, and whats the best approach, i did hear that Murphy and Gunn are great to deal with, well in terms of aftersales service anyway...??

Thanks

Fey!

I find Motorpark in Galway very good for service. I haven't bought off them, but the service department is very good.

killerbeekilled

Thanks Fey, i might even venture out of Dublin to buy, a friend of mine recently purchased a 57K car for 52K down the country..

beolight

recommend joe duffy motors and aherns castleisland

dealt with both and both were eager to deal managed to squeeze 3k extra on original price

best tactic when buying is to shop around and see whp gives best trade in price then go back to them with price plus another 500/1000 to see if they will match it and then go back to original guy

the country dealers will be more willing to move on price as they have to shift a set number of bmws a month and as their market is smaller, i got best price from aherns would of gone with them only joe duffy motors matched their price so no long journey to kerry

crosstownk

Recently I've been happy with the service from Frank Keanes. I used to deal with Maxwell in Blackrock and found them excellent too. Martin Rielly's in Sligo are quite helpful as are Kevin O'Leary's in Silversprings in Cork. All are expensive.....

I've never used Spud and Bang Bang in Milltown, but anyone I've spoken to who has used them is more than happy with the service.

TomMc

From the volume of BMW's around the city, Joe Duffy's would appear to have the largest slice of the cake (so must be best on price more often than not) or may be quotas/allocation comes in to play to some extent.

I know of one person who said they got the best deal of the lot from Capital Cars in Tullamore.

commited

Joe Duffys service department are awful though apparently. Which is crap as it's my local...

I've heard the lads in Milltown are great.

CrowdedHouse

Fey! wrote:

I find Motorpark in Galway very good for service. I haven't bought off them, but the service department is very good.

+1

Was there recently,I found it a good place.They took plenty of time with me,No BS,didn't feel under any obligation and I was offered a good deal.

irish.rugby.fan

I totally agree, Joe Duffy have a terrible service department.

They never return your calls and managers only excuse is that they are understaffed at the moment.

Stay away.

unkel

I've only dealt directly with one, Murphy and Gunn in Milltown for a service. I'd give them a very high mark for being to the point, professional and courteous.

And it's just hearsay, but according to the previous owner of my car, the swirl marks on the paint were caused by staff from a very well known and very succesful BMW dealer on the north side of Dublin, putting the car through the automatic car wash

crosstownk

irish.rugby.fan wrote: »

They never return your calls and managers only excuse is that they are understaffed at the moment.

Not that it's an excuse, but they have been advertising service department jobs on a monthly basis for the last year - so it does appear that they have staffing issues. That raises more serious questions, imo.

milltown

I've only bought two. 1st from Barry motors (motorpark) in Galway who were great to deal with and really excelled at aftersales. 2nd was from McKeon's in Kells, also good to deal with and more willing to haggle than Barry's. When the deal was done I said I'd have to check and see when I could get to Kells to collect, so they offered to deliver!

In Dublin, I can't fault Frank Keane's for service and warranty work, which is nice 'cos they're my local. Haven't bought from them as they've never had what I was looking for when I was looking for it. Used, obviously.

galwaytt

I know a guy who buys a new BeeEmm every year - after 5 in a row, Barry's weren't cutting the deals anymore, and he bought off Cunningham Higgins in Galway.

Yep, they of Veyron fame..........

Fey!

One of the lads on here bought his 525M in Cunningham Higgins, and got a very good deal off them. That said, it was a 5 year old car at the time.

Despite recommending Motorpark earlier - I use them for specialist dealer-only work - I use a garage called Bradleys in Galway. They're the Jaguar/Land Rover main dealers, and have second-to-none customer service. My mother bought her 5 series from them, and we've bought 2 other cars off them, and they've always been on the ball. They generally have a few second hand BMWs/Mercs/Audis in stock.

kdevitt

I know one of the sales guys in Duffys who is very helpful, but I'd avoid them like the plague to be honest. He's the only one there worth his salary, and the servicing department is crap from my experience. I wouldn't want them going near my car once any work was due. Found McKeons in Kells very helpful when I was looking for my last car, as were Frank Keanes though.

Any dealer whether they're BMW or not can order one in for you though. I think MarkN on here had secured the best deal on a new BMW through a VW garage before he settled on a nearly new model from Duffys.

R.O.R

I buy mainly off Frank Keane's and am delighted with their service. McKeons in Kells have been fairly good this year, Joe Duffy's not bad either. I have one on order through Barry Motors (Motorpark) and they were very helpful for that order. Capitol cars were unable to come up to anywhere near the level of discount I was looking for, but were very pleasant to deal with. Avoid Keary's though (they p1ssed me off something rare recently).

I get the best deal from Frank Keane's as well as the best service.

MercMad

My experiences with Duffys are so bad that I wont even drive past the place anymore !

Seriously I would never step in to the place again, especially if I was looking for any kind of after sales service !

Have a mate who swears by McKeon's in Kells !

To be honest I wouldn't buy from any dealer in Dublin, but Frank Keane should know a thing or two about service at this stage !!

Owen

Victor_M wrote: »

---original libellous post deleted---

Whoah whoah whoah, unless you've definitive proof from the Gardai, I wouldn't post anything like that here ... it's liable to get boards.ie ltd in trouble!

Anan1

Victor_M wrote: »

ISince then I have bought from Maxwell motors and have found them to be superb so far.

I found Maxwell sales to be good. I wouldn't, however, entrust a ten-year-old Felicia to their body shop.

Seth Brundle

People, please remember that whatever is written down can be used in a libel trial so do not post anything that couldd be deemed libellous. If you aren't sure that its libellous then it probably is so don't post it.
As for Victor_M's - that has now been deleted.

Táck

my folks bought a car from joe duffys and found them brilliant. a good trade in, a good service and a good after sales service.

i find all the complaints above very hard to swallow. i do believe you all but just find it hard to swallow. when you buy a BMW, BMW call you after to ensure everything was ok with the sale and service. a courtesy call. both the salesman should call you AND BMW. from these phonecalls and from audits each BMW garage is given points, and work on a league system. Joe Duffys are the leader in Ireland and the UK!

Anan1

kbannon wrote: »

People, please remember that whatever is written down can be used in a libel trial so do not post anything that couldd be deemed libellous. If you aren't sure that its libellous then it probably is so don't post it.
As for Victor_M's - that has now been deleted.

Don't worry, I have photographic proof.;)

Mr Magnolia

I have family that used Joe Duffy and are happy with them OP. They weren't the cheapest (there was little in it) but they offered more extra's free so better value was had

Anan1 wrote: »

Don't worry, I have photographic proof.;)

Proof of what

>_>
<_<


/Release the flying monkeys

Victor_M

ned78 wrote: »

Whoah whoah whoah, unless you've definitive proof from the Gardai, I wouldn't post anything like that here ... it's liable to get boards.ie ltd in trouble!

Fair enough, sorry about that.

Suffice to say I would suggest steering clear of Joe Duffy's, aside from anything else they have perfected the art of ignoring the customer, yet looking busy at the same time!

Maxwell Motors or Frank Keanes never had a problem.

DublinDilbert

Victor_M wrote: »

Fair enough, sorry about that.

Suffice to say I would suggest steering clear of Joe Duffy's, aside from anything else they have perfected the art of ignoring the customer, yet looking busy at the same time!

Maxwell Motors or Frank Keanes never had a problem.

Agree with this 100%, Frank Keanes are sound to deal with.... you can even buy parts on your credit card and they'll leave them with the security guy, so you can pick them up 24 hours / day... I once asked Joe Duffy if i could pick a part up that evening and they almost laughed at me...

MarkN

The best straight deal price I got on a new 335 was Keogh's in Limerick, Capital Cars are well worth the trip. Good mate of mine works in sales in McKeon's and I think they are meant to be pretty good for service too.

I did get a fairly big discount on the car from Duffy's but time of year and the car I was buying also helped.

As for service in Duffy's well, I'll get back to you on that, they're going to really prove themselves with me over the next day or so and depending on which way it goes I will report back. All I will say is the low oil light came on in my 1 day old 335 coupe and I'll leave it at that for the moment..........

R.O.R

Táck wrote: »

my folks bought a car from joe duffys and found them brilliant. a good trade in, a good service and a good after sales service.

i find all the complaints above very hard to swallow. i do believe you all but just find it hard to swallow. when you buy a BMW, BMW call you after to ensure everything was ok with the sale and service. a courtesy call. both the salesman should call you AND BMW. from these phonecalls and from audits each BMW garage is given points, and work on a league system. Joe Duffys are the leader in Ireland and the UK!

Tack - as a Mazda dealer from the Nurthcyde, you wouldn't happen to be in anyway affiliated with Joe Duffy's new Mazda dealership would you?

Táck

i'm trying!

Victor_M

R.O.R wrote: »

Tack - as a Mazda dealer from the Nurthcyde, you wouldn't happen to be in anyway affiliated with Joe Duffy's new Mazda dealership would you?

Well spotted R.O.R:D - He's either an employee or an Associate!:mad:

I hope Joe Duffy Mazda have a better reputation than their BMW counterparts.

Táck

ah i have a relative there, truth be known, and she told me about that points system. i jsut thought it a great way of working it. and seeing all the complaints above i thought it odd.

that mazda garage will soon be mazda/opel

kdevitt

Táck wrote: »

my folks bought a car from joe duffys and found them brilliant. a good trade in, a good service and a good after sales service.

i find all the complaints above very hard to swallow. i do believe you all but just find it hard to swallow. when you buy a BMW, BMW call you after to ensure everything was ok with the sale and service. a courtesy call. both the salesman should call you AND BMW. from these phonecalls and from audits each BMW garage is given points, and work on a league system. Joe Duffys are the leader in Ireland and the UK!

Seriously - believe it. I stood in the premises with my dad (while they were still on Griffith Ave) for the best part of half an hour trying to get a salesman to deal with us - my oul lad had cash waiting, and wanted an E39 sitting on the forecourt - but their sales people were too busy to deal with customers at the time according to the receptionist.

A friend had them lose a complete exhaust system from the manifold down on him - consider for a minute how large an exhaust system is, and how 'easy' it it to misplace it. He was then told he needed a full new engine - although surprisingly enough the problem was easily fixed by an independent mechanic.

They fcuked up my brakes on my last E46 coupe by leaving off a caliper piston cover, causing it to seize up. They also managed to take lumps out of the paint, and scratch the passenger door and wing during the same service.

Their reputation is crap amongst most BMW owners, and deservedly so.

Seth Brundle

I think what it comes down to is that many customers will have positive experiences with a particular dealer (irrespective of marque) whilst others will have negative experiences.
As far as BMW dealers are concerned, I have heard far far more negative anecdotes within BMW enthuasiast circles regarding Joe Duffys than I have heard positive. Whether they ('they' as in senior management) have been made aware of these issues, I don't know!

richie_rvf

I bought a car from Duffy's and got a very good deal and was dealt with excellently.

But, every time I have been back it has been an appalling experience - to such an extent that the car was never back with them - even for a warranty claim!!

Ever since the car has been with McKeons - who, in my opinion, are excellent, in every department, sales, services and parts.

I have also had several dealings with Frank Keans parts department and would highly recommend them also.

Myself and my wife were in Duffys - just wanted to see the new M3 - and my wife wanted to look at E60 5 series, over half an hour later on the way out we were approached by a salesman - I was half way out the door - useless!

killerbeekilled

WOW, thanks to all for you in depth responses, very informative, have met with two dealerships at this stage, early days yet.

Next is M&G Miltown, i actually heard there straight to the point no BS from a few different sources, thats what i like, but i do come equiped with a serious BS detector so i do tend to filter it out.

Settled on my spec, but want to keep it a secret, as in, i wont show any pictures, but it is a 335 coupe, every beemer fanatic knows what they look like now anyway...:D

Congrats MarkN on your pruchase, ive been reading your thread with great interest, hope your enjoying the music with the stereo switched off, know what i mean!!!


Ciao for now

JohnCleary

I agree with Motorpark Galway, service dept is good place. Can't speak for the dealership though, only ever bought parts. The small fella who deals with BMW is sound and he loves it when you have the part numbers ready for him, makes life easier for everyone

PaddyFagan

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Agree with this 100%, Frank Keanes are sound to deal with.... you can even buy parts on your credit card and they'll leave them with the security guy, so you can pick them up 24 hours / day... I once asked Joe Duffy if i could pick a part up that evening and they almost laughed at me...

+1 for Frank Keane - my wife got a MINI from them, but I've mainly dealt with them for service etc - been a joy.

Paddy

38psi

I bought my 335 from Frank Keanes dealt with a salesman called Dan ,he was a great guy to deal with and to be fair they also did the best deal on price. Previous car was from Maxwells but they were way off on price and would not move. Only time I was in Joe Duffys I left after 20mins when nobody bothered their arse to speak to me....

f22

Have to say Maxwells would be bottom of the list.

First visit, place empty, have you an appointment?

Most recent visit, Ill offer you (e5000 less) than everyone else on a trade in. I don't think so I said, she replyes, I think I may be able to beat that, give me your number. Do you think I got a phone call.

Bought 2 cars from Bolands in Waterford and 3 from Duffys purely because they offered the best deals. I would never have Duffys service any car of mine though, ever.

RobAMerc

I rang around for quotes from a few BMW dealers recently for an Oil Service for my 3 series.

North Dublin dealer : €350 is minimum - might be more depending on oil used
South Dublin dealer: too busy to talk will ring you back - that was last week
Tipperary dealer - €200 - I paid €315 including brake fluid change and new wiper blades ( about €120 worth extra ) - admittedly its a pain to get the car there but not that much harder than doing it in Dublin

Now excuse me for my naivety but why do Dublin dealers have to charge almost twice what country dealers do or just not bother returning your calls ?

Owen

RobAMerc wrote: »

Now excuse me for my naivety but why do Dublin dealers have to charge almost twice what country dealers do or just not bother returning your calls ?

I'd imagine business costs are more in Dublin. Rent, Insurance, Staff Wages, etc. Still can't see it being 150 more, but they could probably justify 80-100 more.

RobAMerc

ned78 wrote: »

I'd imagine business costs are more in Dublin. Rent, Insurance, Staff Wages, etc. Still can't see it being 150 more, but they could probably justify 80-100 more.

Ok, that could be true (if not the standard Urban response for everything ) - however turnover in Dublin would be far greater too so €150 is bloody ridiculous and failing to ring a client, no matter how piffling the clients perspective spend may be is unforgivable.

I can also source a part from the UK, including shipping to my door for €180 - €285 was the price quoted here, but thats for another day.

MercMad

If you are trying Dublin dealers for a new car you are better off removing the dealer stickers from the rear window and number plates. It is well known that BMW dealers will not compete with eachother if they think you are sounding them out for a price before going back to where you bought from !

I know this for an absolute fact !

If they push you to find out where you bought it, which they may do if they suspect a UK import, just tell them your fleet manager bought it new for you and you dont know where !

Táck

fact aye? an absolute fact at that???

fact is, all they need is your reg and they can tell everything they need to know about the car AND where the car was bought new.

JoeA3

I've heard rumours from reliable sources that several Irish BMW dealerships are about to lose their franchise, one dealership not far from me in particular (which I better leave nameless) I've heard this about. Anyone else hear likewise?

MercMad

Táck wrote: »

fact aye? an absolute fact at that???

fact is, all they need is your reg and they can tell everything they need to know about the car AND where the car was bought new.

................fair enough, I may be a little out of date but when I worked at a BMW dealership this was the rule, unwritten but spoken many times !

R.O.R

JoeA3 wrote: »

I've heard rumours from reliable sources that several Irish BMW dealerships are about to lose their franchise, one dealership not far from me in particular (which I better leave nameless) I've heard this about. Anyone else hear likewise?

4 of them I think. Due to not being able to split showroom between Mini & BMW. One in the West, one in the South and the other 2 are unknown.

BMW Ireland also lost some staff in higher level positions over the past couple of weeks.

mick.fr

R.O.R wrote: »

4 of them I think. Due to not being able to split showroom between Mini & BMW. One in the West, one in the South and the other 2 are unknown.

BMW Ireland also lost some staff in higher level positions over the past couple of weeks.

Gimme an M3 and I will do the split myself, gonna dig a big hole with a bulldozer lol

Táck

oh wonder who the unknowns are...

Spit62500

Article here says 'less than 10' so more than 4?

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/bumpy-ride-for-irish-garages-in-bmw-review-1213437.html

Another one here has Maxwells fighting with their MD and mentioning the possibility of losing the BMW franchise as a reason to fire him...

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-car-dealership-chief-loses-bid-to-stop-dismissal-1084384.html

Seth Brundle

JoeA3 wrote: »

I've heard rumours from reliable sources that several Irish BMW dealerships are about to lose their franchise, one dealership not far from me in particular (which I better leave nameless) I've heard this about. Anyone else hear likewise?

more info on that...
About time too. Personally, I have never been satisfied with the servicing or parts depts of any Dublin BMW dealer.

mick.fr

So according to the article BMW Franck Keane actually belongs to BMW since 2003, or did I misunderstood?