I've added BMW Canada to my sh!t list
10-28-2010, 03:46 PM
#16
BMW owners in Canada can't even get their defective N54 HPFPs covered under the 10 yr./120,000 mile extended warranty that U.S. customers get and they are exampt from the recently announced U.S. recall for these HPFPs. I'd say BMW owners in Canada need to be contacting their appropriate governmental agencies to try and get proper service/warranty from BMW Canada for documented safety defects and such.
10-28-2010, 04:56 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
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this has been explicitly denied by my dealer.
10-28-2010, 05:03 PM
#18
Three Wheelin'
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....my experiences , was looking into lotus buy in USA got all the specs, ck'd with RIV & noted that newer used lotus are not on approved list.....wrote to RIV asked why as specs for the cars were same & rec'd very prompt reply that Lotus have not confirmed acceptable to Cdn market....so wrote to lotus UK (same car in Canada as in the USA, WTF?)
here's cut & paste of their e mail back
........................................................................ ......................................
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Turner, Neil" <NESTurner@lotuscars.co.uk>
To: okinchiba@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, September 30, 2009 7:52:08 AM
Subject: Lotus in Canada
Dear Mr and Mrs
Thank you for your letter that we received today and for your interest in Lotus Cars.
We regard Canada is an important, separate market and thus our products are certified, uniquely identified and sold as such. You are correct that other than some labelling, lighting and clutch start inhibit system, the Canadian specification Elise/Exige is very similar to US specification cars.
Regardless, we would recommend that you contact our official dealer in Vancouver:
Kai Hensler
Weissach Performance
604-738-3911
We sure that Kai will be only to pleased to assist you further.
Thank you again for contacting us.
Yours sincerely,
Neil E.S. Turner
Customer Services Manager
Lotus Cars Ltd.
........................................................................ .......................................
when he says very similar make that identical (other than speedo convert).
now on the other side of the coin....my son-in-law just bought a few yrs. old lexus SUV fresh out of the USA, from a broker .....on the test trip stopped by toyota dealership (encouraged by the broker).
Q. any issues with servicing, warranty work on this car?
A. (service mgr.) none
have since returned to dealer to confirm all factory callbacks have been done....handled promptly.
here's cut & paste of their e mail back
........................................................................ ......................................
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Turner, Neil" <NESTurner@lotuscars.co.uk>
To: okinchiba@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, September 30, 2009 7:52:08 AM
Subject: Lotus in Canada
Dear Mr and Mrs
Thank you for your letter that we received today and for your interest in Lotus Cars.
We regard Canada is an important, separate market and thus our products are certified, uniquely identified and sold as such. You are correct that other than some labelling, lighting and clutch start inhibit system, the Canadian specification Elise/Exige is very similar to US specification cars.
Regardless, we would recommend that you contact our official dealer in Vancouver:
Kai Hensler
Weissach Performance
604-738-3911
We sure that Kai will be only to pleased to assist you further.
Thank you again for contacting us.
Yours sincerely,
Neil E.S. Turner
Customer Services Manager
Lotus Cars Ltd.
........................................................................ .......................................
when he says very similar make that identical (other than speedo convert).
now on the other side of the coin....my son-in-law just bought a few yrs. old lexus SUV fresh out of the USA, from a broker .....on the test trip stopped by toyota dealership (encouraged by the broker).
Q. any issues with servicing, warranty work on this car?
A. (service mgr.) none
have since returned to dealer to confirm all factory callbacks have been done....handled promptly.
10-28-2010, 05:20 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
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Not to steal the post. But I have to say that out of every new car buying experience I've had, Budd's has been the worst. My wife had previously purchased from Budd's Subaru, then we purchased a Xi wagon. Egregious displays of a failed customer service model.
10-28-2010, 05:47 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
Yes, I should have mentioned that. I got the same false story from BMW Canada. Their official policy is to lie, apparently.
Guys, as far as RIV is concerned, their inspector has final say. Take the car to Canadian Tire, have him/her inspect it and sign it off. Daytime running lights, recall clearance letter (obtain from US dealer, I've never been charged for it), km/h speedometer, possibly child seat tethers, possibly french airbag stickers (depending on how hard-assed the inspector is) and that's it, for 99% of cars. If there's no warranty involved, don't even bother speaking to the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
Guys, as far as RIV is concerned, their inspector has final say. Take the car to Canadian Tire, have him/her inspect it and sign it off. Daytime running lights, recall clearance letter (obtain from US dealer, I've never been charged for it), km/h speedometer, possibly child seat tethers, possibly french airbag stickers (depending on how hard-assed the inspector is) and that's it, for 99% of cars. If there's no warranty involved, don't even bother speaking to the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
We (Canadian Tire) don't have anything to do with recall letters. We go over the form 1 and 2 and there's never any mention of recall letters. I believe the federal gov't is who wants the recall letter and it has to be submitted in order to receive the form 2 (which IS required by us to check the car).
You've obviously done this a lot Christien so it was probably just a typo.
10-28-2010, 06:50 PM
#21
As I understand it, the primary function of RIV is to keep a registry of imported vehicles and to ensure those vehicles are safe on our roadways.
How does an instrument cluster change, when the original already reads KMs, make a car safer?!?!
My disdain lies with the manufacturers and not RIV. I know it is not RIV but the manufacturers setting these requirements. The discrepancies between manufacturers is also concerning.
But as we can see with the Lotus example above, if they don't feel like getting involved and helping you out, there is no chance. I think in the case of the Lotus, they probably feel they are protecting the Canadian dealer.... but I doubt you are shopping a used US Lotus against a new Canadian one.
How does an instrument cluster change, when the original already reads KMs, make a car safer?!?!
My disdain lies with the manufacturers and not RIV. I know it is not RIV but the manufacturers setting these requirements. The discrepancies between manufacturers is also concerning.
But as we can see with the Lotus example above, if they don't feel like getting involved and helping you out, there is no chance. I think in the case of the Lotus, they probably feel they are protecting the Canadian dealer.... but I doubt you are shopping a used US Lotus against a new Canadian one.
10-28-2010, 07:19 PM
#22
BMW Canada also made it onto my sh**list, but for different reasons. I took part in a BMW innovation drive a few months ago. The event itself was pretty good: interesting information on the 5 series GT, the X6 hybrid, etc, then test drove a few of the cars.
The problem started about a week later. I received a first follow-up call from BMW, which is good marketing practice. Only problem is that I received 6 more of those calls in the following weeks. I kept telling them not to call me back, and apparently they kept NOT noting that down. I got nastier and nastier with them. It finally seems to have stopped...
No bimmer for me!
The problem started about a week later. I received a first follow-up call from BMW, which is good marketing practice. Only problem is that I received 6 more of those calls in the following weeks. I kept telling them not to call me back, and apparently they kept NOT noting that down. I got nastier and nastier with them. It finally seems to have stopped...
No bimmer for me!
10-28-2010, 09:14 PM
#24
Three Wheelin'
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As I understand it, the primary function of RIV is to keep a registry of imported vehicles and to ensure those vehicles are safe on our roadways.
How does an instrument cluster change, when the original already reads KMs, make a car safer?!?!
My disdain lies with the manufacturers and not RIV. I know it is not RIV but the manufacturers setting these requirements. The discrepancies between manufacturers is also concerning.
But as we can see with the Lotus example above, if they don't feel like getting involved and helping you out, there is no chance. I think in the case of the Lotus, they probably feel they are protecting the Canadian dealer.... but I doubt you are shopping a used US Lotus against a new Canadian one.
How does an instrument cluster change, when the original already reads KMs, make a car safer?!?!
My disdain lies with the manufacturers and not RIV. I know it is not RIV but the manufacturers setting these requirements. The discrepancies between manufacturers is also concerning.
But as we can see with the Lotus example above, if they don't feel like getting involved and helping you out, there is no chance. I think in the case of the Lotus, they probably feel they are protecting the Canadian dealer.... but I doubt you are shopping a used US Lotus against a new Canadian one.
will never deal with overpriced mutts at weissach, vanc.
10-28-2010, 09:42 PM
#25
To the extent that RIV and provincial inspections (like Alberta's) operate to keep the roads safe by only allowing good, safe cars on the road, I support these inspections.
However, if these requirements are being used as a manner for local dealers to "regulate the marketplace", then that is not right. Here in Canada we have been ripped off for too long by people that wrap themselves in the flag and ask us to "buy Canadian". What a crock.
However, if these requirements are being used as a manner for local dealers to "regulate the marketplace", then that is not right. Here in Canada we have been ripped off for too long by people that wrap themselves in the flag and ask us to "buy Canadian". What a crock.
10-28-2010, 09:54 PM
#26
Race Director
To the extent that RIV and provincial inspections (like Alberta's) operate to keep the roads safe by only allowing good, safe cars on the road, I support these inspections.
However, if these requirements are being used as a manner for local dealers to "regulate the marketplace", then that is not right. Here in Canada we have been ripped off for too long by people that wrap themselves in the flag and ask us to "buy Canadian". What a crock.
However, if these requirements are being used as a manner for local dealers to "regulate the marketplace", then that is not right. Here in Canada we have been ripped off for too long by people that wrap themselves in the flag and ask us to "buy Canadian". What a crock.
What about the tens of thousands of Piece of **** jalopies on the road that haven't had a safety in years and years and years???
Manufacturers requiring a runaround hindering importation of otherwise perfectly acceptable vehicles are acting as a barrier to trade and this is contrary to NAFTA. Those responsible are just doing it because they can and to fight them is expensive. Perhaps some legal visionary could draw up a class action lawsuit?
10-28-2010, 11:07 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
And if they really wanted to get serious about safety they would get tough on cell phone use and texting while driving...like confiscating the car or massive monetary fines.
Don't even get me going on the Cracker Jacks style of obtaining a licence here. It is quite obvious that the average driver on this continent is hardly a car enthusiast.
10-28-2010, 11:57 PM
#28
Race Car
Thread Starter
Manufacturers requiring a runaround hindering importation of otherwise perfectly acceptable vehicles are acting as a barrier to trade and this is contrary to NAFTA. Those responsible are just doing it because they can and to fight them is expensive. Perhaps some legal visionary could draw up a class action lawsuit?
It would take a lawyer who really wants to take on a high-profile case to start the class action suit. No doubt my name would be at the top of the list, but it isn't going to be me that starts the ball rolling.
10-29-2010, 09:52 AM
#30
Drifting
This is exactly what needs to happen. On an individual base, it's far too costly and time-consuming to be even slightly worth it. On this BMW/Mini issue my business partner was really pissed off and suggested we sue BMW Canada. As much as I hate rolling over, and as much as I have access to excellent legal counsel (my father has been a very successful litigator for almost 40 years), it's just simply not worth the time and cost.
It would take a lawyer who really wants to take on a high-profile case to start the class action suit. No doubt my name would be at the top of the list, but it isn't going to be me that starts the ball rolling.
It would take a lawyer who really wants to take on a high-profile case to start the class action suit. No doubt my name would be at the top of the list, but it isn't going to be me that starts the ball rolling.
As someone else said here and I fully agree; a trade barrier is still a barrier. But the bottom line is that you'll never get the general public on board (and hence the guy's who need their votes) on a 'problem' of importing Bimmers, Porsche,s, Merc's, Lotus's, Ferrari's etc. You know the headline in the Sun will be, 'rich guy's want breaks on exotic cars'.