Sinclair Mercedes Cardiff - AVOID AT ALL COSTS

[E55BOF]

It's sounding rather as though your problem with the second dealer was that you had made up your mind what your cars were worth, and the dealer disagreed. That's not poor service, it's just business.

Good luck finding a BMW dealer who will do the deal the way you tell them to.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

I don’t know anyone who has got the WBAC offer...they always beat you down once you are on-site

 

[Dryce]

Good luck finding a BMW dealer who will do the deal the way you tell them to.

Depends on what you're asking and varies with who you deal with.

We have flipped between dealers in the same group for four out of our last five cars. The pattern has been that the first one visited and engaged with face-to-face has ultimately wasted our time by not converging on the price/details. Each time the stalemate has been broken with a call to another branch and an immediate agreement reached o the phone and an order signed that day.

The common element in that pattern is that any hassles have been on engagements that have involved face-to-face interactions in the showroom before purchase. Purchases with prices / conditions agreed on the phone with the visit to the showroom being for an arranged test drive and sit down to sign have been the most straightforward.

 

[Piff]

It's sounding rather as though your problem with the second dealer was that you had made up your mind what your cars were worth, and the dealer disagreed. That's not poor service, it's just business.

Good luck finding a BMW dealer who will do the deal the way you tell them to.

I have had the e class valued elsewhere and received a written "guaranteed" valuation £250 more than wbac........
I do think that the second dealers valuation was on the low side when they were not expecting to take anything off the windscreen price of their car.

 

[E55BOF]

I've never bought a car from a main dealer, but Dryce's post #83 sounds as though it might be worth a try that way. Of course, you might find a more accommodating BMW dealer, but if what you really want is the Mercedes, you've nothing to lose by trying again except a little time. I've only ever owned one BMW - a 528 over thirty years ago - so can't comment on them, but they must be OK, or they wouldn't be so popular.

These days, I've got a good indie, which is a big plus, and I'm pretty familiar with the sort of old Mercedes bangers I like, so better the devil I know...

 

[Dichtung]

It has been mentioned before that MB are becoming an `Arthur Daly` set up.

And after 45 yrs, I`m thinking that way too.

 

[nickgar]

Wouldn't it be interesting to get the Sinclair Mercedes Cardiff side of this story.
Whilst I am not doubting the OP's version, I have often found there can be three sides to a story.
"Yours, mine and the truth"

 

[Martin 1]

What everybody should know, is that the stealer teaches the salesman what the Merc badge looks like, then lets him/her lie to their hearts content, most are as useful as a chocolate teapot. If you must use dealers, try and deal with the sales director. What an absolute bloody shambles, My heart goes out to you.

 

[Bert_W164]

We visited Saxton 4x4 in Chelmsford to view their 800+ car stock to help us narrow our search. We had many years ago tried BMW’s but were underwhelmed.
Sat in an X5 and an X3 and were impressed.
Came home & the following day visited the local BMW dealership to test drive an X3. Suitably impressed we are now looking for a top spec X3 within our budget.

Having tried both the X3 and GLE, objectively which is the superior vehicle in your opinion, and why?

 

[Dichtung]

A salesman is only your friend until you drive off the lot.

or, until you point out to him that his `approved` car is an absolute bag of sh*t.

 

[Piff]

Having tried both the X3 and GLE, objectively which is the superior vehicle in your opinion, and why?

GLE was on air suspension and on standard comfort mode wallowed on country roads. Switching to sport the ride was better. The GLE was a bit bigger than what we wanted and our budget was on the re-badged ML rather than the newer GLE. The vehicle was bigger than we need.
The visit to Saxton's was to view a variety of SUV's to see what we liked.
The X3 we tested was a 2016 2.0 SE on standard suspension. We had tried BMW 520i years ago and were underwhelmed. Viewing at Saxton's we were surprised how much we liked it and the size suited us better. The test drive was good, suspension felt good & engine felt quicker than a 184bhp motor.
We are in no hurry to change so waiting for the right car to come available. Our budget just stretches to the 2017 new model so ideally one of them with a panoramic roof & MSport trim. I'm told that the MSport suspension is very firm & is best with adaptable dampers. Not bothered by engine size as both the 2.0 & 3.0 diesels are reasonably ok on mpg.

 

[Bert_W164]

GLE was on air suspension and on standard comfort mode wallowed on country roads. Switching to sport the ride was better. The GLE was a bit bigger than what we wanted and our budget was on the re-badged ML rather than the newer GLE. The vehicle was bigger than we need.
The visit to Saxton's was to view a variety of SUV's to see what we liked.
The X3 we tested was a 2016 2.0 SE on standard suspension. We had tried BMW 520i years ago and were underwhelmed. Viewing at Saxton's we were surprised how much we liked it and the size suited us better. The test drive was good, suspension felt good & engine felt quicker than a 184bhp motor.
We are in no hurry to change so waiting for the right car to come available. Our budget just stretches to the 2017 new model so ideally one of them with a panoramic roof & MSport trim. I'm told that the MSport suspension is very firm & is best with adaptable dampers. Not bothered by engine size as both the 2.0 & 3.0 diesels are reasonably ok on mpg.

Thank you, I genuinely wondered how they stack up and whether the BMW offerings of SUVs compare.

I'm an ex BMW fan, my favourite was my remapped 330D manual...that was a hoot.

When I bought my ML63, I couldn't really find anything that compares, other than the X6M which was fairly newer and significantly more. It's going to be a while before I change vehicles but it's fair to say I'm sold on the SUV form factor as it's been a god send when commuting with a baby, two cats and the wife's belongings.

Apologies for the off topic posts!

 

[Piff]

Thank you, I genuinely wondered how they stack up and whether the BMW offerings of SUVs compare.

I'm an ex BMW fan, my favourite was my remapped 330D manual...that was a hoot.

When I bought my ML63, I couldn't really find anything that compares, other than the X6M which was fairly newer and significantly more. It's going to be a while before I change vehicles but it's fair to say I'm sold on the SUV form factor as it's been a god send when commuting with a baby, two cats and the wife's belongings.

Apologies for the off topic posts!

A next door neighbour from a couple of house moves ago is a bit of a petrol head. Usually he had BMW's. His last car while he was at work (I assume he had a PCP allowance) was a Porsche Macan. He retired last year and he now has a BMW X3 MSport Competition. Check it out - it may be of interest to you.

 

[Darrell]

it's been a god send when commuting with a baby, two cats and the wife's belongings.

What bizzare items to commute with. Most commuters on my train into London have a newspaper and a Skinny Latte!!

 

[Deleted member 149005]

BMW X3 MSport

Looks like a bad hand in scrabble....

 

[jpwilliams]

Buy from @Mercland - best prepared car ever and the single small problem was dealt with swiftly and without fuss!

I`m reading through this entire thread for the first time and was just about to say what I read from Gollom is what I was going to say! Another vote for Mercland in Nuneaton.

 

[Smart320]

Bought a good ML from Mercland and when it became surplus to my requirements a year later they bought it back and gave me a very reasonable price. Would definitely buy another MB from them and would ring Jay to see if he could find me a car if I wanted a specific model. One of my daughter's lives a few miles away and has her ML serviced by them on my recommendation and has been very impressed with both the service and the prices in comparison with th dealers.