[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Don't feel bad, one of my local dealers is currently asking $20k over MSRP for a 2025 M4CS.

So many of those are sitting right now. I have to imagine massive depreciation over the next couple of years is scaring people away. I've had a couple dealers call me on theirs, both have had the cars now for 3+ months.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by T.R.S.

Everybody here is looking at if from a consumer point of view, yet customer feedback is only a portion of what BMW NA inputs into the equation to determine "Center of Excellence". What corporate sees as excellence may not be what you see.

If that's true... then the results of such a survey shouldn't be released to the consumer / public and this should be for internal purposes only... but it actually sounds like a marketing trick based on some sort of kickback.

[CBO]

Bought my m340 from BMW Ontario (CA). As far as dealerships go it was ok. Bought CPO and was never told there wasn't 2 keys until everything was signed. Ended up having to wait almost a month for them to finally give me another fob. Not the best experience I've had, but not the worst either. Definitely wouldn't be giving them any awards for great service but their prices are good.

[KevinC]

I'd like to see an annual "Center of Shame" listing - the 20 worst dealerships, ranked by number of complaints to corporate per 100 cars sold. Separate list for sales and service. The ones with ownership that cares would clean up their acts and get off the lists. The ones who are just incompetent crooks would be on it every year. And this would be more useful info to customers than this silly "Excellence" thing.

[keg97]

Originally Posted by JMD

Not one BMW dealership in the Richmond VA/Northern VA/MD area made the list!
I'm talking about some six dealerships! Heck, one them is nearly the size of the other 5 combined!

Nor the two down in the 757 (VB and Newport News)

[jrpriestley]

Originally Posted by J-RO

So in your opinion the list is not accurate.

BMW of Grapevine is a Sewell location, however, BMW’s center operation requirements prevent stores opened or transferred to another owner from being named anything other than “BMW of [City Name]” or “[City Name] BMW”

So, unfortunately, you won’t see “Sewell BMW of Plano” or “Sewell BMW of Grapevine” on the list.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by KevinC

I'd like to see an annual "Center of Shame" listing - the 20 worst dealerships, ranked by number of complaints to corporate per 100 cars sold. Separate list for sales and service. The ones with ownership that cares would clean up their acts and get off the lists. The ones who are just incompetent crooks would be on it every year. And this would be more useful info to customers than this silly "Excellence" thing.

Bottom 20 get put on a PIP, bottom 5 lose their license / allocations / some other penalty, top ones get bonuses / discounts on parts from manufacturers, etc.

[Scrippy]

No way Valencia should have received an excellence award. I call straight up horse shit on that!

[Evinrude1975]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Don't feel bad, one of my local dealers is currently asking $20k over MSRP for a 2025 M4CS.

He is still living on 2022

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by spaceage

Does anybody know how many of these are owned by Lithia? They seem to have a knack for crushing the soul of any dealership they buy. I'd like to be proven wrong...

Seattle is owned by them, so think again

I think they’ve done a damn good job allowing the people who have been the core of that store from day one, to continue to run it with freedom and passion accordingly

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by KevinC

I'd like to see an annual "Center of Shame" listing - the 20 worst dealerships, ranked by number of complaints to corporate per 100 cars sold. Separate list for sales and service. The ones with ownership that cares would clean up their acts and get off the lists. The ones who are just incompetent crooks would be on it every year. And this would be more useful info to customers than this silly "Excellence" thing.

💯

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Oh boy, Braman BMW on the list again. All of the Florida people know that is a joke. I won’t rehash my negative spin on Braman again like I did a few years ago when they got the award. My post back then nearly broke the fest.

Braman BMW Miami is the reason I don’t see myself owning another BMW in the future. The problem in Miami is the monopoly between South Motors BMW (Another stinky dealer) and Braman. A big
Metropolitan area with only 2 BMW dealer and the car is the “Official” car of Miami to make
Matters worse.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

I think it is important to note that the criteria that we as customers apply to a “great” dealer is quite different from the criteria it takes to get on this COE list. I’m friends with management at my favorite South Florida BMW store and they told me, point blank, they don’t see the value in doing what it takes to become a COE dealership. There is very little financial incentive to the dealer and very little, if any, benefit to the customer which would explain why many people here say that the dealers on this list aren’t good. They say that being a M certified store is a title worth having.

I don’t buy it. Is it Braman by any chance?

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I totally agree with you about Braman, I go to BMW of Ft. Lauderdale and their SA’s have consistently taking great care of all of my needs. I think the positive vibe I get at this dealership starts with their GM who is a wonderful guy to work with and it filters all the way down to their sales, service and parts departments. 👍🏻

Holman has always been the diamond in the rough amongst South FL BMW dealerships.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Don't confuse this award with having anything to do with actual customer service or expertise.

The main components in tallying this award are compliance with dealer facility updates, decor purchases from BMW vendors, reaching sales and service quotas, and how well the dealer pays for perfect customer surveys. Give me the old shop owned by the concerned proprietor who is actually in the dealership over the entitled second-generation who has amassed a conglomerate by buying up small stores. Hedge funds, venture capitalists, and the rest don't create dealerships like we had 50-years ago when BMW NA took over here. And BMW NA will regale you with stories of how far they have come despite having to contend with the poor-performing Mom&Pop shops that Hoffman left them, but the reality is the enthusiast customer base that those shops created with literally no help from BMW Corporate is still the basis for BMW's appeal and reputation today. Screw the guy leasing an electric behemoth that will be on the junk-pile of history in less than a decade. What do you think of when you think of a great dealership? Their Latte bar? The quality of the furniture in their customer lounge? How many videos they send you when you simply asked for a state inspection? Or is it maybe how well they stand by The Golden Rule and just simply treat you the way you'd want to be treated?

Yeah, I thought so. Which is why, after nearly 50-years affiliated with the local BMW dealers treating my customers the way I wanted to be treated, I am now retired. And just enjoying my BMWs.

Pretty much sums it up: BMW HQ in Munich and USA have shitty ethics.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

I don’t buy it. Is it Braman by any chance?

No. Absolutely not.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Braman BMW Miami is the reason I don’t see myself owning another BMW in the future. The problem in Miami is the monopoly between South Motors BMW (Another stinky dealer) and Braman. A big
Metropolitan area with only 2 BMW dealer and the car is the “Official” car of Miami to make
Matters worse.

What monopoly? All you have to do is drive 30 minutes north to BMW of Ft. Lauderdale. 😉

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Don't confuse this award with having anything to do with actual customer service or expertise.

This is mostly true: the metrics being tracked and results reported are goofy.
As are all HR-based metrics at your workplace.

Having said that, there is some superficial correlation between the dealerships highlighted and positives experiences I've had with them in the 3 states where I shopped for BMWs (a few other states have no representation on the CoE list).

One should not conclude that CoE dealership are "great".
Just that they are:

1. High volume / high-allocation oriented shops. If nothing else, it means they have a higher probability of getting more of the rarer (///M) allocations. And marginally higher probability of finding at least one knowledgeable sales person.
2. High $$$ in terms of appearance, complying with all of BMW NA mandates and policies.
3. Spend more $$$ on admin headcount and training to comply with #2.
4. Owned by people who prioritize kissing-up to BMW NA and following their whimsical policies to the letter.

#2, #3, and #4 mean nothing to me as a customer, other than the margins must be padded to pay for the fluff.
#1 can be useful.

That's about all there is to BMW NA CoE list.

IMHO,
a