Center Bmw - Sherman Oaks: The Most Awful!

So I bought my car from Sherman Oaks 7 months ago and usually serviced it in at Pacific but this time I wanted to go to Center for once. (Big Mistake)

I was on the way to the dealer for blown out speakers (bass wasn't working)

... Long story short, my engine malfunctioned on the freeway, brakes, steering wheel and car immediately turn off causing me to nearly get into a serious accident on the freeway.

When this happened and i tried to turn on my car again, it wouldn't go away and my rpm red line would drop to 2-3k.


Anyway, after my car two weeks at the dealer with no contact besides when i went to pick up my parking pass two days after i dropped it off, I get a call this past friday from my SA that my car is ready. I notified him that I actually called bmw customer relations to notify them of the issues my car is having and specially the one that nearly caused me to get into a major accident.

After I mentioned that, He gets very, and i mean very defensive and tells me that the car turned off because of a gas sensor ( "my car was reading that there was gas when there wasn't , (( Dont know how this explains the redline and engine malfunction))" )

He Said I bottomed out my own car and cracked something down there that caused the sensor to mess up. There is no way i would ever bottom out my car, seriously. Then he accuses me of blowing out my speakers. I have premium sound on the car and my bass is always on the regular level and i don't even listen to music higher than the half mark. BUT AREN'T THE SPEAKERS SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED AT LEVEL ALLOWED ANYWAY?

He tells me I should be "grateful that he went ahead and fixed these repairs even though they arent covered by warranty And he continues his condescending rant for a good 5 minutes when i keep telling him i didn't cause these issues. Without even contacting me and mentioning this wouldn't be covered to even give me the slightest update in 2 weeks.... NOT 1 single phone call. I really speculate some shady stuff is going on. He said that in the most condescending manner possible which really threw me off the edge.

He told me he took pictures of the bottom and I asked for him to send them to me and he said when i come in, I could go talk to the shop foreman myself and try to get it from him. I asked him if he could do it because he has a relationship with the foreman and after all, HE IS my SA. finally after 5 minute of back and fourth about this, he said he would "try".

OH, and the one other problem i Had with my car, they said they couldn't duplicate it so it "isnt" there even though the problem has been duplicated 3 times before. I guess he didn't accuse me of that as well. jerks.


Anyway, does anyone know if when a car "runs out of gas", the engine malfunction turns on, the rpm's drop? because i've run out of gas and my experience is that the car slowly rumbles to a stop. My car had immediately turned off.

Any help regarding the issue of "bottoming out the car" and issues regarding my rpm get lowered to 2k would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry for your troubles dude. I personally bring my car to the same dealer everytime, thus establishing a good relationship with the SA.

Any mods on your suspension?

I say try and get this resolved with them. If they don't do anything, then definitely contact BMWUSA.

What's the name of the SA?

Purple88Gold wrote

I'm sorry for your troubles dude. I personally bring my car to the same dealer everytime, thus establishing a good relationship with the SA.

Any mods on your suspension?

I say try and get this resolved with them. If they don't do anything, then definitely contact BMWUSA.

What's the name of the SA?

no mods whatsoever. and I don't mod my car for this reason, dealership issues.

I was already in contact with bmw regarding all the times i took my car into service but this last occurrence on the freeway is ridiculous. a m3 with less than 7k miles nearly causing me to get into a serious accident.

s.a is shahe. definitely don't recommend him. I've never gotten so harassed. Definitely didn't expect it from bmw. I'm picking up my car monday and will just talk to the manager about the car. Anyway question i asked him regarding the issue, his reply is "I don't know".

beyond unhelpful.

I took mine there last month for door creaks and the SA I dealt with was courteous and professional. I also brought up the driver side bolster leather wear and he offered to have it fixed next time I come in or whenever I'm ready. However, the cashier could've been more engaging and throw in a smile when she greeted me, but instead she had a flat affect look on her face. Maybe her actions were dull due to the the fact that it was 1 hour before they closed. Still, that shouldn't be an excuse. I'll make sure not to deal with the SA you dealt with. Thanks for the heads up.

which S.A did you guys deal with?

interesting...I've been going to center bmw for almost 6 years now...my SA is andre...never had any problems or complaints..I've even dealt with another SA there named Jose recently as my SA Andre got called away for a family emergency and he still took the time to contact me and let me know he had spoken to Jose to take care of me. Both are courteous, knowledgeable, and pretty mod friendly as well....funny how Andre didn't push me to Shahe when he was out....good luck, hope things get resolved...have you spoken to the shop foreman personally to see and understand why shahe is saying what he's saying, the shop foreman is pretty personable and easy to speak with...


I have an appointment there set for the 16th as I'm up for my 1 year service...I'll mention this to my SA...

Brian Douglas

penny31 wrote

which S.A did you guys deal with?

I've only heard great things about andre too. I wish he was my SA but i got pushed to the other guy.

I'm picking up my car tomorrow until i resolve the issue with bmw na. I could talk to the shop foreman but thats shahes job to be able to be the voice between the technical stuff and the client. Ill try to get a word in with them as well as the manager and see If i can get the photos. I wanted them to put my car up and let me see the scratches since I "bottomed out" the car.

Interesting thing is that in two weeks i did not get one single car, I have no idea what happened to my car while it was there and then they get defensive and blame me... I just know thats not how service departments work from my prior 5 years of experience.


Anyone have any clue what happens when the car runs out of gas? does the engine malfunction and rpm gauge get dramatically reduced?

thanks in advance guys!

definitely speak with the foreman as well as the shop manager in regards to the lack of communication while your car was in their service bay. Did they even offer a loaner to you, being that you purchased your car from center I'm surprised they didn't offer you one. If you decide to continue service there, definitely switch to Andre. Good luck and keep us posted.

Aside from speaking with the service manager I would speak with your CA (whoever sold you your car) and let him know of your current experience and if he can put you into contact with some type of GM there as well. If actions like this go unreported, they will continue to happen.....

Yes car shuts off when you run out of gas and can cause an accident

dukeM3 wrote

Yes car shuts off when you run out of gas and can cause an accident

yes i know but what about in regards to the rpm redline coming down to 2-3k?

any knowledge of that? they are saying my car didn't have gas but showed it did.

according to my mileage calculation of the full tank i filled a couple days prior.. it wouldn't make sense that i was on empty.

geneatals wrote

definitely speak with the foreman as well as the shop manager in regards to the lack of communication while your car was in their service bay. Did they even offer a loaner to you, being that you purchased your car from center I'm surprised they didn't offer you one. If you decide to continue service there, definitely switch to Andre. Good luck and keep us posted.

Aside from speaking with the service manager I would speak with your CA (whoever sold you your car) and let him know of your current experience and if he can put you into contact with some type of GM there as well. If actions like this go unreported, they will continue to happen.....

they told me a loaner wasn't available but even during the 2 weeks, they didnt call me to let me know if a loaner was available. They offered me a enterprise rent a car which i really didnt care because i thought my car would be ready in 2 days like he had promised after i visited to take my parking pass. My CA unfortunately no longer works there.. He was really awesome and straight forward with pricing which is why i stepped into another m3 (i previously had a 08 with no issues whatsoever).

I just want to let you guys know to avoid shahe for sure.

bmw na has been very cooperative during this process which is good at least.

i should be hearing from them tomorrow.

This is when a recording of the conversation will go a long way in dimming the continued employment prospects of the SA.

Had to deal with a similar situation once with a very rude manager at an apartment complex. After the extremely rude treatment the first time (which I sadly failed to record), all other conversations with him and the complex management were recorded. Also sent letters to all upper management of the company that owned the complex (priority FedEx) explaining the situation. Got the manager fired (I doubt we were the only ones who he was abusive towards) and a rent reduction. Never underestimate how much upper management does not want a PR disaster.

Center BMW sucks. I once took my car in for new windshield wipers, my SA told me that it was time for new brakes as well he said it would take 4 hours. After 6 hours of waiting at the dealership he tells me my car is finished. I go to my car and see that the breaks have not been changed. My SA tells me that they determined that the breaks are good and don't need to be changed. I was pissed off after 6 hours of waiting all they changed was my windshield wipers. I asked the SA why it took so long and he said that they only have one certified tech who can work on M3s. Really! only one M3 certified tech knows how to change windshield wipers!!!? After telling me that my brakes needed to be replaced he comes back after 6 hours and says that they are ok. Center sucks! The next day I went to Bob Smith and they changed my pads and calipers without any hassle.:thumbdown

so no one knows if running out of gas causes an engine malfunction and redline to come to 2-3k?

i know some people know something!

There is a specific warning about running low on gas on page 194 of your owners manual. I quote:

Fuel tank capacity
!! Refuel as soon as possible once your cruising range
falls bellow 30 miles / 50 km, otherwise engine functions
are not ensured and damage can occur.

You get two separate warning sounds about this, and the second warning for the 30 miles does not go away until you do refuel.

apparently my sensor was malfunctioning and showing me that my car did in fact have fuel when it didnt. To me, it didn't feel like a fuel issue, It felt more of an engine/misfire issue of some sort. I requested the dealer to make sure to look at the engine but they seemed to brush off that idea

I can't say that there is no circumstance where the engine would behave like this when running out of gas, but I can tell you that mine did not do this when I once ran out of gas. It just sputtered a few times and then shut down. The sliding fuel-cuttoff on the tach never moved at all. So I strongly doubt that the cause of the engine problem was as the SA described. It sounds to me like he was frustrated with the car for some reason (maybe he could not determine the problem) and decided to unload on the owner. Extremely unprofessional to say the least.

(For the curious - I ran out of gas when I was meeting someone to retrieve something I'd left at their house. Knowing I needed gas, I asked them to meet me at a gas station near the half way point between us. But I got totally distracted with the meet-up and completely forgot to fuel up. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I tried to get to another gas station, but it was too far and so I ran out.)

penny31 wrote

so no one knows if running out of gas causes an engine malfunction and redline to come to 2-3k?

i know some people know something!

mkoesel wrote

I can't say that there is no circumstance where the engine would behave like this when running out of gas, but I can tell you that mine did not do this when I once ran out of gas. It just sputtered a few times and then shut down. The sliding fuel-cuttoff on the tach never moved at all. So I strongly doubt that the cause of the engine problem was as the SA described. It sounds to me like he was frustrated with the car for some reason (maybe he could not determine the problem) and decided to unload on the owner. Extremely unprofessional to say the least.

(For the curious - I ran out of gas when I was meeting someone to retrieve something I'd left at their house. Knowing I needed gas, I asked them to meet me at a gas station near the half way point between us. But I got totally distracted with the meet-up and completely forgot to fuel up. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I tried to get to another gas station, but it was too far and so I ran out.)

just the answer I was looking for. Thank you my man! I knew the car wouldn't behave like that when only running out of gas.

Update: Went to pick up my car today, spoke to the service manager chris who was actually helpful except for the fact that he said "in reality, that i was the one who caused the issue and that they didn't have to fix the issue under warranty but went ahead and did". Don't know how much of that i believe. They showed me pictures of the car "bottomed out" and those pictures were definitely not convincing that the issue was caused from that.

HOWEVER, as soon as i left the dealer, on the my way home on the freeway, my speakers were rumbling like there was an earthquake in my car. I went and showed them the issue and they said they would look at it. once again, i didn't get a bmw loaner even when i purchased the car from them and am now driving an enterprise rent a car.

I can't believe the trouble and dilemma i am going through right now. This is ridiculous and no one that owns a bmw with under 7500 mi. I have been to the dealer far more times than I can even count.

I hope bmw and I can come to a solution and get me out of this car which is beyond a burden.

my 08 problem only went to the dealer for the regular services so the issues this car is having is very upsetting.

Try Long Beach BMW... Its a drive but worth it!!! I bought car there and continue to have car serviced there.... They treat you very well....

penny31 wrote

apparently my sensor was malfunctioning and showing me that my car did in fact have fuel when it didnt. To me, it didn't feel like a fuel issue, It felt more of an engine/misfire issue of some sort. I requested the dealer to make sure to look at the engine but they seemed to brush off that idea

An engine/misfire would be a DIRECT result of not having enough fuel. Driving the car with very low fuel is bad - in fact, there are even seperate faults thrown for "misfire with low fuel" which differ from the standard misfire faults that would be thrown if there was a spark plug or coil issue.

That is a textbook reason why it would misfire in the first place. Not enough fuel = leaner mixture = potential misfire.

I have been a customer of center BMW for quite a long time, and know the service department and managers closely. I bought my M3 and my 7 series there.

I doubt that bottoming out would cause a fuel level sensor to have an issue. It's not located on the front bumper. I've never even heard of an issue with the gas gauges malfunctioning on these cars.


After reading part of your post, I think you need to learn some more about the car. Running out of gas could certainly cause the engine to abrubtly stop, which would leave you without power steering and brakes. I suggest you don't let it go under 1/8 of a tank as the lubrication for the pump is fuel, and without it you are putting a lot of strain on it and the fuel delivery system.

I will make sure to relay this to the appropriate heads over there. You should try talking to Dave K (the shop foreman) or Chris P (the service manager), they are both very good guys. Good luck with getting your issue sorted.

Mike