I just took delivery of a 2016 X3, which is my 3rd BMW from L & J Auto Brokers.
This last experience was the best of the three. Primarily this was due to the CA that I worked with on this deal whom I hadn't worked with before. His name is John Grima.
It started off with the test drive. I wanted to replace my 2013 535i with an SUV. So I went in there to test drive an X1 and X3. Usually on test drives, the salesman is either stiff and acts like he/she would rather be doing something else, or is busy with the sales pitch either of which sort of ruins the test drive experience. John, on the other hand, just asked me some questions about what my needs for the vehicle were, and talked to me like a real person. When I got on the accelerator to test out the power, John had a smile on his face like he was enjoying himself. He let me play with all the doo dads in the car without interrupting or trying to oversell it. I had a good time on the test drives, which is rare.
This deal took all kinds of twists and turns along the way. Mostly due to issues with my lease turn in (the 535i). But also due to another trade in that I was trying to work into the deal. That trade was a General Motors car that was leased through Ally. Ally is not your friend if you try to trade the vehicle to a non GM dealer before lease end. But John asked around and did research to see if we could figure out a way to make it work. Even though had already told him that if the trade did not work out then I would just keep it, but was still interested in leasing a new BMW now. The trade did not happen (thanks Ally) but John put a lot of effort into giving me all of the various alternatives.
In the end I ended up placing an order for my car a few days later. During my decision time, I called and emailed John at the dealership about 5 times and he ALWAYS called me back or emailed me back within an hour or so except on his day off.
On the 535i lease turn in, the tires needed replacing. The leasing manager had recommended a nearby used tire place that they do a lot of business with to get 2 used tires that would pass the inspection. That turned into a bit of a hassle because the tire shop damaged one of the wheels but would not own up to it. John informed the new leasing manager (the first one quit a couple of days after that referral) that the damage was not my fault and he agreed not to charge for it.
Fast forward to the date of delivery of my X3 (and lease turn in), the leasing manager did the final inspection of my 535i, it turns out the used tires that tire shop put on my car were even more wore out than the ones they took off. They would not pass final inspection. My bad for not noticing, but with the wheel fiasco, I guess I was flustered. At this point, I am thinking I just need to forget about the whole deal thinking it is not meant to be, pay the dealer for 2 new tires, and drive my GM car for a few months before leasing a new BMW.
But once again, John saved the day. He called the tire shop for me and got them to agree to replace the 2 used tires with better ones. Then he got my paperwork on the new car ready for the finance guy, then he volunteered to drive my car down to the tire shop and wait while they switched out the tires. I could not believe he did that! It was a Godsend because I just could not face dealing with that place again.
So I got all the paperwork signed, with NO surprises in the F&I guy's office and a very soft sell on the extra coverage's (not a hard sell), and after about 90 minutes John came back from the tire shop, got the leasing manager to look at my lease turn in and all was said and done. John was scheduled to go home at 6 that evening and he stayed and showed me the vehicle features and all of that very patiently until well after 8pm.
All of this for a deal that was under invoice before incentives on an ordered car, not at the end of the month and not at the end of the year.. While I do not think L & J Auto Brokers is in the habit of making below invoice deals (or maybe it was my charm....LOL), my experience there had a few bumps along the way, yet it was still the best car buying experience I have had. Thank you John!
This last experience was the best of the three. Primarily this was due to the CA that I worked with on this deal whom I hadn't worked with before. His name is John Grima.
It started off with the test drive. I wanted to replace my 2013 535i with an SUV. So I went in there to test drive an X1 and X3. Usually on test drives, the salesman is either stiff and acts like he/she would rather be doing something else, or is busy with the sales pitch either of which sort of ruins the test drive experience. John, on the other hand, just asked me some questions about what my needs for the vehicle were, and talked to me like a real person. When I got on the accelerator to test out the power, John had a smile on his face like he was enjoying himself. He let me play with all the doo dads in the car without interrupting or trying to oversell it. I had a good time on the test drives, which is rare.
This deal took all kinds of twists and turns along the way. Mostly due to issues with my lease turn in (the 535i). But also due to another trade in that I was trying to work into the deal. That trade was a General Motors car that was leased through Ally. Ally is not your friend if you try to trade the vehicle to a non GM dealer before lease end. But John asked around and did research to see if we could figure out a way to make it work. Even though had already told him that if the trade did not work out then I would just keep it, but was still interested in leasing a new BMW now. The trade did not happen (thanks Ally) but John put a lot of effort into giving me all of the various alternatives.
In the end I ended up placing an order for my car a few days later. During my decision time, I called and emailed John at the dealership about 5 times and he ALWAYS called me back or emailed me back within an hour or so except on his day off.
On the 535i lease turn in, the tires needed replacing. The leasing manager had recommended a nearby used tire place that they do a lot of business with to get 2 used tires that would pass the inspection. That turned into a bit of a hassle because the tire shop damaged one of the wheels but would not own up to it. John informed the new leasing manager (the first one quit a couple of days after that referral) that the damage was not my fault and he agreed not to charge for it.
Fast forward to the date of delivery of my X3 (and lease turn in), the leasing manager did the final inspection of my 535i, it turns out the used tires that tire shop put on my car were even more wore out than the ones they took off. They would not pass final inspection. My bad for not noticing, but with the wheel fiasco, I guess I was flustered. At this point, I am thinking I just need to forget about the whole deal thinking it is not meant to be, pay the dealer for 2 new tires, and drive my GM car for a few months before leasing a new BMW.
But once again, John saved the day. He called the tire shop for me and got them to agree to replace the 2 used tires with better ones. Then he got my paperwork on the new car ready for the finance guy, then he volunteered to drive my car down to the tire shop and wait while they switched out the tires. I could not believe he did that! It was a Godsend because I just could not face dealing with that place again.
So I got all the paperwork signed, with NO surprises in the F&I guy's office and a very soft sell on the extra coverage's (not a hard sell), and after about 90 minutes John came back from the tire shop, got the leasing manager to look at my lease turn in and all was said and done. John was scheduled to go home at 6 that evening and he stayed and showed me the vehicle features and all of that very patiently until well after 8pm.
All of this for a deal that was under invoice before incentives on an ordered car, not at the end of the month and not at the end of the year.. While I do not think L & J Auto Brokers is in the habit of making below invoice deals (or maybe it was my charm....LOL), my experience there had a few bumps along the way, yet it was still the best car buying experience I have had. Thank you John!
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