I Shopped around at four different dealerships, did my homework, knew exactly what I wanted as far as model, color, options (2017 BMW X5 35i, graphite grey over black leather interior, cold weather pkg. driver assist pkg. premium pkg.) Also knew the sticker vs invoice price as well as what the vehicle was selling for both regionally and nationally.
After all that and many emails to all four dealerships, Mark Graffagna not only had the exact vehicle I was looking for, but he beat everyone else's price by $1000 dollars!
I checked and rechecked with him before driving out there, to ensure it was no bait and switch scenario and he assured me that the deal was exactly as quoted. So I show up at our appointed time with as much skepticism as you can imagine, "too good to be true" ringing in my ears. On the ride there I told my wife that if the deal was even one dollar over the quote, or if they tried any slick sales tactics, I wouldn't say a word but turn and walk, immediately. She knows how I am and that I don't do the salesman dance, specifically when car buying. I hate it actually but I needed a new car, so you go in prepared to walk and you do your homework well before need.
As we arrive, there is Mark waiting to greet us on the showroom floor, window sticker in hand and the deal laid out on paper, in four easy to read and understand lines. No add ons, no extra cost, no hidden costs to look over, exactly as he quoted.That was it, deal made.
I had financing already arranged through my own bank but the finance person even matched that! I was in and out in a little over an hour, exactly as I had requested. No pressure to buy any add ons, no sales tactics, just a straight up, exactly as quoted, prearranged deal.
Can't say enough about the experience, one of the best I've ever had when car buying. I would definitely recommend Mark and Jacobs BMW to anyone looking for a BMW and a straight up deal.
***Only negative, and it may not be their fault; we were turning in our 2013 BMW X5 lease vehicle and we inquired about waiving the turn in fee ($350) since we just purchased a 2017 BMW. We were informed that because we weren't financing through BMW finance division ( best rate was a private bank) they couldn't waive the fee. That didn't make sense to us, but they insisted. So we took our 2013 vehicle home since we had three weeks left on a prepaid lease. No reason to leave money on the table and we were several thousands of miles under the limit. So we took both vehicles home which we didn't want to do.
My wife called BMW corporate and they informed us that if you buy another BMW product either two months prior or up to six months after the lease expires, they do in fact waive the turn in fee. And there is no requirement to finance through BMW either.
This misinformation is the only reason I can't give Jacobs five stars. Even though dealerships are individually owned, I'd expect corporate knowledge to be readily available. The customer should not have to call corporate on an issue that must be an everyday occurrence at any dealership, to ensure the information provided is correct. Lesson learned: exhaust all sources of information, don't trust anyone's word for it! $350 is $350 any way you slice it.
Now, in defense of Mark and the finance person at Jacobs; other BMW dealerships gave us the same misinformation so it is possible it is not widely known at the individual dealerships, but they should know it! All it took for us was a simple phone call. They should make that phone call and know the answer when asked by a customer. It makes customers skeptical of motive in not disclosing that readily available and factual information. I do not think $350 is enough motive to hide the information, but it still elicits skepticism none the less.
The inconvenience it cost us to drive both vehicles home and then turn it in at another dealership days later, closer to our home, could have been easily been avoided by a simple phone call. To add to that, our turn in being such a low mileage vehicle and in great shape (the retail sell price is approx. 3-4 thousand dollars above its residual value- 30600 residual, currently selling retail at 34-36000). The local dealership was happy to have it. They are going to make easy money and that could have been Jacobs profit. We were more than happy to let Jacobs have it on the day we purchased our new vehicle, out of a sense of give back for them making the purchase deal so easy and uneventful.
Oh well, their loss, our inconvenience, but it doesn't make much sense the way it played out.
Outside of that one issue, Jacobs was a great place to purchase a BMW vehicle. The dealership is stunning from a visual standpoint. I've never seen such a beautiful car dealership and I've been to many, many dealerships over the years. Great setting, very good experience. Will definitely consider purchasing all future BMW vehicles at Jacobs! read more