-- BUYER BEWARE: MY EXPERIENCE WITH CENTURY WEST BMW…read more
My experience with Century West BMW was absolutely horrible, and I want other customers to know what happened to me and my father before spending their hard-earned money at this dealership.
When my father and I walked into Century West BMW, Allen, the only Black employee I saw working there, was called to the front to assist us. Based on what I personally observed, I believe Allen was specifically brought in to handle us because we are Black. I am a young Black man in America, and I know what I experienced when I walked into that dealership with my father. I felt that Allen was being used as the Black salesperson to make us feel comfortable and encourage us to purchase a vehicle. That was my experience, and I want other customers to be aware of it.
Allen brought me to Shahin Sabzehroo to purchase a BMW M8. Both Allen and Shahin were extremely friendly throughout the sales process. Shahin repeatedly claimed that he was the number one BMW salesperson in the United States and talked about all the trophies and awards he had earned from selling BMWs. They knew how to make a customer feel comfortable and confident about making a major purchase.
But FOUR DAYS after I took ownership of the BMW M8, the engine started knocking. FOUR DAYS! I purchased an expensive, high-performance BMW, and almost immediately I was dealing with a serious engine problem.
The vehicle remained in the shop for approximately TWO MONTHS. After all that waiting, I was told they were not going to fix it. Imagine spending that kind of money on an M8, having the engine start knocking four days after purchase, waiting approximately two months, and then being told the dealership would not repair it.
To make matters worse, Shahin repeatedly suggested that I must have been racing the car. This was my FOURTH BMW. I am a BMW enthusiast, and I know what I expect from a vehicle of this caliber. Instead of feeling that my concerns were being taken seriously, I felt like I was being blamed for the problem.
When my father confronted Shahin about the engine knocking, Shahin told my father that he no longer wanted to deal with him. He told us that if we had any further concerns, we needed to speak with management. This was extremely disappointing. My father was trying to address a serious problem with a vehicle I had purchased from the dealership, and instead of working with us to resolve the situation, Shahin shut down the conversation and directed us elsewhere. After being so friendly and helpful while making the sale, this was a completely different experience.
I also discovered that the vehicle had aftermarket intakes. When I connected my own OBD scanner, 15 error codes appeared. I was concerned because those codes had apparently been cleared before I checked the vehicle myself. The aftermarket modifications, combined with the engine knocking just four days after purchase, raised serious concerns for me about the vehicle's condition, its history, and how thoroughly it had been inspected before being sold.
Based on my experience, Allen and Shahin appeared to work closely together throughout the sales process. Allen brought me to Shahin, and they helped move the transaction forward. I believe customers should pay attention to how they are approached and handled during the buying process, especially when purchasing an expensive vehicle.
The biggest disappointment was how different everything felt before and after the sale. Before the purchase, they were welcoming, friendly, and eager to make the deal. Once the engine started knocking, I felt that making the sale mattered more than helping me resolve the serious problem with the vehicle.
I genuinely love BMWs. This was my fourth BMW, and I purchased an M8 because I love the brand and its performance cars. That makes this experience even worse. A customer should be able to purchase a vehicle from an authorized BMW dealership and expect honesty, transparency, and professional support when something goes seriously wrong.
My personal experience with Century West BMW left me feeling taken advantage of and completely let down. I believe Allen and Shahin's sales approach deserves scrutiny, and I want other buyers, particularly Black customers, to know what I experienced with this dealership.
My advice is to do your homework before buying here. Get an independent inspection, request the vehicle's service history, investigate aftermarket modifications, and get important promises in writing. Do not let a friendly personality, sales awards, or a convincing presentation stop you from protecting yourself.
I would not want another customer to go through what I went through. Based on my experience, I would think twice before purchasing another vehicle from Century West BMW.. as of now I'm a proud owner of a F93 M8 COMPETITION. FROM BMW OF LONG BEACH. Alex is a great guy from there. Purchased all of your BMW vehicles from Long Beach BMW..