Horrible purchasing experience in New York

[Brewer]

Hello to everyone and thank you for sharing your many experiences here. I have been lurking here for about a month and since made a couple attempts at actually purchasing an i3. But from my experience, I don't think dealerships in my area (Long Island, NY) even want to deal with this car. Dealer #1 provided me a 3 day loaner, loved the car. But... it would only do 50 miles on range, far short of estimates. Mind you, I've read all the posts here so I tried everything; no fast starts, either Ecopro or ecopro+, no heat, allowing lots of regenerative braking to stop. Geez...short of pushing the car myself I don't know what else you can do. I noticed that some other members here had similar issue and had software updates done with improved results. I brought this point up to the salesman and he just had that deer in the headlights look. He said their other loaner was doing the same thing and he would have service look into it and let me know. Never heard from him.
Dealer #2 up at bat... I explained my prior experience. The salesperson there first tells me that I was reading the range display incorrectly. He told me I need to read the combined range on the Rex since on a Rex model, the ICE will run occasionally regardless of what charge the battery is at. I tried to politely educate him in explaining that it didn't work this way. I told him it's not a Prius. It's electic only until the ICE is needed to replenish the depleted charge. He insisted this was not the case and I was wrong. At this point, I had to walk out. You can't fix stupid. And I'm not about to hand stupid $50k for a product that they have no interest in educating themselves on yet alone supporting. Certainly not good for brand image imo.
Has anyone else here had similar experience, or do I just have crap luck at this? Thanks for any feedback or recommendations.

 

[jadnashuanh]

Some of the dealerships have 'experts'...you might seek out one of those. AT least those guys went to some training that the average sales guy didn't get, and they have access to resources. It's a shame that some salesmen don't take enough pride in their products to actually learn how they work, especially on what in the USA is considered a premium brand...I agree, I expect more from them. I bought mine in June, there weren't as many people that had much of any experience with the car, but at least my salesman had been reading up on it and knew something.

 

[stumbledotcom]

I believe BMW of Manhattan is owned and operated by BMW NA. I realize it would mean a trip into the city but at least you're likely to speak with properly trained staff.

 

[Brewer]

I believe BMW of Manhattan is owned and operated by BMW NA. I realize it would mean a trip into the city but at least you're likely to speak with properly trained staff.

Thanks. I will call BMW iconcierge and confirm if that is the case. My concern there is if the car needs to be towed, are they going to flatbed the car into the city or say it has to go to the nearest dealership? I will post later on any info I get.

 

[r6philly]

I believe BMW of Manhattan is owned and operated by BMW NA. I realize it would mean a trip into the city but at least you're likely to speak with properly trained staff.

Thanks. I will call BMW iconcierge and confirm if that is the case. My concern there is if the car needs to be towed, are they going to flatbed the car into the city or say it has to go to the nearest dealership? I will post later on any info I get.

I went in a couple of months ago to BMW of Manhattan trying to literally order one right on the spot. Salesman did not want to give me the time. I left my card and he never called back. I end up ordering from out of state.