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      08-05-2013, 04:35 PM   #1
Evilarexeven
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(CA) Best Dealer Experience - Charlie @ McKenna BMW

I purchased an e92 335i about a year ago - the car is CPO. Recently, the car began exhibiting numerous issues, including the dreaded wastegate rattle, horrible gas mileage, suspension noises, a couple of shadow codes (thermostat and lpfp sensor), and some minor oil leaks.

I've always hated taking my car to dealers, but I knew doing so would be my best option considering the severity of some of my problems. After calling dealers all over So Cal and speaking to different service advisors, my overall impression was that BMW could care less that my car was CPO, and they'd find a way to strip my wallet one way or another. In fact, when speaking to one service advisor over the phone (very popular dealer), he mentioned that before even considering turbo replacement for my wastegate rattle, they would need to replace all vacuum lines at the tune of ~ $1000.

My sour impression of BMW dealers changed when I found Charlie @ McKenna. We discussed my car's issues over the phone, and he reassured me that he would try to address all issues to my satisfaction. After bringing my car to McKenna and speaking to Charlie in person, I knew I made the right choice. Charlie was extremely knowledgeable about 335i-specific issues, and the tuning scene in general. Hell - I have an intercooler and DCI installed, and when raising my warranty concerns with Charlie, he didn't bat an eye. The guy knows his job, and he knows it well.

Obtaining a loaner car was painless, Charlie kept me updated on repairs every step of the way, and upon picking up my car, I was greated with a pleasant 8-page list of warranty repairs done to the car. They replaced all parts which were causing the above-listed issues; notably, they replaced my turbos with new units - hassle free! Even better, they replaced my water pump and front suspension bushings; I didn't even know there was a problem with those parts, issues with these components were discovered after disassembly.

Needless to say, I couldn't be happier, and I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out. If anyone in the So Cal area needs work done, do NOT hesitate to contact Charlie Kim @ Mckenna BMW. That guy is the man, and he will indeed take care of you and your car.
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      08-05-2013, 05:23 PM   #2
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+1 for McKenna. Got me some new turbos last month
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      08-05-2013, 06:23 PM   #3
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Thanks for the kind words Ulysses, I do indeed do the best to my ability to satisfy all my clients if not more so for my fellow tuner community.
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      08-05-2013, 07:01 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie@McKennaBMWService View Post
Thanks for the kind words Ulysses, I do indeed do the best to my ability to satisfy all my clients if not more so for my fellow tuner community.
are you an SA Charlie? glad to hear you're one of the few good ones man, wish McKenna was a bit closer too me
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      08-06-2013, 10:08 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by KwlAznKid View Post
are you an SA Charlie? glad to hear you're one of the few good ones man, wish McKenna was a bit closer too me
Yes sir I'm probably the only SA on the boards with a modded M3 as well.
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      08-06-2013, 11:30 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie@McKennaBMWService View Post
Yes sir I'm probably the only SA on the boards with a modded M3 as well.
nice! you're actually not even that far from me, I just googled it. i'll keep you in mind for future needs
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      08-06-2013, 11:34 AM   #7
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Wow you covered lower control arm bushings under CPO? STRONG.
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      08-06-2013, 12:23 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by rr006rbc View Post
Wow you covered lower control arm bushings under CPO? STRONG.
It's all about who you know.
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      08-06-2013, 01:21 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Charlie@McKennaBMWService View Post
It's all about who you know.
lol or who you dupe. good job bro
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      08-12-2013, 11:57 AM   #10
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Just want to add in my amazing experience recently with Charlie at Mckenna BMW. My warranty on the car will be up in about 5000 miles so I wanted to get the car gone through and checked out, just to make sure everything was fine (Ford Premium Care Warranty- purchased car from ford dealership that someone traded it in at. Ford Premium Care has been AMAZING in my experiences!). Also, the extended warranty on the turbos will be up in about 2000 miles so I wanted to make sure they were fine as well.

A friend of mine referred me to Charlie and guaranteed Charlie would take care of my car better than anyone else. I spoke with charlie on the phone last Monday morning and he said I could bring the car in later that same day. After I got home from work I took the car over to Mckenna and spoke with Charlie. He made it a point to thoroughly go through the cars history and make sure everything was up to date on the car regarding service bulletins, recalls, etc. We left Mckenna in a nice 2013 528i loaner car.

I spoke with Charlie the next day and he let me know that they were still going over stuff on the car, but they did find that the turbos were in fact bad and that they were on order and would be replaced under the factory extended warranty . I spoke with him again the next day and he let me know that they found some of the injectors to also be bad and needed to be replaced, and the warranty company was going to send an agent out to approve the repairs the next day. Charlie called me on Friday letting me know that my car was done and ready to be picked up.

After pulling away from the lot me and my father immediately noticed how much smoother and powerful the acceleration felt. It honestly felt like a new car, and it definitely wasn't the placebo effect. Overall I couldn't be more impressed by the service I received from Charlie at Mckenna BMW . My car as well as my fathers car (E46 M3) will definitely be going back to him whenever they need to be serviced. Thank you again Charlie for everything !
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      08-14-2013, 01:15 PM   #11
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      08-14-2013, 10:19 PM   #12
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It's good to know that these dealers still exist.!
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      08-17-2013, 06:51 PM   #13
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mckenna is the place to go ive been going to their for years i know ronn ive also met charlie very cool people glad to see more forum users going their
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      08-17-2013, 11:57 PM   #14
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oh yeah charlie helped me too ^*
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      08-18-2013, 10:30 PM   #15
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What was the mileage on the original turbos before they got replaced?
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      08-19-2013, 10:20 AM   #16
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The warranty extension on the factory turbos is 8yrs/82k miles.
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      10-31-2013, 01:36 PM   #17
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Bump! Responded to PM's!
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      10-31-2013, 03:04 PM   #18
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About to pick up my 335i, glad to know there are dealers like this out here still! Always got hassled for a simple catback on my STi at the dealers

Free bump!
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      10-31-2013, 03:24 PM   #19
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Where is McKenna located? I'm in Irvine, and having a tiny little issue with my CPO 135i that I would like to get addressed. Shouldn't take any more than 15 minutes, but would still rather bring it to a reputable dealer.
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      10-31-2013, 05:22 PM   #20
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2011 BMW 335is  [0.00]
4hrs from me !!!!!!
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      11-01-2013, 10:43 PM   #21
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Awesome to see this stuff. I too had a great experience recently with my SA up here in Northern CA. Hands down A++ experience all the way through. New turbos are a dream. Car runs like a beast. Smooth. No rattle. Lower oil temps and better idle and throttle response.

Highly recommend Elk Grove BMW. Beautiful dealership and their service garage is like an operating room. Truly impressive.

Congrats, OP, on your new turbos and all that work. Restores faith in humanity an also made me a lifetime BMW guy as well as Elk Grove BMW client.
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      11-02-2013, 11:25 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract View Post
Where is McKenna located? I'm in Irvine, and having a tiny little issue with my CPO 135i that I would like to get addressed. Shouldn't take any more than 15 minutes, but would still rather bring it to a reputable dealer.
Address is under my avatar!
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