Facchinetti Automobiles Group
Summary:
Based on my experience, I strongly advise against working with Facchinetti Automobiles Group or purchasing any BMWs, MINIs, or motorcycles through them. Their handling of our situation demonstrated a serious lack of accountability and poor customer service. Despite clear damage to our vehicle that occurred while in their care, they denied responsibility and failed to resolve the issue professionally. This is not the level of service one should expect from an authorized dealership.
We experienced vehicle damage in Sweden shortly after Christmas. Although the incident occurred in Sweden, our Swiss insurance company arranged to have the car transported back to Switzerland. Before the transport, we contacted Facchinetti Automobiles Group to confirm whether they could receive and handle the car. They confirmed that it was fine to send it to them.
However, when we received the car back from Facchinetti Automobiles Group, we noticed dents on the car. We had taken photos when the car broke down in Sweden and spoken to all involved in the transportation. Initially, the dealership claimed that their parking lot is considered public parking—something I found unusual, especially when a vehicle is entrusted to a professional workshop. Later, they offered another explanation, suggesting the dents might have been caused by people throwing balls from a gym located above the garage. But if the parking is truly public, wouldn’t the same logic apply to gym users?
Despite our concerns, the dealership continued to deny any responsibility. After months of back-and-forth discussions, we decided to involve our insurance company and got an estimate from Facchinetti Automobiles Group. They provided a quote of 1,700 CHF. We were surprised by the amount and asked whether it would be possible to simply remove the dents without repainting or replacing parts. They informed us that this was not an option, and that either repainting or replacing the hood was necessary.
We then opened a case with our insurance provider, AXA. After listening to our story, they expressed concerns about the dealership’s handling of the matter. Following internal discussions, AXA informed us that they would reach out to Facchinetti Automobiles Group directly and request that they take responsibility and correct the issue.
Eventually, the dealership agreed to handle the repairs. We scheduled an appointment and sent them the original estimate they had provided. However, just 24 hours after dropping off the car, we received a call informing us that the vehicle was ready. This raised suspicions, as we know that repainting a hood properly takes longer than a single day.
When we inspected the car, the dents were still clearly visible. It appeared as though nothing had been done except perhaps a brief visual check of the damage.