BMW Geniuses and New Car Walkthrough

[DiamondGraphite]

I purchased my first BMW (X6), and will pick it up in a few days. This car has a lot of tech options (ACC, adaptive steering, dynamic handling, drivers assistance plus). I met the person who will be doing my walk-through, and she did not know much about the car's tech (despite being a called a product specialist).

For new vehicle purchases, do BMW Geniuses walk you through the car's features? What should I expect from a walk-through of the car's features, and how much time do they take with you?

Thanks!

[kanvas]

My SA didn't know much but I didn't care because I researched on my own prior to purchase. He went through basics and I called it a day since I wanted more time with the X5 lol.

Trust me, there are LOTS of "BMW Geniuses" in this forum. I learned a lot just from reading the threads. Congrats on the purchase and ask away!

[Kzang]

Make the appointment and let the Geniuses answer all your questions that you have.. If they don't know the answers then they will find out and get back to via email or phone. After your walk through is done you should get a complimentary $50 gas card from your dealer.
At least I did.

[MattBianco]

You will learn more by using the search feature in this forum than you will by asking most of the BMW geniuses.

[Cost a lot]

Yep, agreed, most sales staff know very little about the cars, as they are just 'SALES PEOPLE' I just avoid them and research myself, try talking to the service guys, they know a lot more about the cars.

[Kenny's X5]

To piggyback on what everyone else has said, just do the basic walk through with the SA and the genius. You will get an "encore" for any further questions you have that you couldn't figure out within a month of delivery. Even if you don't have any questions, just go and get the $50 gas card. Most questions can be answered by using the search button at the top.

[wwanthony]

They suck...

[Chem14]

Originally Posted by wwanthony

They suck...

+1

[manofb]

Really? My Genius at Crevier was very knowledgeable and helpful. I thought it was a great addition to the process.

[F15GorDe]

Originally Posted by manofb

Really? My Genius at Crevier was very knowledgeable and helpful. I thought it was a great addition to the process.

You were luckier than most here.

[puckybadger]

I must have gotten lucky too, or the $20 bill worked as Luke, at International Autos truly knows his stuff. I have had his undivided attention for an hour or more on more than a few times. I'm not a techy so having everything programed and set to my specs was and is greatly appreciated. Sorry for those who have not had my A+ experience.

[P1]

Your "BMW Genius" probably sold Kias at CarMax last week.

[stewy604]

My sales guy passed me off to one of their Delivery Specialists to walk me through the features and operation of the vehicle...most of the time was spent on the iDrive system, as I was new to it. The process took about 20 mins or so, and I found it very helpful.

[puckybadger]

Originally Posted by P1et

Your "BMW Genius" probably sold Kias at CarMax last week.

Based on your thoughtful comments, you must be a genius.

[viperdoc]

My first sales guy didn't even know that navigation was standard on the X5. I stopped listening to everything he said from that point on and did my own research (mostly on this forum....I agree that folks here are more knowledgeable than most sales people). After delivery, I asked the basics of using the phone and streaming music. After that, I spent a few hours in the car figuring out the features I used the most, and have enjoyed it immensely since.

[P1]

Originally Posted by puckybadger

Based on your thoughtful comments, you must be a genius.

No no, YOU must be the genius!

[RR-NYC]

While I agree there is a lot of info on this forum, they are more uncommon and specific questions; completely different than the genius sessions. You come here with basic questions, you get he typical Internet forum response to use the search function. I take it those against the BMW Genius and encore visits didn't have it offered

My salesman did the delivery and even though I was coming from a BMW, I still learned a lot more useful tips for using idrive. A week later went in for the genius just for the free tank of gas. The encore visit two weeks later gave me another free tank

Like others said, the free gas is worth the drive on its own but they are also very helpful to those that are just learning their new cars.

[Chem14]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

While I agree there is a lot of info on this forum, they are more uncommon and specific questions; completely different than the genius sessions. You come here with basic questions, you get he typical Internet forum response to use the search function. I take it those against the BMW Genius and encore visits didn't have it offered

My salesman did the delivery and even though I was coming from a BMW, I still learned a lot more useful tips for using idrive. A week later went in for the genius just for the free tank of gas. The encore visit two weeks later gave me another free tank

Like others said, the free gas is worth the drive on its own but they are also very helpful to those that are just learning their new cars.

not all BMW geniuses are created equal and some members have had BMWs while others are new so experience varies. My experience was me teaching both my SA what options were available when I placed the order and when taking delivery there were more than a few ah hah moments from my BMW genius appointment from the supposed genius.
A lot more than basic questions are posed here on the forum and I have seen countless threads of people getting their questions answered here and then posting how they had to educate their SAs who were clueless.

[wearenh]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

... A week later went in for the genius just for the free tank of gas. The encore visit two weeks later gave me another free tank..

This is the first I've heard of this free gas ... is it written somewhere?

I picked up the car at Spartanburg, and the delivery specialist knew everything about it,
but I guess a higher level of understanding would be expected

I have not been to my dealer yet, and I have 6500 miles since I picked it up Jul 2 (3.3 mos)
should I have visited the dealer's "genius" and gotten free gas? ... Is it too late?
and what is the encore? a second genius visit? ... my car says oil change in 2700 mi
so I have at least another month before that.

TIA

,

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by Chem14

not all BMW geniuses are created equal and some members have had BMWs while others are new so experience varies. My experience was me teaching both my SA what options were available when I placed the order and when taking delivery there were more than a few ah hah moments from my BMW genius appointment from the supposed genius.
A lot more than basic questions are posed here on the forum and I have seen countless threads of people getting their questions answered here and then posting how they had to educate their SAs who were clueless.

No. You are confusing people who are trained to show the basic functionality and set up of a BMW and enthusiasts, who will almost always know more technical aspects through personal interest and passion

The purpose of the BMW genius, as described by BMW, is to be an expert on using the features of your new car; primarily the idrive system. They aren't engineers that will tell you whether the airbox from an X5M will fit in a x5 50i

If I walk into a Rolex dealer or even a Rolex store
And ask for a 116234, they will look at me like I'm from Mars. Whereas if I ask for a stainless steel DateJust, they will know exactly what I'm talking about.

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by wearenh

This is the first I've heard of this free gas ... is it written somewhere?

I picked up the car at Spartanburg, and the delivery specialist knew everything about it,
but I guess a higher level of understanding would be expected

I have not been to my dealer yet, and I have 6500 miles since I picked it up Jul 2 (3.3 mos)
should I have visited the dealer's "genius" and gotten free gas? ... Is it too late?
and what is the encore? a second genius visit? ... my car says oil change in 2700 mi
so I have at least another month before that.

TIA

,

Yes, google it and you will see info about BMW genius and the encore visits. The free gas or gas card may be dealer specific but I don't know why they would expect someone to drive back to tub dealer without something in exchange

[Chem14]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

No. You are confusing people who are trained to show the basic functionality and set up of a BMW and enthusiasts, who will almost always know more technical aspects through personal interest and passion

The purpose of the BMW genius, as described by BMW, is to be an expert on using the features of your new car; primarily the idrive system. They aren't engineers that will tell you whether the airbox from an X5M will fit in a x5 50i

If I walk into a Rolex dealer or even a Rolex store
And ask for a 116234, they will look at me like I'm from Mars. Whereas if I ask for a stainless steel DateJust, they will know exactly what I'm talking about.

I agree. However you may have mis-read my point.

My point was twofold based on my experience:

1. When purchasing the vehicle, my SA didn't know that certain options were either available or could not be configured depending on the specific vehicle. I used this forum to get that information.

2. The BMW genius could not figure out how to answer my questions regarding idrive and I ended up figuring it out on the fly and teaching him which is not the way it is supposed to work, right? I expect someone who is referred to as 'genius', albeit colloquially, to be able to answer most if not all of my questions regarding what button does what, how to navigate idrive..etc.

In stating that others have found more answers to their questions here than during their BMW genius appts, I was referring to questions as in my statements above. NOT about technical or mechanical questions as you point out.