Wilson, Bellingham, WA (Dealership)

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WILSON MOTORS
1100 IOWA STREET
BELLINGHAM, WA 98228

Phone: (360) 676-0600
Fax: (360) 676-4831

http://bellingham.mbsprinterdealer.com/

I gave Wilson Motors a "good" rating only because they wouldn't throw in floor mats and I couldn't get them to take more than $50.00 off of the "Documentary Service Fee". But other than that, I would have given them an "excellent" since they were great to work with. At no time did I ever feel pressured to buy anything, or that I hadn't been given due respect.

I'd been going in there for over a year trying to decide what kind of vehicle I wanted. (At first I was looking at the Rav4's, the Highlanders and the 4 Runners). Truly, I'm surprised that since I'd gone in so many times looking and test driving and not buying, that they didn't run the other way or ignore me when they'd see me coming. Mostly I'd worked with "RJ", and he was very friendly and courteous every time I went in. However, "Beckie" is the Sprinter specialist there. She is the one who knows about all of the options/packages and who can navigate quickly through the computer system to find you what you want. Since RJ was busy when I went in to buy the Sprinter, I ended up working with Beckie. Unfortunately RJ didn't get the full commission; he had to split it with Beckie.

As I said in a previous post, Wilson Motors is currently participating in the Costco Auto Program, so the Sprinter was $500. over the factory invoice. Plus there was the instant $1,200.00 rebate on the 2010 models. I suppose there could have been "holdbacks" and other methods for them to get more money out of the deal. But considering how much time they spent with me over the last year, what additional profit they got from me; well I feel they earned it. Since the sale, they have called and emailed me to see how I like it and to tell me that if I have any questions to call them.

Also, I had a friend with me when I bought it who is also interested in buying a Sprinter. He has checked with other dealers in WA and OR since then to see what kind of deal they would give him. He said that none of them would sell for the price I got mine for, and if they did, they would go out of business. Perhaps that was an exaggeration (going out of business), but they weren't unwilling to sell at $500. over invoice. Anyhow, they told him that if he could get one for that price at Wilson Toyota, to buy it! Also, they didn't offer up the information on the 2010 rebate deal.

I am on the fence with Wilson and Service. My gut tells me that it is improving, but I got completely taken on a 30k service on a 07 Prius (They do Toyotas as well). I was reluctant to take my FL Sprinter to them for a couple of nagging warrantee issues, but since the next dealer is either Seattle or cross the border into BC I thought I would give them the first crack. Had a EGR sensor that they switched out no problem, and a torn strut boot. They had to order the strut boot and said they would call. 6 weeks later I finally called them, to find it was sitting on their shelf. They did that fine, and also replaced the broken Hand brake cover. I doubt that I would have them do other routine service like Lube/oil/filters, but I will trust them with warrantee work.

Now that Harmony Motor Works has their new lift I would certainly have them do the routine service stuff that I don't do (Like brake fluid flush).

Icarus.

Another point lower for Wilson. 200 miles after doing the strut boot, the brake warning light came on. Made an appointment assuming it was a computer glitch. Turns out they had failed to tighten the brake line to the caliper they removed to do the strut. After the work was done, they didn't bother to phone me to tell me it was done.

Icarus

Icarus,

Thanks for your reviews of Wilson Motors. I was hoping they would be good for regular maintenance type service, but it doesn't sound like they're doing a very good job! I don't know how much Harmony Motor Works is doing on Sprinters, but I've taken my Subaru there and I have been happy with their work. I haven't heard anything bad about Harmony yet...only good things, so hopefully they are doing routine maintenance type work on Sprinters now. Dread the thought of having to go to Seattle or into Canada for work...

Thanks again,

Kat

I went via Costco program which gave me the best price. The dealer in Bellingham WA was asking for $10K to be deposited in escrow for one year after the purchase, he was afraid that I will ship the van to China or Russia, OK...He claimed that this request was related to Oregon. During the purchasing process all folks, except the truly weird fellow from the Bellingham dealership, were very courteous. This happen during the sale process, I can imagine their treatment of customers bringing Sprinters for service.

George.

I work at NW European Autoworks in Bellingham. We specialize in German auto repair. I have an '06 T1N and we service several other Sprinters. Please feel free to give us a chance to help all of you local Sprinter owners.

Matt
(360)715-3876

Harmony did a thorough once over before my 2008 170" got loaded on the Ferry for it's delivery to AK. Competent, friendly.

I would suggest going to any of the other Seattle Metro area dealers rather than Wilson. No dealer truly has your interests at heart, but Wilson are in my opinion worse than most.

They say it's when something goes wrong that people's true colors come out. Well, when Wilson sold my ordered van from under me and probably lied to me about the situation in which it happened, I got to see the truly sleazy side. They did not make good. If you want the full details, see this thread.

Steer clear. Seriously.

Wilson Motors of Bellingham just sold out to Toyota of Bellingham. Rick Wilson is retiring. They are now Wilson Toyota and Mercedes-Benz of Bellingham.

HOWEVER, do not expect a change of philosophy. Julian Greening, who runs the dealership and was ultimately responsible for selling the van we custom ordered through them to someone else, is still in charge.

I would still avoid buying vehicles from this dealership.

I gave them an Avg. rating because, I got what I unfortunately expected from a dealership, average at best attention to detail, high priced labor $120.00/hr. and workmanship not excellent. Took it in for brakes and suspension work, turn signal and rear defog issue.. (minor electrical issues) Quoted and charged an hour each for the issue. I had already checked and replaced all the driver side bulbs trying to rectify rapid blinking issue. They changed installed a Toyota bulb $5.00 w/ no results. Checked rear fog option and told never installed OE therefore no dash switch for it. $120.00 to figure that out ?

They said they wanted it for a whole day to do all the work. I got there early AM as requested, at the end of the day they wanted another day with it. Why I asked ? Because "we had another problem Sprinter" with delayed fixing. GREAT ! Then WHY did I need to be there early AM ? THAT alone pissed me off, I could have done other things and not drive 45 minutes to be there right on time wasting my morning.

Next day I called to see how it was progressing and told still working on it. Asked if the wheels were on and told not yet, still checking electrical issues. I said STOP! Install the wheels and I'm on my way to pick it up have the bill ready.

Two days later needed to use my windshield washer. Not spraying. WTF !!! Opened the hood to reveal feed tube connection disconnected at the cowling and the driver side headlamp cover sitting off full of washer fluid. Tech apparently working on the turn signal bulb issue spaced out and never reinstalled it and probably didn't know he disconnected the washer fluid tube.

Upon making my initial service appt., I told the the service mgr. your dealership is the first one in over twenty years I have come to because I don't trust stealerships after being burned more than a few times with my GM's and Dodge. So, once again, I am reminded why I try to do all my own work whenever possible knowing it will get done right and without parts missing or forgotten.

I guess if it's not your own rig being worked on, paying someone else to pay attention to DETAIL is hard to find.

icarus said:

I am on the fence with Wilson and Service. My gut tells me that it is improving, but I got completely taken on a 30k service on a 07 Prius (They do Toyotas as well). I was reluctant to take my FL Sprinter to them for a couple of nagging warrantee issues, but since the next dealer is either Seattle or cross the border into BC I thought I would give them the first crack. Had a EGR sensor that they switched out no problem, and a torn strut boot. They had to order the strut boot and said they would call. 6 weeks later I finally called them, to find it was sitting on their shelf. They did that fine, and also replaced the broken Hand brake cover. I doubt that I would have them do other routine service like Lube/oil/filters, but I will trust them with warantee work.

Now that Harmony Motor Works has their new lift I would certainly have them do the routine service stuff that I don't do (Like brake fluid flush).

Icarus.

Click to expand...

FYI - I called Harmony Motors a couple of weeks ago (Feb 2017) to make an appointment to have them do a brake fluid flush. I was told that they no longer do the brake fluid flush on Sprinters... something about not having the right machine anymore and that they didn't make enough money off that work to be profitable. (No doubt. The last time they flushed it they only charged me $99. This time I called 2 independent shops and the dealer and they all estimated $180+ to do the flush).

Even though I hate having work done at dealerships, I ended up taking it to Wilson Motors since it was the closest and most convenient option. Cost me $188.86 for the flush. The brakes seem to work so far, so hopefully they didn't screw it up.

Kat

I bought a new (2017) Sprinter from Toyota/MB of Bellingham the end of January, 2018. My experience through the sales process was excellent (kudos to Travis Milbrandt, the sales rep). I was able to take the van out for a spin with my family with no hassle, no sales pressure the first day I visited. Since I wanted a 170 but was concerned about negotiating my driveway in forwards and reverse (long, steep uphill with two sharp bends combined with changes in pitch and no room to turn the van around at the top) they offered me a used van of the same wheelbase to take home and try out (which I took them up on the next day). After a short discussion about pricing and what I was looking for, they quoted me a price that was a good price (based on dealer cost calculated from invoice/holdback info), and they did not require an immediate answer (i.e., no "this price is only good today" BS). When I returned several days later, we consummated the deal with no sales pressure for extras (full disclosure, F&I offered an exterior/interior protection package/warranty, which I declined).

When I picked up the van another several days later, the sales rep went through the warranty info (in detail, at my request) then we both went through all of the van systems (standard and optional) so that we knew they were all functioning before we drove the van off of the lot. The only thing that could be even suggested was a hitch in the giddy-up was that the front tires on the van were inflated above the B-pillar specification for the front wheels (but less than the rear tire inflation spec) when I drove it off the lot; this was easily rectified by airing down the tires to the correct cold inflation pressure after the van sat in my driveway over night.

I sympathize with DieselFume's experience, and had I read about it BEFORE I went to the Bellingham dealer, I might have looked elsewhere first. However, Bellingham is closest to where I live, and they had the best match to what I was looking for out of the other dealers in my area (MB Seattle, which has a GREAT Sprinter sales guy [Keith Donaldson] was completely out of 170s although they had 15 or so 144s).

I don't have any experience (yet) with the service department.