I'm sorry I can't give it less than 1 star. I've used this facility numerous times. Usually the service was satisfactory. However my last visit resulted in service that was life threatening; upon pointing the error out to the owner my concerns were dismissed as inconseqeuntial and incorrect. Below is my email to the company, and their response.
Let me preface this with the fact that I am a commercial pilot, educated on altitude and temperature effects on air pressure.
To European Motors:
"I had my BMW in on Friday for a 10,000 mile one year service. We had not used the car in months and were leaving Saturday for a 3000 mile trip. When I got the car back I specifically looked at the invoice to make sure the tire pressures were checked, especially after the vehicle had been sitting for 3 months unused. The invoice said "tires checked". I therefore reset the TPM knowing that the tire pressures were now adjusted to recommend.
I drove the car to Mammoth Lakes the next day (7500 ft). At 7500 ft., tire pressures increase by 3-4 lbs. The following morning when I got in the car, I had a notice "Left Front Tire Pressure Low". I drove to a service station, checked the pressure and rather than the 32 lbs + 3 lbs for altitude or 35lbs, what would have been expected, the pressure was 20lbs. I filled the tire, looked for damage, nails, screws, etc. and seeing none decided to just monitor the tire. Later that day, I got back in the vehicle, and had a warning, "Right Front Tire Pressure Low". I went back to the service station, the right front tire was at 22lbs. I filled the tire and decided I'd better check the rears. The rears, instead of measuring 39+ 3 for altitude or 42lbs, measured 30lbs each.
I relied on your service and the items you claimed to have checked. Our equipment and lives were put at risk because your mechanic did not do what was claimed to have been done. I am livid! This is unconscionable. Whoever did this work should be terminated. If this happened to us, how many others has this happened to? This needs a resolution or I'll be more than happy to share this experience with others so it doesn't happen to them. This is not a trivial matter, you have people's lives in your hands, people depend on your professionalism."
This was their response:
"Mr. Jones,
I am sorry to hear you are disappointed.
The change in temperature effects the pressures in the tires. During our routine oil services, we do check all fluids and tire pressures.
I will speak to my technicians and make sure we are all performing to our standards.
For future references, The main reason for this is the dropping temperatures, which cause the air to become denser and consequently lower the tire pressure. Of course, tires naturally lose pressure over time, and there can be a puncture. ... Colder temperatures will cause tire pressure to drop about 1 psi for every 10°F drop in air temperature."
To which I replied:
"Being a pilot I am very aware of the effect of temperature and altitude, in this case, they cancelled each other out. Those tires were all under inflated by 8-12 lbs each. They were never checked."
The response I received - none.
This is not a trivial issue to be dismissed like this. NHTSB reports hundreds of deaths and over 75000 injuries per year in the U.S. from tire blowouts, many resulting from improper tire pressure. read more