Bill Pearce Volvo

From services to mechanic I got 1 star service.
I found a family auto shop that gets a 5 star.

After reading the reviews, I am gathering that Bill Pearce Volvo has no love for older Volvo drivers. 930 appointment on Tuesday for a pressure check. Called Wednesday at noon for results. 3 hours later, they have an estimate and can’t fix til the following Monday because they have to order parts. Seems to me that if they had looked at it when my appointment was, parts would have been in for a Friday repair. Plan on alternate methods to get to work if they have your car, like renting one.
If I had a choice to go elsewhere, I would have.
More to follow once I get my car back.

So, I’m driving to Reno for a 48-​hour trip on the eve of the 4^th of July. I’m climbing The Hill, as we call it (The Sierras), and my Low Oil light comes on in my 2009 XC90 Volvo. I’m annoyed, as it’s 11:00 at night and there’s not a hell of a lot I can do about it.
I have had issues with ghost notifications on this vehicle, though. So I am hopeful.
On July 5^th, I go by the Volvo dealership on South Virginia Street in Reno. I speak to Dolph, the Porsche and Volve Service Manager, and he says he’ll check it out.
MOMENTS later, he calls me out, says it’s all good. I say, «Oh, faulty notification?» He says, «No, you needed a top-​off. It’s all good now.»
He’s standing there, gesturing to my vehicle.
I say, «So… what do I do — how do I pay?»
He says, «Just come see us again some time.»
Now THAT’S service! Dolph Rocks!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
And, I must say, I bought my Volvo in Marin (Marin County, CA). You know, Marin, where the richie-​rich folks live? And the Service Department and Showroom and overall facility in Reno was the nicest, classiest, coolest, chic-​est I’d ever seen. The finishes were high-​end. The freebies were awesome.
Knocked Marin’s d** in the dirt.
CMc

Recently went to Bill Pearce Motors for a Volvo XC90. I’d done a good bit of research, and pretty much knew what I wanted. The staff was completely pleasant, showed me what I wanted, encouraged me to try out different cars in a comparison way, not a pushy way. I knew what seemed to be a reasonable price based on online research and their bottom line was right in line with what I’d seen. The entire operation was clean, professional and helpful. And the service area is amazing. I’m almost looking forward to taking the car in for it’s free oil changes … wi-​fi, snack, tv and a separate office space if I need quiet to work. And still loving the XC90!

I took my old 98 Volvo V70 here thinking that a dealership would be the best place to get get my car taken care of, I was incorrect. I bought the car on craigslist (like and idiot) and it immediately started having problems. I needed to smog it so I figured might as well take it to the experts and have everything taken care of at once. After diagnostics the list of recommended repairs totaled over $ 30,000. I opted not to heed their advice considering the car was worth a tenth of that. Instead I had the fuel lines replaced, a job they told me would take one day, which I appreciated as I needed a car to get to work.
They shuttled me home, which was very nice even though I had to wait 2 hours for the shuttle to get there, and told me to pick up the car the next afternoon. I got a ride back the next day only to find that it wasn’t ready. In fact it hadn’t even been touched yet. I left dejected, although the receptionist who delivered the bad news was very sympathetic. She told me she would call when it was ready. Three days later, still no call. I called to find out that because the car was so old, they didn’t have the needed parts in stock, but that they would order them from the manufacturer, which would take about a week. I told her no, that I needed the car for work and I would come to collect it and get the repairs done later. She called me back in 15 minutes to inform me that since they had already removed the fuel lines and thrown them away, that this was impossible, the car was not drive-​able.
I resigned myself to the fact that I would be car-​less for the next week, a reality that I would deal with, but would have done so more efficiently had I known it from the beginning. By this point I had already missed a day of work, borrowed a car, and even taken a cab one day. I explained this to the woman I’d been speaking with and asked if I would receive a discount, she said she would ask. Two days past, I got a call saying the car was ready and they would send the shuttle to pick me up. I was pleased but inquired why it didn’t take a week like they said. Turns out they HAD THE PARTS THE WHOLE TIME! I was no longer pleased. I realize that the service department for such a large dealership has a lot to deal with and that old cars and new customers don’t jump to the top of the priority list, but seriously.
Final Score: 5 days, 2 cab rides, 1 day missed work, $ 900 and no discounts. Never Again.

BPM might be alright for servicing newer models & BMWs, but don’t trust them with your older, road-​worn Volvos under any circumstances! They seem to reward loyalty but aren’t interested in truly getting their hands dirty on the cars of out-​of-​town travelers.
While passing through Reno and after the warning light came on during a drive up around Tahoe, I took my 96 Volvo in for a Check Engine light issue that the AutoZone computers registered (for free!) as a Cylinder 2 misfire condition/​random misfiring. I needed a diagnostic run to identify the problem — and the work done to fix it. I thought a designated Volvo shop would be the best place to do that.
After a nice reception, I settled into the cush waiting room (doughnuts, fruit, coffee, flat screen, kids play area). Two hours later, Janet (the service rep) came in to tell me that she was «So sorry» & that the mechanics had looked at my engine & determined that oil was apparently leaking/​combining with coolant. «You need a new engine» to the tune of $ 9000 (yes, more than the value of the car), «but we’ve got our used car guy right over there, so you can talk to him.»
Here’s was really bothers me, though: I don’t think the mechanics at BPM really even tried to assess the real problem (it turns out that one of my engine coils was cracked & it looks as though someone may have poured oil into the coolant reservoir). Instead, they did a whole assessment of my car, so that (in addition to the failing motor) they also prescribed new wipers, new battery, new brake fluid, new taillight cover, etc etc. I just needed a diagnostic run to identify the Check Engine light problem — and the work done to fix it! This was like going to the doctor for a broken arm & having him tell me that I have dry skin and high blood pressure. Just deal with the problem at hand!
The ONLY upsides of this experience were that they didn’t charge me for the diagnostic work (probably b/​c they didn’t really even do it!) & that they had free wireless internet in their waiting area.

If I could give zero stars, I would. This place was the most ridiculous auto repair service shop I have ever encountered. My Volvo was towed there after it broke down on the road from the SF Bay Area to Tahoe. I have such a great relationship with the guys at Volvo of Marin, I thought that was my best bet. Worst. Idea. Ever.
It took them three days (!) to diagnose the problem, with all kinds of excuses, like «It’s a complicated electrical diagnosis!» and «We need lots of time to price the parts!» After numerous follow-​up phone calls (I was in dire need of my car so I could go home in time for my daughter’s school orientation), I finally got the diagnosis: alternator, battery, battery cables for a whopping $ 2000+. Okay, THAT was the complicated electrical diagnosis and many parts that required three days to figure out? And that’s the ridiculous price you want? Uh, no thanks.
I ended up having my car towed to another local garage (Thank you, guys at Val Halla), who said I did NOT need the cables, but did need the battery and alternator. Grand total: $ 625. Total time: About 24 hours.
In addition to all that ridiculousness, when I sent the tow truck to Bill Pearce, the service rep sent the driver away because she «couldn’t find my paperwork,» and then after charging me by phone for the diagnostic work, didn’t call the tow company back to let them know all was in order.
Rarely have I been so infuriated/​frustrated/​appalled by an experience like that. NEVER GO TO BILL PEARCE MOTORS!