Dealer Used My Car as A Parts Car
I was already having doubts about this licensed BMW dealer because they swapped an engine into my BMW I8 and it didnt make a mile down the street during their "road test" before they said it ran hot and is now knocking. A few people said "maybe the motor was just bad already" (I Supplied it so they take no responsibility) and I tried to accept that and not that "the install was bad". So I paid my $10k bill for labor and went to pick up my car.
This is what makes me question their work practices below
I paid my bill of $10k in full for the engine swap and told shop I would pick my I8 up via tow the next week (paid on Thursday/Friday). Shop said since bill was paid they would not add any storage fees and I could leave my car with them while I decide on if I want to try a 2nd engine swap at my expense of course. I said no, I rather have my own car in my possession.
Sent driver to get the car and I get call from BMW dealership. The service advisor says car is not ready because they took my transmission cooler off to test in another customers BMW I8 and my car will be ready next day. BMW says trans cooler is on backorder and instead of waiting until October, they wanted to troubleshoot someone elses car using my car as a parts bin? I did not authorize this additional work nor was I notified they would take my car back apart after it was paid for. Even if it wasnt paid for, I dont think this is normal.
They text me next day to pick my car up. Im scared to touch it because what if other things are swapped. Did they rebleed the coolant system (is that necessary on a BMW I8)? Is my transmission cross contaminated from the other guys car or vice versa. The cooler holds transmission fluid and with the act of circulating in another car, you run the risk of introducing whatever was in that car to "make it go out" into my car. Any debris in their system is now introduced into mines.
I text the dealer and asked did they rebleed my radiator or add more fluid to the transmission since some is lost during removing it. I also asked did they run my car again and check for any new fault codes.
They said no to all..they simply put the part back on my car and want me to now pick it up(its still at the shop as this happened this week). I dont feel as that is normal not to check a car after you replace a part and get it back how you found it. I feel as since they know I cant drive my car away, they took advantage of my car to take off parts from it and also not do their due diligence in repairing it. I also am concerned on why the engine failed so quickly that the car never made it out the shop. It obviously did not knock or run hot immediately after the install.
Question is
Is it normal to swap parts at a dealer from a customer and should I have to authorize that?
Does a Trans cooler on an I8 require rebleeding the coolant system or atleast checking for codes?
What would you do if you were me?