Uptowngirl Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 17 months ago I bought a car from a dealer 150 miles from here. I don't do a huge mileage so I haven't quite covered 8000 miles. Last week when I turned the key the display flashed that my first service would be due in 23 days. 2/3 days later I received e mail invitations from 2 local dealers to take my car to be serviced. How do they do that? How do they know my car is coming up to its service as this isn't based on time? How do they know that I am living here? Is big brother watching us from our car's on-board computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obelix Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Quite possibly. BMW certainly does - well mine did until I pulled the mobile transmitter out and told the dealer exactly where he could stick it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medusa Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 My VW has a constant countdown for servicing for a year and 10,000 miles from its previous one. When it gets down to a month it brings the message up every time you start the engine- it was serviced on Wednesday so it's stopped nagging me now. As for the dealers emailing you, I don't know, but I'm still getting insurance quotes through for a car that I sold 6 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavydog Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 17 months ago I bought a car from a dealer 150 miles from here. I don't do a huge mileage so I haven't quite covered 8000 miles. Last week when I turned the key the display flashed that my first service would be due in 23 days. 2/3 days later I received e mail invitations from 2 local dealers to take my car to be serviced. How do they do that? How do they know my car is coming up to its service as this isn't based on time? How do they know that I am living here? Is big brother watching us from our car's on-board computer? I had a citroen and the service indicator on that worked on 1. mileage covered or 2. time interval for service. you will find on most cars that service is due at xxxxmiles or xxxxmonths. as regards the dealers contacting you I am guessing that for your particular make there could be a central database that notifies local dealers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Anton Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Do you by any chance use in car Blue Tooth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzijlstra Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 The answer is no, the dealers send you a letter knowing you are likely due for your 18 month service, the car computer keeps track of the time as well, so that told you that you are due a service as well. As you bought a car from a brand with a national dealer network, they share your data with other dealers, as your purchase place is far away they presumably flagged your service up with two dealers nearer to you, as you are unlikely to drive 150 miles for service. Our Volvo has had this system for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resident Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Do you by any chance use in car Blue Tooth? Why would that matter? Bluetooth has a typical maximum range of around 100 metres. So unless she lives next to the dealership then it's not done via bluetooth. tzijlstra has the correct answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattythefish Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Quite possibly. BMW certainly does - well mine did until I pulled the mobile transmitter out and told the dealer exactly where he could stick it. is that right? and where exactly is this mobile transmitter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Joker Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 No no no, you're all completely and utterly wrong. The car is spying on her. What, do you really think the government only keep track of SF's extreme left-wing nutjobs? Honestly, you're all so naïve it's embarrassing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Anton Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Why would that matter? Bluetooth has a typical maximum range of around 100 metres. So unless she lives next to the dealership then it's not done via bluetooth. tzijlstra has the correct answer. If you buy a Ford car these days and have the Blue Tooth enabled should your airbag go off for any reason the car assumes that you have been involved in an accident and dial the emergency services with the location etc. I know of company cars where the on board sat-nav data is available on the company computer, so not only are the cars tracked but the average speed etc is available between way points. So if you set off late and make up time on the motorway Big Brother knows about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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