I don't have much to add (Only rented from Sixt once... and Never rented in Germany) other than my car (also a performance BMW) has the Michelin Pilot Super Sports and they are NOT SAFE in winter driving conditions at all, Let alone when bald or on wet pavement. You're well within reasonableness to complain and they should make it right, IMO.



P.S. Always nice to meet another BMW enthusiast! My dad and I are absolute Nuts!

:)
I did my M3 Euro Delivery in 2012 and BMW has an arrangement when you rent wheels w/ winter-tires (they force you to if it's during winter.) When I had to return the car, you stop by the wheel rental place and they put the factory summer-tires back on, and, well, that was the first experience on that very short drive. When I got my M3 back to the States, tried to stay with the summer-tires as long as possible and-- as you very concisely and indisputably state:

they are NOT SAFE in winter driving conditions at all

No one would argue this who has ever tried it. They're quite lucky (well, I guess I am the truly lucky one) that this M5 ever made it back to them. And I'm very lucky I had a lot of experience with the car and those tires.

Maybe there are some idiots out there that would sign away-- wittingly-- for a "discount"-- their right not to get killed to death, but I am not that idiot. :)

Its actually amazing to me that they would even rent a car like that in the winter time with High-performance summer tires. I seem to remember there being a disclaimer about them not being recommended for winter use (I think it was worded more strongly).

I've always wanted to do European Delivery. Might just have to when the M2 finally comes out ;)

You entered a contract to rent a car that (in the USA) would meet certain minimum standards- ie have an engine, have seat belts, etc.

Does not having safe tires (safe as determined by BMW; by law enforcement; and by the tire mfg) amount to a breach of the rental contract?

I've just rented performance cars and flogged them- Id never drive that way with m own new car before breaking it in...

Sixt has continued to tell rather wild mistruths to the credit card company in an attempt to fend off the dispute. And, thus far zero help from the rep in this forum.

Time to bump the 'ole tweet again. Really, really disgusted with Sixt, I've never personally had a company behave quite like this, where the facts were so obvious and provable and the customer treated so poorly. I know, of course, that it happens all the time (and pretty frequently with Sixt in Germany, seemingly,) but I've never experienced anything like it in 20 years of frequent travel.

https://twitter.com/xJonNYC/status/705946706660204544

Somewhat hysterically, they sent me this email today:

success!
 

Very happy to report that Chase contacted me just now and advised me that the temporary credit that was on my account is now permanent-- 100% refund. Thanks as well to SixtCustomerServices for help via PM.

And, yet, Sixt continues to dun me for the $$:

"Junior Agent"

Only a German company would think that placing that title towards the customer is a good idea. Sooooo tone deaf.

(I once got banned by Hertz...for a short while. And I was presidents circle. I stopped being exclusive; my travel agent ripped into his Hertz rep; they fixed it...and now I play the field. Well done.)

I will, however, admit that Sixt has more interesting cars than other companies...

For sure, I agree, but _man_ are they making it hard for me to use 'em.

Just because a credit card charge dispute filed with the bank against a car rental company resolves in favor of the credit card customer doesn't mean that the car rental company (whether it be a franchise location or not) won't still claim the disputed amount is due even long after the bank has made a final decision on the matter of the charge. It's anyone's guess to what extent they will go in pursuing a domestic or international collections effort on a car rental after a card charge dispute has been resolved, but sometimes they do try; and at other times, you find out only at your next attempt at a rental.

I've had more problems with Sixt than any other major car rental company. On one of my last rentals with them in the US, Sixt tried to charge me for damage -- rooftop scratches -- scratches that I had photographed, video recorded, noted down and communicated to two Sixt reps prior to even getting in the car. Even after the bank sided with me about the charge dispute over the damage charge Sixt had flagged down my driving license or something to frustrate a future rental. We ended up having to go back to dealing with the Sixt car rental facility that "owned" the car to finally get the matter resolved and get that block lifted. So glad I hadn't prepaid the Sixt rental that time.

Sixt delivers from a better fleet on average in the US and Europe than what I get from Hertz, Avis, or Europcar. But Sixt's approach to customers when things go wrong (and even with up-selling) leaves enough to be desired that Sixt gets me only when Hertz, Avis and Europcar don't fit the bill as well for me.

For anyone with a Sixt rental charge dispute -- even after a charge card dispute has been resolved -- avoiding prepaid Sixt car rentals makes sense. At least until after doing a few post-paid/pay-at-pick-up Sixt car rentals.

Pretty sure JonNYC is on Sixt's DNR by now.

It wouldn't be a surprise: "For sure, I agree, but _man_ are they making it hard for me to use 'em."

Sixt should probably be on the list of DNR using non-refundable/prepaid car rental bookings until it's clear that the person in this kind of situation is not on the company's DNR list. Sixt shows up for Priceline and/or Hotwire opaque car rental bookings. Just another thing to watch out for when it comes to possibly being on Sixt's DNR list.

Ha! As if!

Great to know that you got your money back. (Sixt deserved to be sued for the full value of the holiday arrangements you had to cancel because of their incompetence.)

I see that this is indeed what happened in the end. Although I was happy in 2014 when my issue at DUB was solved in the very same way, I now see that these are not exceptions to the rule but their SOP.

Won't rent from Sixt again. :td: