I planned to buy a car from Brian McLean Chevrolet. I spoke with David, and over the phone I was told the car was in excellent condition and that I would be able to inspect it. The dealership is located in Courtenay, and I drove from Victoria expecting the vehicle to be roughly in the condition that was promised.
However, when I arrived, they did not like that I was thoroughly checking the car and kept saying that the car was great. After scanning the vehicle, I discovered an active misfire in cylinder one. David and his manager tried to convince me that these were old fault codes and that the car was currently in perfect condition. I cleared the codes and went for a test drive, but the misfire returned, confirming that it was an active issue.
I pointed this out to David, but he seemed unwilling to hear my concerns and repeatedly insisted that this was a great car with no problems, encouraging me to proceed with the purchase. When I checked the coolant reservoir, the level was low. I performed a pressure test on the cooling system, and it did not hold pressure, indicating a coolant leak either externally or into the cylinders. I then opened the oil filler cap and found a mayonnaise-like emulsion, which can indicate coolant mixing with engine oil or a clogged PCV system.
I again raised these concerns and told David that I would consider buying the car, but the misfire could be a serious problem and requires additional diagnostics or repair. Once again, he insisted that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. I asked him to speak with his manager, and when he called me back, he relayed that the manager said there was nothing to repair.
Additionally, I noticed that the dealer replaced only two tires on an all-wheel-drive vehicle instead of all four, as recommended by manufacturers, and resurfaced the brake rotors instead of replacing them. While technically possible, these practices are not recommended and appear to prioritize profit over driver safety.
Brian McLean Chevrolet acted dishonestly in this situation and seemed focused solely on maximizing profit rather than being transparent and fair with customers. It is hard to imagine how many people may have lost money after purchasing cars from Brian McLean Chevrolet in Courtenay.
RD F
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February 15, 2026
A family member purchased a vehicle from Blake at Brian Maclean and then a year later passed away. The dealership told me what they could give me for the vehicle and gave guidance on what to ask for it if selling it privately. We were able to sell it privately for more money. When I was looking for a new truck, they searched for what I asked for but I found a lower model with all the options I wanted at a different dealership so jumped at buying it. Despite that the Brian Maclean dealership worked figuring out how to transfer warranty on the sold vehicle and went the extra mile to finish it for me. If your someone like me who is a questioning skeptic at the best of times, I would not hesitate to send my family and friends to this dealership. These people have integrity.
Debbie Jager
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March 04, 2026
Happy with this dealership. They are prompt with answering phones and service. They took care of our truck quickly and efficiently. They handled our warranty and the rental car in a quick and timely fashion.
Customer service is top notch. We will be back again.
Jeremy King
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November 19, 2025
Good evening. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my experiences. My family has been dealing with this locally owned dealership for the past 30 years. I purchased my first car from Rod McLean in 2024. It is so nice to be able to deal with the owner of a dealership. He promised me a car three years ago and when he got the opportunity, he immediately called me And we custom ordered it with no issues. When we went to pick it up a few months later service manager Extremely patient explaining all of the functions and setting up the details to my request. I never felt rushed. I wish other dealers would bring customer service back to the level this dealer provides. Also, Nicky is very knowledgable and patient describing the many options for extended warranties. Highly recommended dealership.
Gordon Cooling
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February 15, 2026
Had some traction control issues with my truck. Brought it to Brian Mclean GM and a young man named Jay was very helpful! Got a quick ride home and a few hours later after a warranty fix got a call that it was fixed for no charge! Thanks Jay 🤘
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2145 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2L5, Canada
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I planned to buy a car from Brian McLean Chevrolet. I spoke with David, and over the phone I was told the car was in excellent condition and that I would be able to inspect it. The dealership is located in Courtenay, and I drove from Victoria expecting the vehicle to be roughly in the condition that was promised. However, when I arrived, they did not like that I was thoroughly checking the car and kept saying that the car was great. After scanning the vehicle, I discovered an active misfire in cylinder one. David and his manager tried to convince me that these were old fault codes and that the car was currently in perfect condition. I cleared the codes and went for a test drive, but the misfire returned, confirming that it was an active issue. I pointed this out to David, but he seemed unwilling to hear my concerns and repeatedly insisted that this was a great car with no problems, encouraging me to proceed with the purchase. When I checked the coolant reservoir, the level was low. I performed a pressure test on the cooling system, and it did not hold pressure, indicating a coolant leak either externally or into the cylinders. I then opened the oil filler cap and found a mayonnaise-like emulsion, which can indicate coolant mixing with engine oil or a clogged PCV system. I again raised these concerns and told David that I would consider buying the car, but the misfire could be a serious problem and requires additional diagnostics or repair. Once again, he insisted that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. I asked him to speak with his manager, and when he called me back, he relayed that the manager said there was nothing to repair. Additionally, I noticed that the dealer replaced only two tires on an all-wheel-drive vehicle instead of all four, as recommended by manufacturers, and resurfaced the brake rotors instead of replacing them. While technically possible, these practices are not recommended and appear to prioritize profit over driver safety. Brian McLean Chevrolet acted dishonestly in this situation and seemed focused solely on maximizing profit rather than being transparent and fair with customers. It is hard to imagine how many people may have lost money after purchasing cars from Brian McLean Chevrolet in Courtenay.
A family member purchased a vehicle from Blake at Brian Maclean and then a year later passed away. The dealership told me what they could give me for the vehicle and gave guidance on what to ask for it if selling it privately. We were able to sell it privately for more money. When I was looking for a new truck, they searched for what I asked for but I found a lower model with all the options I wanted at a different dealership so jumped at buying it. Despite that the Brian Maclean dealership worked figuring out how to transfer warranty on the sold vehicle and went the extra mile to finish it for me. If your someone like me who is a questioning skeptic at the best of times, I would not hesitate to send my family and friends to this dealership. These people have integrity.
Happy with this dealership. They are prompt with answering phones and service. They took care of our truck quickly and efficiently. They handled our warranty and the rental car in a quick and timely fashion. Customer service is top notch. We will be back again.
Good evening. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my experiences. My family has been dealing with this locally owned dealership for the past 30 years. I purchased my first car from Rod McLean in 2024. It is so nice to be able to deal with the owner of a dealership. He promised me a car three years ago and when he got the opportunity, he immediately called me And we custom ordered it with no issues. When we went to pick it up a few months later service manager Extremely patient explaining all of the functions and setting up the details to my request. I never felt rushed. I wish other dealers would bring customer service back to the level this dealer provides. Also, Nicky is very knowledgable and patient describing the many options for extended warranties. Highly recommended dealership.
Had some traction control issues with my truck. Brought it to Brian Mclean GM and a young man named Jay was very helpful! Got a quick ride home and a few hours later after a warranty fix got a call that it was fixed for no charge! Thanks Jay 🤘