BMW specialist

[bmwmike]

Hi

Any recommendations for a BMW specialist in Cardiff or near Cardiff please?

I've had horrendous service from Sytner in Cardiff and am approaching MOT and brake fluid service time. Considering Sytner Newport but there must be more choice than that surely.

Normally do all work myself but want to keep Mondial warranty going so must be VAT registered service.

Thanks
Mike

[bearman68]

Fancy bringing it to us? (Is that allowed?) - 40 mins from Cardiff, and do lots of tricky stuff with BMW. (Full software, VAT registered, hopefully a decent rep).

[bmwmike]

Are you a bmw specialist and if so what is the name of your garage?

Thanks

[Luckey]

Have a look at these options - both have good reviews.

Autotech
Ponthir Road
Caerleon
01633 423717

Or

ForzaGB
Caldicot
http://www.forzagb.com/forza-gb-bmw-mini-tvr-audi-...

[timster]

I can recommend Forza as he's done quite a bit of work on my M5. Stu had my car for a few weeks whilst he diagnosed a problem with my car which no one could fathom out. Suffice to say he cured it and the car drives fantastic now

[Fury RS]

Autotech looked after 3 of my previous BMW's in the past with no complaint.
Presently Forza GB look after my E92 M3.
Both Tony (Autotech) and Stuart (Forza GB) are very good Technicians who seem to know these cars very well.
Can recommend both...

[bmwmike]

Great thanks everyone for the input.. much appreciated.

[njw1]

I can also recommend Forza, they did a bit of work on my e39 m5, I was kept informed of progress throughout and they are very reasonably priced, also, as said, they really know their stuff.

[Heathwood]

Another vote for Forza. A bit of a pain as I live in Cardiff but well worth the trek

[pits]

Out of the two that are being recommended we have used both and I would say Forza over the other place, two things the other place has done that has annoyed me.

[bmwmike]

pits said:

Out of the two that are being recommended we have used both and I would say Forza over the other place, two things the other place has done that has annoyed me.

Care to elaborate?

[pits]

bmwmike said:

pits said:

Out of the two that are being recommended we have used both and I would say Forza over the other place, two things the other place has done that has annoyed me.

Care to elaborate?

Not really, because the issues are small but enough to bug me and I wouldn't bad mouth a small garage over something that I personally didn't like, they haven't broken/damaged any cars or done bad work, it certainly isn't something I would start bandying around the internet, out of the two I would go Forza first that's all, the problem with the internet these days is people don't read what has been put there and make up st assumptions on small info, so I won't go into it because the issues are minor and there are probably thousands of happy customers to a small handful of unhappy as you can't please everyone all of the time.


But given the choice when it comes to older BMW's then its a small garage out Monmouthshire way called ADH Motors, Howard really does know his BMW's and he's the only one I trust to work on them these days, he rebuilt our 840's engine and it was done superbly, advised head gasket was weeping and to do them, engine had a few small leaks on it here there and everywhere, showed us where and what, so he advised engine out, completely stripped to block, everything was cleaned and flushed, tolerances measured on crankshaft, cams check then would only put it back together using genuine BMW gasket kit (which is what we would have asked for anyway) the only thing I would say he didn't do was paint the rocker covers, even after it got parked up for 5 years it fired on first turn of the key.

[bmwmike]

Fair enough - agree with your sentiment.

I'm trying out auto tech after finding they were a bit cheaper than Sytner Newport for the same work.

Will report back.

[pits]

bmwmike said:

Fair enough - agree with your sentiment.

I'm trying out auto tech after finding they were a bit cheaper than Sytner Newport for the same work.

Will report back.

More than likely be fine, if they had made a complete mess of something, or screwdd it all up then it would be different, but I'm not going to over some little things, but to reiterate they never broke or screwed anything up with the cars.


Either that or give ADH a call out Usk.

[bmwmike]

All sorted by Autotech and thumbs up from me. Did the job, kept to the time they said they'd be done by, got some nice compliments about me car, what more could one want.. will be going back.

Thanks for the recommendations.

[Ken Figenus]

Also worth considering are B&R Cardiff (can be as pricey as MD) and Promotive in Newport (chap needs chasing/reminding of everything). I used to use Forza West too but cant get access to their top man anymore by phone so its always a 'bring it in' rather than a proper geeky chat to see if it actually NEEDS bringing in.

Some of us are rather hard to please I know - but then I'm a supplier too...

Edited by Ken Figenus on Monday 6th March 06:42

[hornetrider]

I've used Stu at Forza and been pleased with their work in the past. Since moving down Cardiff way I asked (or found) recommendations on here for something more local and saw a recommendation for Euro Performance in Llantrisant.

So I used them to do the brake fluid/disks/CDV removal on my 5 series and was also impressed. Nice premises, very clean, knowledgeable staff and were happy to fit my supplied parts at a good price. Only downside was a bit of a wait to get booked in, but I saw that as a good thing really. They wouldn't have a long waiting list if they were st!

[nickrex]

hornetrider said:

I've used Stu at Forza and been pleased with their work in the past. Since moving down Cardiff way I asked (or found) recommendations on here for something more local and saw a recommendation for Euro Performance in Llantrisant.

So I used them to do the brake fluid/disks/CDV removal on my 5 series and was also impressed. Nice premises, very clean, knowledgeable staff and were happy to fit my supplied parts at a good price. Only downside was a bit of a wait to get booked in, but I saw that as a good thing really. They wouldn't have a long waiting list if they were st!

I asked for a quote from these recently. Oil/filter service (I was providing oil and filter) and cdv removal for my Z4MC. Told me cdv was 45mins work and that'd be £150 (!!) with the total being over £250 (I can't remember exactly amount). Don't know about quality of workmanship because at those labour rates they will never see any car of mine.