BMW Specialists
Discussion
Hi,
I've recently purchased a '98 M Roadster with 20,000 miles. Whilst the car is immaculate, I would like to establish if there are any independent BMW specialists in Hampshire area for minor repairs/modifications before things start to go wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?
I've just purchased a xenon upgrade kit from hids4u.co.uk (very good in my opinion) and would rather someone who knew what they were doing (not me) installed it!
I'll still be taking the car to main BMW dealership for services (so as not to harm resale value), but it would be useful to have someone reliable and trustworthy I can approach with minor work etc.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
CDP
I've recently purchased a '98 M Roadster with 20,000 miles. Whilst the car is immaculate, I would like to establish if there are any independent BMW specialists in Hampshire area for minor repairs/modifications before things start to go wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?
I've just purchased a xenon upgrade kit from hids4u.co.uk (very good in my opinion) and would rather someone who knew what they were doing (not me) installed it!
I'll still be taking the car to main BMW dealership for services (so as not to harm resale value), but it would be useful to have someone reliable and trustworthy I can approach with minor work etc.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
CDP
Try these guys
www.bartleybmw.com/
or
www.etechmotorsport.co.uk/
Pick your specialist carefully and leave the main dealers behind. The specialists will look after the car more carefully, charge you less and will actually fix problems not ignore them.
www.bartleybmw.com/
or
www.etechmotorsport.co.uk/
Pick your specialist carefully and leave the main dealers behind. The specialists will look after the car more carefully, charge you less and will actually fix problems not ignore them.
Edited by Belleair302 on Tuesday 27th February 23:52
Edited by Belleair302 on Tuesday 27th February 23:58
Great, thank you! I've just emailed Bartley and I'm waiting to see what they say - I've heard good things about them.
I've also found somewhere near Winchester (good for me) called Keylink Systems that has had consistently excellent reviews. Their website is very primitive but it feels genuine etc.
Do you think it's worth getting the larger services carried out by a specialist too? I'm obviously happier to as will be cheaper and I'd get more personal attention but I plan on selling this car in a year or two and so far it's got FBMWSH...
I've also found somewhere near Winchester (good for me) called Keylink Systems that has had consistently excellent reviews. Their website is very primitive but it feels genuine etc.
Do you think it's worth getting the larger services carried out by a specialist too? I'm obviously happier to as will be cheaper and I'd get more personal attention but I plan on selling this car in a year or two and so far it's got FBMWSH...
Look around and see what the specialists have in th garage, and whether you warm to the mechanics / management. If the garage is established I would stick with them and build up a relationship. FBMWSH is no guarantee to selling the car for a higher price and when you visit a 'main dealer' just look at some of the people they employ. Many of them rely upon a pc to find faults and know nothing about engines, suspension and finding that annoying rattle! Main dealers are just into volume, specialists rely upon delivering customer service.
Brystone (Totton, Southampton) have been recommended, and I found them good (but just been the once). I mentioned them to a friend who also had positive comments. Richard is the chap there, seems to do a lot of work on ///M's (was a heavily modded CSL in there last time I visited)
www.brystone.wanadoo.co.uk/
Have been to Keystone (Poole) and they were good, plus free loan car, but their prices didn't seem very competitive more recently.
www.keycops.co.uk/htm/1/1_index.asp
Despite the distance would have previosuly said go to CPC (Uxbridge) as Phil was very good when I had my M3 serviced, but had problems getting him to return my calls both times I tried to book it in. Odd as he was friendly / knowledgeable / thorough / helpful etc when I actually met up with him.
Phil Crouch (CPC) - 01895 25 2288/ mobile 07960 280 953
My previous car (E36 M3 Evo) had been to Bartley a couple of times before I bought it (round the corner from Brystone I believe) but not got 1st hand experience of them...but suspect I'll stick with Brystone for now.
If you find anyone good in Winchester let me know, would be handy for me as well !
www.brystone.wanadoo.co.uk/
Have been to Keystone (Poole) and they were good, plus free loan car, but their prices didn't seem very competitive more recently.
www.keycops.co.uk/htm/1/1_index.asp
Despite the distance would have previosuly said go to CPC (Uxbridge) as Phil was very good when I had my M3 serviced, but had problems getting him to return my calls both times I tried to book it in. Odd as he was friendly / knowledgeable / thorough / helpful etc when I actually met up with him.
Phil Crouch (CPC) - 01895 25 2288/ mobile 07960 280 953
My previous car (E36 M3 Evo) had been to Bartley a couple of times before I bought it (round the corner from Brystone I believe) but not got 1st hand experience of them...but suspect I'll stick with Brystone for now.
If you find anyone good in Winchester let me know, would be handy for me as well !
Excellent, that's really helpful. I know what you mean about not answering calls etc. but I guess they're all pretty busy which is hopefully a good sign...?!
I've managed to get in touch with Keylink Systems (who I mentioned earlier) and he seemed like a decent person. Only problem is they're not open at the weekend so I can't see inside their garage etc. They offered to pick the car up and return it for me though.
Haven't had a chance to speak to Bartley yet but I'll let you know my thoughts when I have.
Thanks for the tips, I will definitely follow them up...!
CDP
I've managed to get in touch with Keylink Systems (who I mentioned earlier) and he seemed like a decent person. Only problem is they're not open at the weekend so I can't see inside their garage etc. They offered to pick the car up and return it for me though.
Haven't had a chance to speak to Bartley yet but I'll let you know my thoughts when I have.
Thanks for the tips, I will definitely follow them up...!
CDP
Have only just joined Piston heads and saw the topic re BMW garages in Southampton area. I have taken various BMWs to Brystone (Southampton), Bartley (Southampton) and EmTec (Salisbury). Only 1 visit to Brystone and Emtec as have found Bartley in Totton (on the New Forest Enterprise Centre, off the A35) to be the best overall - I live in Verwood so its not just round the corner but worth using them, certainly in pref to the other 2. They do courtesy cars and are happy if you want to wait while the work is done and watch from outside.
I have owned many BMWs in my time, as has my wife and more recently my Son. All our BMWs go to Bartley and have for some time. I totally trust them and have often sought advice from them when buying BMWs and when modifying them. They always seem to be happy to have a chat and give advice, even when you cam see how busy they are.
I guess my only complaint is that it can sometimes take a few hours to get a phonecall returned but I suppose that is only because they are are so busy which I should see as a good thing really!!!
I have always found they have stuck to the agreed price and always call before any othert work is done that they think is needed. I find they dont pressure into getting some work done just for the sake of it. Which I have to say Brystone (Richard or Robert??) did do to me - hence why I have not taken any car there again.
One note re Emtedc - very very crowded area for cars and when I collected mine it was parked half on the pavement and half on the road, sticking out an odd angle on a narrow road so could easily have been bumped - and my car is lowered so wasnt best pleased about this!
If you want to get in touch with Bartley - Have a look at www.bartleyuk.com or call 02380661499.
I have owned many BMWs in my time, as has my wife and more recently my Son. All our BMWs go to Bartley and have for some time. I totally trust them and have often sought advice from them when buying BMWs and when modifying them. They always seem to be happy to have a chat and give advice, even when you cam see how busy they are.
I guess my only complaint is that it can sometimes take a few hours to get a phonecall returned but I suppose that is only because they are are so busy which I should see as a good thing really!!!
I have always found they have stuck to the agreed price and always call before any othert work is done that they think is needed. I find they dont pressure into getting some work done just for the sake of it. Which I have to say Brystone (Richard or Robert??) did do to me - hence why I have not taken any car there again.
One note re Emtedc - very very crowded area for cars and when I collected mine it was parked half on the pavement and half on the road, sticking out an odd angle on a narrow road so could easily have been bumped - and my car is lowered so wasnt best pleased about this!
If you want to get in touch with Bartley - Have a look at www.bartleyuk.com or call 02380661499.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your lengthy reply, very kind.
I'm booked in for an MOT through emtec on the 9th so I will have a look around then. The owner sounded very diligent on the phone and said that he would give the car an inspection when it arrived before it went for the service (they outsource MOTs) as they don't want it to come back with faults they didn't pick up on.
Unfortunately Bartley never got back to my messages so that's why I didn't choose them. Also the idea of getting a nice lunch in Salisbury whilst the MOT is being done was quite attractive...
Anyway, let's see...
DP
Thanks for your lengthy reply, very kind.
I'm booked in for an MOT through emtec on the 9th so I will have a look around then. The owner sounded very diligent on the phone and said that he would give the car an inspection when it arrived before it went for the service (they outsource MOTs) as they don't want it to come back with faults they didn't pick up on.
Unfortunately Bartley never got back to my messages so that's why I didn't choose them. Also the idea of getting a nice lunch in Salisbury whilst the MOT is being done was quite attractive...
Anyway, let's see...
DP
Just for the general info of anyone in the South...
I took my car to Emtec in Salisbury and they were really great. It was booked in for an AC service/check as I thought it was broken and to have new headlights. Unfortunately the condenser was gone on the AC and I needed an adaptor for the xenons. They spent a while fiddling with the headlights to see if they could do anything without the adaptor but decided against it.
When it came to paying...no cost! They said that they hadn't actually done anything except diagnose a couple of problems, and apologised. They are going to get me a quote for the new condenser and have phoned the suppliers of the headlights to sort out what needs to be done.
I see lots of posts about recommended specialists, and I can't recommend these guys enough.
I took my car to Emtec in Salisbury and they were really great. It was booked in for an AC service/check as I thought it was broken and to have new headlights. Unfortunately the condenser was gone on the AC and I needed an adaptor for the xenons. They spent a while fiddling with the headlights to see if they could do anything without the adaptor but decided against it.
When it came to paying...no cost! They said that they hadn't actually done anything except diagnose a couple of problems, and apologised. They are going to get me a quote for the new condenser and have phoned the suppliers of the headlights to sort out what needs to be done.
I see lots of posts about recommended specialists, and I can't recommend these guys enough.
Finding good people is hard but i feel that every Shire round london has a few good specialists, i take my 2002tii to Autotech BMW in Langley (they just moved from the A4 to a place right next to langley main line station) anyways.. they always make me feel at home and (i think its the owner) actually PDI'd 2002's back in the day so it feels very fitting to have someone so knowledgeable, my friend told me about them as she takes her Z3 there.. Give them a try if you dont mind going further out of your way.
Brystone is the only place to use in the Southampton area. Despite Southampton being an absolute hovel filled mostly with the most vile and repugnant of society, Brystone is a welcome reprieve. Richard knows pretty much everything and during every service you get a car healthcheck as it were. They are a lot cheaper than Bartleys - who I have found to be slapdash and a much more friendly, efficient atmosphere. I would always go back.
I just had my M3 serviced at Emtech and was amazed to see they had painted the brake disk carriers and calipers whilst they had the car overnight doing an inspection 2! It now looks like new! I doubt my local main dealer would have had the wheels off at all! Top service and the best price I could find.
Neil.D said:
Brystone is the only place to use in the Southampton area. Despite Southampton being an absolute hovel filled mostly with the most vile and repugnant of society, Brystone is a welcome reprieve. Richard knows pretty much everything and during every service you get a car healthcheck as it were. They are a lot cheaper than Bartleys - who I have found to be slapdash and a much more friendly, efficient atmosphere. I would always go back.
Wot he said. The only downer is they don't have a curtesy car. Otherwaise 
I just wanted to update this to help anyone else in the Southampton area. Having tried a number of the independents in the Southampton area, I would happily recommend Brystone as my first choice in Southampton. I think they are top notch and 100% genuine. They do all BMW servicing and repairs so whatever you need give them a call, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Have fun and drive safely - you can do both ;-)
Have fun and drive safely - you can do both ;-)
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff