Do I have grounds to complain to BMW?

[irish boy]

I'll make this as brief as possible, bought my '10 m3 auc from a dealer in April. I was told it was serviced as part of the prep with the oil changed. (verbal…nothing in writing)

Yesterday the service light came on, done 3.6k. Rang them and they said they didn't change the oil as it wasn't due at the time within 6 months/3k miles which is they're regulation. Sales guy washing his hands saying he just checked if it had been "serviced" which it had (mostly visual checks from what I can see) Service dept also just saying they didn't do it as it wasn't due.

My point is I don't care if it was due or not as I was told it was done. Do I have a leg to stand on? How would I proceed on a complaint? Not the worst situation in the world as the cars great but it's a day out and the extra expense of the service (which they wont help out with the cost of….already tried)

[irish boy]

greygoose said:

Have you done 3.6k miles in the car or has it done 3.6k in total?

I've done 3.6k since buying it. Total 19k.

[irish boy]

Just had a call. Whatever's due is £850

They're looking into discount.

[irish boy]

Yeah on 2 separate occasions I was told the oil was changed.

I've written a strong letter to the sales manager and pasted in the dp.

I wonder how something like this would go in small claims to claim back the service cost, case being that a £33k car shouldn't need £850 spent in 3k miles, and also it's mieading to have a service done and the book stamped considering the oil was not changed. 99% of the public when asked would associate a 'service' as oil and filter chance, therefore it's a bit mis leading?

Edited by irish boy on Thursday 25th September 15:51

[irish boy]

Result. The manager responded to the email saying they would do an oil service foc.

Thanks for the advice folks.

[irish boy]

rb5er said:

MitchT said:

rb5er said:

Surely an oil service is around £70? 6 or so litres of oil and a filter.

On a BMW M model ... at a main dealer?

I meant an oil change.

Its literally 5 mins work, a few litres of oil and an oil filter.

So you would think. Unfortunately it doesn't happen in the real world. The same way they quoted me £80 for 2 wiper blades and £20 fitting. Service dept must be one of the most profitable part of the whole dealership.

[irish boy]

daz05 said:

irish boy said:

Result. The manager responded to the email saying they would do an oil service foc.

Thanks for the advice folks.

That's great, accept that but it sounds like your car is due its 3rd oil device which also means you need your plugs, diff oil and maybe gearbox oil changed if it's a manual. Also maybe the air filter. So you need that done too or you won't have a full sh. That little lot will cost £400 to £500 on top.

I'd say you are right. £850 initially quoted, I'd say I'll have a £4-500 bill with the oil service off. Tax and 2 back tyres this month too. Joys of running an M car

[irish boy]

Bradders901 said:

There were big difference in service costs on my m3, so assume you have rang around also.

They are throwing the price of the oil service off the bill so have to stick with them this time.

[irish boy]

contractor said:

try http://www.maindealerdiscount.com/ and also supply your own oil. GSF, Opie, and ECP all do oil offers.

Also I thought it was 4000 miles or under for service items at time of sale (it was on my two cars)?

A quick google search for https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bmw+auc+4000+mil... shows many hits. Maybe they silently changed it?

Tried this angle. Apparently it was showing 7000 miles when I picked it up. Because some of my journeys are "shorter" the variable computer changed it to 3000. Not the garages fault apparently, they did everything by the auc book.