E90 M3 First Service Cost

[HammyHamster]

So my E90 M3 went in for it's first 'proper' service yesterday at 16,722 miles, which consisted of an oil change, air filter change, micro filter and brake fluid change. That's it. Cost: £620. I know I shouldn't really be surprised at Main Dealer service costs for an M3, but that seems excessive to me. Anyway, luckily I didn't have to pay it as I've got the 5 year service plan which now seems a bargain at £1000.

[pjv997]

Hmm - one of the disadvantages of buying my car pre-registered is that I couldn't get the service pack. It's not a cheap car to service, I am now on about 33,000 miles after 2 years and I the service costs to date are more than the total cost of servicing for my six year old 997s in which I have done similar miles since new.

[Koing]

pjv997 said:

Hmm - one of the disadvantages of buying my car pre-registered is that I couldn't get the service pack. It's not a cheap car to service, I am now on about 33,000 miles after 2 years and I the service costs to date are more than the total cost of servicing for my six year old 997s in which I have done similar miles since new.

I was also very suprised that the 997had such cheap servicing, 2yrs or 20k miles!

Koing

[Lostprophet]

997 servicing is cheap...

Lol.

When the engine pops then the best of luck. £12k please.

[Emeye]

Not many people are buying cars so they have to get their money from somewhere. Bend over sir ....

[Schermerhorn]

I could have sold you a microfilter for £24.99....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M3-E92-4-0-2007-poll...

(I hope you got the carbon one and not the cheap paper element standard microfilter)

[ant man]

Schermerhorn said:

I could have sold you a microfilter for £24.99....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M3-E92-4-0-2007-poll...

(I hope you got the carbon one and not the cheap paper element standard microfilter)

The M3 has 4 pollen filters. BMW only use the active carbon type for the M3.

[Nedzilla]

Not as suprised as I was a few years ago when i took my E46 M3 for its first (for me) service at BMW. £1086 for the service and then they had the cheek to tell me i needed two front tyres and rear pads at a further £700!

I ended up doing the tyres myself about 12 months later and the rear pads about 18 months later at its next service when the brake wear light finally came on!

I now use a local independant.

[ryandoc]

I paid exactly £419.27 on 16,229 miles. But then whilst cheaper then yours I got stung for running in service at £455. You live and learn next time round I'll get running in service thrown in for free.

EDIT. Just noticed that was brake fluid as well. My brake fluid was just changed about 3 weeks ago on 22K miles at £98. That was going by idrive strange yours came up so soon?

[E30M3SE]

Reading Evo's long term on their Audi RS5 over the other day, and that cost just shy of £1300 at the first service, (17,000 odd miles and did include front brake pads , carbon) but makes the M3 look positively 'cheap'.

[Jarrod]

ryandoc said:

I paid exactly £419.27 on 16,229 miles. But then whilst cheaper then yours I got stung for running in service at £455. You live and learn next time round I'll get running in service thrown in for free.

EDIT. Just noticed that was brake fluid as well. My brake fluid was just changed about 3 weeks ago on 22K miles at £98. That was going by idrive strange yours came up so soon?

I think they used to do it for free but now almost all of them charge for the running in service. The service pack at £1000 for 5 years is a relative bargain

[HammyHamster]

ryandoc said:

EDIT. Just noticed that was brake fluid as well. My brake fluid was just changed about 3 weeks ago on 22K miles at £98. That was going by idrive strange yours came up so soon?

Apparently brake fluid needs to be changed every 2 years, although I don't remember this ever appearing on my iDrive, maybe I missed it.

[jonasaurus]

Jarrod said:

I think they used to do it for free but now almost all of them charge for the running in service. The service pack at £1000 for 5 years is a relative bargain

I believe this to be the case too, when I did my running in service in March this year I was billed but did ask if it was complimentary in which they responded used to be but not now

[ryandoc]

HammyHamster said:

Apparently brake fluid needs to be changed every 2 years, although I don't remember this ever appearing on my iDrive, maybe I missed it.

That sounds about right as mine was due 2 years to the month. But there's definetely an entry in the idrive for it, although mine's the updated idrive not sure what version you have?

[ryandoc]

Jarrod said:

I think they used to do it for free but now almost all of them charge for the running in service. The service pack at £1000 for 5 years is a relative bargain

I was told that BMW leave it to the discretion of the dealership so im guessing once upon a time they were instructed to do it for free and dealer absorbs the cost where as now it's free reign. I did actually assume it was free when i bought her as per E46 but if I bought a new one again once id settled on a deal I'd then hit them with throwing it in for free.

I wasnt told about the service pack otherwise id have taken it out, another one to remember lol

[Pig Skill]

It does surprise me how many people are actually saying it's a fair price!

Not sure how many are mechanically minded but to do that lot the OP stated would take any reasonably competent person around 2 hours absolute max.

£620? Feck me! I hope the service person wore a balaclava; its daylight robbery!

The sad thing is that you are left with little choice. A very large chunk of the buying market would want FBMWSH on an E90 M3.

I know dealerships have large overheads and have to cover them and turn a profit but it's a shame the people who buy BMW products have to finance the luxury environment in which they work.

[Carlton Banks]

I am surprised people pay for a service and then come on here proclaiming that they have been ripped off / or ask if it was a good deal?

I did my research when I owned m3's and did the same currently with my C63......

I don't mind paying to look after my car but getting the service guys to break down costs in a granular fashion generally means you can assess what it is you are paying for.

Take for example, my merc service B consisted of £160 worth of oil.

I challenged this as I can purchase 8 litres of the same Mobil 1 for £47 through the trade! It does seem slightly 'tight' to save this on the service but it meant the service invoice from Merc was £160 less than others.

Never let them fob you off but do it in such a way that you don't look like a total clueless cheapskate.

[Jarrod]

Two things, my car (2011) does indicate brake fluid change until 2014 so now three years.

Also had my running in service last week but had a call today to say they want the car back to change the gearbox oil (whch I understood they only did on the manual) but they have checked and say its needed so it will be interesting to see if anyone else has their's changed.

[ryandoc]

Jarrod said:

Two things, my car (2011) does indicate brake fluid change until 2014 so now three years.

Also had my running in service last week but had a call today to say they want the car back to change the gearbox oil (whch I understood they only did on the manual) but they have checked and say its needed so it will be interesting to see if anyone else has their's changed.

This is exactly what was done to mine

1208 Miles - Running in service - £455.19
Running in check
Intake silencer service
Engine oil service
Manual gearbox and final drive unit service

[HammyHamster]

Carlton Banks said:

I am surprised people pay for a service and then come on here proclaiming that they have been ripped off / or ask if it was a good deal?

I did my research when I owned m3's and did the same currently with my C63......

I agree, which is why I paid £1000 for 5 years servicing. Incidentally, you can add the 5 year service pack at any point up to the first service for £1785.

Jarrod said:

Two things, my car (2011) does indicate brake fluid change until 2014 so now three years.

Also had my running in service last week but had a call today to say they want the car back to change the gearbox oil (whch I understood they only did on the manual) but they have checked and say its needed so it will be interesting to see if anyone else has their's changed.

Either iDrive is lying or BMW's Condition Based Service schedule is wrong, as it states replacing brake fluid every 2 years.

Also, I hate it when dealers "forget" to do things in the service - now you have to go back and waste your time due to their incompetence. I had the same thing with my service. If they're going to charge top dollar, they should give top service.

No-one should have to pay for the running-in service either. Get this thrown into the deal or walk away.

ETA: I just realised, if you're car is has the DCT gearbox, DCT gearboxes are lubricated for life and fluid MUST NOT be changed!

Edited by HammyHamster on Tuesday 6th December 23:04