M car servicing (e46) specialist?

[solidlad84]

Hi all, I recently took the plunge into M3 ownership. After many months of searching I ended up buying a facelift carbon black SMG coupe. Really excited to pick the car up in a couple of days but I am completely stuck with regards to getting it serviced! Ideally i'd like to find a good specialist who knows the cars particularly as I believe it would not only be cheaper than BMW dealers but possibly I believe a better job each time!

I am based in the West Midlands so them being fairly local would help, but im not expecting to find a specialist on my back door as well. If anyone has any suggestions for a place they have experience with i'd really love to hear it, and also any general advice about the car would be very much appreciated as its my first M car to date.

Thanks for any help guys and merry christmas to you all!

[mmm-five]

NCB Autokraft in Earlswood, or Autotech in Telford are usually the two names that pop up.

However, I've not tried either myself and don't want to risk changing (even if they are 100 miles closer), so have stayed with Darjac in Halsted (near Braintree).

[Muska]

Have a look at Autotechnic in Lutterworth. I have used them for a couple of years (I also own a carbon black smg coupe) Wes is a top chap and I've always completely trusted him with my cars.

BMW specialist and sees lots of M cars. He has a soft spot for the E46 M3 too.

[solidlad84]

Thanks, done a bit of reading into those suggestions and AutoTechnik in particular does seem to have quite a few favourable reviews! If I read it correctly then the prices seem a lot less than I thought they would be, just 350 for an inspection 1 is what I was seeing pop up a lot for AutoTechnik.

One more question that keeps popping up if anyone has any suggestions, does anyone know a particularly friendly dealer when it comes to checking the subframe for cracks? Theres about another 12 months until the car is past the 10 year old goodwill period and have read a lot of stories about how many dealers dont even know what exactly to look for as they havnt carried out that many checks or repairs.

[Baz Tench]

I go to Autokraft in Earlswood and highly recommend them.

They checked my car for cracks (luckily it was ok). They found them on a friends M3 though, which he had sorted afterwards at Redish in Bristol.

[solidlad84]

That's good to know as I'm in Solihull so Earlswood is only a 10 minute journey away. Do you happen to know roughly what they charge for the inspection services? Mine is due an inspection 1 in a few thousand miles, so that along with the subframe check or repair are the first things on my to do list.

Pick the car up tomorrow and I really can't wait to finally experience that amazing engine.

[Baz Tench]

I couldn't say to be honest. Mine went in for an oil service, but I got the impression that it got a good looking over at the same time. In all honesty, I don't think that they're 'that' much cheaper than the main dealers, but I trust their judgement far, far more.

Saying that, it went up on the ramps on a seperate visit to check for the cracks. I offered to pay for their time, but they waived it .

If you're coming on the B road from Solihull, turn left at the crossroads in Earlswood (by the Reservoir pub), carry on up that road, then I think it forks (from memory), take the road on the right, then turn right at the next T junction. He's about 300yds up on the left, behind some sort of garden nursery.

Enjoy your car!

[Baz Tench]

Actually, I shouldn't have said that as I've never used the main dealers.

Typing whilst hungover.......;). And that B road I mentioned is the one from Shirley.

[HerrSchnell]

Have used Noel at Autokraft for years as he's trustworthy, knowledgeable and a decent bloke to deal with.

Mine is going for Inspection II in the first week of the new year and he's quoted under £500. Admittedly that doesn't include valve adjustment as I had it done a few months back when Mr Vanos came to sort out the loose bolts & snapped oil pump actuator tab.

Vanos faults were diagnosed by Noel with a stethoscope after he noticed it sounded a bit off when I pulled into his place to pick up my wife's car.


ETA - Don't bother googling him, he has no web presence at all. his number is 01564 703434

Edited by HerrSchnell on Wednesday 26th December 12:43

[solidlad84]

Thanks a lot for the help. Sounds very reasonable being quoted under 500 for the inspection two. I picked the car up on Thursday and absolutely love it, however there are a couple of slight niggles I've noticed. Is the SMG always very jerky and slow when the car is cold? It doesn't seem to improve until the car has driven 4-5 miles and had a chance to fully warm up.

Also the parking sensors don't seem to work, probably my fault for overlooking it on the test drive. When I select reverse it beeps for around 2 seconds and then doesn't beep at all when getting close to objects, any ideas on that one?

[Baz Tench]

Can't advise on the SMG as mine is a manual.

My rear parking sensors play up as well, sometimes they work fine, other times they make a constant unbroken noise, as if I'm about to hit something. Totally random.

A mate who owns a body shop reckons it may have had a bit of paint in the past, and this affects the sensors, but I can find no evidence of this.

[FeelingLucky]

Painting over the sensors WILL affect them.
Even a thick film of grime will set them off.

Also, whilst washing, I inadvertently pushed pushed one in very slightly, this had them permanently beeping.

[solidlad84]

Yeh that's what I was thinking, most likely been damaged in the past by new paint or heavy handed washing techniques, just wasn't sure if for whatever reason the PDC needed to be activated.

The smg gearbox warning light actually did come on after a spirited drive on the first night as well, however the gear changes and general behaviour from the gearbox were exactly the same and as soon as I turned the engine off the light went off and hasn't come back since. Does this sound like something I should worry about or just put it down to temperamental electrics? Reading all sorts of horror stories on the Internet has got me a little paranoid to say the least! Thanks again guys

[solidlad84]

Gearbox light came on again today although the car still acted as normal, it went off when the engine was switched off. Any ideas what this could be? it's really baffling as the car drives perfectly fine.

[Baz Tench]

Dodgy sensor of some sort? If it drives fine, bite the bullet and have it checked out, if only for peace of mind.

[Muska]

MSG cars are known to be a little jerky from cold, nothing to worry about there.

Your cog should definitely be looked into. Read up on 'salmon relay' a cheap possible fix, I'd just hope it's not a pump!

It's worth joining M3cutters, there is a wealth of info on owning an M3 over there.

[Philrose]

I also use Noel at Autokraft. Good honest bloke you wont get done.
01564703434 if you want his number.

[Al 450]

I take mine to Autotech in Warwick, very knowledgeable and good courtesy cars available!

[BUG4LIFE]

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with any specialist you use mate, as I live near Solihull too.

I'd also like to know how you go about getting your subframe looked at, as this certainly seems like something to worry about before spending out on an E46 M3!

[solidlad84]

Yeh i'll definitely report back here with my experience of the garage. Ive been reading up on subframe horror stories and becoming even more paranoid after reading things like 'its not a case of if, but WHEN the subframe will fail on an e46' which is worrying if it happens when your car is outside the 10 year good will period! Dont fancy a 5k repair bill really. Other than that i'm really enjoying the car - the engine is so much fun! makes me glad I waited around for a good example and didn't rush into it.