Main dealer pulling a fast one - Help required with quote

[aero93]

Hi guys,

I wonder if one of you could help me out?

I took my X5 (2001, face lift) to the main dealer as the message "Check brake linings" appeared on the console. Whilst the car was there they decided to have a look around for extra work I guess and then provided a quote for £2,147 including a number of other items that I was not aware needed doing. I felt at this point they were probably taking advantage so I thanked them for their quote and said I would get back to them. The problem is I have no idea about car maintenance and what is a fair price to pay and what is essential vs nice to get done...

However, I have now decided to take it to an independent. Can anyone help me out and have a look over the quote and let me know roughly a ball park what I should be paying and how urgent the bits are if I email or fax it across.

Willing to make a donation via paypal or bank transfer for your time.

Cheers

[B'stard Child]

aero93 said:

Hi guys,

I wonder if one of you could help me out?

I took my X5 (2001, face lift) to the main dealer as the message "Check brake linings" appeared on the console. Whilst the car was there they decided to have a look around for extra work I guess and then provided a quote for £2,147 including a number of other items that I was not aware needed doing. I felt at this point they were probably taking advantage so I thanked them for their quote and said I would get back to them. The problem is I have no idea about car maintenance and what is a fair price to pay and what is essential vs nice to get done...

However, I have now decided to take it to an independent. Can anyone help me out and have a look over the quote and let me know roughly a ball park what I should be paying and how urgent the bits are if I email or fax it across.

Willing to make a donation via paypal or bank transfer for your time.

Cheers

Why not fax it to an independant and ask for a quote?

[blank]

If you post it up on here as a picture or something I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions without having to donate anyone any money!

[aero93]

B'stard Child said:

Why not fax it to an independant and ask for a quote?

Because it also has the prices quoted on there and I would rather be better informed when I go into battle with the independent rather than just accept their quote cause they have under cut the main dealer by a tenner here and there etc..

[edo]

Post it up here (blank out your personal details if there).

Whilst we cant tell you if they need doing, we can at least tell you if the prices seem right.

I'd take it to a good indi - don't mention the BMW dealer, and see what they come up with.

[D1bram]

aero93 said:

Because it also has the prices quoted on there and I would rather be better informed when I go into battle with the independent rather than just accept their quote cause they have under cut the main dealer by a tenner here and there etc..

Well just re-type it?

Took my old Astra into a main dealer the other week to have an emissions lights diagnosed.

They also came back with a comedy list of faults, most of which were plain fiction;

Wipers need replacing (they're brand new)
Oil at bottom of dipstick (er,,, no, it's midway)
Coil spring broken (it certainly is not)
the list goes on!

Fortunately I know my way around a car, but I do wonder how many people are taken advantage of this way.

Oh, and they failed to diagnose the fault I took it in to be looked at...

[Deva Link]

aero93 said:

X5 (2001, ... a quote for £2,147

The problem is I have no idea about car maintenance

What planet are these people on - do they seriously expect that someone with a 10yr old is just going say, "fair enough, crack on"?

With your knowledge and a car like that you really need a recommendation for a good indie, and quick.

D1bram said:

Wipers need replacing (they're brand new)
Oil at bottom of dipstick (er,,, no, it's midway)
Coil spring broken (it certainly is not)

A lot of this type of work is a matter of opinion (such as worn pads and discs) but how do they get away with factually incorrect stuff like that - it's attempted deception, surely?

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 20th June 23:24

[B'stard Child]

aero93 said:

Because it also has the prices quoted on there and I would rather be better informed when I go into battle with the independent rather than just accept their quote cause they have under cut the main dealer by a tenner here and there etc..

Ever heard of tip-ex

[Rich_W]

Get the pads (and maybe discs) done. (The warning light)

Leave everything else. See what it fails on at MOT time

[D1bram]

Deva Link said:

A lot of this type of work is a matter of opinion (such as worn pads and discs) but how do they get away with factually incorrect stuff like that - it's attempted deception, surely?

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 20th June 23:08

Best bit was a 'red' advisory that the cambelt required replaced within the next 60k miles. It's dues every 100k, my car had one at 110k and is now on 145k. IF my car makes it to 200k I will worry about it then... in 4 years time lol.

I think in my case they hoped I'd sack it off and pop next door for a new one.

[Rouleur]

OP - why not just pop a thread in the BMW sub-forum asking for recommendations of decent indies in your area, then fax/email them the list to quote on. Or take the car for them to have a look at.

It's very simple really.

[GBB]

I'd take it to an Indie and ask their opinion without mentioning the dealer list.

A good indie will only do what's needed and charge a standard hourly rate and parts mark up.

That's how they get recommendations, you'd not recommend somebody who charged you more than the next person just because you had a high dealer quote.

Many BMW indies are ex-main dealer Tech's who know their stuff - i use M-Tek in Northampton, who've proved invaluable to me on a few occasions and saved me a fortune (I like to get everything done that's needed and done properly but not things that aren't).

[aero93]

Sorry guys I have been pretty sick the last couple of weeks and haven't had a chance to scan the quote or do anything about getting the stuff done on the car.

I have now scanned the quote if anyone can give it a look over for me and let me know what is critical and a reasonable price for the bits quoted before I find an independent.

Thanks for all help so far..

[Big_Dog]

If it helps any, I had a 4 wheel laser alignment at a tyre specialist and they had to unsieze the track rod ends. Cost me £57.00 Cant remember if that included VAT.
I am in West London.
I have a 2002 petrol X5.

[edo]

To me, it looks like a neglected car that the previous owner never kept on top of anything/did things on the cheap (non BMW parts).

No single item apart from the rear brakes seems that expensive. No items are life threatening, but I'd be doing most of them if it were mine, even if over time.

[otherman]

D1bram said:

Best bit was a 'red' advisory that the cambelt required replaced within the next 60k miles.

Ridiculous in the extreme. Many cars have an interval of 60k, so they'd be advisory all the time, presumably meaning you should change your cam belt every day.

[jason s4]

£30 to replace a rear number plate bulb!!!

[soad]

jason s4 said:

£30 to replace a rear number plate bulb!!!

Stealership price, expect nothing less

[rhinochopig]

soad said:

jason s4 said:

£30 to replace a rear number plate bulb!!!

Stealership price, expect nothing less

Up here in Yorkshire you could hire a cab for a year to follow you around shining a torch at your numberplate for that price.

[E30M3SE]

Take the car to a good independent, post up in the BMW section with the area you're in, someone will be able to recommend one.

Looking at the list OK rear discs and pads maybe low, but are they rcommending changing the fronts just because they're non BMW parts...............

2x calliper bolt guides due to being contaminated with grease £104.........

£41.40 to steam clean engine by the oil filler cap..............

Edited by E30M3SE on Sunday 17th July 15:10

Edited by E30M3SE on Sunday 17th July 15:13