BMW Price Match on Service?

[max b]

I'd picked up previously that BMW dealers were price matching servicing costs to even independants.
Does anybody know if they are still offering this and any West Midlands dealerships that are participating?

Cheers
Max

[ferrisbueller]

Yes, they do.

Check your local dealers' websites.

[max b]

Great, just need to find a decent indi for the main dealer to price match.

Any recs for any west midlands BMW indi's?

[ferrisbueller]

max b said:

Great, just need to find a decent indi for the main dealer to price match.

Any recs for any west midlands BMW indi's?

Try the national Halford's autocentres. I was there last week getting an MOT (for 25 quid), their servicing prices, assuming like for like, were very keen!

[gjf764]

Last month I played BMW Warwick and Solihull off against each other to get £100 of the inspection one on my z4MC. Nothing official, I just asked them to better their prices

[Fun Bus]

And you'd prefer a main dealer over an indy why? If its quite a new Beemer fair enough but, I use a good Indy (I'll admit he's an acquaintance) and trust him more than my local main dealer. He does more than a YTS and a computer read out / service kit would.

[max b]

Fun Bus said:

And you'd prefer a main dealer over an indy why? If its quite a new Beemer fair enough but, I use a good Indy (I'll admit he's an acquaintance) and trust him more than my local main dealer. He does more than a YTS and a computer read out / service kit would.

Appreciate your thoughts mate and the job that independants do, but it's for the stamp and to keep warranty intact.

Will look into the halfords offerings.....which has also got me thinking of kwik fit

[Fun Bus]

Thought that would be it and totally get it. At 86k miles and 6 years old the Indy route suits my car better than it would yours.

[mike325112]

A former touring car drivers garage in Solihull will only match prices from BMW specialists and other dealers and they need a written quote! IIRC they will only pricematch indy's with the words BMW specialist in an advert.

Strangely other dealers are reluctant to given written quotes!

[ferrisbueller]

mike325112 said:

A former touring car drivers garage in Solihull will only match prices from BMW specialists and other dealers and they need a written quote! IIRC they will only pricematch indy's with the words BMW specialist in an advert.

Strangely other dealers are reluctant to given written quotes!

Fairly normal (other than the stipulating the word specialist). Check their Ts and Cs.

[ferrisbueller]

What service is it for?

[max b]

Was just for a basic Oil and Micro Filter change. Price matching has turned into a right palarva with BMW, more hassle than it's worth and some true colours shown by some of the midlands 'finest' BMW dealers!

I'm not a penny pincher, just begrudged to pay nearly £230 for a basic oil service whereby you can get a full Insp 2 from the dealers for £600, just doesn't quite add up!

[ferrisbueller]

£230 for the oil service is keen. As is £600 for the Insp.2

They're likely to be charging the thick end of £100 for the oil and labour will be nudging £100 an hour at the main dealer.......

I was quoted nearly £300 for an oil service.

[max b]

ferris, it's not for a M car, it's for my 123d I have at the moment, only requires 5.2 litres of oil, oil filter (£15) microfilter (£30), independants only want between 90 and 125 using all genuine bm parts and the correct castrol oil!

Got to be done at bm to keep the warranty and stamp in the book (I'm aware of the vat registered rule for independents) but after the hassle of trying to get them to price match, will just pays the monies and get it done!

Noticed your CS up for sale in the best colour, what's next?

[ferrisbueller]

max b said:

ferris, it's not for a M car, it's for my 123d I have at the moment, only requires 5.2 litres of oil, oil filter (£15) microfilter (£30), independants only want between 90 and 125 using all genuine bm parts and the correct castrol oil!

Got to be done at bm to keep the warranty and stamp in the book (I'm aware of the vat registered rule for independents) but after the hassle of trying to get them to price match, will just pays the monies and get it done!

Noticed your CS up for sale in the best colour, what's next?

Ah. Is it still under BMW warranty or AUC?

That's too much for a 123 service. Persevere with the indys. Like I said, try Halfords autocentres etc. I had to do a bit of work to get a price match quote but it was well worth it.

Not sure what's next. Move house and then we'll see.

[max b]

ferrisbueller said:

Ah. Is it still under BMW warranty or AUC?

That's too much for a 123 service. Persevere with the indys. Like I said, try Halfords autocentres etc. I had to do a bit of work to get a price match quote but it was well worth it.

Not sure what's next. Move house and then we'll see.

Still under warranty. Halfords was one of the ones I got a quote from £125 using bm parts, surprise surprise BMW couldn't match it, some crap about they are not BMW trained technicians and they're not budging, just a poor show considering they state on their website they will match prices. A shame all my local dealers are owned under the same chain!

Cheers

[ferrisbueller]

Is that written in their Ts and Cs? I've not seen that elsewhere.

[ferrisbueller]

Also ring BMW UK. IIRC block exemption ruling applies to manufacturer warranty, not AUC. So you could take it out of the network.

Also, you can travel 40 miles on a gallon of fuel. That brings a few other dealers in to play for not very much money!

[ferrisbueller]

I should also add that taking the car out of the dealer network might affect BMW's good will if you ever needed it.