How do main dealers justify service costs?
Discussion
My new 5 series needs a full service, so inspection, filters, oil.
The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
I know of some buying the oils themselves and getting BMW to change them that way. Not sure on the parts too as they'd all have to be genuine. It's a thought that's occurred to me as I'm thinking of going into BMW ownership again (M235i). Had a Z4M once and the local dealer quoted me a grand for disks, pads and sensors all round. Could get them online and do it myself or at a local indy for a fraction
benjijames28 said:
My new 5 series needs a full service, so inspection, filters, oil.
The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
Why do you have to use them, as part of your warranty agreement?The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
I've been told, here, and by BMW it's only a VAT registered garage and BMW parts necessary to meet the warranty.
if you are using main dealers, have you checked BMW's "official" price-list, twice my dealer was charging me more, so I brought the price down. On those occasions they were on par with my Indy, but for the last one they were a fortune more. so I went indy :0
https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/
benjijames28 said:
My new 5 series
I guess you mean it's new to you?I suppose most people will have Service Inclusive, which used to cover 5 years but is now only 3. After that BMW moves to fixed price servicing - as another poster said, check the website, it might be cheaper.
Of course you're not just paying for the mechanic and bit of oil - you're covering a lot of the costs of running a glass palace dealership. The surveys they do tell them that customers want this.
Sheepshanks said:
I guess you mean it's new to you?
I suppose most people will have Service Inclusive, which used to cover 5 years but is now only 3. After that BMW moves to fixed price servicing - as another poster said, check the website, it might be cheaper.
Of course you're not just paying for the mechanic and bit of oil - you're covering a lot of the costs of running a glass palace dealership. The surveys they do tell them that customers want this.
Yeah I understand that.I suppose most people will have Service Inclusive, which used to cover 5 years but is now only 3. After that BMW moves to fixed price servicing - as another poster said, check the website, it might be cheaper.
Of course you're not just paying for the mechanic and bit of oil - you're covering a lot of the costs of running a glass palace dealership. The surveys they do tell them that customers want this.
It's 6 years old, done 56k.
My new plan is to play the 3 main dealers with easy reach of me against each other on price. I'm sure I can get it my official stamp for less than 552 pounds.
benjijames28 said:
Yeah I understand that.
It's 6 years old, done 56k.
It should need only a basic oil service then, not the big £500 one. They are every other service which it would have had at about 35-45k. So presumably this is your third service.It's 6 years old, done 56k.
The pain with the basic service is the Microfilters add another £130 to the cost of the service. Very frustrating. Sometimes you can get them to not do the microfilters but every dealer has a different view over whether they are 'essential'. I don't understand why the BMW Service website quotes for an oil service without mirofilters if they are 'essential'.
It may not have had the air and fuel filters changed at the last service, pretty common when customers say they're selling the car and only want a basic service etc
Oil service will be listed as separate perhaps as you can have this done more often but not need the microfilter that often.
BMW have a deal on brakes right now, only for certain models but more than you'd first expect, also servicing costs can be discussed.
It's daft to rely on other garages sometimes if expecting the best parts or work, many don't know what to check, and will use the cheapest parts they can find. For genuine parts, they will get a trade discount on these, and could easily pass this or some of it onto you, but why not just buy them yourself from the dealer and take them to the indy if that's what you've decided you're going to do. Only a thought, but pretty certain they won't use them unless you do ask.
Oil service will be listed as separate perhaps as you can have this done more often but not need the microfilter that often.
BMW have a deal on brakes right now, only for certain models but more than you'd first expect, also servicing costs can be discussed.
It's daft to rely on other garages sometimes if expecting the best parts or work, many don't know what to check, and will use the cheapest parts they can find. For genuine parts, they will get a trade discount on these, and could easily pass this or some of it onto you, but why not just buy them yourself from the dealer and take them to the indy if that's what you've decided you're going to do. Only a thought, but pretty certain they won't use them unless you do ask.
benjijames28 said:
My new 5 series needs a full service, so inspection, filters, oil.
The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
No No you don't need to have your car serviced by them to honour the warranty. What did the EU ever do for you - this is one thing.The price for a basic oil change...140 pounds
The price for oil change plus a few filters... 552 pounds
Ok on the latter they do an inspection and charge you twenty quid for resetting the service light, but I don't see the microfilter, diesel filter, engine air filter costing hundreds of pounds plus that much labour.
It's only a 2 litre engine! I asked the woman at the dealer about the steep jump in price and she said it's 5 series the part costs more than a 1 series, even tho it's the same engine!
Now your going to say, everyone knows dealers rip you off, but why are you using them? Answer to that is because I have to as part of my warranty agreement.
Got you by the balls!
I'm gonna call them and ask for a discount.
Filters, oil etc have to be approved by BMW (they don't even need to be BMW).
4 filters at our place, using approved stuff normally comes in around £200 including resetting the service light, and stamping the book.
I bought a pre-reg 123d in 2008.
Then bought the Service Pack for £660 (back when it had a 60K mileage limit) so got 3 services and 2 brake fluid changes for that - looks like one decision I got right!
All done at my local Sytner - but now my BMWs are older I use a local BMW indy who is Ex-Sytner anyway, but half the price!
Then bought the Service Pack for £660 (back when it had a 60K mileage limit) so got 3 services and 2 brake fluid changes for that - looks like one decision I got right!
All done at my local Sytner - but now my BMWs are older I use a local BMW indy who is Ex-Sytner anyway, but half the price!
hyphen said:
According to some comments I have seen on here before, there are some people for whom getting a smile from a pretty receptionist and 'proper coffee' make it an experience worth paying for.
I'm amazed how these people have money.I imagine if they didn't fall for such rubbish they would have a considerable amount more!
hyphen said:
According to some comments I have seen on here before, there are some people for whom getting a smile from a pretty receptionist and 'proper coffee' make it an experience worth paying for.
I've commented on the coffee thing before - I just don't get it, people say it as if it's a rare treat, reserved only for the most honoured guests.I'm taking my M135 in for it's first service in a couple of weeks.
One dealer quoted £325 and wouldn't let me provide my own oil.
Another dealer 15 miles away quoted £298, or £170 if I provide my own oil.
I think I know who I'm going with. Still, £170 seems expensive for what is labour for an oil and filter change!
One dealer quoted £325 and wouldn't let me provide my own oil.
Another dealer 15 miles away quoted £298, or £170 if I provide my own oil.
I think I know who I'm going with. Still, £170 seems expensive for what is labour for an oil and filter change!
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