Best BMW Dealer North West

[DottyDog]

Hi - just bought a M4C. Back to BMW after a period of without. Could anybody tell me what dealers are best for servicing at the moment. Those local to me (Wilmslow) used to be terrible, but that was Pre HJ taking it over.

Any suggestion recommended. I’m going to use the stealers initially rather than independents - of which I couldn’t recommend enough BayMow near stepping hill.

So what BMW dealer should I use for servicing?

Thanks.

[mmm-five]

From past experience, I would avoid the main dealer in Liverpool. In fact out of principle, and experience of another in the W franchise, I simply avoid any of their servicing network).

Didn't have a good experience the few times I've tried HJ in Warrington either.

Of course, the W and HJ franchises may have sorted themselves out since I last used them, but I've given them enough chances in the past that I'm not even going to bother trying them again.

I'm in Liverpool, and use either Lloyds in Blackpool, or Knights in Stoke.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 28th January 21:29

[sam.rog]

Mine is a lease car so probably don’t get the full treatment.
Trafford park have been pleasant to deal with.

[mr sagman]

I was pretty impressed with Halliwell Jones in Chester, when my 340 needed a service, (When I required Main dealer work)... But have just had a service

done at an Indy in St Helens called Graham Martin, Run by an Ex Main dealer master technician with all the BMW diagnostics / software and was very

impressed with the service and price.

[BlueJ]

I have also just returned to the BMW fold after a few years away.

Historically I've always found W Stockport to be fine, but in my experience the customer service at HJ is poor.

Interesting feedback re BayMow - I work just around the corner. A car-nut friend of mine is on his 13th BMW and highly recommends BB Crewe - I've just picked up a used M5 so will be speaking to him about them before service time.

Once outside the main dealers, I previously had great service from Darren Wood in Bredbury - they're ex-BMW guys and Darren used to drive an X5 M50d.

[Kuroblack350]

Keeping an eye on this as I’ve also recently bought an M4. I’m a bit further North West, but I’ve had reasonable experience from Lloyd Blackpool and Lloyd Colne. Lloyd Blackpool looked after my E92 for the better part of ten years, and if you accept that for MoT’s in particular, they have a very black/white approach to it, the you know what to expect. In terms of extended warranty claims they were excellent.

The main Preston dealership is awful.

I’ll keep an eye on the North West Indy’s, keen to avoid as much M Tax as possible really

[dasbimmerowner]

I use HJ in Chester. There is no consistency to the quality of service. I've had dire service and great service from them, thankfully the dire service was some time ago now. One thing I will say is that all the bodywork stuff I've had done at HJ has been absolutely spot on first time, so if you need something like that doing I would recommend them.

[d_a_n1979]

Kuroblack350 said:

Keeping an eye on this as I’ve also recently bought an M4. I’m a bit further North West, but I’ve had reasonable experience from Lloyd Blackpool and Lloyd Colne. Lloyd Blackpool looked after my E92 for the better part of ten years, and if you accept that for MoT’s in particular, they have a very black/white approach to it, the you know what to expect. In terms of extended warranty claims they were excellent.

The main Preston dealership is awful.

I’ll keep an eye on the North West Indy’s, keen to avoid as much M Tax as possible really

Wow; couldn't have said this any better myself

Bowkers in Preston; absolute knobjockeys

Lloyds Colne & Blackpool; absolutely superb. So much so (I live in Preston); I took my previous Jap import E39 touring to Lloyds Colne to get the airbag recall done and they spent more time going over my car and asking me loads of questions over any other car in their garage that morning. Loads of BMW enthusiasts rather than just spanner monkeys

[Kuroblack350]

d_a_n1979 said:

Kuroblack350 said:

Keeping an eye on this as I’ve also recently bought an M4. I’m a bit further North West, but I’ve had reasonable experience from Lloyd Blackpool and Lloyd Colne. Lloyd Blackpool looked after my E92 for the better part of ten years, and if you accept that for MoT’s in particular, they have a very black/white approach to it, the you know what to expect. In terms of extended warranty claims they were excellent.

The main Preston dealership is awful.

I’ll keep an eye on the North West Indy’s, keen to avoid as much M Tax as possible really

Wow; couldn't have said this any better myself

Bowkers in Preston; absolute knobjockeys

Lloyds Colne & Blackpool; absolutely superb. So much so (I live in Preston); I took my previous Jap import E39 touring to Lloyds Colne to get the airbag recall done and they spent more time going over my car and asking me loads of questions over any other car in their garage that morning. Loads of BMW enthusiasts rather than just spanner monkeys

My first experience of Bowker, was when trying to buy a nearly new E92 330d. Spoke to a massively disinterested chap who eventually took me out for 5 minutes around the docks at 30mph… 30k purchase, 330d, five minutes. Couldn’t even be arsed to tell me the spec differences between the 330d and 325d. Went over to Lloyd’s, test drive a few back to back, then spent a load of money.

Infuriatingly I went back when searching for an M4, still crap

[SlowStig]

From past experience, I wouldn't use any dealership in the HJ group and would rather use a backstreet garage that only deals in cash than give the HJ lot the opportunity to balls up the most basic tasks ever again.

Wouldn't use the B groups either, Preston branch somehow didn't spot a missing bolt on my brake calliper (yet it was quite obviously missing on their "safety inspection" video they sent) and lied about it until they saw the video and still refused to acknowledge they had done anything wrong. stty attitude from them all round.
Blackburn dealership MINI was very good, BMW side were lacking product knowledge and when I spoke to their service dept, they acted like it was some embuggerance when I enquired about something.

Blackpool - Used to be ok, my dad uses them for his MINI servicing but I have my own personal reasons for not going after an unpleasant phone call with a member of their staff.

^ Some of these experiences were from quite a few years ago, so they may have changed since my last encounter.


South Lakes - These guys are fantastic, can't do enough to help, super friendly and really know their stuff about the cars they deal with. Used them for a few years and every time I have used them for parts or service they have been great. Even managed to source me a cruise control steering wheel loom for an R53 which didn't have cruise fitted from factory.

[jackh707]

Just had good service at W BMW at Trafford park.

Also great success with Hinds Heath Indy near Sandbach. Very knowledgable and honest, really difficult going back to Main dealer after using them.

[nattybuk]

Would avoid HJ Warrington, purchased a few cars from them no issues but service a joke.

Car came out looking like it was washed with a metal brush, even after I told them not to wash it.

I have taken my car to Rybrook Warwickshire, best service by far and worth the long trip. Treated really well, good prices and amazing courtesy cars.

Due to covid and not much travelling I take the car to W Liverpool, no issues. I know the service manager well so can’t complain.

[worsy]

Rybrook Shrewsbury has always been decent for me.