Blimey - stealer prices!!!
Discussion
Apologies in advance if this is a repost...
Looking to get a service for my E60 M5 - condition based from the computer so I know exactly whats needed, i.e. rear pads, brake fluid change and oil service. I've always price checked dealerships with all my cars and never really had a problem - the odd £20 or £30 cheaper but petrol and travel time makes it not worth it.
Local BMW dealers within 20 miles of Basingstoke quoted me prices from the most expensive at £670 and the cheapest at £331... Most were around the £500 mark
On the basis that BMW issue strict servicing guidelines with hours and materials per job; how the f
are they so different?! I'm fairly certain that a mechanic in say Reading is not paid twice as much as a mechanic living near... lets say Taplow. 
Rear discs (if needed) also quoted at £360 from one and £765 from another...?!
I double-checked with all and they were each fully inclusive of labour and parts and included VAT.
I've had Jags, Lexus, Ford, Renault (never again!), Subaru, TVR, etc etc and never seen main dealer pricing varying by 25%, let alone 100%!!
Looking to get a service for my E60 M5 - condition based from the computer so I know exactly whats needed, i.e. rear pads, brake fluid change and oil service. I've always price checked dealerships with all my cars and never really had a problem - the odd £20 or £30 cheaper but petrol and travel time makes it not worth it.
Local BMW dealers within 20 miles of Basingstoke quoted me prices from the most expensive at £670 and the cheapest at £331... Most were around the £500 mark
On the basis that BMW issue strict servicing guidelines with hours and materials per job; how the f
are they so different?! I'm fairly certain that a mechanic in say Reading is not paid twice as much as a mechanic living near... lets say Taplow. Rear discs (if needed) also quoted at £360 from one and £765 from another...?!
I double-checked with all and they were each fully inclusive of labour and parts and included VAT.
I've had Jags, Lexus, Ford, Renault (never again!), Subaru, TVR, etc etc and never seen main dealer pricing varying by 25%, let alone 100%!!
Edited by john_r on Tuesday 9th October 11:41
Yup, I've found some dealers in 'better' areas charging less than those is 'worse' areas.
I've also had "quotes for everything, totally inclusive" only to be presented with a larger bill at the end because "That's extra sir!".
My average 'service' (not including oil services of course) at my local dealer was always close to £1000 - no matter what the quote was.
Of course, other things needed fixing, and they were never covered by the warranty. It was only once I refused to extend the warranty further because I complained that "nothing that went wrong was covered, so it was useless" that they asked to name some things I'd had done over the last couple of years - only to be told that they are covered on the warranty and should have been sorted for free!!!!! I did ask about a refund, but was told there was no chance of getting anything back.
The only reason I would go to a dealer now is if I bought a new car and had a maintenance agreement on it. I don't trust their 'replace parts until it's fixed' approach, and I don't think their 'technicians/fitters' know the first thing about repairing vehicles - they simple go by what the computer says!
I've also had "quotes for everything, totally inclusive" only to be presented with a larger bill at the end because "That's extra sir!".
My average 'service' (not including oil services of course) at my local dealer was always close to £1000 - no matter what the quote was.
Of course, other things needed fixing, and they were never covered by the warranty. It was only once I refused to extend the warranty further because I complained that "nothing that went wrong was covered, so it was useless" that they asked to name some things I'd had done over the last couple of years - only to be told that they are covered on the warranty and should have been sorted for free!!!!! I did ask about a refund, but was told there was no chance of getting anything back.
The only reason I would go to a dealer now is if I bought a new car and had a maintenance agreement on it. I don't trust their 'replace parts until it's fixed' approach, and I don't think their 'technicians/fitters' know the first thing about repairing vehicles - they simple go by what the computer says!
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