Inspection I service
Inspection I service
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ipsg.glf

Original Poster:

1,590 posts

247 months

Friday 26th October 2007
quotequote all
Had my 330d in for a service recently with a local specialist.

Breakdown of bill is as follows:

2.5 hours labour at 42 per hour
1 oil filter at 4.81
1 air filter at 17.84
1 fuel filter at 28.83
1 cabin filter at 14.73
7 litres of oil at 6.25 per litre
1 engine flush at 10.00
1 fuel system cleaner at 10.00
1 brake fluid change 20.00

Total incl. VAT was coppers short of £300.

I phoned my local dealer to be told their cost would be £295, and another local specialist would be £140 - £160.

I'm just trying to get a handle on whether the 'extras' are to be expected and/or reasonable or whether I am being taken for a mug.

8Tech

2,211 posts

227 months

Friday 26th October 2007
quotequote all
ipsg.glf said:
Had my 330d in for a service recently with a local specialist.

Breakdown of bill is as follows:

2.5 hours labour at 42 per hour
1 oil filter at 4.81
1 air filter at 17.84
1 fuel filter at 28.83
1 cabin filter at 14.73
7 litres of oil at 6.25 per litre
1 engine flush at 10.00
1 fuel system cleaner at 10.00
1 brake fluid change 20.00

Total incl. VAT was coppers short of £300.

I phoned my local dealer to be told their cost would be £295, and another local specialist would be £140 - £160.

I'm just trying to get a handle on whether the 'extras' are to be expected and/or reasonable or whether I am being taken for a mug.
Hello Mate,

We need to go through this carefully so you can make your own informed reply to yourself. I have no axe to grind so here are the facts.

An Inspection 1 on a 330d GOING BY THE BOOK includes just oil, oil filter and cabin filter. The labour time for this is 1.25 hours. THIS is what you would have got for your £295 at the dealer AND THIS ONLY.

HOWEVER.... every 24 months you should have the brake fluid changed, AT EXTRA CHARGE of 0.6 hrs plus fluid. and every 48 months the coolant should be changed at EXTRA CHARGE of 1.0 hrs plus coolant.

So, did your independant do too much unnecessary work to your car, was he extra thorough and did an Inspection 2, or has he shafted you?

In my opinion, he has done you a good service, maybe doing slightly more than absolutely necessary but at a reasonable cost, and my only qualm would be the engine flush and fuel system cleaner, but if your service was overdue, or the oil looked really bad then the oil flush was reasonable too.
Labour and parts costs are reasonable provided he used top quality oil. He hasn't even charged for screenwash and consumables which is rare, but good.
Accept you have cleaner filters than you had before and next service, remind him what he did last time so he doesn't over-service it accidentally again.

M3Kevin

229 posts

227 months

Sunday 28th October 2007
quotequote all
yes i agree thats good service price As for the dealer dont forget they charge nearly £100 per hour, so i dont think you will get alot for your money a oil and filter change if you are lucky.

ipsg.glf

Original Poster:

1,590 posts

247 months

Sunday 28th October 2007
quotequote all
Thanks, Gents, I am now suitably reassured.