Sytner price match servicing

[taylor86]

I have had my car a year now and inspection 2 is due in a month or two and am trying to source the best place to go so,

All BMW sytner garages are now offering to price match any servicing offer made by another BMW specialist


At Sytner an inspection 2 for an e46 330 is £319

A1BM specialists do it for £255

Motorworx do it for £260

Now with all offers there is a catch so heres the small print:

• We will only price match nonfranchised repairers who actively promote themselves as a BMW Specialist within the latest Yellow Pages. Quote from BMW Specialist or local BMW Dealer must be mentioned at time of booking. Offer may be withdrawn without notice. Quotes must include the use of Genuine BMW Parts.

Now the question is does anyone know a specialist that uses genuine parts etc and is cheaper so as we can all get the all important stamp in the book without paying through the extra for it?

[wobert]

I use Sytner in central Brum for the servicing on both my 120d & the missus's MINI Cooper S as they are close to work, will come and pick the car up, and have, in the 4 years I've owned the car been top notch, nothing is ever too much trouble.

Her car recently needed new front brake discs and pads. Phoned around several dealers. Rybrook Shrewsbury came out £35 cheaper than Sytner's, who were next best. I called Sytner's back, and they instantly agreed to match their competition.

They also price match for more routine stuff, like oil changes etc.

[mmm-five]

If an Inspection II is two hours labour, and the specialist's rate is £50/hour, that there should be an easy £140 difference between the dealer price and the specialist (i.e. £70/hour saving x 2 hours).

What I can never work out is that if a specialist's/indie's labour rate is so favourable and the job is 2 hours long, then how can the saving only be £50-£70.

I'd suggest that it's not only dealerships that are ripping customers off - or the independents are getting wise to people simply using them as a price-match source and raising the price accordingly.

[christer]

Why would independents raise prices for matching???they are there to get work.....that's an idiotic thoery imho

[stockhatcher]

mmm-five said:

If an Inspection II is two hours labour, and the specialist's rate is £50/hour, that there should be an easy £140 difference between the dealer price and the specialist (i.e. £70/hour saving x 2 hours).

What I can never work out is that if a specialist's/indie's labour rate is so favourable and the job is 2 hours long, then how can the saving only be £50-£70.

I'd suggest that it's not only dealerships that are ripping customers off - or the independents are getting wise to people simply using them as a price-match source and raising the price accordingly.

here's the thing gentleman. Specialist may or may not use non genuine parts. The better ones will almost certainly use OEQ parts, however, you , the retail punter will still pay near BMW RRP for those parts. Therefore you only save on the labour rate and maybe 10% on parts prices.

The reason the indies use non genuine is two fold, firstly it is due to parts delivery, a factor like GSF can deliver promptly ( with 45 mins) and as most indies do not plan their day this is more useful than a main dealers 2x per day delivery. The other reason is that main dealers generally will not discount the parts by more than 10%. Whereas GSF and the like will give the indies 30+% discount. Making it a compelling reason for the trade to use factors.

Other points to note, GSF et al have a habit of overstating the price of their parts in some cases they are more expensive than main dealer.

In order to get the best price from either indie or dealer I would

a) ring around
b) ask the indie for a quote using genuine parts
c) compare b with main dealer
d) supply the parts yourself, bearing in mind the potential discount you could get. For this you need to have some price knowledge, but as a rule of thumb, look at the RRP and then take 30% off and try to do a deal for that price.
e) if doing d, ask for a labour only quote at both main dealer, indie.

Stand you ground with the main dealer if they say they won't fit non dealer supplied parts, its utter bullst, and in any case you may have been able to get a deal from their parts dept anyway.
BMW's current trade/aftersales policy is his price match offer, it is designed to keep the business within its dealer network. Its a good idea but you need to be proactive to make it work. And I have to say that for a 10% difference in price I would go with the main dealer as ... its just a nicer experience, and i think there is something amusing about turning up to a main dealer in your 11 year old beemer. But if you like back street garages fill your boots.#

IMHO

[< FORZA WEST]

I stock and use BMW supplied (funnily enough Sytner) filters and Castrol oils. Also BMW made components (door locks,seals)

All other parts are genuine but sourced outside of the dealer network...Ie LuK Clutches, Valeo clutches, Suspesion arms, joints, bushes.

The reason for using all quality parts and genuine where I can is because I want to guaranty and dealer level of service and at a far better price.

Cant imagine Sytner price matching an E46 M3 inspection II service with tappet adjustment (£850 at Cotswold BMW) against my £439 all inclusive.

ps I dont advertise in the yellow pages