Garage oil costs
Discussion
I have my car booked in to a local BMW independent specialist for an inspection service soon and an oil change. They are quoting £11 per litre plus vat for shell helix ultra oil that I can buy myself for 5 pounds a litre at Euro car parts. I have asked them to check if the price is correct and they say it is. I have no issue with a garage making a profit on things they sell to you but more than twice the price for the oil seems rather steep to me. Obviously there is then labour charge for the oil change which you would expect.
After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
Mr lestat said:
I have my car booked in to a local BMW independent specialist for an inspection service soon and an oil change. They are quoting £11 per litre plus vat for shell helix ultra oil that I can buy myself for 5 pounds a litre at Euro car parts. I have asked them to check if the price is correct and they say it is. I have no issue with a garage making a profit on things they sell to you but more than twice the price for the oil seems rather steep to me. Obviously there is then labour charge for the oil change which you would expect.
After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
Its how they make their money these days since theres little profit left in new cars to fund these big shiny showrooms.After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
Not sure what you can do? Would they let you supply your own oil?
Brainpox said:
If you don't like it don't pay it. These businesses can charge whatever they like and good on them if they profit from it.
No issue with anyone making a profit but I assume that they are buying their oil at trade so it will be less than I can buy it from eurocarparts, maybe £4.00 a litre then sell it for £12. I would never have considered looking at a main dealer until I saw the oil price. Mr lestat said:
I have my car booked in to a local BMW independent specialist for an inspection service soon and an oil change. They are quoting £11 per litre plus vat for shell helix ultra oil that I can buy myself for 5 pounds a litre at Euro car parts. I have asked them to check if the price is correct and they say it is. I have no issue with a garage making a profit on things they sell to you but more than twice the price for the oil seems rather steep to me. Obviously there is then labour charge for the oil change which you would expect.
After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
A lot of business sell products or services with 100%+ profit. By the time the cost of the product and cost of running the business is taken into account then the net profit is far less. After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
I bet you or your employer do the same. Would you or they reduce their costs?
If it's a fairly new car and you want to maintain the main dealer service history then you have little choice than to go to a dealership. Some are cheaper than others, so worth shopping around if there are different franchises in your local area.
For anything older, I always change the oil myself.
For anything older, I always change the oil myself.
Raygun said:
This getting your service book stamped is a carve-up imho. I understand it up to the manufacturers warranty runs out but after that just change the oil yourself, it's hardly rocket science.
Yes but it’s a very nice Z4 coupe so I want a proper stamp in the book. Main dealer or good indi is fine with me. It’s also resetting the service indicator as well OP said it was an independent specialist, not a main dealer. I once took my E36 for an Indy service, and supplied my own oil. I knew them well, they did not get all stroppy about it, and were quite happy to do that.
Shell Helix Ultra ECT C3 SAE 5W30 Car Motor Engine Oil is from £39 upwards for 5 litres.
Depends on which engine and specific oil you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=s...
Shell Helix Ultra ECT C3 SAE 5W30 Car Motor Engine Oil is from £39 upwards for 5 litres.
Depends on which engine and specific oil you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=s...
Mr lestat said:
I have my car booked in to a local BMW independent specialist for an inspection service soon and an oil change. They are quoting £11 per litre plus vat for shell helix ultra oil that I can buy myself for 5 pounds a litre at Euro car parts. I have asked them to check if the price is correct and they say it is. I have no issue with a garage making a profit on things they sell to you but more than twice the price for the oil seems rather steep to me. Obviously there is then labour charge for the oil change which you would expect.
After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
Have I misread this or missed the point?After ringing the local very expensive main dealer turns out they’re actually £40 cheaper than the independent specialist as it comes under a BMW service plan.
Opinions please. I’m seriously thinking of a sytner stamp in the book
If the main dealer is £40 cheaper then why not take it's straight there?
Pica-Pica said:
OP said it was an independent specialist, not a main dealer. I once took my E36 for an Indy service, and supplied my own oil. I knew them well, they did not get all stroppy about it, and were quite happy to do that.
Shell Helix Ultra ECT C3 SAE 5W30 Car Motor Engine Oil is from £39 upwards for 5 litres.
Depends on which engine and specific oil you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=s...
Think I paid £22 for 5L of Helix Ultra from eurocarspares about a fornight ago with one of them codes. I bought two 5L tubs of it and went and got my Purflux oil filter for £21 from eurospares, £65 to change the oil and filter on my Maserati. Shell Helix Ultra ECT C3 SAE 5W30 Car Motor Engine Oil is from £39 upwards for 5 litres.
Depends on which engine and specific oil you want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=s...
Just to add it was 5w40 Helix Ultra Fully.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 21st July 16:24
Just looked back at the Merc indie service my car had a couple of months ago and MB229.52 (which is the top MB spec) oil was £5 (+VAT) per litre.
I vividly remember getting a quote to take it to the dealer for its first service in 2005 and the oil was £12.95 plus VAT per litre - so near as dammit £100 for the 6.5 litres of oil. When I baulked at this, they said "bring your own" - and they knocked the full £100 off the price of the service. I was amazed they would just throw profit away like that.
I did notice that the VAG indie we use for daughters Golf has charged for 3.5, 4 and 4.5 litres of oil for the last three services. Capacity is 3.5L. Of course if it was a dealer I'd tear them a new one, but it's a bit more personal with your indie!
I vividly remember getting a quote to take it to the dealer for its first service in 2005 and the oil was £12.95 plus VAT per litre - so near as dammit £100 for the 6.5 litres of oil. When I baulked at this, they said "bring your own" - and they knocked the full £100 off the price of the service. I was amazed they would just throw profit away like that.
I did notice that the VAG indie we use for daughters Golf has charged for 3.5, 4 and 4.5 litres of oil for the last three services. Capacity is 3.5L. Of course if it was a dealer I'd tear them a new one, but it's a bit more personal with your indie!
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