BMW Service Standard Pricing - Beware!

BMW Service Standard Pricing - Beware!

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Discussion

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

551 posts

145 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Just a heads up for those unaware of BMW's standard service pricing available on the main BMW web site ( https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/ ).

Both the BMW Main Dealers I regularly use have their own price list for servicing which seems to be about 15 to 30% more than that quoted by BMW via the above link (I've recently had oil, front brakes, rear brakes, and brake fluid done). Predictably I always get invoices for the higher dealer price and have to ask for it to be amended to the lower BMW quoted price prior to paying which usually involves reprinting the invoice. I do always point out that I want to pay the BMW quoted price when I book the car in for the service. They always honour the BMW price without question but if I were not aware of the BMW web site I'd overpay every time.

AAD44H

410 posts

158 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
pointedstarman said:
Just a heads up for those unaware of BMW's standard service pricing available on the main BMW web site ( https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/ ).

Both the BMW Main Dealers I regularly use have their own price list for servicing which seems to be about 15 to 30% more than that quoted by BMW via the above link (I've recently had oil, front brakes, rear brakes, and brake fluid done). Predictably I always get invoices for the higher dealer price and have to ask for it to be amended to the lower BMW quoted price prior to paying which usually involves reprinting the invoice. I do always point out that I want to pay the BMW quoted price when I book the car in for the service. They always honour the BMW price without question but if I were not aware of the BMW web site I'd overpay every time.
Do you have to put in all your details and get the dealer to contact you? It won't allow me just to see the prices on a 2014 car.

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

551 posts

145 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
AAD44H said:
Do you have to put in all your details and get the dealer to contact you? It won't allow me just to see the prices on a 2014 car.
I just put in my reg and mileage and I get a pricelist on the screen of all the service items the appear on the OBC.

Swervin_Mervin

4,429 posts

237 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Beware indeed! £411 official for oil and plugs on an E91 330i! Daylight robbery.

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

551 posts

145 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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Swervin_Mervin said:
Beware indeed! £411 official for oil and plugs on an E91 330i! Daylight robbery.
True. I recently had my microfilters done by an indy because BMW wanted over £100 labour to change a fuel, air and aircon microfilters which seemed steep. On the other hand my brake fluid change cost £81 vs c£70 by an indy and with BMW I got the car cleaned inside & out and a courtesy car so very happy. My message however is that when you do choose BMW make sure you get the right price!

Sheepshanks

32,522 posts

118 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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pointedstarman said:
True. I recently had my microfilters done by an indy because BMW wanted over £100 labour to change a fuel, air and aircon microfilters which seemed steep. On the other hand my brake fluid change cost £81 vs c£70 by an indy and with BMW I got the car cleaned inside & out and a courtesy car so very happy. My message however is that when you do choose BMW make sure you get the right price!
With BMWs do you go in separately to get each job done?

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

551 posts

145 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
With BMWs do you go in separately to get each job done?
I take it when the obc says something needs doing though it's likely I'll get the oil changed early. I don't work Mondays so its not a problem to make multiple visits plus I get to try a few of BMW's latest offerings smile

Sheepshanks

32,522 posts

118 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
pointedstarman said:
I take it when the obc says something needs doing though it's likely I'll get the oil changed early. I don't work Mondays so its not a problem to make multiple visits plus I get to try a few of BMW's latest offerings smile
Fair enough, but from the dealer's point of view that incredibly in-efficient.

No wonder BMW dealers always look busy!

Riggie

178 posts

124 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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This happened to me recently,the website quoted £265 for the service work and the SA at the dealer quoted £295! When I queried it she looked a bit puzzled and after looking up the website changed the quote to the web figure. I told her that is was a good job I had looked it up and she said they would have charged me the lower figure in any event! Yes right.......

Always worth checking before going to the stealers, as they will steal from you if they get the chance!

gazchap

1,523 posts

182 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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£222 for an oil service on a 650i. £568 for an oil service with plugs changed.

£346 for supply and fit of 8 spark plugs? That seems ludicrously high.

4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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gazchap said:
£222 for an oil service on a 650i. £568 for an oil service with plugs changed.

£346 for supply and fit of 8 spark plugs? That seems ludicrously high.
It's a top of the range, prestigious luxury car that cost £65K + when new, not a £12,995 Ford Fiesta.

BMW base their service pricing on the theory that if you can afford to spend £65K + on a car then you can afford £346 to supply and fit spark plugs.

It's a similar theory as to why Rolls Royce's, Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and such like cost even more to service than BMW's, they're not supposed to be cheap cars.

The fact that 650i's eventually become @ £10K cars doesn't alter BMW's service charge by that much.

Basically, expensive cars are expensive to service, it's not that hard to understand TBH.

TR4man

5,207 posts

173 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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^^^ Spot on.

Pentoman

4,814 posts

262 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
4rephill said:
It's a top of the range, prestigious luxury car that cost £65K + when new, not a £12,995 Ford Fiesta.

BMW base their service pricing on the theory that if you can afford to spend £65K + on a car then you can afford £346 to supply and fit spark plugs.

It's a similar theory as to why Rolls Royce's, Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and such like cost even more to service than BMW's, they're not supposed to be cheap cars.

The fact that 650i's eventually become @ £10K cars doesn't alter BMW's service charge by that much.

Basically, expensive cars are expensive to service, it's not that hard to understand TBH.
But that's exactly the point. Expensive care AREN'T expensive to service - not necessarily. But people are naive and think they are, so they pay it.

Like any business, I suppose.

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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4rephill said:
BMW base their service pricing on the theory that if you can afford to spend £65K + on a car then you can afford £346 to supply and fit spark plugs.
A spark plug is a spark plug and they are screwed in using a simple tool. There would be a cost difference if you specified something like irridium plugs but nothing can justify £346!

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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Phone round and get the best quote, the tell your dealer they have to match it, which they more than likely will.

Any time I've mentioned the value servicing prices online, they've managed to show a laminated sheet to confirm the prices.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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My only real bugbear with BMW service pricing is the damn microfilters. Replacing them at every single service seems completely overkill. It was annoying enough on the E39 when it added 50 quid to a service but for the F10 an Oil Service with no microfilters (Which is priced on the BMW site yet no dealer will ever do it, what the hell is that about?) is about £159 but add the microfilters and it's £284!!

Ian-bnbum

34 posts

106 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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Fox- said:
My only real bugbear with BMW service pricing is the damn microfilters. Replacing them at every single service seems completely overkill. It was annoying enough on the E39 when it added 50 quid to a service but for the F10 an Oil Service with no microfilters (Which is priced on the BMW site yet no dealer will ever do it, what the hell is that about?) is about £159 but add the microfilters and it's £284!!
I had the same problem when I took my E60 m5 in for an oil service they told me they always replace the microfilter on every service but I told them it was not due and I didn't want it changed he then told me if I didn't have it replaced they would note it the service book that I didn't have it changed when advised! The service adviser got funny with me and I had be very vocal with him before he relented.
They didn't change it or make a note in the service book and agree it is not needed to be replaced so often and it's just another way to relieve you of £100 +!

Ian-bnbum

34 posts

106 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Fox- said:
My only real bugbear with BMW service pricing is the damn microfilters. Replacing them at every single service seems completely overkill. It was annoying enough on the E39 when it added 50 quid to a service but for the F10 an Oil Service with no microfilters (Which is priced on the BMW site yet no dealer will ever do it, what the hell is that about?) is about £159 but add the microfilters and it's £284!!
I had the same problem when I took my E60 m5 in for an oil service they told me they always replace the microfilter on every service but I told them it was not due and I didn't want it changed he then told me if I didn't have it replaced they would note it the service book that I didn't have it changed when advised! The service adviser got funny with me and I had be very vocal with him before he relented.
They didn't change it or make a note in the service book and agree it is not needed to be replaced so often and it's just another way to relieve you of £100 +!

Swervin_Mervin

4,429 posts

237 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Independent specialist servicing ftw. Microfilters done when needed, not every service. And a £411 BMW priced oil and plugs change comes in at just £150 all in, with OEM bits.

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Swervin_Mervin said:
Independent specialist servicing ftw. Microfilters done when needed, not every service. And a £411 BMW priced oil and plugs change comes in at just £150 all in, with OEM bits.
What service costs £411 these days?

With the value servicing that BMW offer now, the big service for the 335i was just over £250. That includes plugs and filters.