Worth getting a proper service

[torqueofthedevil]

My e46 330d seems to be in good nick but I have just been taking it to a local garage for oil and filter changes for the past few years. Do u think it'd be worth taking it to a good Indy I have used in the past and get a full service. Type 1 or 2? What are the important things they'd check / replace.

I like to keep well maintained cars but also not interested in paying out for unnecessary and expensive things.

Cheers

[58warren]

I think the service book includes a checklist of all the items to be inspected in an oil service, inspection 1 and inspection 2.

[Fox-]

torqueofthedevil said:

I like to keep well maintained cars

So why ignore the manufacturers service schedule

[torqueofthedevil]

They don't seem to really need that all the time

[BlitzE34]

Whats that supposed to mean?

[Magic919]

Probably about time it had new spark plugs and a timing belt replacement.

[phumy]

Magic919 said:

Probably about time it had new spark plugs and a timing belt replacement.

I think you will find there is a chain, no belt!!!

It might be worth changing the following, unless you have had them done recently: Water pump, thermostat, belts, hoses, fuel filter, tranny fluid, diff fluid, coolant, brake fluid flush, idler pulleys.

[Magic919]

phumy said:

Magic919 said:

Probably about time it had new spark plugs and a timing belt replacement.

I think you will find there is a chain, no belt!!!

I think you'll find there are no spark plugs.

[phumy]

Magic919 said:

phumy said:

Magic919 said:

Probably about time it had new spark plugs and a timing belt replacement.

I think you will find there is a chain, no belt!!!

I think you'll find there are no spark plugs.

Could be, they might be laying down the side of the engine near the gearbox

[mike325112]

phumy said:

Could be, they might be laying down the side of the engine near the gearbox

What would they be doing there? Having a party?

OP said:

330d

[phumy]

mike325112 said:

phumy said:

Could be, they might be laying down the side of the engine near the gearbox

What would they be doing there? Having a party?

OP said:

330d

Actually they could have been left there from when the previous owner could have done an engine swap from petrol to diesel, hence he now has a diesel and the PO forgot to remove the plugs from the engine bay.

[Patrick Bateman]

Fox- said:

So why ignore the manufacturers service schedule

In fairness, fk spending hundreds on a stamp saying 'inspection 1/2' just for someone to go about checking a few things, although we can't all know BMW mechanics I suppose...

[mike325112]

phumy said:

Actually they could have been left there from when the previous owner could have done an engine swap from petrol to diesel, hence he now has a diesel and the PO forgot to remove the plugs from the engine bay.

[E38Ross]

Patrick Bateman said:

Fox- said:

So why ignore the manufacturers service schedule

In fairness, fk spending hundreds on a stamp saying 'inspection 1/2' just for someone to go about checking a few things, although we can't all know BMW mechanics I suppose...

if you think an inspection 2 service is literally just a bloke going round saying "yeah, looks fine to me" you are much mistaken.

to the OP - yes, you should get an inspection 2 at a good indy. it'll cost about £300 plus anything else they pick up on.

[Fox-]

E38Ross said:

to the OP - yes, you should get an inspection 2 at a good indy. it'll cost about £300 plus anything else they pick up on.

Why pay an indy £300 for an Inspection 2 when BMW will do it for £329?

[E38Ross]

Fox- said:

E38Ross said:

to the OP - yes, you should get an inspection 2 at a good indy. it'll cost about £300 plus anything else they pick up on.

Why pay an indy £300 for an Inspection 2 when BMW will do it for £329?

Not sure about various prices but I was quoted 450 from bmw for the 7 series. Indy wanted 310 INCLUDING gearbox oil and filter change. Very well priced imo.

[Fox-]

E38Ross said:

Not sure about various prices but I was quoted 450 from bmw for the 7 series.

Thats a 7 Series. This thread is about a 3 Series.

BMW operate Value Service pricing for the 3 Series. An Inspection 2 on a 6 cylinder E46 is £329 inc VAT at BMW.

[The Aardvark]

Fox- said:

Why pay an indy £300 for an Inspection 2 when BMW will do it for £329?

Why not? My local Indy was 18 years main dealer trained and has proved far easier to build a relationship with than both my nearest main dealers. The Indy will rely far more on providing a decent level of customer service and knows that a decent job done will likely mean that you spread the word. Also far less likely to get a junior technician working on your car (although I appreciate that everyone has to start somewhere).

I think its easy to get too carried away with having the main dealer stamps in the service book.

[E38Ross]

The Aardvark said:

Fox- said:

Why pay an indy £300 for an Inspection 2 when BMW will do it for £329?

Why not? My local Indy was 18 years main dealer trained and has proved far easier to build a relationship with than both my nearest main dealers. The Indy will rely far more on providing a decent level of customer service and knows that a decent job done will likely mean that you spread the word. Also far less likely to get a junior technician working on your car (although I appreciate that everyone has to start somewhere).

I think its easy to get too carried away with having the main dealer stamps in the service book.

this. a decent indy is every bit as good, if not better, than a main dealer.

[Patrick Bateman]

E38Ross said:

if you think an inspection 2 service is literally just a bloke going round saying "yeah, looks fine to me" you are much mistaken.

to the OP - yes, you should get an inspection 2 at a good indy. it'll cost about £300 plus anything else they pick up on.

Obviously not but the bulk of it is very basic checks.