Service dilema

[surveyor]

Car is a 2007 520d SE, 132K. Needs an Oil Change. So far has full BMW SH - I'm looking to sell soon.

DO I

a) Dealer Service - £125 + VAT - 3 hours out of my day as local dealer is daft.
b) National Tyres - £50 ish. Premium BMW grade oil. It's an oil change what can go wrong?

While not a massive difference due to Natwest debacle, my account is showing debits only, and no credits as yet. Hence looking to minimise debits.

Suggestions welcome, particularly as to whether the full dealer history is essential.

[falkster]

3. A good BMW specialist would be my choice.

[surveyor]

forgot about that. it is an option.

[PlayersNo6]

If you're planning on getting rid soon, for the sake of £100 I would keep the full BMW SH. You should recoup it.

a) It will make the car more sale-able to a private punter
b) Less chance of a lower p/x value from a dealer
c) It 'indicates' good ownership on your part

[Fox-]

surveyor said:

Car is a 2007 520d SE, 132K. Needs an Oil Change.

It actually doesn't - there is a bit more done than just the oil so it isn't a simple oil and filter change unfortunately (Though it isn't a huge amount more than just that!). Therefore despite the obviously poorer value offered by the dealer it isn't quite like for like with the National deal and therefore isn't exactly conforming to the service schedule.

You are trying to sell soon and its reasonably high mileage so you'll need all the plus points you can get. Full BMW history - with the most recent service only just carried out - is a definite plus point.

You can get it down in price by suppling your own BMW Approved Oil. I did that once with Scothall BMW - they charged me £45 labour and I supplied the oil, which I obtained for about £50. A dealer should do an Oil Service under Fast Lane Service, so 1 hour or less not 3!

Edited by Fox- on Thursday 28th June 23:36

[sparks_E39]

I know you are not keeping the car so you may not care, but they won't use an OEM oil filter unless you supply it, which in my opinion won't do. You can get the oil service done for £130 at an indie I imagine, that's what I pay.

[surveyor]

I think your telling me what I knew, but did not want to hear...

Sadly my local BMW dealer is unable to give me a price without me digging out the chassis number. Personally I think that's ridicules, so its the dealer in Shorpe who I've used with previous BMW's.

[Fox-]

They'll probably decide it needs Microfilters as well at ££££

I dont think I've ever understood why BMW are so obsessed with changing microfilters every 34 seconds.

[carreauchompeur]

Definitely do it at the dealer, it's a great selling point to say "FSH" rather than "Full service history apart from the last one at an independent"... If it was an Insp.2 I'd maybe reconsider but luckily it's a cheapER one!