E46 M3 Insp 1

[MiloD]

So I've been quoted £679 by a main dealer for my 2005 M3. I knew it was going to be chunk but that's taking the mick surely? Especially when an Insp 2 with valve clearances is only about £200 more??
I guess I'm asking for recommendation for a decent independent in the a as Kent area - Munich Legends spring to mind, anyone else?

[E30M3SE]

Valve clearances are carried out on Inspection I as well as an Inspection II.

[madmover]

Seems about right for a main dealer service. If you feel hard done by, call a few specialists locally and get their quotes...

End of the day, whilst the cost of the car may depreciate considerably over time, the servicing costs often remain very similar...

[MiloD]

E30M3SE said:

Valve clearances are carried out on Inspection I as well as an Inspection II.

That's news to me!

[BenGismo]

The BMW checklist has valve clearances to be checked at inspection 1 and 2 but most dealers wont touch it until inspection 2.
http://www.linquist.net/system/files/Service_Check...

Additional items for inspection 2 are:

Replace spark plugs.
Replace transmission fluid.
Replace differential oil.

Find a good local independant BMW specialist. Should be able to shave £200+ off that price.

[MiloD]

Does anyone have recent feedback on ETA Motorsport in Brands Hatch?

[mr sagman]

E30M3SE said:

Valve clearances are carried out on Inspection I as well as an Inspection II.

That is simply not true.

[MOTK]

mr sagman said:

That is simply not true.

Why write that when you're simply wrong and couldn't be bothered to check?

Inspection 2 service items for M3 e46 --- http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/publicPools/disclaimerP...

Inspection 1 service items for M3 e46 --- http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/publicPools/disclaimerP...

[Stone Cold]

mr sagman said:

E30M3SE said:

Valve clearances are carried out on Inspection I as well as an Inspection II.

That is simply not true.

Yes IT IS TRUE from someone whose just had it done as BMW needed to keep it an extra day as not cold enough to check. I know this is a forum and people have differing opinions but stating utter bks pisses me off

[MOTK]

mr sagman said:

That is simply not true.

I'd assumed you didn't have an m3 hence some explanation for the post, but then I've just checked your 'garage'! Who the hell services your CSL?

[Bradders901]

ETA have a great rep on m3cutters.

I'm due an Inspection 1 - I'm going to Redish, and they definitely check valve clearances on an inspection 1 (and 2).

Don't pay main dealer prices.

Cheers

[Type R Tom]

Just had an inspection 2 on mine for £550 from https://m.facebook.com/Scotts-Performance-Cars-413... in Dartford. Happy with the service I received and they gave the car a good looking over. They even have a free loan car if you need one. Drop them an FB message, they come back to you quickly.

[mr sagman]

My apologies guys I stand corrected.. I was given some information that was obviously incorrect.. Note to self before posting check check and check again.

[John Laverick]

MiloD said:

So I've been quoted £679 by a main dealer for my 2005 M3. I knew it was going to be chunk but that's taking the mick surely? Especially when an Insp 2 with valve clearances is only about £200 more??
I guess I'm asking for recommendation for a decent independent in the a as Kent area - Munich Legends spring to mind, anyone else?

That's roughly what I paid for my Inspection 1 (including valve clearances at BMW), I researched specialists who quoted £250-300 but when I pushed them it turns out they weren't doing the valve clearances. They quoted circa. £500 to included clearances.

For circa. £200 BMW would collect the car, leave a courtesy car, deliver mine back washed and hoovered and maintain the FBMWSH. It's worth it to me.

[CornishRob]

John Laverick said:

That's roughly what I paid for my Inspection 1 (including valve clearances at BMW), I researched specialists who quoted £250-300 but when I pushed them it turns out they weren't doing the valve clearances. They quoted circa. £500 to included clearances.

For circa. £200 BMW would collect the car, leave a courtesy car, deliver mine back washed and hoovered and maintain the FBMWSH. It's worth it to me.

I would rather have my car serviced properly by someone who knows what they are doing, rather than the BMW apprentice working on the old 3 series and not doing it properly. I assume BMW have been providing all your valve clearance specs etc and actually doing the shimming?

FBMWSH would probably be a put off for me on a older car like an M3 over one of the few M power specialists, but i suppose everyone is different. I took my car out of the BMW dealer network after i found them useless. Specialists are not really any cheaper, but i believe they will do a better job.

[SPORTSTER]

John Laverick said:

That's roughly what I paid for my Inspection 1 (including valve clearances at BMW), I researched specialists who quoted £250-300 but when I pushed them it turns out they weren't doing the valve clearances. They quoted circa. £500 to included clearances.

For circa. £200 BMW would collect the car, leave a courtesy car, deliver mine back washed and hoovered and maintain the FBMWSH. It's worth it to me.

Hope it was collected the day before,as you are aware the car has to be stone cold in order to work on the valves tappet adjustment

[John Laverick]

CornishRob said:

I would rather have my car serviced properly by someone who knows what they are doing, rather than the BMW apprentice working on the old 3 series and not doing it properly. I assume BMW have been providing all your valve clearance specs etc and actually doing the shimming?

FBMWSH would probably be a put off for me on a older car like an M3 over one of the few M power specialists, but i suppose everyone is different. I took my car out of the BMW dealer network after i found them useless. Specialists are not really any cheaper, but i believe they will do a better job.

I spoke with the technician in the dealership who worked on my car afterwards and I can assure you he wasn't the apprentice, he was extremely knowledgeable and actually commented on various other aspects of the car. Said he'd had a look for subframe cracks and noticed mine had been strengthened and polybushed.

He advised he had shimmed three valves and charged accordingly, (ok I didn't get any measurements but neither do I need them, thats why i'm paying for them to look after it for me). The engine was noticeably quieter afterwards so I tend to believe him.

Blankly saying BMW are rubbish and you get the apprentice whilst specialists are all great is just internet scaremongering twoddle.

True 'specialists' are few and far between in my opinion, when buying a used car of this type you usually have a choice of FBMWSH (rare) / part BMW and part unknown garage (not great on a specialist car) or part SH. To find one with part FBMWSH followed by a well known specialist is as rare as hens teeth non?

Personally out of the choice of cars usually on offer I seek out a FBMWSH as FBMWSH followed by specialist is rarely seen.

Edited by John Laverick on Thursday 7th January 14:32

[John Laverick]

SPORTSTER said:

Hope it was collected the day before,as you are aware the car has to be stone cold in order to work on the valves tappet adjustment

Yes and yes ... that's the service you get in my experience with BMW, rather than the local indy who neglects to tell you he's not checking valve clearances as part of his inspection 1.

[evojam]

Main dealers,valve clearances on an M

[Vixpy1]

evojam said:

Main dealers,valve clearances on an M

+1