Any point going to a main dealer for service Z4C3.0si
Discussion
Smuler said:
I switched to Indy for my M3 when 1 local dealers thought they could do the inspection 1 in one hour! And charge inspection 2 prices.
Go Indy if you can find a good one.
This. Some dealers are idiots; I'm lucky that I have two reasonable dealers near me. Unfortunately the three closest specialists to me are tools, and most independant garages seem keen to break your car and then fix them later; Good ones are about but they are few and far betweenGo Indy if you can find a good one.
If you find a good Indy or specialist go for it. Where in the country are you?
Another thing, a friend of mine has the E89 version of your car; the pricing wasn't much different. Being based in Coventry:
Sytner wanted £500
Autotech wanted £450 + the 40 minute drive there and back.
That was for the main service which included
-Oil service
-Pretty much all of the filters changed
-New plugs; his old ones were shot long before BMW's 100,000 mile schedule - the car went in with a misfire!
For me the above looks expensive but a few Indies would probably be in that bracket once they markup their oil and get genuine bits.
My 135i was way down on power after one visit to the main dealer and the dash lit up. 2 visits and 4 days later, they still couldn't find the fault. They just told me to collect the car and return if the dash lights returned...1/2 mile later, I turned around. So, that was 3 visits!
I decided to take the car to an independent BMW specialist. http://www.bwautorepairs.co.uk/ in Hayes found the fault in less than 10 minutes. It had been caused by the BMW dealership's 'technician' crushing a turbo control vacuum pipe when he was refitting the bulkhead tray!
I service my cars much more frequently than BMW suggest. I don't believe in long service intervals or that a full BMW service history makes much difference to the selling price, so long as the car has a good service history. I sold my 135i for full asking price recently at 8 years old. It had BMW S/H initially, with independent garage stamps (& bills) too and then all independent garage stamps after the service pack expired. I never allowed BMW to touch the brakes as they were not included in the service pack. I was quoted £350 for front pads. I bought high quality ATE pads (same manufacturer as the discs) and had them fitted for under £100 all in.
Over the years I've saved £thousands by using good independent garages for repairs and maintenance. I definitely did not lose those £thousands on the selling price.
I decided to take the car to an independent BMW specialist. http://www.bwautorepairs.co.uk/ in Hayes found the fault in less than 10 minutes. It had been caused by the BMW dealership's 'technician' crushing a turbo control vacuum pipe when he was refitting the bulkhead tray!
I service my cars much more frequently than BMW suggest. I don't believe in long service intervals or that a full BMW service history makes much difference to the selling price, so long as the car has a good service history. I sold my 135i for full asking price recently at 8 years old. It had BMW S/H initially, with independent garage stamps (& bills) too and then all independent garage stamps after the service pack expired. I never allowed BMW to touch the brakes as they were not included in the service pack. I was quoted £350 for front pads. I bought high quality ATE pads (same manufacturer as the discs) and had them fitted for under £100 all in.
Over the years I've saved £thousands by using good independent garages for repairs and maintenance. I definitely did not lose those £thousands on the selling price.
thansk all, I am located south London, Crystal palace, dont mind a bit of a drive.
Im not too bother about price but just from experience I have found that the Main Dealers tend to take the piss more than the indies.
I have had main dealers (volvo) do a free 45v point check, find a serious issue with the brake lines atht would be £200+ and an MOT fail and then I was in a rush so took the car elsewhere for the MOT and advised them what the dealer had said and they suggested it was b
ks
3 years later no issues with the brake lines
BTW if anyone wants a partly stripped (no back seats and sound deadening all gone) Volvo c70 T5 with no MOT and a flat battery (Mtech brakes drilled etc EBC pads, strut brace, poly bushed etc) I can give it away for £200
Im not too bother about price but just from experience I have found that the Main Dealers tend to take the piss more than the indies.
I have had main dealers (volvo) do a free 45v point check, find a serious issue with the brake lines atht would be £200+ and an MOT fail and then I was in a rush so took the car elsewhere for the MOT and advised them what the dealer had said and they suggested it was b
ks3 years later no issues with the brake lines
BTW if anyone wants a partly stripped (no back seats and sound deadening all gone) Volvo c70 T5 with no MOT and a flat battery (Mtech brakes drilled etc EBC pads, strut brace, poly bushed etc) I can give it away for £200
I'm in SW London and use AMC on Garret Lane SW17. Between Earlsfield and Tooting.
Always looked after my e36 which I've owned 20 years now.
As a price comparison, when the clutch went at around 100,000 miles, the BMW dealer wanted £1500 whilst AMC wanted £1000.
I got a mate's mate to do it for £250 in the end tho.
I find main dealers so untrustworthy and they prey on those that can't be bothered too.
Jaguar Landrover place wanted £350 to replace a tyre on my Discovery that had failed the MOT.
Same tyre from old Landrover indie was £100 fitted.
Citroen CX Pallas, a long time ago, had a prole with its brake lights. Dealer couldn't find what was wrong so wanted to replace loom at a cost of £450.
CX indie in some railway arches fixed it for £25.
No wonder they call them Stealers.
Always looked after my e36 which I've owned 20 years now.
As a price comparison, when the clutch went at around 100,000 miles, the BMW dealer wanted £1500 whilst AMC wanted £1000.
I got a mate's mate to do it for £250 in the end tho.
I find main dealers so untrustworthy and they prey on those that can't be bothered too.
Jaguar Landrover place wanted £350 to replace a tyre on my Discovery that had failed the MOT.
Same tyre from old Landrover indie was £100 fitted.
Citroen CX Pallas, a long time ago, had a prole with its brake lights. Dealer couldn't find what was wrong so wanted to replace loom at a cost of £450.
CX indie in some railway arches fixed it for £25.
No wonder they call them Stealers.
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