Ho much for new rear brake pipes on E36 coupe?
Discussion
Just got my '99T E36 coupe back from the MOT. There are two advisories:
1: Nearside rear brake pipe slightly corroded and
2: Offside rear brake pipe slightly corroded.
Does anyone know what I can explect to pay a BMW main dealer for these fitted inc VAT? Should have asked there and then but my brain was temporarily off duty!
Other than that the MOT went well. £161 in total for the test, a new ball joint (which I was expecting as I was told at last year's MOT that I'd propbably need one next time), and two new wiper blades which I was going to ask for anyway.
Not so good was an oil leak discovered during the test which will necessitate a new engine cover gasket at £411.52. Shame, 'cause I'd have been celebrating otherwise!
1: Nearside rear brake pipe slightly corroded and
2: Offside rear brake pipe slightly corroded.
Does anyone know what I can explect to pay a BMW main dealer for these fitted inc VAT? Should have asked there and then but my brain was temporarily off duty!
Other than that the MOT went well. £161 in total for the test, a new ball joint (which I was expecting as I was told at last year's MOT that I'd propbably need one next time), and two new wiper blades which I was going to ask for anyway.
Not so good was an oil leak discovered during the test which will necessitate a new engine cover gasket at £411.52. Shame, 'cause I'd have been celebrating otherwise!
Edited by MitchT on Wednesday 9th May 11:14
MitchT said:
Not so good was an oil leak discovered during the test which will necessitate a new engine cover gasket at £411.52. Shame, 'cause I'd have been celebrating otherwise!
WTF
Do they mean a rocker/cam cover gasket or a head gasket? What is the parts and labour break down in that?
Why are you still going to a main dealer with an 8 year old car.
Half your costs and find yourself a friendly Indy that will give you better customer service (as they rely on repeat business, and not new buyers feeling obliged to use the dealer network), and will be smaller outfits with potentially more skillful technicians - they are far less likely to be a YTS camp full of inexperienced yoofs who are more interested in getting out and caining you P&G on a "road test" than doing a good job to ensure repeat business.
mat205125 said:
Do they mean a rocker/cam cover gasket or a head gasket? What is the parts and labour break down in that?
It just has 'engine cover gasket repair' handwritten on the tick sheet by the lady on the service desk.
mat205125 said:
Why are you still going to a main dealer with an 8 year old car.
'Cause I don't know where else to go. Only one BMW Indy near me and I can't find any feedback about them... www.cramag.com/main.html
I'd describe Cramag as 'ok but unexceptional' and a bit too expensive for an indy.
I'd guess you are in the Leeds/Bradford area? Wherabouts exactly?
And which engine do you have in your e36? I can't imagine where they are getting £400+ from for a leaky 'engine cover gasket'!!
Do they mean the short brake pipes running from flexy to flexy on either side of the rear axle? Fairly easy and straightforward so probably £250 at the dealers and £100 anywhere else!
I'd guess you are in the Leeds/Bradford area? Wherabouts exactly?
And which engine do you have in your e36? I can't imagine where they are getting £400+ from for a leaky 'engine cover gasket'!!
Do they mean the short brake pipes running from flexy to flexy on either side of the rear axle? Fairly easy and straightforward so probably £250 at the dealers and £100 anywhere else!
Edited by talkwrench on Wednesday 9th May 18:07
MitchT said:
mat205125 said:
Do they mean a rocker/cam cover gasket or a head gasket? What is the parts and labour break down in that?
It just has 'engine cover gasket repair' handwritten on the tick sheet by the lady on the service desk.
mat205125 said:
Why are you still going to a main dealer with an 8 year old car.
'Cause I don't know where else to go. Only one BMW Indy near me and I can't find any feedback about them... www.cramag.com/main.html
You could try these
www.bmservicing.com/
In Pudsey, Leeds.
talkwrench said:
I'd guess you are in the Leeds/Bradford area? Wherabouts exactly?
Bingley. North of Bradford.
talkwrench said:
And which engine do you have in your e36?
M44 1.9 litre ('99 318is coupe)
talkwrench said:
Do they mean the short brake pipes running from flexy to flexy on either side of the rear axle?
No idea what they mean.
A few hundred squid at a dealer...The pipes(prone to corrosion on both E36 and E46)run from the flexihose on either trailing arm,up and over the fuel tank to the centre just in front of the tank where they join a 'T' piece.
So its a tank down(unless your me)which is why it caosts alot.I tend to drop the tank just enough to get my arms in.
Im guessing the quote there is for a head gasket replacement,unless its a 24ca gold rocker cover gasket.
So its a tank down(unless your me)which is why it caosts alot.I tend to drop the tank just enough to get my arms in.
Im guessing the quote there is for a head gasket replacement,unless its a 24ca gold rocker cover gasket.
Edited by blackspider on Wednesday 9th May 22:35
potentially more skillful technicians - they are far less likely to be a YTS camp full of inexperienced yoofs who are more interested in getting out and caining you P&G on a "road test" than doing a good job to ensure repeat business.
That excludes us....We have 1 BMW Master,3 BMW Seniors and 4 BMW Technicians and an apprentice studying HND.And the traffic around our dealer is bloody aweful.
Iam however setting up in business later this year (BMW/MINI/TVR/LOTUS) and will agree with you then
blackspider said:
The pipes(prone to corrosion on both E36 and E46)run from the flexihose on either trailing arm,up and over the fuel tank to the centre just in front of the tank where they join a 'T' piece.
That seems the most likely place but it may just be the short runs either side. My partners e36 failed on the short ones last year.
blackspider said:
Im guessing the quote there is for a head gasket replacement,unless its a 24ca gold rocker cover gasket.
It sounds like that kind of money but its unusual (though not impossible) for the head gasket to just leak oil externally and I'd never call a head gasket job an 'engine cover gasket'!
blackspider said:
Iam however setting up in business later this year (BMW/MINI/TVR/LOTUS) and will agree with you then
A true politicians responce
Good for you getting out on your own. Why be the monkey when you can be the organ grinder.
For the OP - Looks like there are a fair few Indy specialists within a sensible distance of you. My advice would be to get one of them to do the rear brake pipes, and ask them to "have a quick look under the bonnet to see if the rocker gasket is leaking like a mate suspects".
They may need to have a look at the car to establish which pipes the advice sheet refers to since the text is so vague. They'll be far cheaper either way.
As for which Indy to try, read what others have posted above ref your region and make a choice. Nothing to say you have to go with the most local. Despite there being a beemer specialist about 10 miles from my place, I used to take my M3 to one about 40 miles away as they were excellent on price and service. Bit too far for you to come down this way unfortunately
talkwrench said:
I'd describe Cramag as 'ok but unexceptional' and a bit too expensive for an indy.
I'd guess you are in the Leeds/Bradford area? Wherabouts exactly?
And which engine do you have in your e36? I can't imagine where they are getting £400+ from for a leaky 'engine cover gasket'!!
Do they mean the short brake pipes running from flexy to flexy on either side of the rear axle? Fairly easy and straightforward so probably £250 at the dealers and £100 anywhere else!
It may have been 4 months ago but it would appear that I have misrepresented Cramag with this posting.I'd guess you are in the Leeds/Bradford area? Wherabouts exactly?
And which engine do you have in your e36? I can't imagine where they are getting £400+ from for a leaky 'engine cover gasket'!!
Do they mean the short brake pipes running from flexy to flexy on either side of the rear axle? Fairly easy and straightforward so probably £250 at the dealers and £100 anywhere else!
Edited by talkwrench on Wednesday 9th May 18:07
In the statement "I can't imagine where they are getting £400+ from", it seems that I may be implying that Cramag quoted this figure. I thought the previous postings make it fairly plain that it was the Dealer who quoted £400 and not Cramag but I would just like to make it absolutely clear that Cramag did not quote anything for replacing anything.
I apologise if for the offence caused to Cramag and certainly did not wish to make any slanderous remarks against anyone!
www.bmservicing.com/
Avoid this garage at all costs..........I took my BNW E60 in for a water leak at this Garage, when I booked it in over the phone, I explained that there was water getting into the battery compartment and as it needed an oil change I requested for this to be done at the same time. When I arrived at the garage, I showed one of the workers where the water leak was, he said it might be one of the seals that need replacing and that we’d have to do a water test to find the leak. I explained that this is why I have brought it in but also needs an oil change.
I then received a call from the Garage stating that my car was ready. When I arrived at the garage, I was presented with the bill of £141 for the oil change, when I asked what about the leak the woman looked puzzled and said what leak.....she then went off to speak to one of her male colleagues who I could hear muttering something and it wasn’t pleasant. I would have thought with me standing there he should have shown some professionalism. Anyway he came through to speak to me and abruptly said we haven’t got time to check for leaks and I needed to bring the car back when we are not busy, at this point i was quite upset as I’d taken a day off work, drove to the garage in the rush hour from Bradford to Leeds with my 10 months old baby with me who I picked up from the nursery on the way as i knew that by the time I got back into Bradford the nursery would have been closed. I raised my concern with the staff on site who were very unhelpful and didn’t want to listen to me.......instead the chap turned around and said to me don’t shout, I replied that I am not shouting but frustrated, i then went on to explain that the initial reason for booking my car in was for you to look at the leak which you have done nothing with, he said, he didn’t want to start stripping the rear bumper without authorisation from me for the costs, I then replied the someone should have rang me with a quote and I would have authorised the costs. I booked my car in for .......the woman then joined in and told me don’t come back again, well I was gobsmacked and lost for words at this point. Any way I paid the money and left confused. Overall my thoughts are that staff have no concept of customer service, have poor communication skills, rude and not willing to listen.
They are no cheaper than BMW dealers, anything complex they don’t want to know. They just want your money for basic servicing and part swapping, if you have a fault then you are wasting your time with this garage. I paid £141 for an oil change when I could have taken the car to a proper dealer and would have cost me £158. Yes, it is slightly more but you will receive better customer service, tea, coffee, pleasant staff etc.....
Avoid this garage at all costs..........I took my BNW E60 in for a water leak at this Garage, when I booked it in over the phone, I explained that there was water getting into the battery compartment and as it needed an oil change I requested for this to be done at the same time. When I arrived at the garage, I showed one of the workers where the water leak was, he said it might be one of the seals that need replacing and that we’d have to do a water test to find the leak. I explained that this is why I have brought it in but also needs an oil change.
I then received a call from the Garage stating that my car was ready. When I arrived at the garage, I was presented with the bill of £141 for the oil change, when I asked what about the leak the woman looked puzzled and said what leak.....she then went off to speak to one of her male colleagues who I could hear muttering something and it wasn’t pleasant. I would have thought with me standing there he should have shown some professionalism. Anyway he came through to speak to me and abruptly said we haven’t got time to check for leaks and I needed to bring the car back when we are not busy, at this point i was quite upset as I’d taken a day off work, drove to the garage in the rush hour from Bradford to Leeds with my 10 months old baby with me who I picked up from the nursery on the way as i knew that by the time I got back into Bradford the nursery would have been closed. I raised my concern with the staff on site who were very unhelpful and didn’t want to listen to me.......instead the chap turned around and said to me don’t shout, I replied that I am not shouting but frustrated, i then went on to explain that the initial reason for booking my car in was for you to look at the leak which you have done nothing with, he said, he didn’t want to start stripping the rear bumper without authorisation from me for the costs, I then replied the someone should have rang me with a quote and I would have authorised the costs. I booked my car in for .......the woman then joined in and told me don’t come back again, well I was gobsmacked and lost for words at this point. Any way I paid the money and left confused. Overall my thoughts are that staff have no concept of customer service, have poor communication skills, rude and not willing to listen.
They are no cheaper than BMW dealers, anything complex they don’t want to know. They just want your money for basic servicing and part swapping, if you have a fault then you are wasting your time with this garage. I paid £141 for an oil change when I could have taken the car to a proper dealer and would have cost me £158. Yes, it is slightly more but you will receive better customer service, tea, coffee, pleasant staff etc.....
blackspider said:
A few hundred squid at a dealer...The pipes(prone to corrosion on both E36 and E46)run from the flexihose on either trailing arm,up and over the fuel tank to the centre just in front of the tank where they join a 'T' piece.
So its a tank down(unless your me)which is why it caosts alot.I tend to drop the tank just enough to get my arms in.
Im guessing the quote there is for a head gasket replacement,unless its a 24ca gold rocker cover gasket.
That would be my guess as well - the ones that go over the tank. As blackspider intimates it normally involves dropping the tank ( and the exhaust off its support as well which is pretty heavy so you'll need to support that as well ).So its a tank down(unless your me)which is why it caosts alot.I tend to drop the tank just enough to get my arms in.
Im guessing the quote there is for a head gasket replacement,unless its a 24ca gold rocker cover gasket.
Edited by blackspider on Wednesday 9th May 22:35
Apart from blackspider's suggestion there's also another sneaky way to do it by accessing them from under the rear seat but i'll be surprised if a main dealer does that method
I changed mine a few weeks ago on the M3. The 2 pipes were around £12 but they labor charge will be high as you have to drop the fuel tank down to change them. Not a nice job at all as the fixings to the fexi's were quite corroded as well. I would have thought they'll be 2 or 3 hours labor at a main dealer so £300-350 or about £100 at a good independent. I know which i choose.
Shropshiremike said:
Apart from blackspider's suggestion there's also another sneaky way to do it by accessing them from under the rear seat but i'll be surprised if a main dealer does that method
Knowing main dealers they'll do it by the easiest method and charge you for the hardest method.
...and the latest price from my local BMW dealer to replace rapidly disintegrating rear brake pipes on me E46 330d is just under £2000! I suppose some people actually pay them to do it (daft beggars). Guess I'll be using a local indy for that one, any one know of a good one near Uxbridge?
Jon_330dSport said:
...and the latest price from my local BMW dealer to replace rapidly disintegrating rear brake pipes on me E46 330d is just under £2000! I suppose some people actually pay them to do it (daft beggars). Guess I'll be using a local indy for that one, any one know of a good one near Uxbridge?
How much did you end up having to fork out to get this sorted?As already mentioned CRAMAG in Leeds West Yorks are a well known Indy,and Well worth a try
with a good website www.cramag.com
with a good website www.cramag.com
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff