Maintaining a BMW Service History E31?

[Job38]

My car has a full BMW Service History and I'm a couple of lights off needing an Oil Service.

I'm fully aware that my main dealer will charge me over £100 per hour to have some spotty yoof who has probably never seen an E31 change the oil.

Routine maintenance is done by the excellent Phoenix Motorsports.

Whilst I prefer the car looked after specialists who know these rare beasties, I'm also concerned about protecting the future value of the car if/when I come to sell.

What is the general consensus on maintaining a full BMW SH?

[Fox-]

If you shop around for dealers you can get BMW service at virtually independant prices. I don't get my 5 series serviced by an indy even though its now more than 6 years old simply because I cannot be bothered with the hassle for a minimal saving.

[belleair302]

Today bills matter more than propeller stamps in a service book. Any serious buyer will look closely at what has been spent on the car, when this work was done and who did it. Take some time to find a recommended specialist, save money but get a much better job done on your car.

[Mustard]

I'd get the oil service done by the main dealer (keeps the pedigree intact for a few extra £, but any additional work by an E31 specialist who will know doubt be much more knowledgeable

[chrisr29]

Surely the decrease in value of the car will be offset by the savings from not paying main dealer prices?

I service my own cars and just get a mate with a garage to stamp the book for me, don't see the point in paying 100 quid an hour, or whatever, to a main dealer when I can do it myself. Anyone who knows anything about cars can tell whether it's been looked after or not.

[Mustard]

chrisr29 said:

Surely the decrease in value of the car will be offset by the savings from not paying main dealer prices?

Its an 850CSi not a 316i!

Future value is more dependant on history and provenance and collectability and 'Joe Bloggs' in the service book will certainly hurt the value

said:

I service my own cars and just get a mate with a garage to stamp the book for me, don't see the point in paying 100 quid an hour, or whatever, to a main dealer when I can do it myself. Anyone who knows anything about cars can tell whether it's been looked after or not.

Thats fraud in my book... stamping the book by someone who hasnt completed the work, why dont you go the whole hog and get a main dealer stamp made up?!!!

[pits]

we take our 840 to a bmw specialist for everything, its fbmwsh and specialist history. i think having a specialist look after it, is better than the main dealers, shows you take a bit more care and want only the best

[chrisr29]

Mustard said:

chrisr29 said:

Surely the decrease in value of the car will be offset by the savings from not paying main dealer prices?

Its an 850CSi not a 316i!

Future value is more dependant on history and provenance and collectability and 'Joe Bloggs' in the service book will certainly hurt the value

said:

I service my own cars and just get a mate with a garage to stamp the book for me, don't see the point in paying 100 quid an hour, or whatever, to a main dealer when I can do it myself. Anyone who knows anything about cars can tell whether it's been looked after or not.

Thats fraud in my book... stamping the book by someone who hasnt completed the work, why dont you go the whole hog and get a main dealer stamp made up?!!!

And what's an 850 CSi worth these days? 10k-ish? In my book, only an idiot pays a main dealer to service a car that's worth that.

I'll quite happily by any car without a history....if it looks like it's been looked after!

Get off your high horse mate. It aint that important.

Have a nice day. Thanks.

[Fox-]

chrisr29 said:

And what's an 850 CSi worth these days? 10k-ish? In my book, only an idiot pays a main dealer to service a car that's worth that.

So I'm an idiot because I can't be bothered popping down the industrial estate to pick up a 1994 courtesy car to save 30 quid getting a service done at an indy?

[quote]
I'll quite happily by any car without a history....if it looks like it's been looked after!

Great, I'll leave all the clocked ones to you to buy, then.

[chrisr29]

Fox- said:

chrisr29 said:

And what's an 850 CSi worth these days? 10k-ish? In my book, only an idiot pays a main dealer to service a car that's worth that.

So I'm an idiot because I can't be bothered popping down the industrial estate to pick up a 1994 courtesy car to save 30 quid getting a service done at an indy?

[quote]
I'll quite happily by any car without a history....if it looks like it's been looked after!

Great, I'll leave all the clocked ones to you to buy, then.

Are you an idiot? How should I know! The dig was at the other bloke, not you.

If the car's worth 2k less than an quivalent one thats got a full main dealer history but you've saved 2k in service bills where's the difference?

[Fox-]

chrisr29 said:

Are you an idiot? How should I know! The dig was at the other bloke, not you.

You said anyone who services a car worth less than £10k at a main dealer is an idiot. I service my car, worth less than £10k, at a main dealer which in your opinion makes me an idiot.

chrisr29 said:

If the car's worth 2k less than an quivalent one thats got a full main dealer history but you've saved 2k in service bills where's the difference?

Short of servicing your car at Bobs Backstreet Garage, Cornwall instead of Park Lane BMW how on earth could you ever save 2 grand in routine servicing costs by using an indy?

[chrisr29]

Fox- said:

chrisr29 said:

Are you an idiot? How should I know! The dig was at the other bloke, not you.

You said anyone who services a car worth less than £10k at a main dealer is an idiot. I service my car, worth less than £10k, at a main dealer which in your opinion makes me an idiot.

Hey does that mean my opinion counts? Wow, could get to like it on here!

chrisr29 said:

If the car's worth 2k less than an quivalent one thats got a full main dealer history but you've saved 2k in service bills where's the difference?

Short of servicing your car at Bobs Backstreet Garage, Cornwall instead of Park Lane BMW how on earth could you ever save 2 grand in routine servicing costs by using an indy?

Easy, by doing it yourself. I've bought cars with main dealer histories (I know, what a hypocrite am I) and have seen the bills. My e36 328's last inspection 2 was over 500 notes from a main dealer less than a year ago. The bloody thing is only worth 3k tops. All they seem to have done is replace the engine, gear box and diff oil. Coolant hadn't been changed and neither had brake fluid.

Come on mate, they charge £200 for an oil service and all they do is change the oil and give it a once over. Do it yourself and it's about 50 quid in bits. If you do a lot of miles (I do) the savings soon add up.

[Fox-]

You are unique in that you fudge your own history which is far from recommended. I simply would NOT buy a BMW that did not have a fully documented service history, probably with BMW. Not becuase I'm under some sort of illusion that BMW staff are amazing and Indys are crap. Its probably the other way round, but because a comprehensive service history is a cast iron guarantee against clocking.

You would not beleive how many E39's I saw with questionable mileage and mislaid history when I bought mine. I've had it a few years now and at the time, a good 2002 530i Sport with 40k on it was worth £15k, or £13k with no history. A mint 100k mile example was worth closer to £10k with history. They hide their miles perfectly - so people would buy a 100ker, lose the book, clock it, and profit. I even reported one chap to trading standards after I nearly bid on a 143k Y plate example which turned up on Autotrader 2 weeks later with 71k miles.

At least a full BMW history gives you reasonable certainty that the mileage is genuine and the owner hasn't cut corners to save a few pennies.

[Mustard]

chrisr29 said:

Mustard said:

chrisr29 said:

Surely the decrease in value of the car will be offset by the savings from not paying main dealer prices?

Its an 850CSi not a 316i!

Future value is more dependant on history and provenance and collectability and 'Joe Bloggs' in the service book will certainly hurt the value

said:

I service my own cars and just get a mate with a garage to stamp the book for me, don't see the point in paying 100 quid an hour, or whatever, to a main dealer when I can do it myself. Anyone who knows anything about cars can tell whether it's been looked after or not.

Thats fraud in my book... stamping the book by someone who hasnt completed the work, why dont you go the whole hog and get a main dealer stamp made up?!!!

And what's an 850 CSi worth these days? 10k-ish? In my book, only an idiot pays a main dealer to service a car that's worth that.

I'll quite happily by any car without a history....if it looks like it's been looked after!

Get off your high horse mate. It aint that important.

Have a nice day. Thanks.

You show your ignorance to both the OP's car and question simply buy thinking you can buy an 850CSi worth having for £10k... 840's and regular 850's no problem, but you find a CSi with out 'a history' or lack of one

A £10k 850CSi even in todays market would buy you precisely what you would be selling.... ie high miles and a dodgy history!

The OP set out to buy the very best example he could find and paid a fair price for the privilege, hence bangernonics is not I suspect on the agenda

Good day to you to! .... an 850CSi is for life not just for Christmas!

[CommanderJameson]

chrisr29 said:

Fox- said:

chrisr29 said:

Are you an idiot? How should I know! The dig was at the other bloke, not you.

You said anyone who services a car worth less than £10k at a main dealer is an idiot. I service my car, worth less than £10k, at a main dealer which in your opinion makes me an idiot.

Hey does that mean my opinion counts? Wow, could get to like it on here!

chrisr29 said:

If the car's worth 2k less than an quivalent one thats got a full main dealer history but you've saved 2k in service bills where's the difference?

Short of servicing your car at Bobs Backstreet Garage, Cornwall instead of Park Lane BMW how on earth could you ever save 2 grand in routine servicing costs by using an indy?

Easy, by doing it yourself. I've bought cars with main dealer histories (I know, what a hypocrite am I) and have seen the bills. My e36 328's last inspection 2 was over 500 notes from a main dealer less than a year ago. The bloody thing is only worth 3k tops. All they seem to have done is replace the engine, gear box and diff oil. Coolant hadn't been changed and neither had brake fluid.

Come on mate, they charge £200 for an oil service and all they do is change the oil and give it a once over. Do it yourself and it's about 50 quid in bits. If you do a lot of miles (I do) the savings soon add up.

All true. However, you wouldn't expect brake fluid to be changed at a service - that's done on a rigid two year cycle and there's a separate light on the dash for it.

[Job38]

Blimey !
Hadn't expected such a heated debate!

I'm tending to agree with you, Mustard.
They're such a rare car with only 150 made in RHD, that provenance is a key issue.
It would appear a shame not to continue the full BMW service history, in this particular instance.

Having said that, I fear the quality of the service would be better from an independent specialist - it's a strange world.......

[BMWNut]

I have an 850csi , I have other BMW cars . I do not need the grief associated with visiting a BMW Garage , I do not need the damage they cause , the aggro , the incompetence . My cars get the best of care given by independants . If I ever sold a car I would ask where they would receive the best service. Anyone answering BMW Main Dealer I would not sell the car to them as they are too stupid

[chrisr29]

BMWNut said:

I have an 850csi , I have other BMW cars . I do not need the grief associated with visiting a BMW Garage , I do not need the damage they cause , the aggro , the incompetence . My cars get the best of care given by independants . If I ever sold a car I would ask where they would receive the best service. Anyone answering BMW Main Dealer I would not sell the car to them as they are too stupid

Good man!

Though I'd substitue independants for doing it myself.....for most things anyway.

[julian64]

I had an 850i BMW. Could not find a BMW dealership that knew anything, and I mean anything about the car. They sent to germany once for an engineer.

I stopped taking my car to a BMW dealership when the car value was about 10K and they practiced modular engineering to somehow always make any bill up to £1000. I used to mark the bits that should be changed. Over the course of ten years ownership I never found a dealership that did all it should.

I have/had loads of bits they replaced that were later found to be fully working.

The 850Csi is a great car but any stamp in the book is worthless.

I spent thousands on diagnostic equipment and even a lift in my garage to do the work myself.

Strangely that means that the big gaps in service history in my book repesented the time my BMW was actually properly taken care of.

[BMWNut]

I consider the work done on 1 of my cars whilst it was in the care of a BMW Main Dealer to be nothing short of vandalism. It has taken over 18 months to put right . A good "indie" is 10 times better than a BMW Dealership.

BMW UK sadly are not interested in Dealer complaints probably becasue they are flooded in them.

I feel that a BMW Owner is a BMW Owner despite BMW Service !