Servicing costs
Discussion
Mrs's 330d needs an oil service. It has a full BMWSH so she is keen on keeping that up. BM want £160 for the oil change which isn't too bad as my indy wants £120 for the same. Problem is it also needs a coolant change for which BM want £215 (indy wants £45)!
That seems astronomic to me as its really just changing some water isn't it, or am I being too symplistic? Does that sound right for a dealer coolant change? Seems strange to be so much more than the oil change, for which the major expense is the oil.
That seems astronomic to me as its really just changing some water isn't it, or am I being too symplistic? Does that sound right for a dealer coolant change? Seems strange to be so much more than the oil change, for which the major expense is the oil.
Must admit I have been thinking along the lines of dealer does the oil service and indy does the coolant.
One thing though (and I may be being a little dim here), as the coolant and brake has a stamp section on the service book would any one here consider this as not having the full BMW service history?
Also can anyone from BM tell me if the figure of £215 seems about right for the coolant chnage?
Edited as I am in fact dim and cannot wait until I have finished typing to press submit!
One thing though (and I may be being a little dim here), as the coolant and brake has a stamp section on the service book would any one here consider this as not having the full BMW service history?
Also can anyone from BM tell me if the figure of £215 seems about right for the coolant chnage?
Edited as I am in fact dim and cannot wait until I have finished typing to press submit!
Edited by mike325112 on Thursday 29th January 13:49
£160 to change the oil.... wft, are you laiden with cash?
Changing the oil is a 5 min job - and most of that time is jacking up the car & then letting the oil drain.
All you need is to buy the correct oil £20-30 max, new oil filter sub £10 and there you go. Max £40 for an oil change.
Changing the coolant - BMW must be having a laugh. Again this is a simple job to do one side of the radiator undo the pipe - let the coolant drain replace pipe & refill with correct coolant. The only part you buy is the antifreeze - and maybe maybe if you really need to change some of the coolant pipes thats only if they need changing.
Changing the oil is a 5 min job - and most of that time is jacking up the car & then letting the oil drain.
All you need is to buy the correct oil £20-30 max, new oil filter sub £10 and there you go. Max £40 for an oil change.
Changing the coolant - BMW must be having a laugh. Again this is a simple job to do one side of the radiator undo the pipe - let the coolant drain replace pipe & refill with correct coolant. The only part you buy is the antifreeze - and maybe maybe if you really need to change some of the coolant pipes thats only if they need changing.
mike325112 said:
Mobil 1
If thats the case they sell it in Costco and its £20. (this is what I use & buy the trade packs for further savings - i.e. 2x4.5ltr).Say you change your oil every 10k by doing it yourself over the quoted BMW £160 your going to save £260p.a. If you change your air filter too - surely anyone can do this that a healthy saving too. Keep the receipts for the pars bought & thats your service history.
mike325112 said:
The recomended oil is 5w 30 at our mileage. If it really is £20 for a can I'm gonna go get me a costco card!
They sell Mobil 1 (fully synthetic), Castrol Magnatec , Castrol - High milage, and some other brand (its in blue containers) these I'd say are sold in 25-30ltr barrels and are very cheap cannot recall the viscosity.I buy all my oil in Costco.
I also buy car batteries in Costco - a new one for my fiat was £65 and that was a Bosch silver (4 year warranty) I think its 5 star - halfords selling their own brand for my car... £80 2 years warranty.
Get your tyres there 2 - however they only do Michelin (the best IMHO - hard wearing mine did over 45k and stil had over 3mm...)
Hammerhead said:
Get the main dealer to do the oil service, your indy the coolant change. Sorted!
+1. IMO don't bother DIY in this case. Unless you are really keen to save a few quid, and enjoy pouring a bowl full of filthy oil into tubs then taking it for disposal. Two otherwise identical 03' cars for sale, one with full history and one with some random receipts (that could be for anything). I'd be offerering* a lot less than the DIY savings would compensate for.
offerering*, or 'bidding' as everyone seems to call it these days on PH for some reason - maybe to sound like hard-bitten no-nonsense traders;)
mike325112 said:
How do you get a card? I wouldn't mind a nosey round. SWMBO has a Makro card, used to be cheap but now it sometimes dearer than the high street.
If you go inside one it will show you on a huge 50foot long sign what you need to take (basically a couple of bills) its £29incl VAT p.a. there is a list of occupations allowing you membership but Im not sure how strict they are.They do 3 tonne trolly jacks, mechanic beds to roll under the car - full tool sets, car ports, tool storage - the same as you will see in any proper garage, very good & very cheap mixed & unmixed screen wash, good cleaning leathers, good under bonnet lights & lots of other useful things + everything else food & clothing & TV wise.
They do not offer any car service items bar the oil
Just had an Oil Service on my 84k miles 330D.
The cost was a whopping £450, £100 of that was the oil.
Because it was the third oil change (I guess they don't count the initial service) as well as the oil change they also had to replace the air, fuel and oil seperator filters.
However they did hoover my car and give me a spare bottle of oil in a little leatherette holder, with a pair of gloves and a little paper funnel and a clean-up wipe, so when you think about it I really got my money's worth........................!
Your warranty relies on your following the BMW servicing schedule so if they say you need a coolant change then you have to get it done there and that's the only reason I go to them for my annual raping, anything extra you can do where you like as long as they use BMW parts which is why I'm going to an indy to do my track rod arm.
The cost was a whopping £450, £100 of that was the oil.
Because it was the third oil change (I guess they don't count the initial service) as well as the oil change they also had to replace the air, fuel and oil seperator filters.
However they did hoover my car and give me a spare bottle of oil in a little leatherette holder, with a pair of gloves and a little paper funnel and a clean-up wipe, so when you think about it I really got my money's worth........................!
Your warranty relies on your following the BMW servicing schedule so if they say you need a coolant change then you have to get it done there and that's the only reason I go to them for my annual raping, anything extra you can do where you like as long as they use BMW parts which is why I'm going to an indy to do my track rod arm.
Edited by DJFish on Thursday 29th January 20:09
DJFish said:
Just had an Oil Service on my 84k miles 330D.
The cost was a whopping £450, £100 of that was the oil.
Because it was the third oil change (I guess they don't count the initial service) as well as the oil change they also had to replace the air, fuel and oil seperator filters.
However they did hoover my car and give me a spare bottle of oil in a little leatherette holder, with a pair of gloves and a little paper funnel and a clean-up wipe, so when you think about it I really got my money's worth........................!
Your warranty relies on your following the BMW servicing schedule so if they say you need a coolant change then you have to get it done there and that's the only reason I go to them for my annual raping, anything extra you can do where you like as long as they use BMW parts which is why I'm going to an indy to do my track rod arm.
Sorry ROFLOL £450 to change the oil and the air, fuel & oil filters. Parts wise at most thats £70 being silly overstating, all that work could be done in 10 mins.The cost was a whopping £450, £100 of that was the oil.
Because it was the third oil change (I guess they don't count the initial service) as well as the oil change they also had to replace the air, fuel and oil seperator filters.
However they did hoover my car and give me a spare bottle of oil in a little leatherette holder, with a pair of gloves and a little paper funnel and a clean-up wipe, so when you think about it I really got my money's worth........................!
Your warranty relies on your following the BMW servicing schedule so if they say you need a coolant change then you have to get it done there and that's the only reason I go to them for my annual raping, anything extra you can do where you like as long as they use BMW parts which is why I'm going to an indy to do my track rod arm.
Edited by DJFish on Thursday 29th January 20:09
chrisx666 said:
Hammerhead said:
Get the main dealer to do the oil service, your indy the coolant change. Sorted!
+1. IMO don't bother DIY in this case. Unless you are really keen to save a few quid, and enjoy pouring a bowl full of filthy oil into tubs then taking it for disposal. Two otherwise identical 03' cars for sale, one with full history and one with some random receipts (that could be for anything). I'd be offerering* a lot less than the DIY savings would compensate for.
offerering*, or 'bidding' as everyone seems to call it these days on PH for some reason - maybe to sound like hard-bitten no-nonsense traders;)
Don't get me wrong I have serviced my own cars in the past and would again but only on a snotter worth a couple of grand at most. Otherwise your just creating liabilities and in this market you want cars to be as resaleable (think I may have made that word up) as possible within reason
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