Discussion
Another example of main dealer utter ripoff.
A guy that sits next to me was calling round about his 1 series, It had a service warning light come on.
He called up our local independent garage up the road, asked if they could do a service and mentioned the warning on the LCD display of the car saying it was over it's service interval - they said that BMW would have to reset that before it could be serviced by them.
So he got all the information off the screen and phoned his local BMW dealer.
They told him that to reset the warning, which was apparently warning that the brake fluid needs changing (at a year and a half??!), would cost £25 + vat. The brake fluid change, if done by them, would be £85 + vat. They also wanted to do a "car check" which would be £114 + vat. When asked what a car check involved, they advised it would be looking over the car to see what else needs doing from a checklist.
A few minutes from me on google, we managed to reset all service warnings via pressing a few buttons on the control and the control stick in the car, he then got the car booked into the indy for an interim service, which is £90 all in using BMW approved parts and a service stamp. They will also do a free full comprehensive "car check", and will test the brake fluid to see if it needs doing. If it does, that would be another £40.
Staggering. It is easy to see why the BMW garages are so plush when they are charging £114 to get the workshop apprentice to look at a car and tick a few boxes without actually doing any work on it...
Not just a go at BMW, All the main dealers do it, this just seems a bit extreme!
A guy that sits next to me was calling round about his 1 series, It had a service warning light come on.
He called up our local independent garage up the road, asked if they could do a service and mentioned the warning on the LCD display of the car saying it was over it's service interval - they said that BMW would have to reset that before it could be serviced by them.
So he got all the information off the screen and phoned his local BMW dealer.
They told him that to reset the warning, which was apparently warning that the brake fluid needs changing (at a year and a half??!), would cost £25 + vat. The brake fluid change, if done by them, would be £85 + vat. They also wanted to do a "car check" which would be £114 + vat. When asked what a car check involved, they advised it would be looking over the car to see what else needs doing from a checklist.
A few minutes from me on google, we managed to reset all service warnings via pressing a few buttons on the control and the control stick in the car, he then got the car booked into the indy for an interim service, which is £90 all in using BMW approved parts and a service stamp. They will also do a free full comprehensive "car check", and will test the brake fluid to see if it needs doing. If it does, that would be another £40.
Staggering. It is easy to see why the BMW garages are so plush when they are charging £114 to get the workshop apprentice to look at a car and tick a few boxes without actually doing any work on it...
Not just a go at BMW, All the main dealers do it, this just seems a bit extreme!
Ozzie Osmond said:
I think you'll find it's a question of horses for courses. After all, why pay £35 for steak & chips at a posh restaurant when you can get it for £12.50 at the local pub?
Because it will probably be better quality ingredients at a posh restaurant, and you are in a nicer atmosphere. Seeing that the independent is using genuine parts, and, I presume, the guy isn't planning to spend a few hours in the garage with his friends, I don't think that they are comparable situations.How about this from Audi:
I phoned to get a price for a service for my Audi A4 and was quoted £582. When I said I'd like to take advantage of the Major Service for £249 offer on their website, they told me it was on available to cars over 3 years old. When I asked what the difference would be between the two - the answer was NOTHING!
Had the same service done at the indy plus new rear pads and a brake fluid change for £220.
I phoned to get a price for a service for my Audi A4 and was quoted £582. When I said I'd like to take advantage of the Major Service for £249 offer on their website, they told me it was on available to cars over 3 years old. When I asked what the difference would be between the two - the answer was NOTHING!
Had the same service done at the indy plus new rear pads and a brake fluid change for £220.
Ozzie Osmond said:
I think you'll find it's a question of horses for courses. After all, why pay £35 for steak & chips at a posh restaurant when you can get it for £12.50 at the local pub?
I would agree if they were providing a better service of some kind - but the approved oil is the same type that garage would use, the filter is the same, oil and filters can only be drained and refulled in so many ways. Brake fluid - you just drain, purge and refill. All basic mechanics stuff that I can do. Car check? That's just profiteering of the stupid...If this was a thread about getting the car resprayed, I would agree as the finished job will be down to the qualification, experience and skill of the sprayer. A cheaper garage may not have the best staff, whereas a top end sprayer you would pay a lot for should to a pristine job. So then I would agree that you get what you pay for.
Ozzie Osmond said:
MX7 said:
I don't think that they are comparable situations.
OK, lets try again. Bottle of Corona £1 at Tesco and £3 in a club. No difference whatsoever in the beer so it must be a rip-off....Or not.
Sounds a bit like pre MOT's. Why pay so much money to have what is essentially an MOT done on your car, and have it fixed, when you can have an MOT, find out what needs doing, and then have it retested for free at the majority of centres?
Also, from what i've heard, only BMW or BMW specialists have the equipment to reset the service light, at least on the newer models. Dunno if it's true or not?
Also, from what i've heard, only BMW or BMW specialists have the equipment to reset the service light, at least on the newer models. Dunno if it's true or not?
nsmith1180 said:
Fox- said:
Why is the indy going to 'test' the brake fluid? Either the car has reached the specified brake fluid replacement interval or it hasn't?
Most manufacturers now list Brake fluid change as a mandetory item as it absorbs water and looses effectivityness.MX7 said:
We are talking about garages that offer the same service . Do you go clubbing in Tesco?
You really don't get it do you. The glass and chrome main dealers are NOT selling the same thing as back-street mechanics. Hence the cost differential.By the way. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can't get ripped-off by a dishonest or incompetent mechanic under the railway arches.
Fox- said:
nsmith1180 said:
Fox- said:
Why is the indy going to 'test' the brake fluid? Either the car has reached the specified brake fluid replacement interval or it hasn't?
Most manufacturers now list Brake fluid change as a mandetory item as it absorbs water and looses effectivityness.What does a main dealer do that a decent indie doesn't? 'Free' cup of coffee? That's an expensive 'free' beverage you're drinking there!
Ozzie Osmond said:
MX7 said:
We are talking about garages that offer the same service . Do you go clubbing in Tesco?
You really don't get it do you. The glass and chrome main dealers are NOT selling the same thing as back-street mechanics. Hence the cost differential.If you want a simple comparison, it's like saying that the beer is £1 in Tesco, and £3 in Waitrose. Would you go to Waitrose for a better 'shopping experience'? I wouldn't.
Ozzie Osmond said:
By the way. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can't get ripped-off by a dishonest or incompetent mechanic under the railway arches.
Thanks for the heads up. I never knew that. 
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