[mattyf30]

Hi all,

Just got a call earlier today about scheduling my last service before my warranty expires at the end of March 2021.

They told me I had to pay $200+tax for them to check my car.

I've heard elsewhere that is free.

Can anyone shed some light on this, please?

Thanks

[frazervalley]

Here is how I see it based on the information you have provided in your post.

If you pay $200.00, BMW will check your car for problems and maintenance issues which are pending and will tell you about it. This has value because now you know in advance as opposed to it potentially leaving you stranded in the future. If it is covered by Warranty, it will be repaired/replaced free of charge. Saving you money.

BMW can also check areas on your car where BMW Service Bulletins have been issued and tighten bolts, apply grease, or replace small parts for free where recommended by BMW while the car is under Warranty.

After Warranty, you will be paying for all this yourself and you will not know what may or may not require attention on your car. This is important because you are in an area with weather that can be harsh on a car, cold, heat and humidity, salt on roads, etc. This will hasten the deterioration on some parts of your car.

It is up to you whether $200.00 is a worthwhile investigative and preventive expense which may also include freebies as I described while your car is under Warranty. Hope this helps.

[smak168]

Well put frazervalley,

So get it done well in advanced of your warranty expiration...

[brigade24]

Granted 200 is steep, you should find out what they are checking so that they don't just throw parts at it. They should be able to provide you with specific details on what they will be checking. Ask for a written record so you can use it as a reference in the future should you decide to go that route. unfortunately, the quality of the inspection and information that comes from it is what is of concern since that is effectively what you are paying for.

You are certainly not under any obligation and you should bare in mind that if you are not abusing the car, its unlikely there will be any issues and I would lean towards putting the $200 towards an actual repair.

to share my experience, i purchased an extended warranty for my car to 200,000kms (no time limit) and i am currently at 1997XXkms...and so far...not...one...effin'...claim. And I autox this car regularly and still have not had any issues. I bought it expecting that something would fail but that hasn't happened yet. Oh well.

[frazervalley]

Yes, I agree. If you go for the BMW inspection, confirm beforehand that they will provide a written inspection report for you.

I share the experience of Brigade24. I purchased a three year extended warranty for my BMW and absolutely nothing went wrong with my car.
I try to look at this positively as it suggests that my car was well built. It has no creaks, everything works as designed and overall I am very satisfied with the purchase of my first BMW. Mine is not a daily driver and it is garaged and pampered.

[i128]

Very unlikely that they'll flag or fix anything that is not broken or about to be unless it's flagrantly obvious. Not to mention maybe they will find things to repair/replace that are not covered under your existing warranty. They're called "Steelerships" for a reason.

My recommendation is to go to an independent qualified shop that specializes in BMWs and get them to do a full unbiased inspection, depending on where you're located it shouldn't cost more than $100.

If nothing is found, great! If your Indy finds something you can then head back to the dealer with what needs to be repaired/replaced under warranty.

Lastly, if you really want a BMW dealer to inspect your car, hopefully there's another one near by that will do it for you as a courtesy, as $200 is hefty price to pay for them to kick your tires...

[GreenF30N26]

I did the same check here in the GTA when my warranty was up last November. It was $59.99+tax for a 60 point visual inspection. It was another $70 to plug in and check codes, but I already have a code checker. It came with a full report on what they checked and 1 year roadside assistance.

[i128]

mattyf30

Noticed you're in MTL, - here's a reputable shop: https://www.mmsportmtl.com/
Greg is their F30 specialist.

[mattyf30]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I totally agree it’s worth spending $200 for peace of mind. But here’s what happened:
My first encounter with the dealership nearest me(not the one I bought car from) did not go well. When I brought my tires in to get changed for the winter season, service rep told me 1 1/2 hour wait max. I wound up being there for over 4 hours. I get they were crazy busy but just tell me that so that I can plan my day properly.
Made numerous complaints against that rep via online, phone, in person etc. Zero feedback from bmw. So I shrug.
During servicing and full check up, they found I needed a new tie rod which also meant getting an alignment. The guy told me it would be another 2-2 1/2 hours before it’s completed if I choose to do it the same day. Seeing as I took the whole day off from work, I told them to go ahead and do it.
After 2 1/2 hours the car was ready.
My bill: $0.00
They didn’t even charge me for the full checkup.
No explanation, and I didn’t question it.
I left pleased.

[mattyf30]

Originally Posted by i128

mattyf30

Noticed you're in MTL, - here's a reputable shop: https://www.mmsportmtl.com/
Greg is their F30 specialist.

Thanks
Their website is quite bare.
Do you know their hourly rate by any chance?

[i128]

Originally Posted by mattyf30

Thanks
Their website is quite bare.
Do you know their hourly rate by any chance?

Sorry I don't, but I've only heard good things from the Montreal racing.com community.

There is also vagmotorsport.ca in laval, knowledgeable guys as well, but in my experience more expensive.

[brigade24]

Originally Posted by mattyf30

Thanks for everyone’s input. I totally agree it’s worth spending $200 for peace of mind. But here’s what happened:
My first encounter with the dealership nearest me(not the one I bought car from) did not go well. When I brought my tires in to get changed for the winter season, service rep told me 1 1/2 hour wait max. I wound up being there for over 4 hours. I get they were crazy busy but just tell me that so that I can plan my day properly.
Made numerous complaints against that rep via online, phone, in person etc. Zero feedback from bmw. So I shrug.
During servicing and full check up, they found I needed a new tie rod which also meant getting an alignment. The guy told me it would be another 2-2 1/2 hours before it’s completed if I choose to do it the same day. Seeing as I took the whole day off from work, I told them to go ahead and do it.
After 2 1/2 hours the car was ready.
My bill: $0.00
They didn’t even charge me for the full checkup.
No explanation, and I didn’t question it.
I left pleased.

Nice...one of those "START THE CAR" moments.

[mattyf30]

Originally Posted by brigade24

Nice...one of those "START THE CAR" moments.

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