[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

The technician is talking out of his/her arse.

It's funny just how much utter tosh gets spouted by people who work in dealerships and garages. One of the guys I had to deal with to start with in the paintwork debacle I had was one of the worst I've ever met for it, barely a word passed his lips without it being laden with utter nonsense that just dug a deeper hole for himself. I don't know if they genuinely believe it, or they're just so used to talking rubbish to the average customer to make themselves sound more knowledgeable that they forget to turn it off when they're speaking to someone who knows what they're doing? Mental.

[RoShambolt]

Originally Posted by RatPC

Personally if any dealer did that to me it would be the last time i use them ever! What if they were to damage your dashcam by interfering with it, they would just try and put the blame on you.

After all if they are doing their job right they have nothing to hide, or fear!

It's a tricky one, I agree with you but I also wouldn't want to be videotaped at work doing my job all day, with the risk of every move being scrutinised. But from the OP posts it's sounds like they have cameras in the workshop anyway so what's the difference. It does give the impression it is that they don't want to be caught doing things they shouldn't be doing then.

The dealer I mention also would disconnect my dash cam at visits, they fried a memory card on one visit. Just so happens on this visit the mechanic was a moron so didn't follow their procedures and in turn videotaped himself through the whole ordeal.

Wouldn't touch the dealer with a barge pole after how it was dealt with.

[ian332isport]

Car currently at the dealer having the brakes re-done.

Got a 71 plate 318d as a loaner. Looks nice, but I still don't like the fat lipped grille. Engine is gutless and the suspension is much firmer than the adaptive on my 340. I'm not sure I'd want to drive long distances in it. Beats walking though and much nicer than the 218i Grand Coupe that I had last time.

[ian332isport]

The saga continues....

Picked car up on Friday afternoon after getting them to bleed the brakes properly. All seemed good so far.

Had a chance over the weekend to have a closer look, and it appears whoever was doing the job didn't feel the need to clean up after themselves. big old dribble of brake fluid down the nearside front caliper that's damaged the paint. I appreciate that it's only cosmetic, but it's not the point.

Anyway, sent a shitty email over the weekend, and they're going to order a new caliper. Lets see what they can fuck up/damage when they fit that

[Ennoch]

Dealers really should be a lot better than they are for the amount they have the cheek to charge! I know it's a really small thing, but I didn't want them to wash the car last week when it was in because it was absolutely filthy and didn't want them to bugger anything by either using strong chemicals or scrubbing to get it clean. So with front wheels black with brake dust, what did the mechanic do? Grabbed it by the spokes with both hands to remove the wheels rather than by the outside of the tyre to avoid leaving hand prints. Just another symptom of them not really caring, rather than a big issue per se, but for £115+VAT per hour you'd expect a little more care and attention to detail!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

The saga continues....

Picked car up on Friday afternoon after getting them to bleed the brakes properly. All seemed good so far.

Had a chance over the weekend to have a closer look, and it appears whoever was doing the job didn't feel the need to clean up after themselves. big old dribble of brake fluid down the nearside front caliper that's damaged the paint. I appreciate that it's only cosmetic, but it's not the point.

Anyway, sent a shitty email over the weekend, and they're going to order a new caliper. Lets see what they can fuck up/damage when they fit that

Just goes to show the careless 'don't give a ****' attitude at dealers. Idiots.

I don't want to tempt fate, but I hope the new caliper is an identical match for paint colour/age/etc.

[ian332isport]

Just to close this one off. New caliper was fitted a couple of weeks back and the colour is all good.

Immediately after driving off, the brakes felt different. They worked well enough and it brakes straight etc, but the pedal felt like it travelled further than before. I initially though I was imagining it, but even pressing the brake pedal to start the car felt like I had to push further to get a firm pedal.

Rather than continue with constant dealer fuckups, I booked it in with a local BMW specialist (BMR Performance in Turners Hill) to get a second opinion. I dropped it over this morning, and about an hour later, the brakes were back performing how they should. Just a simple re-bleed was all it needed. All sorted for a very reasonable £54 all in. That includes 1.5L of brake fluid and the VAT. They reckon there was still air in the system, so BMW dealer still managed to fuck it up.

Needless to say I won’t be using that dealer again. Not that they’ll miss me.

On the plus side, I’ve discovered a really good independent BMW specialist that’s owned and staffed by BMW enthusiasts who actually give a shit. They can also update the service history on the BMW servers, so can do routine servicing while maintaining the warranty etc. Outside of warranty work, I may never need to risk another BMW dealer visit.

[Armaan]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

Just to close this one off. New caliper was fitted a couple of weeks back and the colour is all good.

Immediately after driving off, the brakes felt different. They worked well enough and it brakes straight etc, but the pedal felt like it travelled further than before. I initially though I was imagining it, but even pressing the brake pedal to start the car felt like I had to push further to get a firm pedal.

Rather than continue with constant dealer fuckups, I booked it in with a local BMW specialist (BMR Performance in Turners Hill) to get a second opinion. I dropped it over this morning, and about an hour later, the brakes were back performing how they should. Just a simple re-bleed was all it needed. All sorted for a very reasonable £54 all in. That includes 1.5L of brake fluid and the VAT. They reckon there was still air in the system, so BMW dealer still managed to fuck it up.

Needless to say I won’t be using that dealer again. Not that they’ll miss me.

On the plus side, I’ve discovered a really good independent BMW specialist that’s owned and staffed by BMW enthusiasts who actually give a shit. They can also update the service history on the BMW servers, so can do routine servicing while maintaining the warranty etc. Outside of warranty work, I may never need to risk another BMW dealer visit.

Unfortunate experience that pretty much echos the majority that use specialists versus dealers - it shouldn't have been that much trouble just to get your brake fluid changed!

Granted dealers take any mess ups on the chin, but we forget our most valuable asset sometimes…time!

I travel and hour to my local Indy, they know the car after two years and numerous benefits including offering advice and not doing unnecessary work, dealing with warranty, not charging for investigation work etc etc…over that time i trust them with my car, I'll pay extra for that over a dealer and they are more expensive for certain things given BMW fixed pricing.

Armaan

[martin10chk]

+1 for using a good specialist independent. I guess its the issue that the dealers have an effective monopoly on servicing cars in warranty - and quality is just poor.

[Mani59]

Originally Posted by martin10chk

+1 for using a good specialist independent. I guess its the issue that the dealers have an effective monopoly on servicing cars in warranty - and quality is just poor.

So long as the independent specialist use Genuine BMW Parts, your BMW warranty remains in tact. However, any goodwill from BMW UK (should it be needed) may be a little bit more trickier.

[Pobsey]

I too may have a case of dry nipples after paying for a brake fluid change - blue calipers outer nipples.
Anyone have the BMW procedure for changing the brake fluid?

[BMW Fanboy]

Pobsey: it would be so helpful to have input from a BMW trained technician who is also a car owner on this forum. On the 911 UK Forum there is a poster who while not owning a Porsche, is an ex OPC technician & now works for a reputable Sussex Independent. He offers input & advice to members including posting photos & pages from service bulletin's/guidance. A real bonus for owners & forum members.

[Sasquartch]

Originally Posted by Pobsey

I too may have a case of dry nipples after paying for a brake fluid change - blue calipers outer nipples.
Anyone have the BMW procedure for changing the brake fluid?

Here is the procedure for M-Sport brakes from ISTA

This is what a dealer should be doing

[Ennoch]

When I queried it with the service director of my local dealership he finally sent the images of their workshop process over which shows both sides being done with the wheels on. Whether that actually happens or not is another matter. And to be fair to them, if you blast it heavily with brake clean you will end up with a dry nipple. You'd still be able to see the witness marks from the spanner on the nipple though.

[SantaEugence]

Attached.

After reading this thread I made sure all the bleed nipples were free beforehand and also put a small piece of masking tape under the bleed nipple cover. When I got it back all the masking tape had gone so assumed they'd bled both sides!

[Pobsey]

Thanks everyone, not witness marks on the nipples and the rubber boots were stuck fast, like they’d been there for 3 years.
Emailed the service advisor, will escalate it service manager tomorrow lunch time if I’ve not had any response.

[SantaEugence]

Also found a handy section on how/where to apply anti seize/copper grease when installing new pads

[Pobsey]

Back at the dealers for warranty replacement of a rear shock absorber
They assure me the brake fluid was changed, evidence would suggest otherwise.
Excuse the dirt been busy with house extension

[ian332isport]

They look suitably untouched.

Roll up a bit of tissue and poke it down inside the nipple. I suspect it will be dry as a nuns chuff.

[Pobsey]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

They look suitably untouched.

Roll up a bit of tissue and poke it down inside the nipple. I suspect it will be dry as a nuns chuff.

Dropped the wheel off for a better look, inner nipples suitably moist as expected, outer on both bone dry.

Got absolutely nowhere with the dealer, dismissed with we’ve checked the cctv and we’ve changed the brake fluid. That was the aftersales manager…

I just want to pay my money and get a job completed correctly it’s not rocket science or even phD level man maths it’s undoing 6 nipples and allowing the guild out!

Time to find a new dealer I think, not that it will make any difference to them :

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by Pobsey

Dropped the wheel off for a better look, inner nipples suitably moist as expected, outer on both bone dry.

Got absolutely nowhere with the dealer, dismissed with we’ve checked the cctv and we’ve changed the brake fluid. That was the aftersales manager…

I just want to pay my money and get a job completed correctly it’s not rocket science or even phD level man maths it’s undoing 6 nipples and allowing the guild out!

Time to find a new dealer I think, not that it will make any difference to them :

The outer nipple being dry itself isn't a definite indicator but the fact the inner one is wet while the outer one is dry definitely is. Pretty poor. I do wonder how many of their techs actually think to do the outer one given the standard procedure is different to the M Sport one.

[SantaEugence]

Maybe worth asking to see the CCTV of that bit for piece of mind?