[Davey90]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

If it's £400 in labour only as you say, that to me is expensive.

I've just had my major service on my 340i by my BMW specialist independant consisting of -

Oil & filter
Pollen & air filter
Plugs
Standard inspection service
Tyre swop on fit another wheel as I scuffed the original
Investigate coolant level drop (as I had to top it up).
Servive logged with BMW and on idrive
Came to £420 all in parts and labour.

Lesson learnt the hard way - i've always assumed he's much cheaper than an independant garage or a bmw garage because he's home based but clearly not.

[KRS_SN]

Bmw for service
Indy for repairs
Is the combination that I feel comfortable with.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Davey90

Lesson learnt the hard way - i've always assumed he's much cheaper than an independant garage or a bmw garage because he's home based but clearly not.

Pentland felt very strongly that his overheads were similar.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

If it's any consolation I've just been quoted £515 by BMW for the major oil/filters service and inspection. Seems some independents are taking a leaf out the book of the main dealers...

Yes they certainly are.
I had a 'major' service done by a BMW specialist today; oil, filters (including fuel filter and obviously pollen filter!!), plugs (at 12k miles!!) and a plug in to check codes.
£452 thank you. Took and hour and a quarter! I know cos I waited. So around 10% cheaper than BMW. Admittedly they do have the software to update iDrive info and BMW servers, which is why I used them.

The car is now officially for sale!

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Pentland felt very strongly that his overheads were similar.

It that post necessary or are you just trying to goad?
You’ve already dismissed my point by taking it beyond what was said. Just to clarify, while I said he had overheads, I didn't say they were main dealer level.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Pond

Yes they certainly are.
I had a 'major' service done by a BMW specialist today; oil, filters (including fuel filter and obviously pollen filter!!), plugs (at 12k miles!!) and a plug in to check codes.
£452 thank you. Took and hour and a quarter! I know cos I waited. So around 10% cheaper than BMW. Admittedly they do have the software to update iDrive info and BMW servers, which is why I used them.

The car is now officially for sale!

Every 12k miles £285 minor service and Every 24k mile £575 major service.
Every 20k odd miles £500 for brake pads and Every 40k odd miles £800 for pads n discs.
Tbh I don't think parting with that money is bad. Usually they price match tyres without asking and often do a recall or software update etc when it's in anyway.
Maybe dealer specific but Douglas park in Glasgow pinkston have been fabulous for me in looking after my two x5's.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Every 12k miles £285 minor service and Every 24k mile £575 major service.

Problem I have is that my car does very little miles, but the 'BMW service indicators' can't (or won't) take this into account.
Spark plugs at 12k miles is stupid; I had this conversation with them. Every second service or they won't update the car's computer, or the servers.

The air filter that came out (I checked) was spotless after 4k miles!

No more for me, thanks.
I like to decide what and when and where. The modern iDrives (and not only BMW) decide for me and I don't really have a choice.
My other BMW doesn't have iDrive servicing, so I can take it to my local garage, who are really good and less than 1/2 the price, and will do whatever I ask them to do. They did a hydraulic test on my car's brake fluid before they would change it. No BMW dealer, or BMW indy do that; they just change it cos it's 'in the schedule'.
I can change plugs, air filter and pollen filter myslef, but can't with the iDrive system, as the garages won't update the software unless they have done it.

Pisses me off TBH.

[isleaiw1]

Taking my 7 year old Mini back to the Main dealer for service and brake fluid change, its probably a waste on a car that old but its the only place it has been and to be honest I am kind of attached to it and cant see me selling it any time soon so why not...

Also getting ready for 3 new tyres according to the MoT, but they wont be doing that, and mid range like Falken will be fine for the 3k or 4k miles it does a year...

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Pond

Problem I have is that my car does very little miles, but the 'BMW service indicators' can't (or won't) take this into account.
Spark plugs at 12k miles is stupid; I had this conversation with them. Every second service or they won't update the car's computer, or the servers.

The air filter that came out (I checked) was spotless after 4k miles!

No more for me, thanks.
I like to decide what and when and where. The modern iDrives (and not only BMW) decide for me and I don't really have a choice.
My other BMW doesn't have iDrive servicing, so I can take it to my local garage, who are really good and less than 1/2 the price, and will do whatever I ask them to do. They did a hydraulic test on my car's brake fluid before they would change it. No BMW dealer, or BMW indy do that; they just change it cos it's 'in the schedule'.
I can change plugs, air filter and pollen filter myslef, but can't with the iDrive system, as the garages won't update the software unless they have done it.

Pisses me off TBH.

Hadn't considered the low mileage angle . I'm on 82k miles on one and 33k miles on the other. They do get decent runs so perhaps worth it in that context.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Hadn't considered the low mileage angle .

There is no angle, or leeway. Why would there be when someone, somewhere, can make money for old rope?

Of course the 'green' issue doesn't come into the equation when it comes to pound notes. 6 perfectly good spark plugs, 6 litres of perfectly good oil and some prefectly good filters being 'thrown away' is fine as long as we all make a good living!

I'm not playing anymore. I decide, not some faceless multi-national company.

Going back to 'old school' cars and bikes from now on.

[Kendo67]

Originally Posted by Pond

There is no angle, or leeway. Why would there be when someone, somewhere, can make money for old rope?

Of course the 'green' issue doesn't come into the equation when it comes to pound notes. 6 perfectly good spark plugs, 6 litres of perfectly good oil and some prefectly good filters being 'thrown away' is fine as long as we all make a good living!.

Had my 440`s big 48m service done with just 9k on the clock , asked if the plugs could be left un-fitted due to the mileage but was told no as the service history would not be updated fully on the iDrive unless they were replaced.

K

[Pond]

Originally Posted by Kendo67

Had my 440`s big 48m service done with just 9k on the clock , asked if the plugs could be left un-fitted due to the mileage but was told no as the service history would not be updated fully on the iDrive unless they were replaced.

K

I was spouted some cock-and-bull story about the plugs degrading over time due to water ingress in the plug wells too.

Another pet hate of mine; idiots who know nothing treating people as if they are stupid! Seems to be a 'thing' these days.

as said above; once bitten twice shy for me.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Pond

There is no angle, or leeway. Why would there be when someone, somewhere, can make money for old rope?

Of course the 'green' issue doesn't come into the equation when it comes to pound notes. 6 perfectly good spark plugs, 6 litres of perfectly good oil and some prefectly good filters being 'thrown away' is fine as long as we all make a good living!

I'm not playing anymore. I decide, not some faceless multi-national company.

Going back to 'old school' cars and bikes from now on.

I agree with the core sentiment but manufacturers have their protocols and such that the service department has to follow.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Pond

I was spouted some cock-and-bull story about the plugs degrading over time due to water ingress in the plug wells too.

Another pet hate of mine; idiots who know nothing treating people as if they are stupid! Seems to be a 'thing' these days.

My brother was the same, got really fed up with idiots who knew nothing treating him as stupid, especially as he was the service manager with 35 years experience and they had probably read it on the internet. He's now a service manager for a fork lift truck company, less idiots to deal with (and he gets paid more and doesnt have to deal with idiots on Saturday too)...

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

My brother was the same, got really fed up with idiots who knew nothing treating him as stupid, especially as he was the service manager with 35 years experience and they had probably read it on the internet. He's now a service manager for a fork lift truck company, less idiots to deal with (and he gets paid more and doesnt have to deal with idiots on Saturday too)...

All the above comments are exactly why I use an independant. I realise this has been discussed many times in other threads so won't continue that, but if you are not happy with the dealers approach, don't go there.

Pond I wouldn't move to 'old school' cars just because of a dealer attitude to servicing. Prime example is the wifes Z4 which she has had for around 8 years, still under extended warranty with BMW (in case something goes wrong on the electric folding roof) but the only time it was in the dealership, was when she bought it. Mileage is low but serviced regularly with independant. Oil every 12 months irrespective of mileage and other items as and when needed on a common sense basis. Plugs are a prime example, had done very few miles from when they were initially changed and although the service schedule said they were needed I said don't do them, he agreed and said he wasn't going to anyway. i drive was still updated with items that had been done, oh & the service book was stamped up as well. Nice to have one of those!

So for me this all works and in reality doesn't affect the cars value or saleability.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

All the above comments are exactly why I use an independant. I realise this has been discussed many times in other threads so won't continue that, but if you are not happy with the dealers approach, don't go there.

Pond I wouldn't move to 'old school' cars just because of a dealer attitude to servicing. Prime example is the wifes Z4 which she has had for around 8 years, still under extended warranty with BMW (in case something goes wrong on the electric folding roof) but the only time it was in the dealership, was when she bought it. Mileage is low but serviced regularly with independant. Oil every 12 months irrespective of mileage and other items as and when needed on a common sense basis. Plugs are a prime example, had done very few miles from when they were initially changed and although the service schedule said they were needed I said don't do them, he agreed and said he wasn't going to anyway. i drive was still updated with items that had been done, oh & the service book was stamped up as well. Nice to have one of those!

So for me this all works and in reality doesn't affect the cars value or saleability.

Think you missed my point - he was the service manage working for a main dealer and was sick of know it alls who had read something on the internet telling him his job. He'd started as an apprentice, worked on all the cars they sold, if there was an issue he would go and look where he could so he could explain to the punter. This was a private group not one of the big nationals - and is probably indicative of where it has gone wrong now. I had an issue with the RS4 after a recall, and the young person on reception clearly knew nothing about cars so my conversation with them was short....

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

Think you missed my point - he was the service manage working for a main dealer and was sick of know it alls who had read something on the internet telling him his job. He'd started as an apprentice, worked on all the cars they sold, if there was an issue he would go and look where he could so he could explain to the punter. This was a private group not one of the big nationals - and is probably indicative of where it has gone wrong now. I had an issue with the RS4 after a recall, and the young person on reception clearly knew nothing about cars so my conversation with them was short....

Sorry, my error I hit quote instead of reply, meant to reply generally to the topic not specifically to yours, apologies for confusion!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Sorry, my error I hit quote instead of reply, meant to reply generally to the topic not specifically to yours, apologies for confusion!

No worries, I started off defending the industry but actually it reminded me how its changed... when I first had an E30 you could talk to the guy who worked on your car if you wanted to, not a video is as near as you get to useful info....

My brother was old school, he was happy to explain to people what was wrong, he'd even source secondhand parts from scrap merchants for good customers to keep the bill down. Imagine that these days.....

[Sasquartch]

I've decided against main dealer servicing on my now 4 year old 520i

A basic service is just an oil and filter change (and a ridiculously pricy cabin filter that they insist is necessary to keep the service history) and costs over £300

I did an oil change using an OEM filter and Mobil-1 oil for about £65, yes a little messy but couldn't have taken me more than about an hour. I can update the idrive (not the BMW server) which is all people ever look at when part exchanging, I keep the receipts for everything.

I checked the air filter which even after 32000 miles was very clean (10 min job) the cabin filter was still spotless (also a 10 minute job) so won't change until I next change the oil again in 10k or a year, whatever comes first.

I feel main dealers offer such poor value for money, I don't want to drink their coffee, don't need a pretty receptionist to introduce me to my service advisor, I would like to chat to the person actually doing the work but of course that isn't possible.

A basic B48 engine 5 series is well designed for basic servicing, anyone can do it if they really want to.

Of course for a lot of people they wouldn't dream of getting their hands dirty but this approach works for me

[Wills2]

The Z4C which is 15 years old now doesn't go to the dealer I use a mate to service it, replace and repairs and the local MOT station, the 7 series has some sort of chauffeur scheme service pack on it for 5 years and 125k miles so that's all "free"

I think it can pay to use BMW service for quite a few years after the warranty expires as they will apply goodwill if something big goes wrong in the 4th or 5th year (that's what I've found anyway)