[Pequin]

Hi all 67 335D mileage 43K

My car is telling me that I need an oil change II am, currently WFH and have done < 5K miles in the last 18 months, just been quoted £269 for oil and filter.

Should I?

Thanks

[Bigfish786]

Just had mine done, I bought oil and filter from opie. Then got techs at work to change it. Mine had only done 8k in almost 12 months. Still worth doing annually.
Do something similar and get a local indie to do it.

[BIFCAIDS]

Originally Posted by Pequin

Hi all 67 335D mileage 43K

My car is telling me that I need an oil change II am, currently WFH and have done < 5K miles in the last 18 months, just been quoted £269 for oil and filter.

Should I?

Thanks

In short, yes.

[ArthurKing]

Are you due a service? What when the last service done?

You mentioned 18 months so presumably your last one was two years ago and the CBS is simply telling you it’s due based on the time elapsing rather than hitting the mileage.

If you are due a service and want to sell the car as having full service history then you need to get it done but it needs to be a service rather than just an oil and filter change.

Oil and filter change is for the years inbetween the CBS services as extras just in case.

[BIFCAIDS]

Originally Posted by ArthurKing

Are you due a service? What when the last service done?

You mentioned 18 months so presumably your last one was two years ago and the CBS is simply telling you it’s due based on the time elapsing rather than hitting the mileage.

If you are due a service and want to sell the car as having full service history then you need to get it done but it needs to be a service rather than just an oil and filter change.

Oil and filter change is for the years inbetween the CBS services as extras just in case.

Exactly mine gets an oil and filter change every year irrespective of iCrap. MOT, Oil and filter on the same day.

[Eddamoo]

269 is a complete ripoff. You can usually get it online for 129 and sometimes even less (like black Friday)

[MY340i]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

269 is a complete ripoff. You can usually get it online for 129 and sometimes even less (like black Friday)

Micro filter adds £150

[Techno 9000]

Now that is a ripoff. £150 for a cabin filter that's £12-15 for a named manufacturer part. Or £40 if you insist on it coming in a BMW box.

[bishbosh]

Micro filter charges does seem like money for old rope. Takes a couple of minutes tops to swap it out.

[ArthurKing]

Originally Posted by Techno 9000

Now that is a ripoff. £150 for a cabin filter that's £12-15 for a named manufacturer part. Or £40 if you insist on it coming in a BMW box.

Weirdly I don't even get the option for just an oil and filter change on the BMW service website anymore, I think it used to be £130 but its just not there anymore.

Minor service is £238 so about an extra £110 between oil + filter and the minor service.

Those who pay BMW to service their cars do so because they want full dealer history. They do so knowing it can be done cheaper elsewhere and far cheaper if they DIY but that is not what they want. Modern BMW's can be mega expensive to fix, I think I read a transfer case failure on the xDrives can be the best part of £6k. As ours is under warranty, the last thing I want is to risk the dealer refusing a claim because I tried to save £60 on servicing. You can claim all you like they can't refuse a claim because you went elsewhere for servicing and legally you might be right....however, I don't want the drama of having to have a row with them about it.

So for mine, £238 for a minor service. I remember calling two Independent BMW specialists in my area when it was due last year. One came in at 'about £175' and the other was £185 fixed price.

Hardly a massive saving and the 'about' would likely have gone up by the time I came to pay. I like a fixed price which I can see beforehand, no interest in 'about £xxx'.

[BIFCAIDS]

Originally Posted by ArthurKing

Those who pay BMW to service their cars do so because they want full dealer history. They do so knowing it can be done cheaper elsewhere and far cheaper if they DIY but that is not what they want. Modern BMW's can be mega expensive to fix, I think I read a transfer case failure on the xDrives can be the best part of £6k. As ours is under warranty, the last thing I want is to risk the dealer refusing a claim because I tried to save £60 on servicing. You can claim all you like they can't refuse a claim because you went elsewhere for servicing and legally you might be right....however, I don't want the drama of having to have a row with them about it.

So for mine, £238 for a minor service. I remember calling two Independent BMW specialists in my area when it was due last year. One came in at 'about £175' and the other was £185 fixed price.

Hardly a massive saving and the 'about' would likely have gone up by the time I came to pay. I like a fixed price which I can see beforehand, no interest in 'about £xxx'.

Anybody remember that scene out of Wolf of Wall Street when Jordan fleeces that guy down the phone... He's here in this post.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by Pequin

Hi all 67 335D mileage 43K

My car is telling me that I need an oil change II am, currently WFH and have done < 5K miles in the last 18 months, just been quoted £269 for oil and filter.

Should I?

Thanks

Yes you should especially in a diesel. I also change my oil every 10K or every 12 months which ever comes first, irrespective of the i drive readings.

[ArthurKing]

Originally Posted by BIFCAIDS

Anybody remember that scene out of Wolf of Wall Street when Jordan fleeces that guy down the phone... He's here in this post.

£60 extra once every 2 years is nothing compared to what else it costs to run the car.

Set of tyres is the best part of £700.
VED is £150 per year.
Insurance is £500 a year
Fuel is £1800 per year.

Honestly, if I can afford to run a BMW then I can afford an extra £60 to get the dealer to service it.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by ArthurKing

£60 extra once every 2 years is nothing compared to what else it costs to run the car.

Honestly, if I can afford to run a BMW then I can afford an extra £60 to get the dealer to service it.

Although we are slightly getting off the track of the OP's question, I do agree with your statement here, but mine does go to my local specialist.

Okay it is a little more cost effective but the main point is the level of service I receive and that of some others on here, is far superior than that of the main dealer. I and my car are dealt with as a person and not a number, my car is cared for with no nasty surprises on collection, the service is also registered with BMW Munich servers and loged on the idrive and warranty is fully intact.

It gives me confidence by comparison to BMW dealers I have used in the past where I have had some shocking experiences. I do understand that your dealer may be fine for you and respect that, but each to their own.

Just because you buy a car from a UK franchised BMW dealer doesn't mean you have to use them to service it. I'm not advocating that the OP goes to Halfords for a service but nothing wrong with being cost effective if all other factors are satisfied.

[McBeemer]

Originally Posted by ArthurKing

£60 extra once every 2 years is nothing compared to what else it costs to run the car.

Set of tyres is the best part of £700.
VED is £150 per year.
Insurance is £500 a year
Fuel is £1800 per year.

Honestly, if I can afford to run a BMW then I can afford an extra £60 to get the dealer to service it.

I used to feel the same about dealer servicing, thinking that I was in safe hands & getting the best advice..... until it's first MOT was due & I got a phone call telling me that I needed a full set of disk & pads to get it through the MOT at a cost of £1600 ... Knowing that it was not the case, I refused ...The service guy came out with a load of excuses, blaming the technician, but eventually passed the MOT with nothing done ... I complained to the management, who did their best to help cover it up ..... I hate them & my experience has been of dishonesty. I managed to get pointed in the direction of a really good indy fro this forum .... the experience was a million times better, No coffee, but no bullshit ... Almost six months & 8,000 miles later, i bought the disc parts (Brembo) from autodoc for around £600 & they were fitted by the indy for £280, which included the suggested handbrake pads also (He recommended genuine BMW for this) The main difference was a I really felt I was being given honest opinions .... & obviously a huge cost difference.
Yes, i did not get a courtesy car, but i could have easily hired a car for the day with my savings.

[HighlandPete]

From the comments it appears it is often the dealers, rather than the cost itself that becomes the issue. Good dealer, good relationship, it can pay off in good value in other ways through ownership.

As to the oil /filter change, OPs is quoted high, if only the oil/filter change. I've had an interim change for £155 on the 535i at my dealer.

Cabin filter will be part of the 2-year 'timed' schedule. We can argue the case and cost of having it done at a dealer, but how we put value on that will vary between users. I'm all for 'value for money', see not short cutting as a sort of 'sweetener' which keeps the 'good will' for other repairs.

Some would read this as being a 'mug', but over the years have seen prudently paying a bit more, pay dividends.

[BIFCAIDS]

Originally Posted by ArthurKing

£60 extra once every 2 years is nothing compared to what else it costs to run the car.

Set of tyres is the best part of £700.
VED is £150 per year.
Insurance is £500 a year
Fuel is £1800 per year.

Honestly, if I can afford to run a BMW then I can afford an extra £60 to get the dealer to service it.

You're missing my point, I want value for the service. Not only do I get excellent service from my indie specialist but I also save money win win. I used to be blinded by the BMW service history ethos but it's utter horse shit, it makes no difference. In fact I'm less inclined to buy a car looked after by BMW than I am a specialist, specialists have way better track records than dealerships, I mean we call them stealers for a reason.

4 dealerships I've dealt with, 1 was alright and that was because I was spending 2k. Any other time I've been spoken to like a tw@ (granted I can be one) or I'm some mug. Then they don't give a crap about your car, many times in the past somethings not been done correctly or put back properly. Then you say something about it and they just shrug.

Indie, "yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir", car is perfect every time * where am I going wrong? full service history recognised by BMW, it's on the iDrive and it's covered by BMW warranty. I'm being treated as I should be, getting the service I expect and paying less for it.

[Armaan]

To add to this, I actually paid more to my specialist for oil and oil filter service - think it was around £175 when the dealers were offering it for £129.

What else do I get? A full inspection of the car, honest review that the brake discs are lipped but given the life in the pads don't need replacing due to my mileage since the last MOT (yes they checked) and they'll look at them again next year.

A check to see if the spark plugs have ever been changed according to BMW before just doing it for the cash…

Them contacting my 3rd party warranty company to process a gearbox seal replacement and getting agreement with them…

List could go on. I travel one hour each way and have 3 dealerships that are closer - no thanks. All servicing logged on the idrive and BMW servers.

Armaan

[GOF_430d]

An oil change every year or 18,000 miles whichever comes sooner is what I work to.
Oil is hygroscopic [it absorbs water] so fewer miles means a greater risk of internal corrosion, so even if the annual mileage is less the oil & filter should be changed annually.

I have always had my BMW serviced by the same dealer [not the one I bought the cars from - always second hand] because the dealer is local to me at work and to date they haven't recommended work which wasn't required. I even tried having the brakes replaced before the CBS system indicated that new pads were required and the dealer told me to wait until the system said they were required.

The car is in there today for a major service and one of the items being replaced is the 'inlet silencer' & I have no idea what this is.

Its been over 30 years since I carried out car maintenance myself, I fondly remember the oil stains on the drive, routing around scrap yards for go faster parts, fitting higher lift camshafts and ways of fitting more / larger carburetors than the car had originally.

I have a service plan with the dealer and pay £25 per month to spread the servicing cost over 2 years, so no more surprises.

Mine is a company car where I take the cash and have to buy and maintain the vehicle myself and honestly I spend more time explaining to a new customer how someone in my position drives a car like mine. My car allowance doesn't cover the car cost over three years, hence why the car is nearly 5 years old.

I only drive a BMW because I wanted a hard top convertible.

[McBeemer]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

From the comments it appears it is often the dealers, rather than the cost itself that becomes the issue. Good dealer, good relationship, it can pay off in good value in other ways through ownership.

As to the oil /filter change, OPs is quoted high, if only the oil/filter change. I've had an interim change for £155 on the 535i at my dealer.

Cabin filter will be part of the 2-year 'timed' schedule. We can argue the case and cost of having it done at a dealer, but how we put value on that will vary between users. I'm all for 'value for money', see not short cutting as a sort of 'sweetener' which keeps the 'good will' for other repairs.

Some would read this as being a 'mug', but over the years have seen prudently paying a bit more, pay dividends.

I did not mind paying "A little bit more" for dealer servicing, when I felt that
I was getting premium advice & ability. As soon as honesty was brought into question, that was the end ... It would appear that many hide behind fancy premises & percieved abilities.

[martin10chk]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Although we are slightly getting off the track of the OP's question, I do agree with your statement here, but mine does go to my local specialist.

Okay it is a little more cost effective but the main point is the level of service I receive and that of some others on here, is far superior than that of the main dealer. I and my car are dealt with as a person and not a number, my car is cared for with no nasty surprises on collection, the service is also registered with BMW Munich servers and loged on the idrive and warranty is fully intact.

It gives me confidence by comparison to BMW dealers I have used in the past where I have had some shocking experiences. I do understand that your dealer may be fine for you and respect that, but each to their own.

Just because you buy a car from a UK franchised BMW dealer doesn't mean you have to use them to service it. I'm not advocating that the OP goes to Halfords for a service but nothing wrong with being cost effective if all other factors are satisfied.

+1 to this. I recently swapped to a local independent specialist and it just feels like they actually care a bit! They actually seem to look a the car and notice things.

[ade555]

So how much is for the oil and filter £129 or £269 at main stealers??? If the OP wants to service the car at BMW let him be, not everyone is mechanically minded and most should recognize this by the first post and please I'm not having a go at the OP, but OP you can't live with just incase something happens, please remember the guy/girls at BMW are at most fitters and not mechanic, they just fit new parts, I would suggest like others find nice independent garage who will save you a fortune, once something major fail BMW WILL try to get out of paying for X/Y/Z reasons and no amount of services will help you, all dealerships and brands are the same.