Inspection 2 - Worth Going to BMW to Keep FBMWSH?

john-e89 · Post by **john-e89** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:16 pm

Yep I wouldn’t go anywhere near the stealers either, you’ll get charged for them checking clearances for a kings ransom and I’d bet my last dollar they won’t even take the rocker cover off.

A goos Indy is your friend.

620turbo · Post by **620turbo** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:27 pm

WillP wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:49 pm All the above is true and the enthusiasts know that - however, in the future, if the ///M does gain classic status it will bring in a different buyer whom won't know (or care) about some indies being better and would prefer/want one with a FBMWSH as opposed to a mixed history - just my thoughts though...

Thank you everyone for your comments. This was my line of thinking also. The car currently has FBMWSH with all invoices so this is my dilemma.

620turbo · Post by **620turbo** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:28 pm

Car has just flicked over to 50K.

I have been quoted £650 from ETA motorsport in Brands Hatch who I know are very good or circa £1K from a friend in a main dealer.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:28 pm

Maybe it depends on who is likely to buy it if you ever sell. I'm sure most of us on here wouldn't have an issue with it going to an independent specialist - personally I'd actually prefer that!

It's only usually non-enthusiasts who want to see main dealer stamps.

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:31 pm

620turbo wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:28 pm Car has just flicked over to 50K.

I have been quoted £650 from ETA motorsport in Brands Hatch who I know are very good or circa £1K from a friend in a main dealer.

That’s a no-brainier. ETA have a great reputation, and anyone looking at your stamps in future who turns their nose up doesn’t know what they’re talking about IMO.

Post by **srhutch** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:38 pm

Bing wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:31 pm
620turbo wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:28 pm Car has just flicked over to 50K.

I have been quoted £650 from ETA motorsport in Brands Hatch who I know are very good or circa £1K from a friend in a main dealer.
That’s a no-brainier. ETA have a great reputation, and anyone looking at your stamps in future who turns their nose up doesn’t know what they’re talking about IMO.

abar121 · Post by **abar121** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:24 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:28 pm Maybe it depends on who is likely to buy it if you ever sell. I'm sure most of us on here wouldn't have an issue with it going to an independent specialist - personally I'd actually prefer that!

It's only usually non-enthusiasts who want to see main dealer stamps.

That's true, specialist / main dealer wouldn't matter to me if buying.

Unfortunately as these attain classic car status, they will be bought more by collectors and investors, rather than car enthusiasts. A book with all BMW main dealer stamps is still desirable.

I've had equally bad / good service from main and specialist dealers. It's a crapshoot without personal experience / recommendations.

620turbo · Post by **620turbo** » Wed May 01, 2019 1:48 pm

So, by way of an update, latest prices with me supplying the engine oil (TWS) are:

BMW Dealer £1,100 approx
ETA Motorsport £560 approx

It is a difficult one for the reasons everyone has posted above. If it were not for the Z4M transitioning into classic / collector status there would not be any doubt. I am sure that ETA will probably do a better job and are more used to working on them now than the stealers anyway.

I think I will give it to ETA but I hope the non BMW stamp in the book does not harm the car's value with someone at a later date. Thanks for all your input everyone.

mmm-five · Post by **mmm-five** » Wed May 01, 2019 2:00 pm

Even if the cost was the same, I wouldn’t take mine back to a dealer.

As long as the book shows a recognised specialist stamp, then the only people who’d worry about it are those anally-retentive, concours/original-at-all-costs type buyer who’d also want crappy Continental M3 tyres on it, and will have a fit when they find out that BMW have been filling it with the Shell equivalent of Castrol TWS.

Also, with as many dealership visits as me over 3 different M cars, I can tell you that you will only ever receive a feedback questionnaire if you’ve told the ‘service advisor’ that you were happy with what you’ve had done today. My ratio is about 1 questionnaire every 2 good visits, and 0 questionnaires after any bad visit. Unluckily for my local dealership, I had 2 visits in a week and one was good...until it required a return and turned into bad. So I got to give them a 1 rating that time (as it specifically asks you about your LATEST visit)

So it tells you something about their tactics if the only people they’re asking for reviews from are happy customers...even then, they’re only getting 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.

stewey999 · Post by **stewey999** » Wed May 01, 2019 2:16 pm

As others have said, it definitely wont to anyone who knows about these cars. Most cars around this age are always the same for me. I prefer to use reputable independents. Main dealers are only really geared up to service the current models / fleet and don't 'care' as much as the independents. I took my 996 turbo a main dealer once. They said they hadn't worked on one for 'a month or so'. It needed a couple of things doing on top of the service, which they were happy to do for £150 / hour!...no thanks!! With all the on-line reviews they have to be on the ball, know what they are doing and do a great job. A couple of 'nightmare' reviews could end up costing them money from any future work.

mr wilks · Post by **mr wilks** » Wed May 01, 2019 9:00 pm

620turbo wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2019 1:48 pm If it were not for the Z4M transitioning into classic / collector status there would not be any doubt.

"transitioning"

have i missed a chapter

if anything the last 6 - 12 months values (especially ZMC models) appear to be dropping back after climbing the previous 2-3 years
Could well see flatline figures for many years yet before the fabled "classic / cult " status often talked about actually happens

Striven · Post by **Striven** » Mon May 06, 2019 9:15 am

Is there a list in here of rated indies that we can rely on? I have only had my Z4MR since December. With only 22k miles on it I want to get it the best care possible.
In the future how much difference in £££ would the full dealer history make vs good indie history and frequent non mileage oil changes etc.

afennell · Post by **afennell** » Fri May 24, 2019 11:57 am

I had this dilemma last year. Full bmw history on the Z. I had used a local BMW Indy for years and years on an old E46 so new them well.
So I phoned BMW for a quote and ask how long, and did the same with the Indy.
BMW said they could do it in a day (and that’s after been on hold while the reception spoke to servicing).
The Indy said two days and went into details as to why it must be 2 days for the inspection2.
After that and hearing so many stories of BMW not doing a full valve clearance check I went with the Indi. So glad I did as it was noticeably smoother.
I wanted my car to be services correctly, not half a job but with a nice BMW stamp.
I suppose it comes down to how much you trust your local BMW in comparison to your Indy.

620turbo · Post by **620turbo** » Sat May 25, 2019 9:48 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2019 9:00 pm
620turbo wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2019 1:48 pm If it were not for the Z4M transitioning into classic / collector status there would not be any doubt.
"transitioning" have i missed a chapter if anything the last 6 - 12 months values (especially ZMC models) appear to be dropping back after climbing the previous 2-3 years
Could well see flatline figures for many years yet before the fabled "classic / cult " status often talked about actually happens

Sorry for late reply. Fair comment Mr Wilks and I agree.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat May 25, 2019 11:01 pm

Striven wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2019 9:15 am Is there a list in here of rated indies that we can rely on? I have only had my Z4MR since December. With only 22k miles on it I want to get it the best care possible.
In the future how much difference in £££ would the full dealer history make vs good indie history and frequent non mileage oil changes etc.

There is, but it isn't pinned so it's quite challenging to find it!

Probably easiest to just start a thread asking for a good Indy in a certain area and someone should be able to help out.

As far as the OPs dilemma goes, I'd have gone Indy too - especially given the prices! My BMW Indy is ex-Sytner anyway, and at least one of his techs is as well so they probably worked on these cars when they were new.

Whereas the current techs in most main agents have probably never checked valve clearances.

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com