Picked up on Saturday, couple of questions *Now with Photos!

[bjorno]

Hello all, long time reader 1st time poster.......
I picked up my 04 2.2i on Saturday and have hardly stopped smiling since, it's the first car I've bought that's not been a family hand me down (I'm 22) and moving from a 1.2 corsa it feels like a friggin bullet! Pictures to follow once I've had a chance to give it a good fettle this weekend!

Anyways onto a few queries.....

1. I got a pretty good deal on the car but it is due an inspection 2 pretty sharpish. I live in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria and so the nearest stealer to me is Batemans at Grange over Sands, does anyone have any experience with them, I don't seem to be able to find any independent BMW specialists that are close by from gooleing but did come across service-a-car http://www.prestigecarservicing.com/bmwservice.html
can anyone recomend or put me off them?

2. The car has the symptoms as described in other posts (noise coming from drivers rear suspension when i get out, somethimes a creek, somethime like two bits of metal being tapped together) that the coil has cracked. Is it better to buy the coils myself and have them fitted at a local garage, rather then leaving it for the staeler/indy to do. I believe someone posted that they got the coils changed for free out of warranty by a main dealer, am I likely to be able to blag this?

3. The lid on the ashtray is broken and is just sat on top of the recess at the moment, does anyone know the part number for this and roughly what it will cost?

Thanks for reading, and sorry for the essay!

 

[GP20]

The squeaks you get from getting in & out of the car is probably just the e-brake being engaged. Disengage it and see if you can still hear the noise.

 

[srhutch]

welcome aboard, www.realoem.com is a very good source for finding part numbers.

As just a reminder before the locals get nasty.

:worthless:

 

[Mr Whippy]

I'd try the main dealer for the Insp2 if it already has FBMWSH, and then while you are there try blag any other detail jobs that it needs doing in for the price (ie, if the spring has gone)

Insp2 is fairly big and it'd be nice to have a dealer that should have well trained staff on these cars doing the inspections (of which the insp2 mainly is), to make sure everything is in good order!


Pictures also needed

Dave

 

[bras0782]

I'd try the main dealer for the Insp2 if it already has FBMWSH, and then while you are there try blag any other detail jobs that it needs doing in for the price (ie, if the spring has gone)

Insp2 is fairly big and it'd be nice to have a dealer that should have well trained staff on these cars doing the inspections (of which the insp2 mainly is), to make sure everything is in good order!


Pictures also needed

Dave

I've heard a lot of people argue good independents know much more and are much better than the BMW main stealers (have heard the same about most car manufacturers). Yet everyone is forced to go to BMW for the stamp :thumbsdown:

Mine's a 2004 and I took it to an indy for my last service (oil) and will do for the next (inspect 2). By the time I sell the car it will be 5+ yrs and the value of the BMW stamps will be worth much less so I have no intention of taking it to them.

 

[gannet]

Plus if independants didn't know what they were doing, wouldn't they go out of business pretty soon :?

As far as I understand the 'being forced' to go to the dealers, only comes down to whether they (stealers) can then sell the car as an approved used car or not.

They can't refuse you any warranty (if you have any left) as long as you have had it serviced according to the schedule.

 

[mmm-five]

I think the knowledge at BMW dealers is okay while the car is under warranty.

Once the car is 5 years old then I'd take it to a specialist.

There is so much new learning for the service technicians that they'll only be able to keep up-to-date with the latest cars.

My indie is approved by BMW - they even send some of their more awkward cars to him - and he's less than a third of the labour rate the local dealer charges, and has a better 'bedside manner' too. You also get to speak to the spanner monkey who did the work, not some customer service person just relaying the info on the job sheet.

 

[Darren M]

Plus if independants didn't know what they were doing, wouldn't they go out of business pretty soon :?

As far as I understand the 'being forced' to go to the dealers, only comes down to whether they (stealers) can then sell the car as an approved used car or not.

They can't refuse you any warranty (if you have any left) as long as you have had it serviced according to the schedule.

The problem is, there are many independents out there with a mixed reputation. I`m sure some people take the car to these specialists expecting to get the work done cheaper, have a good friendly motor-head chat and rate them on them being new buddies and fellow motor-heads and the cheaper than BMW cost they have been charged. Unfortunately I`ve heard negative stories about most. They won`t go out of business because they have made some new "friends" who will recommend them and charge less than BMW so some are happy.

One specialist admitted to me that they get the price down by only replacing parts that need replacing. I like to get my car serviced exactly as per the BMW service sheet, knowing ALL parts will last another 15k miles until the next service. If a specialist skips a part because right now it looks okay, will it be good enough to last until the next service however?

BMW dealers are all part of BMW themselves - part of the brand. They have a reputation to uphold. Personally I`d rather have my car serviced by fully technicians and employees who are linked to BMW. For example, if a dealer scr*ws up, you complain to them and also to BMW themselves. I`m willing to pay extra for that extra piece of mind. To date after 11 years of BMW ownership, I have not been disappointed with BMW dealers, but am not quite so sure about MOST of the so called specialists.

As a side note, BMW actually insure my car at a very good price. Recently I got a quote for some tyres through an online company which would of been fitted by a so-and-so fitter(just someone local to me but might not necessarily be any good), but I talked to BMW and they matched the price and also offered a courtesy car wash - and it was NOT even one of the dealers I`ve ever used before. Some dealers might take the car to a local tyre fitter but at least they then handle any comeback you might have. I mean if a wheel is damaged, the responsibility is on BMW........

 

[bjorno]

Hello again all, long delay since my last post, 2 and a half weeks in I'm still loving the zed. It's had its inspection 2 at Batemans (would reccomend to anyone in cumbria) and a couple of good wash and waxes, and it's starting to feel like its mine now! Here's some pictures I took on a sunday afternoon drive round the lake district a couple of weeks ago at Conniston, Blea Tarn, Windermere and then the Sunsets at Earnsy Bay on Walney Island

 

[Smokin]

Very nice!

 

[gannet]

Excellent I love the lakes

 

[Dreamer]

Wish I lived near some open spaces London is so, oh I cant even be bothered to moan about it.

Car looks great

 

[bras0782]

Wish I lived near some open spaces London is so, oh I cant even be bothered to moan about it.

Car looks great

lol
How I long for some open space

 

[RustyZ4]

Wow looks good, Hi & Welcome btw

 

[MarkN]

Looks really good

Glad it's been dry enough for you to have a drive with the top down already :driving:

 

[ElegantSpoon]

Looks good! How much was your inspection 2 if you don't mind me asking!

 

[bjorno]

Had the roof down at every opportunity providing it's been dry/had a chance to dry after setting off, I'm on nights this week and have driven to work every day apart from today with the top down. We didn't get any snow up here at all really, my mrs was gutted as we didn't get a snow day but I was glad I didn't have to drive it in the snow so soon after buying. It was a bit frosty on the way home from work last night and the back end was out on a couple of corners (empty rouads thought I'd try the DSC) it was a bit scary but I kinda loved it!

The inspection 2 was £350, had the brake fluid, rear pads, a tyre repair and wipers done aswell which made it about £550 total. Needs an alternator belt aswell apparently but they didn't have the part so that can wait till after pay day! I assume that BMW specialist knowledge is not required to change a fan belt and that it'll be ok to take to a garrage round the corner to do this? please correct me if I'm wrong anyone?!?

 

[Smokin]

Glad you're loving it. Just one note though, DSC is on by default. If you press the button once, DSC goes off but DTC is still on. You have to press and hold to turn everything off (not recommended until you've had a few hours in the seat and a wide open parking lot, lol)

 

[Zed_Steve]

Glad you're loving it. Just one note though, DSC is on by default. If you press the button once, DSC goes off but DTC is still on. You have to press and hold to turn everything off (not recommended until you've had a few hours in the seat and a wide open parking lot, lol)

No, thats not right! You are correct regards DSC being set in default mode. But to activate DTC, the DTC button needs to be pressed briefly,then the telltale light appears in the insrtument cluster And DTC is only to be used in exceptional situations like on snow covered roads.

 

[Aebous]

Glad you're loving it. Just one note though, DSC is on by default. If you press the button once, DSC goes off but DTC is still on. You have to press and hold to turn everything off (not recommended until you've had a few hours in the seat and a wide open parking lot, lol)

No, thats not right! You are correct regards DSC being set in default mode. But to activate DTC, the DTC button needs to be pressed briefly,then the telltale light appears in the insrtument cluster And DTC is only to be used in exceptional situations like on snow covered roads.

I believe its the other way around, when the DTC light is illuminated you can get the tires to spin a lot so long as you don't start drifting sideways, which tells me there is no traction control. When it's off you get a very slight spin then it cuts the throttle to prevent more rear wheel spin.
When you press and hold the button you can then get DSC turned off which lets you spin all the way around in a circle if you don't employ proper throttle modulation