At what point will you stop using BMW for servicing?

[GP06Roadster]

As the title says, question is aimed at those with full BMW history to date.

Just wondering at what point do people think it's an irrelevance...10 years?

My cars on 70k and has fsh with bmw but it's now 8 years old. Recent threads have compared Indy vs bmw inspections Ii costs varying by as much as £200.

So how long do you intend sticking with BMW servicing?

 

[ranski]

Mine was 6 years old when I bought it with 19k on the clock

I did the first service with BMW (inspec I) but never went back to the dealer again. My local mechanic now does the servicing and annual oil changes for peanuts

But then again 4+ years on and only at 72k I think mine is a keeper :driving:

 

[tomscott]

Just been quoted £795 for front discs and pads and 4 wheel alignment... Rang a local garage £544 for exact same thing.

 

[pvr]

But Tom, that is not servicing though.

My definition of servicing is the Oil / Insp 1, Insp II cycle - not tyres, brakes and so on.

On certain cars like the M, I would say it would affect resale value if it does not have BMWSH.

 

[DPG]

I'll keep going even when I decide not to renew warranty.

I'm happy with the service and don't mind paying a bit more

Never know when you will need that goodwill.

 

[buzyg]

I stopped after insp I. Since then Everything, Oil, brake fluid, new discs and pads, has been done by a local Ex Stealer Mech. He doesn't have all the jigs for ins II though, so will probably drive up to Exeter, as there is no way I'm going back to the local BMW stealer, after they charged, a rather naive at the time, me, £931, for the ins I. :thumbsdown:

If you plan to keep the car, then it's simply value for money and peace of mind you’re after, IMO. A full DSH is only going to add a few bob to minters, at the age the 85/86 cars are now. For most it' might help the car sell, but it's not actually going to retain any extra value. My two peneth.

 

[ekimj10]

http://www.motoring.co.uk/email/campaigns/190614-bmw-z4.html

Just received this which look reasonable prices. I gave up on the local BMW franchise after about 6 years on our Series 1 and the Z )04 model with 124k miles) is always serviced by a very good indie in Warwick. I don't pay £189.00 for an oil service though.
Service books are stamped up and tbh a potential buyer would not be deterred on a car over 8 years old.
Whilst the car is under a warranty have it serviced by the OEM or an approved dealer.
Note that the prices listed in the ad are only those 4 years and older.

 

[StevenH72]

Personally, for all cars I buy going forward I'd favour a service history from a reputable indy over BMW.

My Z will be having it's Insp II in Jan and it won't be with BMW (30k mileage....mainly getting for peace of mind before I emigrate).

As said earlier the only factor I'll miss, imo, is the potential for goodwill.

 

[holeshot]

I bought my 1 owner Zed with 42k (FBMWSH) when it was 8 years old.
I've always taken all my bm's to my local indie and have done so for the past 15 years or so.
I just prefer to be able to talk to the spanner monkey (no offence) than to a service receptionist.
And I don't need for a BMW mechanic to be checking my lights, wiper blades and topping up the washer bottle etc, it's just weird.
I also carry out some servicing /repairs myself if I'm feeling that way inclined, self saitsfaction and all.
On a car that's now over a decade old I don't feel it will effect the overall value if I were to sell, which I'm not.

 

[StevenH72]

I just prefer to be able to talk to the spanner monkey (no offence) than to a service receptionist.
And I don't need for a BMW mechanic to be checking my lights, wiper blades and topping up the washer bottle etc, it's just weird.

x2, talking to the people doing the work is ideal. I took the Z to BMW to diagnose and replace some O2 sensors, needed a couple of visits to finally sort it, but it was so frustrating talking to a service receptionist, who didn't have a clue about anything.

As for the second point, not only weird but at £120+/ hour costly too!

 

[ronk]

I'll probably stick with BMW until the warranty (mondial) is not available for the car. I don't think they have relaxed the clause for the service to be completed by BMW ?

I stand to be corrected but It might save a fight at the time of a warranty claim.

 

[GP06Roadster]

I'll keep going even when I decide not to renew warranty.

I'm happy with the service and don't mind paying a bit more

Never know when you will need that goodwill.

Doesn't that goodwill wane with the cars age?

 

[GP06Roadster]

http://www.motoring.co.uk/email/campaigns/190614-bmw-z4.html

Just received this which look reasonable prices. I gave up on the local BMW franchise after about 6 years on our Series 1 and the Z )04 model with 124k miles) is always serviced by a very good indie in Warwick. I don't pay £189.00 for an oil service though.
Service books are stamped up and tbh a potential buyer would not be deterred on a car over 8 years old.
Whilst the car is under a warranty have it serviced by the OEM or an approved dealer.
Note that the prices listed in the ad are only those 4 years and older.

Best part of £500 for changing plugs, oil and a couple of filters does seem ridiculous

 

[GP06Roadster]

I bought my 1 owner Zed with 42k (FBMWSH) when it was 8 years old.
I've always taken all my bm's to my local indie and have done so for the past 15 years or so.
I just prefer to be able to talk to the spanner monkey (no offence) than to a service receptionist.
And I don't need for a BMW mechanic to be checking my lights, wiper blades and topping up the washer bottle etc, it's just weird.
I also carry out some servicing /repairs myself if I'm feeling that way inclined, self saitsfaction and all.
On a car that's now over a decade old I don't feel it will effect the overall value if I were to sell, which I'm not.

I'm inclined to agree

 

[CornishRob]

I took my car out of BMW for its Insp 2. Again, as mentioned above, I wanted peace if mind it was done properly.

I had an oil service with them a year after I purchased as an AUC, but wasn't very impressed with feedback.

I was very happy after my ins 2 at a reputable M specialist Indy and won't be going back to BMW again.

If people think a car with FBMWSH is worth more than the same car with a SH at a reputable Independant, they are foolish!

 

[tomscott]

PVR - Yes sorry true, I keep my car serviced under BMW to keep FBMWSH, and would say its more important for M cars as people are less likely to buy. It might be a reputable Indy you trust but for a perspective buyer it might not be and BMW are more likely to offer good will, but wearable components its just rape. That price was including reduced labour car age discount and BMW Car Club membership discount! Insane so 30% less for labour and 10% discount for Clun membership. My local dealer Lloyds is a rape merchant tho so I would advise people to stay clear unless they have more money than sense.

 

[srhutch]

I disagree, at the age of our cars now as long as they are serviced by an ///M specialist I don't see many buyers will be put off. There will of course be some who won't touch the car, but as above I would bet most get better treatment than at a Main Dealer.

 

[StevenH72]

I disagree, at the age of our cars now as long as they are serviced by an ///M specialist I don't see many buyers will be put off. There will of course be some who won't touch the car, but as above I would bet most get better treatment than at a Main Dealer.

I think with the age the car's are, and the running costs that they come with, most buyers are enthusiasts.

I'd bet that most enthusiasts are well aware that dealers are called stealers for a reason.

 

[pvr]

But with the M being a small market car, you would reduce the market even more by having A1 Specialist services service your car? It does not matter from a quality of service point of view that it was not a dealer service, what matters is that for the prospective buyer it has a non BMW SH which will reduce the value.

As often is said with for sale adverts with 5 owners that it does not matter, buy on condition etc. However, most newbies that are looking for an M are stating they want BMWSH and low owners.

There has to be a reason why some cars hang about on this forum for ages, whilst others disappear quickly.

 

[srhutch]

I think looking back over the ones that have sold/stuck the number of owners is an issue as is the spec. Bottom line is these cars values aren't dropping very much now so the value you are going to loose come resale is minimal against the saving made at service time.

If my local BMW dealer will do me a deal on servicing come Inspection 2 time and provide proof that the shimming has been checked then I will happily give them the work, but I won't pay much of a premium for it when companies like ETA are around.

It's a bit like the warranty debate really.