BMW dealerships overpricing?

S

Scrobes

Member
 Lincolnshire
Hey guys, I am probably imagining this, but I kind of feel like BMW dealerships charge a lot for any kind of work.

On top of that, call me extraordinarily cynical, but it *sometimes* feels like an issue is invented, for which they will fix and charge you for it. I'm sure that isn't actually happening, but yeah.

Anyone else share these opinions or am I going mental?

So examples I guess. One time taking it in for service+MOT they said that the mechanism for adjusting the front light angle/convergence was broken, so the entire lamp had to be replaced (not cheap). And recently, told that the horn wasn't working and they spent some time investigating it, and apparently both horns needed replacing. I wish I had checked before taking it in, but I never use the horn, so I cannot know if it was broken or not.
 
You might be the only one here using a BMW garage for servicing...

Have you investigated if you have local specialists?
 
I stopped using BMW dealers about 8 years ago when I found a local Indy who was ex-Sytner.

It's so much better being able to speak to the person who does the work and way cheaper!
 
Last year my car went into the dealer for a recall, when I collected it I was told that they had carried out a health check and provided me with a list of faults and advisories. The main one being the rear self levelling suspension that they said was not working and seized!
As it was due to go to the indy I use for its service and mot I gave them the list and asked them to check it out.
They said everything on the list was fine and there was no need to change any parts and the self levelling suspension worked perfectly.
So I would agree that they sometimes make things up hoping that the customer knows nothing and will just pay for the repair.
 
I feel that this also happens, had tw cars MOT in different places in the last few weeks and guess what both need wiper blades, the DS was only an advisory but at £50 I refused.

Got into the car and lettuce wiper run for 10 seconds and clearing fine, they just look for quick buck irrespective of what company it is
 
I was quick to point out that the health check highlighted that my alloys on the F31 needed refurbing (at a healthy BMW cost)- if they had manufactured them better in the first place they wouldn’t need doing….
 
It’s nothing new. I’ve experienced similar since the early 90s.

When I had to go to the dealer for something, and they presented me with a list of anything else that needed replacing, I simply paid the bill for the requested work, said thank you, and left…but I always stipulated that they call me before carrying out any work other than stipulated when I took it in.

In some cases I’ve sat in the service department, asking for the service manager or dealer principle all day until they’ve removed charges for work I hadn’t authorised…in some cases i the extra charges amounted to 10x more than that of the work it was taken in for.

Thieving cnuts :thumbsdown:

BTW, my F31 320D is going in on Friday for a recall on the EGR…wonder if they’ll remember me :P
 
Had the Z4 in a few years ago in May at Douglas Park in Glasgow to get the Window Regulator replaced. (seemingly it's a 3 hour job at Douglas Park although only charged for one hour).

When the car was almost ready I was told by the woman with her head tilted to the side and a very patronising tone that,

"We always do a health check on cars when they're in"

Oh really says me. What did you find? (knowing there was nothing wrong with the car in any way as it had been serviced, MOT'd and everything sorted on it quite recently)

"We found that the brake pads are down to around 13mm"

Is that right says me. What would you recommend?

"We'd recommend that they're replaced"

Oh right. How much would cost?

She then gave me the ridiculous price and said they could book it in.

Oh right, can I ask you a question?

"Certainly" she replied.

With an increasing look of complete astonishment and embarrasment from her I said....

Do you think my head buttons up the fucking back as the brake pads, discs and brake fluid were replaced in January / February and new braided brake hoses added too. So if the brake pads need replaced then I'm sure Brembo would be interested in why their brake pads have worn out in less than 1000 miles. Also the pads were at 13mm when they were put on the car so off you f**k now and don't try and con me ever again!

She disappeared quicker than snow aff a dyke!

When I had to take the car back to get the regulator adjusted they were trying to con a guy into changing the coolant in a two year old 3 series!
 
Shock news flash ......... main dealers are overpriced....... they rely on customers having more money than sense or corporate client accounts......your car will be attended to by the trainee.......they are there to drum up workshop business....... :lol:
 
skelters said:
Had the Z4 in a few years ago in May at Douglas Park in Glasgow to get the Window Regulator replaced. (seemingly it's a 3 hour job at Douglas Park although only charged for one hour).

When the car was almost ready I was told by the woman with her head tilted to the side and a very patronising tone that,

"We always do a health check on cars when they're in"

Oh really says me. What did you find? (knowing there was nothing wrong with the car in any way as it had been serviced, MOT'd and everything sorted on it quite recently)

"We found that the brake pads are down to around 13mm"

Is that right says me. What would you recommend?

"We'd recommend that they're replaced"

Oh right. How much would cost?

She then gave me the ridiculous price and said they could book it in.

Oh right, can I ask you a question?

"Certainly" she replied.

With an increasing look of complete astonishment and embarrasment from her I said....

Do you think my head buttons up the f***ing back as the brake pads, discs and brake fluid were replaced in January / February and new braided brake hoses added too. So if the brake pads need replaced then I'm sure Brembo would be interested in why their brake pads have worn out in less than 1000 miles. Also the pads were at 13mm when they were put on the car so off you f**k now and don't try and con me ever again!

She disappeared quicker than snow aff a dyke!

When I had to take the car back to get the regulator adjusted they were trying to con a guy into changing the coolant in a two year old 3 series!
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Douglas Park has monkeys as mechanics. I wouldn't take my car there even if it was brand new and under warranty. I'd go to a different dealer. I only go there for parts.

Never get your car serviced there they don't do half the work they bill you for. They never changed the spark plugs on my car when it was in.
 
A BMW main dealer will do everything exactly as the BMW repair manual says it should be done (in theory). There may well be cheaper and quicker ways of doing the job but you won't get that from BMW.
My old boss was chairman of the BMW UK Owners club and he got all his cars serviced and repaired by BMW in Sheffield. His theory was that whilst BMW's warranty might not be the best in the world if you always keep it within the main dealer network then you are far more likely to get a goodwill gesture from BMW in the event of any out of warranty claim and this did work in his favour on a number of occasions.
 
Rockhopper said:
A BMW main dealer will do everything exactly as the BMW repair manual says it should be done (in theory). There may well be cheaper and quicker ways of doing the job but you won't get that from BMW.
My old boss was chairman of the BMW UK Owners club and he got all his cars serviced and repaired by BMW in Sheffield. His theory was that whilst BMW's warranty might not be the best in the world if you always keep it within the main dealer network then you are far more likely to get a goodwill gesture from BMW in the event of any out of warranty claim and this did work in his favour on a number of occasions.
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Being chairman of the BMW UK Owners club had zero bias in that decision at all :roll:
 
Well obviously he's a BMW fan and has been a long time member of the club (but was only chairman for a few months). He's currently owns at least six BMW's including an original CSL that lives in one of those bubble things. Being in the club or being chairman gets/got him absolutely zero special treatment from BMW. Its all down to to your relationship with the dealer re out of warranty goodwill.
 
Rockhopper said:
Well obviously he's a BMW fan and has been a long time member of the club (but was only chairman for a few months). He's currently owns at least six BMW's including an original CSL that lives in one of those bubble things. Being in the club or being chairman gets/got him absolutely zero special treatment from BMW. Its all down to to your relationship with the dealer re out of warranty goodwill.
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Hmmmmmmm..........
 
Rockhopper said:
Well obviously he's a BMW fan and has been a long time member of the club (but was only chairman for a few months). He's currently owns at least six BMW's including an original CSL that lives in one of those bubble things. Being in the club or being chairman gets/got him absolutely zero special treatment from BMW. Its all down to to your relationship with the dealer re out of warranty goodwill.
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So the fact he could slate that dealership to all other members and let them know to avoid it like the plague never got him any special treatment at all? Call me cynical but if I was a dealer and the chairman of the UK BMW Owners club who had 6+ BMW's came to me with a small issue just outside of warranty I'd likely do it out of goodwill too. If it was someone else they would pay full price but also get additional stuff added on like usual that didn't need done on their bill.
 
He wasn't that kind of person. I'm aware of others who have had goodwill out of warranty gestures as they had full BMW history.

I friend of mine got all the parts paid for by BMW when the cam chain tensioner failed on her BMW, it was well out of warranty. She only had to pay for the labour.

I actually though this was a well known thing with BMW. Clearly I'm wrong.
 
SonnyA85 said:
Douglas Park has monkeys as mechanics. I wouldn't take my car there even if it was brand new and under warranty. I'd go to a different dealer. I only go there for parts.

Never get your car serviced there they don't do half the work they bill you for. They never changed the spark plugs on my car when it was in.
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It was in for the window regulator as my usual garage didn't have any appointments. Wouldn't go to a dealer for parts unless the parts are only available from them.
 
I had a Toyota dealer tell me my 8 year old Camry with less than 70,000 miles needed $800 worth of repairs when I took it for an oil change. It was all B.S. stuff and I told them no. OTOH, my local BMW dealer has rarely suggested anything beyond the oil change for my 2006 Z4. I think it's dealer rather than brand dependent.
 
Everytime I took my C63 in for a service at a Merc dealer, they all wanted to charge to change the front disks and pads.

Happened three times, two different dealers. Both were sheepish / apologetic when I asked for the measurements. That's fraud by any other name.

Actually had some good experiences with the local BMW Dealer. It's a shame the official uk bmwservice website is down now. They were giving some good quotes with discounts. I got the last Inspection 2 service on my M for £700, plus supplying my own oil. Had for two days, shims report, in depth video underneath too. What a difference the gearbox oil service made too.
 
Ive always found my local dealer really helpful (Douglas Park, Hamilton - 5 minute drive from my house), Ive only ever had it in there for oil/brake fluid changes (always told them not to change cabin/air filters - takes about 30 minutes to do yourself at a fraction of their price) over the period that I've owned it (they were also the supplying dealer and have done all the servicing on the car). They have only found issues with the rear brake pads and a broken rear spring, which I got promptly fixed my trusty mechanic at less than half the price they quoted me. The nearest recommended indy is on the other side of the city, too much hassle to drop off and pick up etc.
 
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