Dealer Or Non Dealer Service

S

slipperyshoe

Member
Hi. My car has full bmwsh and is in 56k. I bought from a fellow forumite last year (thanks Dan) and other than a set of springs and some new wheels (plus a paint correction) and a few tiny mods here and there, Ive done nothing to it.

I bought the car for pleasure, but like I'm sure a few of you out there was hopeful of a little appreciation (or at least cost neutrality). With the extortionate road tax, plus an oversight on insurance (who would have thought 'no claims' could only be used on one car!?) that hasn't happened. Plus, the value really hasn't gone up like most other m's seems to have (crazy as such a great car).

Anyway, my long winded question is:

Do I bother with Bmw service history as the values are hardly moving at all? At roughly 50% more my man maths is telling me I'm never going to get that money back. Added to the case that a decent Indy (or my mate who runs a garage and has owned loads of E46 m's) probably is going to do a better job, it just seems crazy.

I did ask this question when I got the car and consensus was go bmw but with hindsight, plus brexit (can see second premium second hand car market dropping in next 2 years) is this still the case?
 
Reality is that people pay more for full Bmw history, despite it 'probably' being of lesser quality. I get mine done at an inde and are happy with the service and pounds in my pocket rather than that of a dealer....your call though!
 
Angelus666 said:
Reality is that people pay more for full Bmw history, despite it 'probably' being of lesser quality. I get mine done at an inde and are happy with the service and pounds in my pocket rather than that of a dealer....your call though!
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That sums it up sadly.

Neither of my current BMWs has full main agent history so I use a local BMW indy (who is ex-Sytner anyway)!

Just a thought on your insurance, but when I first got a 2nd car I found a broker who got me a quote from a firm who would match the NCD I had on my 1st car - might be worth looking into when renewal comes around. :thumbsup:
 
I use my friends garage for all my cars, as long as there's proof of the work being done with receipts etc I can't see a problem with that, you'll probably get a better job done by your friend's place too, it didn't make one iota of difference when I sold my 911, as long as the paperwork is in order and your book is stamped up, some people will want Main Dealer history and some people won't , it's your choice at the end of the day :thumbsup:
 
Thanks. I think that settles it.

Appreciate that people pay more for dealer service. My point is that at this age and with the appreciation curve not quite in line with other m's, it simply doesnt add up in pounds shillings and pence to pay that extra money for dealer service history. For example the inspection II probably £500 more at dealer. Fbmwsh perhaps (perhaps!) worth £1k more at sale time? Therefore 2 major services and you've got your money, in your pocket, rather than a theoretical one.
 
You mention other Ms appreciating more...but other than the e30, 1M, Z3MC or CSL there aren't many other of the 100+ other Ms that will do a better job than your ZM at appreciating!
 
As a potential buyer my ideal SH record would be full bmw history ideally or at least at one of the bigger name Indy specialists. If it was "Joe bloggs" ltd then it's a no for me personally. It's a complex and specific high tune N.A. engine and if someone can't pay the small premium for that service to ensure it's done as per book then it's scrimping, so what else did they scrimp on perhaps?
 
ChrisT70 said:
As a potential buyer my ideal SH record would be full bmw history ideally or at least at one of the bigger name Indy specialists. If it was "Joe bloggs" ltd then it's a no for me personally. It's a complex and specific high tune N.A. engine and if someone can't pay the small premium for that service to ensure it's done as per book then it's scrimping, so what else did they scrimp on perhaps?
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True but to look at it another way- I would spend the extra on interim oil and filter change. Min every yr, possibly every 6 months. I'm by no means a scrimper, just trying to be shrewd and want the best for my z, both in terms of longevity and reliability, but also want it to be kind to my pocket too!
 
Angelus666 said:
You mention other Ms appreciating more...but other than the e30, 1M, Z3MC or CSL there aren't many other of the 100+ other Ms that will do a better job than your ZM at appreciating!
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Fair point, although from my armchair reading looked to me like E46 M3 appreciating faster for a fbmwsh one? I don't look often as that's not why I bought the car but that was in the running when I was looking and from my brief glance at AT or PH that appeared to be the case. Is that wrong then?
 
They maybe rising a bit quicker at this very moment in time, but that's because the bottom of the market was at £5k not that long ago. So, to my mind, if it got there once it can go there again...

I'd rather have my money in a car with <500 delivered in the UK versus a car with >6000
 
I would rather take mine to a good independent because these cars are getting older and the dealers see less of them. This means 2 things either they haven't got enough experience of working on the S54 engine or you will get the apprentice doing it because it's his only chance.
 
I've just gone to indi from main dealer for my M. It's on 73k and I don't plan on selling it. I used a very well regarded indi local to me (Mark Purcell) and spend a bit of time (waiting for a lift!) talking to the guys. They obviously know what they are doing, showed me the old bits off my car etc.

Honestly, I'd trust them with my car more than some 'lad' following a manual.
 
Can anyone recommend a main dealer in (north) London for servicing? Or failing that, a good indi?

I forgot to add...sorry to hijack the thread (a little?) :? :?
 
Highams Park Motor Company in Highams Park (Walthamstow) are excellent....Clive & Stuart run an excellent garage, always super busy and genuinely honest.
 
Angelus666 said:
You mention other Ms appreciating more...but other than the e30, 1M, Z3MC or CSL there aren't many other of the 100+ other Ms that will do a better job than your ZM at appreciating!
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My friend bought an ///M 635 Motorsport edition about 18 months ago, he's been offered nearly 3 times what he paid from 2 dealers, that's a lot of money, he's undecided, I've told him to let it go! :D
 

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Beedub said:
Anyone that looks after your car to the standard your happy with......
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That's spot on Byron, I don't see letting someone you know, trust and able to do the job look after your car as scrimping, when it's 'sale' time you'll find out if it's an issue or not, I've been looking at other cars recently, all I want to see is that the history is as it should be, I look at the car overall, we're not all the same I understand, so you pays your money and makes your choice :thumbsup:
 
ChrisT70 said:
As a potential buyer my ideal SH record would be full bmw history ideally or at least at one of the bigger name Indy specialists. If it was "Joe bloggs" ltd then it's a no for me personally. It's a complex and specific high tune N.A. engine and if someone can't pay the small premium for that service to ensure it's done as per book then it's scrimping, so what else did they scrimp on perhaps?
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You are talking 11 yr old motors here & chances of finding a solely dealer serviced & stamped car is very slim
You need to do some reading up :cry: there are just as many horror stories after a franchised dealer service as a non franchised & after 5 years on here have read enough about so called "specialists " to know trust no one & no history when looking for any car whether S54 or not .
I would always look , test , buy any car on its current condition & hopefully that speaks for itself & also comes with a decent folder of paperwork & service stamps to back up the cars present state
 
samZ4M said:
I've just gone to indi from main dealer for my M. It's on 73k and I don't plan on selling it. I used a very well regarded indi local to me (Mark Purcell) and spend a bit of time (waiting for a lift!) talking to the guys. They obviously know what they are doing, showed me the old bits off my car etc.

Honestly, I'd trust them with my car more than some 'lad' following a manual.
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Just for info really, only master techs are allowed to work on M cars... I found this out recently when my usual master tech had retired much to my horror, luckily replaced with another master tech :thumbsup:
 
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