Independant or Main Dealer Service

M

Mikerob20

Member
Hi

My inspection 1 service is due in 2000 miles and I was going to go to my local dealers for this (Halliwell Jones or Blue Bell) but after reading some reviews there are lots of horroe stories about the work they do with many others recomending using independant specialists.

Interested in peoples thoughts on going outside of the BMW Main Dealership for this service, espcially what this will do if I ever sell the car as it wont have full BMW history.

Car goes out of warrenty in 2 weeks hence being able to now go to the independants...

Any views/ thoughts would be appreciated..

Thanks
 
Darren Wood in Stockport (M60, J25) Bredbury I believe, seem to be recommended by others (and he does a BMW tech service for the BMW Car Club magazine & NW region), but I've no experience of them as mine's still under BMW Insured Warranty and I'm stuck with dealers for now. From what I can see on the website, the prices seem reasonable too - with an S54 Inspection I coming in at just under £260 - or about 40% of what a main dealer will charge.

However, if you're thinking of keeping/renewing the BMW Insured warranty, you'll have to stay with the dealer network for scheduled servicing - everything else can go to a good indy.

My favourite dealer (David Holmes, Stockport) has been bought by Williams, so I won't be going there again as I've had unpleasant experiences of 2 different Williams dealerships in the past.
 
Thanks for the recomendation- I will take a look tomorrow morning.

I am not planning on extending the warrenty as seems a lot of money for peace of mind...
 
Mikerob20 said:
Car goes out of warrenty in 2 weeks hence being able to now go to the independants...

Thanks
Click to expand...

As above, if you extend the warranty this is actually sold as insurance, and as such BMW can require you to use main dealer servicing. However, for the record as long as an Indy uses OEM parts, your original 3 year OEM warranty would still have applied - even if you did not use main dealer servicing. Since something like 2002, manufacturers have not been able to pull that one.

There are quite a few specialists out there that will do much better rates than BMW, and if you don't intend to extend or trade it in later at a BMW garage then it's a good way to go IMO.
 
I am getting the feeling most members have extended their warrenty's and having now recieved a quote with the different options I am interested in your thoughts on the different options - Comprehensive (approx £600), Named (approx £500) and Driceline (approx £400) all with max excess of £250.

I am leaning towards the Named option as covers all the main parts except suspension.... hopefully you can get an idea of what is covered from the below list - 3 points is all plans, 2 points is comprehensive and named and 1 point is comprehensive only

Appreciate your thoughts and what options you ended up going for....

Components Covered Comprehensive Named Component DriveLine
Claim Limit (per claim) Vehicle Purchase Price Vehicle Purchase Price £5,000
Engine • • •
Timing Belts • • •
Turbocharger • • •
Manual/Automatic Gearbox • • •
Final Drive • • •
Front Wheel Drive Unit • • •
4 Wheel Drive System • • •
Propshaft • • •
Clutch (non frictional items) • •
Steering • •
Braking System • •
Cooling System • •
Electrical System • •
Starter Motor • •
Alternator • •
Electronic Control Units • •
Anti Lock Braking System • •
Fuel System • •
Fuel Injectors/Glow Plugs •
Front and Rear Suspension •
Air Conditioning System •
Airbag System •
On Board Computer •
Park Distance Control •
Satellite Navigation •
In Car Entertainment Systems •
Communications Systems •
Dashboard Display Units/Monitors •
 
Mikerob20 said:
I am getting the feeling most members have extended their warrenty's and having now recieved a quote with the different options I am interested in your thoughts on the different options - Comprehensive (approx £600), Named (approx £500) and Driceline (approx £400) all with max excess of £250.
Click to expand...

Dude, don't take out the warranty but instead put the equivalent amound of dosh into a savings account or stock market account each year and dip into that for repairs. Most likely (not guranteed), you'll be quids in :)

BMW quoted £850 I think for me to extend the warranty. FOur months later I have one repair £190. Still about £100 better off not taking it out. Even if had an expensive repair, if you never ever renewed any warranty on any car for the rest of your life most likely you'll be many more quids in :P
 
thanks - sounds like a good plan - although £400 to cover engine and gearbox doesn't sound too bad in the event of a major issue.....

(p.s. loving the colur of your coupe)
 
mmm-five said:
Darren Wood in Stockport (M60, J25) .

However, if you're thinking of keeping/renewing the BMW Insured warranty, you'll have to stay with the dealer network for scheduled servicing - everything else can go to a good indy.

.
Click to expand...

This isn't true

My BMW dealer says my car is still warranted if I use an approved indie. I’ve had repairs done under warranty after having my inspection 1 done at my local indie no problem, this is on the extended warranty too, not the standard 3 yr one.

The idea you have to use BMW Main dealers to service your car to keep your extended warranty intact a common myth which is recycled on here a lot. As long as the indie uses approved parts it’s not a problem

Contact your local approved dealer if in doubt, there will verify
 
toplad said:
mmm-five said:
Darren Wood in Stockport (M60, J25) .

However, if you're thinking of keeping/renewing the BMW Insured warranty, you'll have to stay with the dealer network for scheduled servicing - everything else can go to a good indy.
Click to expand...
This isn't true

My BMW dealer says my car is still warranted if I use an approved indie. I’ve had repairs done under warranty after having my inspection 1 done at my local indie no problem, this is on the extended warranty too, not the standard 3 yr one.

The idea you have to use BMW Main dealers to service your car to keep your extended warranty intact a common myth which is recycled on here a lot. As long as the indie uses approved parts it’s not a problem

Contact your local approved dealer if in doubt, there will verify
Click to expand...
It's not a myth. It's a fact!

I suggest you refer to the Terms & Conditions you'll have been supplied in your warranty documentaton:
BMW Insured Warranty Policy said:
Significant Exclusions or Limitations for Warranty
1. When servicing your BMW, failure to comply with the service schedule recommended by BMW may invalidate this warranty. All service and warranty work must be carried out by an Authorised BMW Dealer or BMW Service Authorised Workshop using only Genuine BMW Parts. Your BMW Service Booklet should be stamped, dated and detailed with the correct mileage at the time of service by the servicing dealer.
Click to expand...
As there are no BMW Service Authorised Workshops in the UK that are not part of a dealer franchise, the only option to comply with the warranty terms is the Authorised BMW Dealer route.

The rules in the rest of Europe are slightly different as BMW allows independent workshops to apply for BMW Service Authorised Workshop accreditation - along with the fees for compulsory training & equipment.

I'm sure there are some dealers that are happy to commit fraud by ignoring where the last inspection was done so that they can get some work out of it, then that's good news for owners, but it contradicts the explicit terms & conditions of the warranty. I'm sure BMW Warranty (Mondial) won't come after the owners if this is ever found out - maybe by mention of it on an internet forum - but they may strip the dealership of it's warranty repair contract or lower it's total claim limit.
 
While we are discussing INDY v MAIN DEAlER, i was wondering if it would be a good idea, to put down all the indy people know of in different areas. I've searched the dealer area, not many indy details.
 
It isn't a fact at all :D

I've actually checked into it with the people who make the decisions, not made a few assumptions and called it a fact

Put yourself in my position, I've checked into it by speaking to the service manager and then had work done under the extended warranty scheme no problems, would you believe some bloke on the internet or somebody with actually experience the whole thing. :rofl:

If you bothered to speak to a local dealer I'm sure he'd put you straight

Ring them, see what their say and then post the "facts"
I've had works done and am not making it up honest :D
 
The condition stated by mmm-five for the insured warranty has been highlighted on here many times and it's crystal clear really. Does it not make you think your dealer is pulling a flanker on warranty claims toplad?
 
No, not really. My dealers seem useless, but pretty honest. :)

Just think the reality is different to the recycled internet chatter and dealers will allow the car to be serviced at a good indie using OEM parts.
This was first brought to my attention at the B & M care, the service desk had a letter explaining how the car could be serviced and warranties would remain intact, mentioned something about a change in the law. I was skeptical and enquired at my local main dealers. Turns out its true

It's all very reading the T & C's and posting 'facts' but it's clearly not the case in the real world in my experience.

Any one who’s not sure should ring their local BMW dealer for clarification. :thumbsup:
 
I'm not really convinced by that, it's based on the clearly laid out terms in the warranty booklet rather than recycled chatter. My experience is that the dealers now have to jump through hoops over getting warranty claims processed as opposed to the old BMW provided warranty which wasn't as stringent. Personally I won't take the chance but good luck if it's working for you. :thumbsup:
 
toplad,
page 17 section 1
http://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/PDF/PolicyHandbook_BMW_Warr_UK.pdf

1. When servicing your BMW, failure
to comply with the service schedule
recommended by BMW may
invalidate this warranty. All service and
warranty work must be carried out by
an Authorised BMW Dealer or BMW
Service Authorised Workshop using
only Genuine BMW Parts.Your BMW
Service Booklet should be stamped,
dated and detailed with the correct
mileage at the time of service by the
servicing dealer.
Click to expand...
 
I know this, but I'm not really interested in the small print, just the fact I haven't had any problems in the real world

As I've said a least 3 times, ring the dealer find out for yourself

More info here

http://www.bmservicing.com/BM-Care-Pudsey-Leeds-BMW-Mini-Servicing.html
 
Dont want to drag this out but I'd have to agree if u service outside dealer ur opening the door for extended warranty work being rejected!
 
toplad said:
I know this, but I'm not really interested in the small print, just the fact I haven't had any problems in the real world

As I've said a least 3 times, ring the dealer find out for yourself

More info here

http://www.bmservicing.com/BM-Care-Pudsey-Leeds-BMW-Mini-Servicing.html
Click to expand...
Don't see what that link has to offer to this discussion, as all it says it won't invalidate your MANUFACTURER warranty, which is what I said in the first place (the block exemption law regarding the initial manufacturer warranty).

In 2003, EU 'Block Exemption Regulations 1400/2002' (PDF) changed the way vehicles could be serviced and repaired. To encourage fair competition and provide greater freedom of choice to the motorist, the "BERR" ruling allows the motorist a choice of any garage to service and repair their vehicle without invalidating the manufacturer's warranty. Note, this exemption only covers the original manufacturer's warranty - the BMW Insured Warranty is an aftermarket warranty run by Mondial.

I'm not arguing that some dealers will do warranty work even if you've had your car serviced outside of the dealer network, but I am arguing that any BMW INSURED (MONDIAL) warranty owner should be careful, and should not expect their own dealer to be as flexible.

Aftermarket warranties are not the same, and you're supposed to abide by the terms & conditions laid out on the small print - whether you bother reading them or not.

BTW, the block exemption on manufacturer warranties comes to an end in 2013 - which means they'll be able to force you to use the dealer network at all times - unless this is extended/renewed.
 
I had an oil service plus the headlamp washer checked out with a view to having it replaced under warranty,jet and cover gone awol at Blue Bell in Crewe.Found them to be very helpfull.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom