Inspection II - dealer or Indie

[CornishRob]

And also how does it effect goodwill from BMW UK? The dealers are franchises? The Indy I use has had cars in that are nearly brand new and never seen a BMW dealer for servicing. He can update the central BMW service history records in Germany from his systems?

 

[pvr]

They clearly state that for a goodwill application, you need a full BMWSH.

 

[StevenH72]

They clearly state that for a goodwill application, you need a full BMWSH.

BMW offered goodwill for E46 subframe failures (a common fault) for cars up to 10 years old.....is 10 years the magical threshold?

 

[StevenH72]

They clearly state that for a goodwill application, you need a full BMWSH.

Does your car need to be purchased through BMW to qualify for goodwill? If a car wasn't purchased new or AUC will you still qualify?

 

[pvr]

No idea, but that would be classed as a design fault though and would be a blanket cover irrespective of service.

I am talking about premature individual component failure below the expected life span, but not a general design fault. I have had contributions to other parts from previous BMWs (pixel failings on dashboard), and the goodwill would generally be paying part of that but only after proof of full BMSH.

 

[StevenH72]

No idea, but that would be classed as a design fault though and would be a blanket cover irrespective of service.

I am talking about premature individual component failure below the expected life span, but not a general design fault. I have had contributions to other parts from previous BMWs (pixel failings on dashboard), and the goodwill would generally be paying part of that but only after proof of full BMSH.

But we don't know whether BMW offer goodwill on older cars? Or, whether you need to have bought new or AUC?

The whole goodwill situation seems too clouded and secretive for me to put any significant faith in. My car is now 8 years old and I didn't buy through BMW....even with FBMWSH there is no guarantee (not that there ever is a guarantee) than BMW will offer goodwill. You are obviously a valued BMW customer they will give you preferential treatment over somebody like me.

 

[DPG]

They clearly state that for a goodwill application, you need a full BMWSH.

Does your car need to be purchased through BMW to qualify for goodwill? If a car wasn't purchased new or AUC will you still qualify?

No, I've had goodwill from both Audi and BMW just because of a full main dealer history - I've never bought a car from either main dealers.

The Exhaust on my Coupe would have cost £800 (a weld could have fixed it for next to nothing but for how long?), the Dashpod on my TT would have cost £1200.

 

[pvr]

They clearly state that for a goodwill application, you need a full BMWSH.

Does your car need to be purchased through BMW to qualify for goodwill? If a car wasn't purchased new or AUC will you still qualify?

My 740 was bought privately, but received goodwill on that due to full BMWSH.

 

[StevenH72]

Ah OK fair enough, just the BMWSH then. I would be interested to find out how BMW treat goodwill gestures on aging cars.

I doubt they'd offer any goodwill on a 1988 E30 M3 for example.....but the question is where is the cut off. Somewhere between 1988 and 2008?

 

[Ewazix]

I don't think there are any absolute answers to the dealer Vs Indi question, a lot depends on your confidence in either. My local dealer (Westerly Bridgwater) has been excellent with the Z4 and my third Mini, sorting some very tricky problems a Cooper S securing no quibble warranty work on it and goodwill on a previous car. In discussions with the technician it's obvious they were well up to it so I've stuck with the dealer. Price wise the best indie's are only a little cheaper once you haggle a discount out of the dealer so it's all down to confidence and reputation.

I would of used Reddish in Bristol but they had a near two month wait which speaks volumes for a good indi.

 

[Justino]

Just to point out that the moment you go indy, you lose any goodwill payment from BMW.

My ABS/DSC unit replacement received over £1k contribution from BMW due to the full BMWSH. The moment you stray from that, you will lose that irrespective of mileage. Just to keep in mind when weighing up the savings from an Indy compared to the dealer and in case something major goes pop outside warranty.

Interesting your ABS pump failed also, mine did last year. I got a 2nd hand replacement, including fitting and fluid it was £600. What was your final cost from BMW after the goodwill - sounds like they contributed 50% to the parts, but labour you always have to stand. It could go again, who knows, they seem a weak part. Ours was also fitted to the 3.0 Z4, but apart from that I am not sure.

As an aside I don't understand why ABS pumps and ABS ECU's are so expensive. I sent mine to BBAReman to be fixed. They claimed it wasn't repairable but offered a 'replacement' for £800. I declined and paid for mine to be returned, except when it was returned, the pump wasn't mine, but the ECU was - it looked like it had come from a scrap car it was that rough, all stickers to enable identification had been recently removed looking at the 'clean' adhesive residue. They claimed it must have got muddled up, but it didn't stack up given the offer for a replacement - they claimed both the pump and ecu had failed, which was very hard to believe both failing especially as I have INPA so knew what codes it was throwing up. I had to threaten bringing the Police in to resolve, after which I accepted compensation. Other aspects didn't stack up either, but this isn't the time or place. If I ever send anything away to be repaired again I will secretly mark it.

I think I will go down the oil service route this time around, the Insp II at an Indie next time. How about we compile a list of good independents that have been used who specifically deal with M

 

[pvr]

It was still £1700 for me, as the unit full price was £2700.

I had already agreed the sale with Bing when it went pop, and as a gentleman I could not just reset the lights and pretend that nothing had happened as that was what the dealer suggested that it "might" be ok for some time after a brake fluid flush

 

[Justino]

Didn't consider a fluid flush - I assumed it was the common motor bush sticking issue, and a refurb would do the trick - it turned into a real hassle, and has left me very cynical about anything automotive repair orientated. I won't ever know what the problem was. As they sent my original ECU back attached to a scrap pump, I assume my ECU was at fault, but nothing wrong with the pump - that why it didn't come back!

Anyhow that's off topic - I'm mean to find a good indie in the Midlands area, one which when the service history is ever scrutinised, the stamp wont raise any issues.

 

[TomK]

We know that BMW have subsequently changed the M service schedules (i.e. valve clearances no longer checked in Inp I).

This is not correct, it was discussed on here and was a mess up in their website iirc.

BMW offered goodwill for E46 subframe failures (a common fault) for cars up to 10 years old.....is 10 years the magical threshold?

Full bmw service history is not required for this goodwill(it's billed to bmw at around £4.5k), just full service history to manufacturer specification, see m3cutters for many examples of this.

Personally I would go to an indy as I don't really trust my local bmw garage. Certainly having a decent indy stamp would be no deterrent for me buying a car like this, if anything it would be preferable.

 

[Bing]

It was still £1700 for me, as the unit full price was £2700.

I had already agreed the sale with Bing when it went pop, and as a gentleman I could not just reset the lights and pretend that nothing had happened as that was what the dealer suggested that it "might" be ok for some time after a brake fluid flush

:hattip:

 

[StevenH72]

We know that BMW have subsequently changed the M service schedules (i.e. valve clearances no longer checked in Inp I).

This is not correct, it was discussed on here and was a mess up in their website iirc.

BMW offered goodwill for E46 subframe failures (a common fault) for cars up to 10 years old.....is 10 years the magical threshold?

Full bmw service history is not required for this goodwill(it's billed to bmw at around £4.5k), just full service history to manufacturer specification, see m3cutters for many examples of this.

Personally I would go to an indy as I don't really trust my local bmw garage. Certainly having a decent indy stamp would be no deterrent for me buying a car like this, if anything it would be preferable.

Yeh I think the website was spewing out dodgy quotes, but when a few members queried with BMW I thought they it was confirmed that clearances wouldn't be done? Perhaps I'm mistaken.

 

[TomK]

I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure the dealer that agreed the service to a member here then had to backtrack.
It kind of highlights the whole issue, if the main dealer doesn't know the correct service level for the car, what are they going to be doing to it (or not rather) when they get their hands on it.

 

[srhutch]

Dealer error I would say. Just like those who state they only need the car for a day for inspection 2.

 

[StevenH72]

I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure the dealer that agreed the service to a member here then had to backtrack.
It kind of highlights the whole issue, if the main dealer doesn't know the correct service level for the car, what are they going to be doing to it (or not rather) when they get their hands on it.

ah ok, fair enough. But yeh, its the contradictory / uncertain advice i've had from main dealers which is why I took my car to an indy for its Insp II.

 

[Beedub]

I'm going to try reddish this year.... i like the way they work and id like to forge new relationships other than just simpsons.

this year i have insp2 , once the car clicks a decade old i will do a cooling system refresh, and some of the common vanos faults refresh ( vanos pressure line for example)