Service - Main dealer v Specialist

[stevengude]

Hi,

I've had my 2003 3.0i Se Z4 around a week now, and i need to get it booked in for a service;

The service history so far is as below;

PDI - Soper BMW - 28/06/2003
Oil service + air filter - Chelsea BMW - 17/11/04, 13498
Inspection 1 - HR Owen BMW - 14/06/06, 28181
Oil service - Soper BMW - 28/12/07, 43370 miles
Inspection 2 - Williams BMW - 06/04/09, 54768 miles
Oil service - Soper BMW - 16/09/2011, 71143 miles

I presume next i will need a inspection 1 service (the car has done 74500)

I've had some quotes back from main dealers and specialists, with the BMW dealer quoting £269 and a local specialist (Quarry Motors Sheffield) quoting £155 for inspection 1.

Given the age of the car and mileage, is there any value in maintaining a main dealer service history, or would i be better saving the money and taking it to a specialist?

Based on everyone's previous experience, does £155 seem reasonable?

Can anyone in the area recommend any other specialists?

Thanks

Steve

 

[mr wilks]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

 

[ekimj10]

I personally would go for the indie, providing he comes recommended or he specialises in BMW, Audi, MB's or the like.
There is no point imo paying the extra when there are no warranty obligations to cater for and you could always put the money you save to a good cause.

 

[stevengude]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

Thanks for the reply.

What sequence should the services go in?

I assumed it was Oil / Insp 1 / Oil / Insp 2 / Oil / Insp 1 ect

Thanks

Steve

 

[greencode]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

Thanks for the reply.

What sequence should the services go in?

I assumed it was Oil / Insp 1 / Oil / Insp 2 / Oil / Insp 1 ect

Thanks

Steve

Doesn't it say what inspection is required on the display when you first turn your key? I thought it did.

 

[mr wilks]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

Thanks for the reply.

What sequence should the services go in?

I assumed it was Oil / Insp 1 / Oil / Insp 2 / Oil / Insp 1 ect

Thanks

Steve

That is correct Steve , is this your first BMW ?
Ins1 is a glorified oil change imo , effectively paying for someone to visually check lots of things that would be checked with MOT :wink: all depends if you want to follow the minimum required for schedule or over service your investment ?
You've just bought the car & it hasn't been touched in 5 yrs :?
So find a decent indy you can trust who won't leave your trousers warming your ankles
Ask for a quote on oil+filter , air filter & brake + coolant change
Most decent indy's would do that for around £150/£200 + inform you of anything they find whilst they are on your car
Then going forward have another oil + filter next time around (12 months or 7k )
Otherwise you'll pay the inflated rate for a Ins1 no doubt being told once the car is there " hey mate , it also needs coolant , air filter & brake fluid " bang on another £120 & whooooops , trousers are down

 

[Scooba_Steve]

It will only display oil or inspection. Have a look for bmw service schedule by (I believe) mike fishwick, much more sensible intervals imho.

 

[markplant]

A few indys in Sheffield as well as quarry
http://www.newhallsheffield.com/index.html

And
http://www.pryorautomotive.co.uk

 

[MACK]

Decent Indie everytime, especially at that age. No doubt you will get a better job with a fair and honest opinion of the car and any issues for far less money.

 

[srhutch]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

Thanks for the reply.

What sequence should the services go in?

I assumed it was Oil / Insp 1 / Oil / Insp 2 / Oil / Insp 1 ect

Thanks

Steve

This is true if you are doing 12k per year or more. If you only do a few k per year then you have more oil services inbetween without resetting the service indicator. The OP's service indicator will only come on when he has hit the miles or every two years for the brake fluid change. This is when I also get my oil done so it all ties up.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Decent Indie everytime, especially at that age. No doubt you will get a better job with a fair and honest opinion of the car and any issues for far less money.

+1

 

[stevengude]

5 yrs since last serviced even with low miles in between is a little long
I doubt the indy / BMW stamp will have any bearing on the cars value at your age / miles
Myself I would simply have a oil service done with a air filter , price up the 2 with indy or dealer & compare
My indy would be around £90 for those 2 jobs doing with a stamp

Thanks for the reply.

What sequence should the services go in?

I assumed it was Oil / Insp 1 / Oil / Insp 2 / Oil / Insp 1 ect

Thanks

Steve

That is correct Steve , is this your first BMW ?
Ins1 is a glorified oil change imo , effectively paying for someone to visually check lots of things that would be checked with MOT :wink: all depends if you want to follow the minimum required for schedule or over service your investment ?
You've just bought the car & it hasn't been touched in 5 yrs :?
So find a decent indy you can trust who won't leave your trousers warming your ankles
Ask for a quote on oil+filter , air filter & brake + coolant change
Most decent indy's would do that for around £150/£200 + inform you of anything they find whilst they are on your car
Then going forward have another oil + filter next time around (12 months or 7k )
Otherwise you'll pay the inflated rate for a Ins1 no doubt being told once the car is there " hey mate , it also needs coolant , air filter & brake fluid " bang on another £120 & whooooops , trousers are down

Hi mr wilks
Yes this is my first BMW, appologies if i seem naive with some of my questions.

The car says inspection in another 11500 miles.

I'll try and find a good indy and find out what they do for their money.

Thanks for your help

 

[skippyro0]

Hi guys,

I'm not trying to get off free marketing here so not mentioning names, but my uncle runs a well known BMW independent garage and I've used him for anything and everything. I work for a main dealer, but have more faith in the independent skill set as they NEED people to come back whereas the main dealer has customers queuing out the door.

I appreciate he offers me preferential rates, but I pay less than a third of what I would with a main dealer and don't see any difference in the work carried out.

What are your thoughts?