Stealers
- Thread starter Steelee
- Start date
Looking at posts on here it's probarly only a broken wire but if I had tried to fix it it would have not eneded well!
Scotland 🏴
I just had an oil + brake fluid service + scope done a couple of weeks ago at my local BMW dealer £200... £329 sounds excessive? (unless they have changed the plugs, microfilter and air filter). Heres a link to BMW's charges: https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/service-workshop/servicing/service-online-booking.html
Bugger letting them wash it!Woodrow said:
The only reason they charge what they do is because people keep paying it. I get that people want dealer stamps in the service book but they’ll never get their money back when they come to sell. I’d rather see receipts with mileage noted down than evidence that clowns have been let loose on it. The last two times my dads bmw has come back from servicing at Cotswolds it’s had oil spatters all over the engine bay and used oil on the seat. Too much pressure from above to get the next car in and not enough on workmanship and integrity.
This is an oh too common thread. 
Still all done and the book is stamped up I assume. 
Personally I only used a main dealer once, then found a reliable indi. The best thing about good independent garages is not that they are cheaper, that's a bonus.
The best thing is they often know more about cars like the Z4 than the main dealers do and they look after them better. 
Still all done and the book is stamped up I assume. Personally I only used a main dealer once, then found a reliable indi. The best thing about good independent garages is not that they are cheaper, that's a bonus.
The best thing is they often know more about cars like the Z4 than the main dealers do and they look after them better. 
North West Surrey
I only ever used main dealers when I had newer BMWs as both of them came with the 5 year Service Pack.
For the last 5 years I've been using a BMW Indy where the Principal was apprenticed at a BMW dealership.
I suspect plenty of the staff at main dealers were probably trained on non-BMWs, so as buzy says the Indys are often more knowledgeable than the main dealer staff with the added bonus of being far cheaper. They will also do the jobs main dealers won't, like replacing transmission fluid and removing the CDV!
For the last 5 years I've been using a BMW Indy where the Principal was apprenticed at a BMW dealership.
I suspect plenty of the staff at main dealers were probably trained on non-BMWs, so as buzy says the Indys are often more knowledgeable than the main dealer staff with the added bonus of being far cheaper. They will also do the jobs main dealers won't, like replacing transmission fluid and removing the CDV!
I don't think £120 is excessive for an oil change (once you've bought 6.5 litres of oil and a decent filter), they do check the car out and if they do find anything I have an excellent mechanic who then gets the job, simple things like the microfilter and air filter I change myself.bob4333 said:
PinkPineapple44
Member
The previous owner to my M3 paid 500 quid for an oil, microfilter and air filter change from Sytner Sunningdale...madness!
TBF they did come and collect it and bring it back and it seems to have had a proper clean inside and out and windscreen washer topped up which they didn't charge for!, boot cost was £368 for the parts and £198 to fit both plus vat but at least the boot will close and I can get the roof down again.......if it was dryer and warmer!!!
I took my wife's x3 in for the service under their prepaid deal and got the main dealers video clip with the w**ker telling me that the front pads were worn and dangerous and the rears were very low (only had about 20k on the clock) - seemed odd as it doesn't get driven hard - spoke to the sales rep who told me that if they wear any further it'll be new disks but the pads could be changed for 500 per axle. Drove out and straight to my local Indy for a second opinion - suffice to say loads of meat left - he told me to come back in a couple of months. On the way home the warning light came on, phoned main dealer who said it needed a fluid change (24 hrs after a "service") so I booked it in as it was part of their "service". Indy put new Brembo pads in for 250 all in despite telling me they didn't need it - took the "dangerously low" pads in a bag and arranged to speak to the manager to ensure that he was fully aware of my displeasure - suffice to say the Indy I've been using for over 20 years is going to be the only garage I'm going to let near the Z4