Switching for BMW Dealer to Indy

flimper

flimper

Veteran
 Hampshire
When is the best time to give up your Full BMW Service History? Or should you keep it for as long as possible?

I have a Brake Fluid service due next month and then the Inspection II probably early next year (if I have the car that long), just wondering what other owners are doing/thinking at this stage of the M's life
 
I've always reckoned that as soon as the car is over 6/7 yrs old - the full BMW history won't do much more for resale than a reputable indy would

E.g. on the pre facelift zeds - a FBMWSH isn't going to command a premium over an Indy service history.

Just my opinion of course 8)
 
Adamski said:
I've always reckoned that as soon as the car is over 6/7 yrs old - the full BMW history won't do much more for resale than a reputable indy would

E.g. on the pre facelift zeds - a FBMWSH isn't going to command a premium over an Indy service history.

Just my opinion of course 8)
Click to expand...

Have to agree at 6/7 yrs old dealer servicing may not add value but what it can do is make the car easier to sell :wink: full dealer stamps with no gaps is a big plus point for potential buyers .
My ZC has 92k but a complete dealer history .
i have it maintained & repaired by a trusted indy but in 9k its due its next oil service & i would head for a BMW stamp for that
 
I would always go main dealer if the difference in cost is not massive - FBMWSH always makes a difference on high performance engines. If it was a 116i maybe it wouldn't matter, but I'd never buy an M with anything other than main dealer.

As a suggestion; speak to Steve Absolon at Woods BMW Hook before you go Indy, tell him you received a recommendation :wink:
 
It will also depend on whether it's a specialist (BMW or ///M) or just any old garage.

History from somewhere like Simpsons, Darren Wood, Darren Farrell (Darjac), Phil Crouch (CPC Engineering), Noel Butler (NCB Autokraft), etc. should be recognisable to anyone from the ///M world - or a quick internet search would let them know that these are well-rated specialists.

History from AA Autocentre, Kwik-Fit, Bill's MOT Centre, etc. would worry me slightly.

My Z4MC is coming up to 80k miles, and it's about time I stopped taking it to dealers where I worry every time whether they've done a proper job or not (and why I UV mark parts to make sure they've been replaced/removed as per the service schedule). Half the time I'll take it to my indy/specialist/mate when I'm next in his area and get him to do a quick once over too.

Be careful of indy's who seem TOO CHEAP, as even those have got to make a profit. So anyone charging less than about £35/hour and working from premises (rather than working on their drive) cannot be doing a proper job. So an oil service with £65 of oil, £10 filter and £35 of labour would be £110 MINIMUM. If they're doing it cheaper than that, or you're supplying your own oil/parts (where they'll also make a little profit), then don't expect a proper job - unless they're one of the places that will find lots of other bits need doing and are only using the cheap servicing as a 'marketing' tool.
 
I would never ever take the M to any old garage, but was considering Grosvenor in Reading which seems a decent set up
 
I undertake interim oil and filter changes and keep a note of the mileages with the bills in the back of my car folder.

Biggest decider is if you have a warrantee.
 
If I had an Indy nearer to me mine would have gone there and I would have saved £70 odd quid on my oil service and brake fluid change.

Next major service will probably be at ETA or Bartley, both BMW specialists.
 
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